EIC Accelerator

The EIC Accelerator, run by the European Innovation Council under Horizon Europe, supports start-ups and SMEs developing breakthrough innovations with the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones. It is designed for projects that are too risky for private investors alone. The program provides a grant component of up to ₹26.25 crore to fund innovation activities from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 to 8, to be completed within 24 months. An optional equity or quasi-equity investment of ₹10.5 crore to ₹105 crore is also available through the EIC Fund, either as blended finance (grant + investment) or separately as grant-only or investment-only. Recipients also gain access to Business Acceleration Services (BAS) including coaching, mentoring, corporate partnerships, and integration into the EU innovation ecosystem. Two strands run in parallel: Open (any technology area) and Challenges (predefined topics).

• Grant up to ₹26.25 crore (non-dilutive) for TRL 6–8 innovation
• Optional equity/quasi-equity of ₹10.5 crore–105 crore from EIC Fund
• Blended finance option: grant + equity combined
• Non-EU startups eligible after relocating to an EU- or associated country
• Coaching, mentoring, corporate & investor access via BAS
• Rolling short-proposal submission (monthly batching)

The program is open to single start-ups, SMEs (including spin-outs), and small mid-caps (up to 499 employees; mid-caps eligible only for the investment component) established in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe associated country. Applicants must be developing innovations at TRL 6-8 with the ambition to scale and a funding need too large for private investors alone. Non-EU entities, including those from India, are eligible if they relocate their company to a qualifying country before submitting the full proposal (Step 2). UK applicants can only apply for the 'grant only' option. The EIC particularly welcomes applications from start-ups with female CEOs. Natural persons or entities planning to set up an SME by Step 2 are also eligible.

EIC Accelerator is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

EIC Accelerator accepts applications on a rolling basis — there is no fixed cut-off date, so eligible startups can apply at any time. Because rolling programmes can pause without notice, confirm the window is still open on the official site before you start.

• Grant of up to ₹26.25 crore (non-dilutive, lump-sum) for innovation activities at TRL 6-8, to be completed within 24 months.
• Option to combine the grant with a 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐲/quasi-equity investment of ₹10.5 crore–105 crore from the EIC Fund as blended finance.
• 'Grant-only' or 'investment-only' routes are available depending on your needs.
• All recipients receive Business Acceleration Services: coaching, mentoring, access to global corporate and investor partners, and the EU innovation ecosystem.
• Investee companies join the EIC’s portfolio, gaining visibility and networking opportunities.

EIC Accelerator is offered by European Innovation Council, a government body. As a government-backed grant, it is publicly funded and open to eligible startups across India. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.

The evaluation is a three-step process.

Step 1 – Short proposal submission: Any time via the EU Funding & Tenders portal, a 12-page form, a 10-slide pitch deck (PDF), and a 3-minute video pitch from up to three core team members. Proposals are batched monthly and assessed remotely by four EIC expert evaluators. Results are communicated within 4-6 weeks.

Step 2 – Full proposal (if invited): A 20-page form, pitch deck, implementation plan, financial information, Letters of Intent, Freedom-To-Operate analysis, and a 3-minute video. Assessments are due at fixed 2026 batching dates and are conducted by a technology expert plus a panel of at least three experts. Feedback arrives in 8-9 weeks. Proposals scoring at least 13/15 but not selected receive a Seal of Excellence.

Step 3 – Interview: Top-ranked proposals (up to 2.5× the grant budget) are invited to a face-to-face interview with the EIC Jury. Results within 2-3 weeks. For blended finance, the EIC Fund also assesses the investment need, with a decision within 2-6 months. The full-proposal batching dates for 2026 are: 7 Jan, 4 Mar, 6 May, 8 Jul, 2 Sep, and 4 Nov (all at 5 pm Brussels time). Non-EU applicants must relocate their company before submitting the full proposal (Step 2).

Before you apply to EIC Accelerator, keep the following documents ready:

• A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
• Company registration documents and PAN
• Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
• Recent financial statements or projections
• Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available

Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.

EIC Accelerator is best suited for startups in India seeking non-dilutive funding of ₹23.8Cr. If that describes your startup, review the eligibility criteria above before applying.