Discover funding opportunities with the European Innovation Council Accelerator for startups and SMEs – what’s new?

New technologies are transforming how we live, work and do business. Startups and small companies with big ideas especially in deep tech fields such as AI, advanced materials and clean energy are leading this transformation. However, turning breakthrough ideas into market-ready solutions is challenging and requires significant funding and support. That is where European Innovation Council Accelerator (EICA) comes in and Spinverse is happy to support if you decide to apply for funding through this instrument. 

The EIC Accelerator is a major funding source for ambitious startups and SMEs offering up to €2.5 million in grants and €1–10 million in equity investments to help businesses scale up. In the year 2024 alone 71 companies received a total funding of €387 million.

If your company is driving high-risk, high-impact innovations, EICA instrument might be just what your company is looking for. With recent updates, the EIC Accelerator process is now more accessible than ever. Spinverse can guide you through these changes and help you maximise your funding success.

Opportunities with EIC Accelerator funding in 2026 

Any startup or small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) legally established in a Member State or an Associated Country is eligible to apply for this instrument. The EIC Accelerator offers two types of calls:

1) The EICA Open welcomes applications from all technology areas, enabling groundbreaking ideas from any field to access funding.
2) EICA Challenges are aimed at innovations addressing specific, pre-defined high-priority themes and critical needs in society and industry.

The EICA instrument has around €634 million available for funding in 2026. If you’re a startup or small business, there are three main ways you can get funding through this instrument:

• Grant only: This is a one-time grant of up to €2.5 million. To qualify for this option, you need to demonstrate that your business has the potential and the plan to scale up further.
• Blended finance: This option offers a blend of grant as well as equity funding. The grant money is a one-time lump sum you don’t have to pay back and the equity component which can be in the form of direct equity or quasi-equity (e.g. convertible loan). This combination helps you cover both your business development costs and investments to scale up.
• Equity only: This option is in exchange for giving the EIC a share in your business or through a convertible loan. There is no grant included with this option.

Three-stage application process

The EIC Accelerator uses a three-stage application process designed to assess and fund only the most promising and high-impact projects. 

• Short proposal: Briefly present your innovation and its breakthrough potential in a short 12-page application along with a 3-minute pitch video and 10-page slide deck, submitted at any time of the year. Upon success, you’ll be invited to send a full detailed application in 4-6 weeks.
• Full proposal: A detailed full application of 20 pages detailing your business plan, team capabilities and strategies along with 10-page implementation plan and other annexes. Full applications are scored by the experts and decide which ones move forward. Evaluation takes 8-9 weeks of batching date.
• Face-to-face interview: Upon success in full application phase, you’ll be invited to a face-to-face interview with a special EIC jury. This interview is the final step in the selection process, and the final funding decision will be made within 2-3 weeks of interview.

What’s new in the EIC Accelerator 2026? 

Recently, the EICA instrument has undergone significant changes bringing new possibilities for the applicants, reflecting the EU’s commitment to boosting deep-tech and impactful innovations. Key changes include: 

• Shorter, simplified application templates and improved evaluation criteria.
• More frequent batching and interviews: Before, only two batches per year for full proposal evaluation was available. However, this is now increased to six batches per year and interview is increased from two sessions to three sessions per year.
• Increased budget for open calls: The budget available for EICA open calls increased from €384 to 414 million.
• New part A forms: More simplified part A forms.

These changes present a unique window of opportunity for innovative companies to secure substantial non-dilutive and equity funding, as well as strategic support from the European Innovation Council. However, understanding the new process and standing out in a competitive field requires expert knowledge and a tailored approach. 

How Spinverse can help 

• Expert guidance: In-depth knowledge of the latest EIC Accelerator requirements and best practices.
• Strategic positioning: Support in aligning your innovation with the new thematic priorities and eligibility criteria.
• Application excellence: Comprehensive proposal writing, review and submission support to maximise the competitiveness of your project proposal.
• End-to-end support: From initial assessment to interview preparation support, we’re with you every step of the way.

Ready to accelerate your growth?

Don’t miss out on this funding opportunity contact us today to learn how the EIC Accelerator 2026 can help bring your innovation to market. Our experts are ready to untangle the changes, answer your questions and help you write a winning proposal.

Janne Kaukojärvi, Senior Sales Manager
janne.kaukojarvi@spinverse.com
+358 50 528 6197

Prakash Sivakumar, Consultant, Digital health
prakash.sivakumar@spinverse.com
+358 50 479 6163