The EIC Pre-Accelerator 2025 Results
The EIC launched a brand new funding scheme for widening countries in 2025. Here are the official results.
Funding schemes
Happy clients
Experts in diverse fields
Lira partners with deep-tech start-ups and scale-ups worldwide, taking you from blank page to fully-polished submission.
You own the content. We supply the expertise, experience, knowledge, know-how that turn your proposal into a winning application.
Securing innovation funding is only the beginning. Once the contract is signed, a maze of reporting templates, compliance rules, and milestone checks appears overnight. Lira’s partners step in as your outsourced Project Management Office - PMO, so you stay focused on developing your technology.
By lifting the administrative weight, Lira frees your team to do what it does best.
The recommendation we received to work with Lira paid off. They helped us put up a winning project. Without their support we wouldn’t have succeeded in the Pre-Accelerator on our first attempt, standing out among over 1,000 applicants. And the icing on the cake? No upfront! So you know they are in the same boat with you, sweating it out
Partnering with Lira on our EU funding applications was an easy decision. Their deep technical insight and strong record of success made a real difference throughout the process. The team goes above and beyond to ensure a smooth and high-quality experience every time. I would not hesitate to recommend Lira to any organisation seeking a reliable and expert partner.
We chose to work with Lira on our EU funding applications because of their outstanding technical expertise and proven track record of success. Their team is genuinely committed to providing the best possible customer experience and consistently delivers work of exceptional quality. Highly recommended!
In the GenAI era, it's easy to forget how essential it is to rely on truly competent, knowledgeable, and trustworthy partners. We've found Lira to be exactly that. Their team is dedicated and genuinely passionate about helping deep-tech clients succeed. They combine technical expertise with sharp business insight, enabling them to grasp complex technical details and industry nuances alike. If you're looking for the right human in the loop in a world increasingly driven by AI, Lira is the perfect choice.
Lira has been supporting us for quite some time now on our EU funding applications, and on conducting our Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). We kept them as our partner due to their high level of professionalism and startup-friendly approach. We were impressed that their team not only convered the technicalities of preparing a complex EU funding application, but was also very equipped on the technical side, financial planning, and communication. We highly recommend them to any deep-tech startup looking for comprehensive innovation consulting.
We partnered with Lira for our EIC Accelerator application due to their world-class reputation and we haven't been disappointed. Their approach has been rigorous across all the application stages, involving many partners with complementary skills, and they have always been highly available and responsive. We can confidently say they added value to our application.
We had the pleasure of working with Lira on our EIC applications. Lira was recommended for their meticulous attention to detail, unwavering commitment to quality, and proven track record in supporting German companies. After collaborating with Lira, I can confidently recommend Lira to any deep-tech company based in Germany. What truly sets Lira apart is their dedication to excellence. They go above and beyond to refine every proposal and deploy all available resources to ensure client satisfaction. Their professionalism and work ethic are matched only by their positive, collaborative approach, making them not just effective partners, but also a joy to work with. If you are looking for a team that combines technical expertise with outstanding service, Lira is the right choice.
We have been working with Lira on our EU funding applications. Lira's team has shown itself to be committed, detail-oriented, and always ready to go the extra mile. Their expertise and experience in EIC funding schemes are outstanding and clearly reflected in the way they craft proposals and engage with their clients. I would recommend Lira to anyone interested in working with a team that consistently delivers on time and to a high standard.
We have been working with Lira on EU deep-tech funding. They are dedicated to delivering high-quality support to their clients and have the right mix of technical and business expertise to help deep-tech companies like Altris navigate the complexities of EU funding. The team is always available, proactive, and willing to go the extra mile to help their clients succeed. If you are looking for top-tier deep-tech consulting, particularly if you wish to integrate experienced advisors into your internal processes to secure EU funding, Lira is an excellent choice. Their problem solving mindset and positive energy also make them a real pleasure to work with.
As a client, I've been truly impressed with Lira. Their unwavering focus on quality and passion for customer satisfaction set them apart. Every detail is handled with care, and their commitment to delivering the best possible results makes them a valued and trusted partner
This has been the smoothest grant proposal process our consortium has ever gone through.
Lira’s coordination, timing, and calm, structured approach kept the pressure low while elevating the quality of the entire application.
Lira combines deep industry expertise with excellent technology knowledge, always going the extra mile for their clients
Lira's professionalism, dedication, and attention to detail give me complete confidence in their work. They genuinely care about delivering the highest quality, and it shows in every interaction
Lira's team is genuinely committed to going beyond expectations and consistently puts customer satisfaction at the heart of everything they do
Lira always goes the extra mile,
exceeding expectations with their dedication and genuine care for customers
It was an absolute pleasure collaborating with the Lira team on our recent EIC applications. Their professionalism, unwavering work ethic, and exceptional attention to detail set them apart at every stage. The team consistently went above and beyond, making themselves available whenever needed and ensuring every detail was executed to perfection. I wholeheartedly recommend Lira to any organisation seeking a top-notch innovation consultancy in Germany. Their genuine passion for customer experience, technical expertise and dedication to delivering outstanding results make them the ideal partner for deep-tech companies.
We worked with Lira on our EIC applications and were very impressed. They were professional and went the extra mile to make sure every detail was right. Lira has a strong track record and really cares about quality and customer experience. I highly recommend them to any deep-tech company in Germany. They are a great team to work with.
We were recommended to work with Lira on our EIC applications because of their expertise, experience, attention to detail, focus on quality and customer experience, and strong track record. Having now worked with them, I can wholeheartedly recommend the Lira team to any deep-tech company based in Belgium. They are dedicated to perfecting every proposal, allocating all available resources to ensure clients are not only satisfied but also well supported. Beyond their outstanding work ethic, they are also a pleasure to work with
We had the pleasure of working with the Lira team on our EIC applications. We were highly impressed by their professionalism, work ethic, and meticulous attention to detail. The team consistently went the extra mile for us and made themselves available at any time. We would strongly recommend them to any company seeking the most experienced innovation consultancy in Italy. Lira is genuinely passionate about and dedicated to delivering an outstanding customer experience.
After an unsuccessful attempt at securing an UKRI Smart grant, Paul combed through our application, helping restructure it, add what was missing & create a more compelling narrative. His help exceeded our expectations as he went above and beyond to make sure every paragraph was on point. We have now secured three UKRI grants in a row as a result. I highly recommend Paul to any organisation looking at applying to an Innovate UK grant.
Lira transformed our EIC Accelerator journey into success in the October 2024 cut-off. Their approach is top-notch, blending meticulous planning with an unwavering dedication to excellence. From the moment we began crafting our applications, Lira's expertise illuminated every step of the process, culminating in a masterfully prepared face-to-face interview. What sets Lira apart is their unparalleled attention to detail and world-class professionalism. Their track record of success is no coincidence. It's the result of a finely tuned methodology that consistently delivers exceptional outcomes. For anyone aiming to secure EIC funding, partnering with Lira it's a game-changing decision. Highly recommended!
Securing the EIC Accelerator grant was one of the most demanding yet rewarding experiences of my entrepreneurial journey. From the outset, we engaged Lira who deeply understood the EIC application process. Their expertise was instrumental in drafting with us a compelling proposal. Their attention to detail ensured our application was strategically positioned to stand out. We made it to the interview phase, and here every aspect of our business was scrutinized. Winning the EIC Accelerator grant wasn’t just about funding—it validated that we had built something truly impactful. Lira's guidance isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.
We worked with Lira to build our EIC Accelerator application. Their help went across the board from developing an underlying strategy to actively preparing our business plan, financial model, infographics, pitch deck and presentation skills. We reached the face-to-face interview on our first attempt which was only possible because of Lira’s expertise and help.
Kids Speech Labs engaged with Lira to help us prepare our application for the EIC Accelerator. Having prepared a submission in previous rounds myself I knew that I would benefit from expert guidance and support to get the edge needed for success in this complex program. The team at Lira have been with us from day one and have been fantastic at all levels of support. Their insight into the nuances of the Accelerator program and the application process saved us many of the pitfalls experienced in previous iterations. With excellent project management we were not panicking at the last minute to ensure a successful submission. I would highly recommend Lira as a funding advisory partner to any ambitious SME.
They took a lot of the workload from us and added valuable inputs to the project. Most importantly they were quick and successful in fundraising for us. This enabled us to keep our product development on track.
Lira's expertise, dedication, commitment and know-how are unparalleled. We were very happy with the team and the way they managed our proposal. They combined a natural curiosity and attention to details to deep dive into our technology and business strategy, while always reserving a unique personal touch when working together. Definitely a company to work with.
The Lira team went above and beyond expectations in their support across all areas of the EIC Accelerator application process - from helping us address the many aspects covered in the application form, to improving our visual narrative in the deck, to rigorously preparing us to pitch.
We were very satisfied with Lira's support in applying for the EIC Accelerator. Their services went beyond just "writing a proposal". They operate as an investment committee to assess the company, its technology, IPR, team, business strategy and funding requirements. They were vital in identifying gaps and providing a full analysis of the market, helping us better present our company roadmap. If you are looking for an experienced, reliable and trustworthy team to work with - Lira is the one.
The broad expertise and intuitive approach of Lira's team enabled them to prepare an excellent funding proposal with minimal raw content, taking a massive load off my shoulders. We had an extremely positive collaboration with them as they directly guided us through each step of the application process, identifying risks and opportunities in developing our business strategy and narrative.
Lira was instrumental in helping us to win the EIC Accelerator. Their knowledgeable approach to EU funding schemes, attention to detail and entrepreneurial mindset are second to no-one.
The best company you want to partner with to raise EU funding. Their support got us funding through the EIC Accelerator programme. We really appreciated their expertise, dedication and attention to detail. We will definitely continue to work with them.
We found the collaboration with Lira very fruitful and productive. Well equipped with business and technological expertise, they helped us to win the EIC Accelerator and expand our perspective on our own business. It was easy to work with them and we appreciated their hands-on support and extensive feedback.
Working with Lira is a real pleasure. They were key to our EIC Accelerator success. Their unique result-driven approach is a key success factor in putting together compelling cases for EU funding. Their comprehensive skill set and team provide a best-in-class service rarely seen in this industry. Add their uncompromising attention to details and customer centric attitude, and you will find the perfect match to work on coveted funding schemes.
We worked on our EIC Accelerator proposals with Lira. They are world-class. Their approach is designed to deliver quality at any stage of the selection process and go the extra mile when required. We were impressed by their attention to detail and planning. We were the only Irish company to be selected in the November 2023 cut-off which was the most competitive ever since the success rate from full-application to be awarded funding was just 4%. We believe partnering up with Lira was instrumental in being successful. They really ‘walked the talk’ when it came to training us for the face to face interview thanks to their unique methodology and genuine commitment to reach the desired result. On top of that, they are a real pleasure to work with. If you are looking for the best in industry, Lira is definitely the one.
Working with Lira on our EIC Accelerator proposal almost seems like an unfair competitive advantage. The level of preparation and expert guidance we received brought us to a position that we simply could not have envisaged without their support. Their deep expertise, insider insights, and broad network of external collaborators has shaped our proposal into its optimal form, giving us the ultimate chance of success!
We were well pleased to have Lira onboard when applying for the EIC Accelerator programme. Lira provided exceptional guidance and support regarding our technology description, financial model, business model analysis and competitive scenario study. Their commitment and professionalism is unparalleled, their support and dedication helped us overcome many challenges during the application process, and, as a result, Energy Dome secured funding.
We are glad to have chosen Lira to assist with the EIC Accelerator application. Lira worked very closely with us and committed a lot of time to each step of the process. SepTec getting funded in the most competitive call ever, the EIC Accelerator, is testament to the collaboration.
Lira helped us secure the EIC Accelerator. They are clearly well informed on the funding programme and it showed when we went through the training sessions before the face-to-face interview. Besides, they are straightforward, they have an unparalleled work ethic, and are a pleasure to work with.
Lira brought in their vast knowledge of many successful applications in the past, put the right amount of urgency to bring the team up to speed and did an amazing job in tuning the application, so that we won the EIC application as one of the 7% winners of all applications.
We worked with Lira on the EIC Accelerator as we knew they were among the best. They have unmatched knowledge and expertise of the funding scheme and went the extra mile for us. It paid off as we were one of the 32 companies awarded the coveted funding in the January 2023 cut-off, one of the most competitive cut-offs since the launch of the programme. We would definitely recommend Lira to anyone interested in the EIC funding schemes.
The support of Lira during the preparation of our short and full proposal was excellent. However their true values lies in the exceptional support during the training for the face-to-face interview. On a daily basis, Emmanuele and his team took the time to fine-tune our pitch and trained us for the interview. Through this support we couldn't have been better prepared. We strongly recommend Lira as your partner during the application process for the EIC funding schemes.
We worked with Lira on our successful Swiss Accelerator application. Lira's team supported our work with outstanding attention to details, work ethics and passion for our experience. We would recommend Lira to any company interested in succeeding in highly competitive, innovation-based calls for proposal.
Nano-Tech was awarded the prestigious EIC Accelerator funding when the success rate was 7%. A huge shout out to the incredible team at Lira for its hard work, resilience, and commitment towards its clients. Their exceptional track record in bringing 50% of their clients to the Face to Face interview stage speaks for itself. I would recommend Lira to any company interested in working with a reliable, trustworthy, and dedicated partner.
When we were introduced to Lira we were impressed by their focus on quality and results. Their modus operandi was presented in a straightforward and honest way, same for their expertise, experience, and track record. Our experience working with them has been excellent. We were one of the selected companies in the EIC Accelerator March '23 cut-off. We would highly recommend them to any deep-tech startup interested in the EIC funding schemes.
We selected Lira for their reputation, focus on quality, and winning mindset. From the moment we started working together on our EIC Accelerator application, their dedication to their clients became evident. Lira consistently stood by our side, assisting us in navigating the complexities and uncertainties inherent in the application process. Their proficiency in grant writing was exceptional, but it was the comprehensive training programme for the crucial face-to-face interview that truly set them apart. Thanks to their guidance, we approached the EIC jury panel well-prepared and confident.
I wholeheartedly endorse Lira to anyone seeking to collaborate with an exceptional team that delivers on their promises.
BetaGlue was one of the 42 EIC Accelerator selected companies of the November 2023 cut-off. This was the most competitive cut-off ever as the success rate from a full-application to be deemed eligible for funding was just 4%. We worked with Lira's team and appreciated their top-notch approach to deliver on quality and their attention to detail. We were impressed by their deep knowledge of this funding scheme and their work ethics. We would recommend Lira to any deep-tech company interested in the EIC funding schemes, especially the ones that value quality, integrity and getting results.
Lira wurde uns von gleich zwei Personen aus unserem Netzwerk für die Antragsstellung beim EIC-Accelerator empfohlen. Ich bin beeindruckt, wie schnell es dem Team gelungen ist die komplexen Sachverhalte unserer Technologie und deren Anwendung tiefgehend zu erfassen, diese auf den Kern zu reduzieren und in einen sehr guten Antrag zu überführen. Das Team hat den Anspruch europaweit die besten in diesem Business zu sein. Dass dies wirklich ernst gemeint ist haben uns dann auch noch einmal die harten, aber sehr wertvollen Trainings für das Face-to-Face Interview in Brüssel gezeigt. Es war eine sehr gute, äußerst zielführende Zusammenarbeit die Spaß gemacht hat. Gerne empfehle ich Lira weiter, nicht nur in unserem Netzwerk.
Sustainability is built on three different levels, each equally important:
We develop decision support tools that rigorously models the entire product and process value chain. By comparing this model with industry benchmarks, we can identify the process steps that have the greatest impact. This enables us to propose and test targeted solutions aimed at mitigating these impacts effectively.
Based on:
ISO 14040:
Environmental management – Life cycle assessment – Principles and framework
ISO 14044:
Environmental management – Life cycle assessment – Requirements and guidelines
The call is exclusively for SMEs established in widening countries, which include:
Companies interested in applying must meet the following criteria:
The call targets technologies and innovations within the categories listed below.
| Advanced semiconductors | Microelectronics, including processors; photonic including high energy laser technologies; high frequency chips; semiconductor manufacturing equipment at very advanced node sizes; space-qualified semiconductor technologies |
| Artificial intelligence | AI algorithms; high performance computing (HPC); cloud and edge computing; data analytics technologies; computer vision, language processing, object recognition; privacy-preserving technologies (e.g., federated learning) |
| Quantum | Quantum computing; quantum cryptography; quantum communications; Quantum Key Distribution (QKD); quantum sensing including quantum gravimetry; quantum radar; quantum simulation; quantum imaging; quantum clocks; metrology; space qualified quantum technologies |
| Advanced connectivity, navigation, and digital | Secure digital communications and connectivity, such as RAN (Radio Access Network) & Open RAN (Radio Access Network), and 5G and 6G; cyber security technologies including cyber- surveillance, security and intrusion systems, digital forensics; internet of things and virtual reality; distributed ledger and digital identity technologies; guidance, navigation, and control technologies, including avionics and maritime positioning, and space-based PNT; satellite-based secure connectivity |
| Advanced sensing technologies | Electro-optical, radar, chemical, biological, radiation and distributed sensing; magnetometers, magnetic gradiometers; underwater electric field sensors; gravity meters, and gradiometers |
| Robotics and autonomous systems | Autonomous habited and uninhabited vehicles (space, air, land, surface, and underwater), including swarming; robots and robot-controlled precision systems; exoskeletons; AI-enabled systems |
| Sustainable alternative fuels | Sustainable alternative fuels technologies |
| Other nuclear | Other nuclear technologies |
| Wind and electric propulsion technologies for transportation | Wind propulsion technologies; electric propulsion technologies |
| CO2 transport and utilisation | CO2 transport technologies; CO2 utilisation technologies |
| Transformative industrial technologies for decarbonisation | Transformative industrial technologies for decarbonisation |
| Biotech climate and energy solutions | Biotech climate and energy solutions |
| Renewable fuels of non-biological origin | Renewable fuels of non-biological origin technologies |
| Energy system-related energy efficiency | Energy system-related energy efficiency technologies; heat grid technologies; other energy system-related energy efficiency technologies |
| Other renewable energy | Osmotic energy technologies; ambient energy technologies, other than heat pumps; biomass technologies; landfill gas technologies; sewage treatment plant gas technologies; other renewable energy technologies |
| Hydropower | Hydropower technologies |
| Solar | Solar photovoltaic technologies; solar thermal electric technologies; solar thermal technologies; other solar technologies |
| Nuclear fission | Nuclear fission energy technologies; nuclear fuel cycle technologies |
| Electricity grid | Electricity grid technologies; electric charging technologies for transportation; technologies to digitalise the grid; other electricity grid technologies |
| Carbon capture and storage | Carbon capture technologies; carbon storage technologies |
| Sustainable biogas and biomethane | Sustainable biogas technologies; sustainable bio-methane technologies |
| Hydrogen | Electrolysers; hydrogen fuel cells; other hydrogen technologies |
| Heat pumps and geothermal energy | Heat pump technologies; geothermal energy technologies |
| Battery and energy storage | Battery technologies; energy storage technologies |
| Onshore wind and offshore renewable | Onshore wind technologies; offshore renewable technologies |
| Advanced materials, manufacturing and recycling | Technologies for nanomaterials; smart materials; advanced ceramic materials; stealth materials; safe and sustainable by design materials; additive manufacturing; digital controlled micro-precision manufacturing and small-scale laser machining/welding; technologies for extraction; processing and recycling of cri- tical raw materials and other components (e.g. catalyst, batteries), including hydrometallurgical extraction, bioleaching, nanotechnology-based filtration, electrochemical processing and black mass |
| Technologies vital to sustainability such as water purification and desalination | Purification and desalination technologies |
| Circular economy technologies | Technologies for the reuse and recycling of electronics (e-waste); circular bioeconomy technologies (e.g., for converting waste to valuable bio-based materials or energy) |
| DNA/RNA | Genomics; pharmacogenomics; gene probes; genetic engineering; DNA/RNA sequencing/synthesis/amplification; gene expression profiling, and use of antisense technology; large-scale DNA synthesis; new genomic techniques; gene drive. |
| Proteins and other molecules | Sequencing/synthesis/engineering/manufacturing of proteins and peptides (including large molecule hormones); improved delivery methods for large molecule drugs; proteomics; protein isolation and purification; signalling; identification of cell receptors; developing polyclonal products. |
| Cell and tissue culture and engineering | Cell/tissue culture; tissue engineering (including tissue scaffolds and biomedical engineering); cellular fusion; marker assisted breeding technologies; metabolic engineering; cell therapies; bioprinting of cells/replacement organs |
| Process biotechnology techniques | Fermentation using bioreactors; biorefining; bioprocessing; bioleaching; biopulping; biobleaching; biodesulphurisation; bioremediation; biosensing; biofiltration and phytoremediation; molecular aquaculture; protection and decontamination including human decontaminating agents; biocatalysis, novel test techniques suitable for high throughput screening; process improvement and delivery optimisation for biopharmaceuticals and advanced therapy medicinal products |
| Gene and RNA vectors | Gene therapy; viral vectors |
| Bioinformatics | Construction of databases on genomes; protein sequences; modelling complex biological processes; including systems biology; developing personalised genomics |
| Nanobiotechnology | Application of the tools and processes of nano/microfabrication to build devices for studying biosystems and applications in drug delivery, diagnostics, manufacturing. |
Applicants have to upload/submit on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal:
Applications will be reviewed in batches (one round of reviews every quarter) and applicants will be informed of results 4-6 weeks before the Face-to-Face Interview.
Full application deadlines:
11/02/2026
06/05/2026
09/09/2026
25/11/2026
Companies successful on the first step will be invited to the second step, a Face-to-Face Interview in front of a max. 6-person jury. The EIC will inform applicants of results within 2 weeks of the interview. The outcome may be one of three possibilities: 1) GO and Sovereignty (STEP) Seal; 2) NO GO and Sovereignty (STEP) Seal; and 3) NO GO.
If GO, companies will go through due diligence and a negotiation on the investment agreement with the EIC Fund.
To apply, you must:
Applicants are free to decide and indicate which activities are required to accelerate the development, growth, and sustainability of the business. Examples include:
Applications for 2025 are now closed. We expect more calls in 2026 and 2027
The EIC Transition is a 2-step process.
Proposals of 22 pages.
Open deadline: 16/09/2026
EIC Transition is restricted to proposals based on results generated by the following eligible projects:Â
Open Call: Consortia of min 3 partners
Challenge Call: Single applicants or consortia of min 2 partners
The EIC Pathfinder is a 1-step process.
Proposals of 22 pages for EIC Pathfinder Open and 30 pages for EIC Pathfinder Challenge.
The EIC Pathfinder has 2 deadlines in 2026: 12/05 for Open proposals; and 28/10 for Challenge proposals.
This Challenge focuses on the development of a new generation of advanced materials to deliver miniaturised integrated energy harvesting devices, with significantly enhanced performance compared to the state of the art, that will give rise to highly effective energetically autonomous devices and systems.
Specific Objectives:
Increasing plant growth, yields and resistance to stress through:
This Challenge looks to translate decades of ageing research into tangible biopharmaceutical solutions for healthy ageing
Specific Objectives:
Applicants to this Challenge will be expected to develop a proof of concept in one of the following three areas:
1. An innovative preventative or therapeutic biotechnology-based or pharmaceutical intervention that prevents, delays or reverts the onset of  a specific age-related disease.  Such projects must address all of the following objectives:
2. A biomarker based tool to enable the responsible deployment of ageing-related interventions, taking into consideration the following:
3. A New Approach Methodology (NAM) that goes beyond the current state-of-the art to enable the future development of interventions for healthy ageing. The NAM should:
The goal of this Challenge is to move beyond the current state-of-the-art in traditional AI approaches, whether symbolic (e.g., rules, decision trees, symbolic regression, etc.) or connectionist, neural (e.g., deep learning, large language models, reinforcement learning). The goal is to significantly improve the Reasoning, Abstraction, and Planning (RAP) capabilities of AI systems. Â
Specific Objectives:
Innovative ideas put forward under this Challenge must explore novel approaches, including combinations of existing techniques (i.e. neuro-symbolic AI), or the creation of entirely new frameworks that go beyond current, traditional, deep learning and reinforcement learning paradigms. These could be inspired by developments in diverse fields such as neuroscience, biology, physics, philosophy and more. Â
The proposals should address one or more of the following cognitive capabilities:Â
Applicants have to submit on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal:
Four remote expert evaluators will review the documentation and decide whether it has merit to advance to the full proposal stage. The outcome of the evaluation will be sent to the applicant within 4 to 6 weeks from the date of the submission. Only short applications that receive 3 GOs out of 4 from the evaluators will be invited to submit a full proposal.Â
Six cut-off dates are planned for 2026:
The full proposal is submitted for review by both a technical expert evaluator and an evaluation panel composed of at least three independent experts.
The technical evaluator will examine the proposal in detail and conduct an online meeting with the applicants. The findings of this assessment will be included in a report, which will be sent to the evaluation panel.
Each independent expert within the evaluation panel will assess the proposal. The panel will then deliberate, taking into account both the individual expert assessments and the technical evaluator’s report, to determine the final score for the proposal.
Upon completion of the selection process, a ranked list of full proposals will be produced, identifying the companies invited to participate in the face‑to‑face interview stage.
The Face-to-Face Interview serves as the conclusive step in the EIC Accelerator process. It offers companies a unique opportunity to engage with a distinguished jury panel holding the authority to determine the companies selected for the EIC Accelerator.
During a comprehensive interview, the initial 10 minutes are dedicated to the pitch deck previously submitted as part of the full proposal. The interview then entails a question-and-answer session.
Following the interview, companies can expect to receive notification regarding the final outcome of their application within approximately two to three weeks. Prepare diligently for this impactful interview as it serves as the ultimate determinant for securing funding through the prestigious EIC Accelerator programme.
The start-ups and SMEs to be supported under this Challenge must focus on the development of advanced materials for renewable energy or energy storage systems, encompassing the design, synthesis, characterisation, up-scaling, and production of such materials. Â
The materials and associated processes must be developed with a view to minimising the use of resources, including strategic and Critical Raw Materials (CRMs). They must have their performance benchmarked, minimisation of resource use proven with respect to the state of the art and the use-case considered. In-silico methods of design and testing developed materials should be considered to speed-up the design process and decrease the cost of development.Â
The environmental footprint of the developed advanced materials should also be measured with a life-cycle analysis that includes an evaluation of the cost and social impact. Applicants are also encouraged to consider the potential impact of emerging environmental markets on their business, and to explore the strategic opportunities these markets may unlock when paired with innovative business models.Â
The projects selected under this Challenge will become part of the wider advanced materials ecosystem to be fostered by the actions set out in the Commission Communication on Advanced Materials including the new co-programmed partnership IAM4EU.
The start-ups and SMEs to be supported under this Challenge must focus on one or more elements of the fusion value chain including:Â
Indicative budget: €20mn
The start-ups and SMEs to be supported under this Challenge must focus on developing biotech driven solutions in one (or more) of the following areas:
Regardless of the specific area addressed, companies are encouraged to leverage digital tools such as AI and monitoring technologies such as sensors, as appropriate, to facilitate the identification or the development of processes and to reliably assess the evolution of soil health conditions to make the resulting products and services suitable for integration into existing production systems. All projects must provide a lifecycle assessment (LCA) considering environmental, social and economic consideration. Proposals are also expected to consider regulatory aspects alongside issues surrounding consumer acceptance and articulate suitable strategies to support market entry within and beyond the EU. Applicants are encouraged to consider the potential impact of emerging environmental markets on their business, and to explore the strategic opportunities these markets may unlock when paired with innovative business models.
The startups and SMEs supported under this Challenge will be connected through the EIC’s Business Acceleration Services with stakeholders engaged in the EU Mission Soil and with Horizon Europe Cluster 6, including its public-private partnership Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) to support the accelerated uptake of breakthrough solutions.
Indicative budget: €50mn
The start-ups and SMEs to be supported under this Challenge must look to develop and deploy deep-tech innovations that contribute to the CRMA and European domestic capacity in one or more of the following areas:Â
The deep tech innovations must improve the sustainability of the EU’s sources for critical and strategic raw materials in line with the EU principles for sustainable raw materials​ and must clearly justify the relevance and business case for all targeted minerals and metals. Â
The environmental footprint of the proposed innovations should also be measured with a life-cycle analysis that includes an evaluation of the cost and social impact. Applicants are encouraged to consider the potential impact of emerging environmental markets on their business, and to explore the strategic opportunities these markets may unlock when paired with innovative business models.
Deep-sea mining does not fall within the scope of this call.Â
Indicative budget: €50mn
The start-ups and SMEs to be supported under this Challenge must look to develop and deploy deep-tech innovations that will address one of the following priorities:Â
Flood and coastal protection​: includes solutions for new (temporary) buildings / (green) infrastructure and retrofit to help infrastructure withstand damage from storm waters, coastal and river flooding alongside novel/ targeted predictive systems or early warning systems.
Indicative budget: €50mn
TRL: 4 to 6/7
Overall programme budget: €31M
Â
Application process
This Challenge aims to accelerate the development towards integration, deployment and commercialisation of breakthrough Physical AI solutions that will enhance Europe’s technological sovereignty, sustainability, and global competitiveness.
Disruptive Physical AI innovations must demonstrate at least two of the following characteristics:
Solutions must also focus on addressing pressing needs in at least one of the following application areas:
In the medium to longer term, it is expected the solutions will reduce European dependencies and support end users in leveraging advances in AI to enhance their products and develop new capabilities that will contribute to:Â Â
This Challenge aims to accelerate the adoption of NAMs in biomedicine and support companies that want to bring NAMs to the market.Â
Innovative and disruptive NAMs should address one or both of the following areas:
Human organoids or microphysiological systems (e.g. organ-on-chip, disease-on-chip), in chemico methods, digital twins, virtual patient simulations, AI-enhanced predictive models, mechanistic or integrated in silico platforms, 3D- advanced human tissue model are in scope.
This Challenge supports ambitions to maintain and strengthen the health sector in Europe. It will: