Summary of the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator Programme for 2023

Based on the European Innovation Council (EIC) Work Programme for 2023, the Accelerator Programme/Scheme consists of Accelerator Open, and Accelerator Challenges, each of which is described in short below, including cut-off deadlines and budget value.

EIC Accelerator Open

• Overall budget for 2023: €613 million
• Any topic
• Short applications (Step 1 diagnostic): no deadline - continuous

Full applications:

• 11 January 2023
• 22 March 2023
• 7 June 2023
• 4 October 2023

EIC Accelerator Challenges 

Overall budget for 2023: €524.7 million

Topics:

• Biomarkers for cancer
• Decontamination for pandemic management
• Energy storage
• New European Bauhaus
• Quantum or semiconductor components
• Resilient agriculture
• Space technologies and services

Short applications: no deadline - continuous

Full applications:

• 22 March 2023
• 7 June 2023
• 4 October 2023

Types of support

The EIC Accelerator provides blended finance (Innovation and Market Deployment Action) which is composed of:

• An investment component usually in the form of direct equity or quasi-equity such as convertible loans.
• A grant component to reimburse eligible costs incurred for innovation activities, including demonstration of the technology in the relevant environment, prototyping and system level demonstration, R&D and testing required to meet regulatory and standardisation requirements, intellectual property management, and marketing approval (e.g. at least TRL 5/6 to 8). 

Applications that meet all the criteria at the remote evaluation stage and are assessed positively by the EIC jury but not recommended for funding, will be awarded a Seal of Excellence to help them secure funding from other sources. Companies with a Seal of Excellence can also get support from EIC Business Acceleration Services. To be eligible for a Seal of Excellence you must give consent to sharing some basic information about your application with other funding and support organisations.

Source: European Commission, 2023