Advisory on the EU's EIC Accelerator programme
The EIC Accelerator is run by the European Innovation Council (EIC) and is part of Horizon Europe, the EU's framework programme for research and innovation. We are the National Contact Point (NCP) for the scheme and offer guidance throughout the application process, including preparations for pitching in Brussels.
Competition for EIC funding is strong, so projects must be based on deep tech, be highly innovative, have a strong team and address significant societal challenges.
The EIC's definition of deep tech
Deep tech is technology based on groundbreaking scientific advances and discoveries. It requires continuous engagement with new ideas and laboratory results to remain at the forefront of technological development. Deep tech differs from high tech, which primarily refers to R&D intensity.
Characteristics:
- Science-driven and based on advanced research
- Requires long-term technology development and significant R&D investment
- Has the potential to create radical, market-changing innovations
The scheme is for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and is open to all industries. Your innovation must be a deep-tech solution, preferably science-based, that helps address global societal challenges. Norwegian companies are fully eligible to participate in the EIC Accelerator.
Grants
- Up to EUR 2.5 million
- Covers 70% of costs
- For activities at TRL 6–8, including demonstrations, prototypes, testing and regulatory work
Equity
- EUR 1–10 million through the EIC Fund
- Higher amounts are available for technologies of strategic European interest, for example through STEP Scale Up
- We expect your company to match the amount you apply for with an equivalent equity investment.
The innovation must be validated in a relevant environment and have reached at least TRL 6. You must be able to document that you have completed TRL 5 when you apply. Your goal must be to commercialise the innovation (TRL 9) within two years.
- Advisory and guidance at every step
- Quality assurance of applications
- Pitch training and preparation for interviews in Brussels
Support with preparing your application
The Research Council of Norway offers Project Establishment Support (PES) to help you prepare applications for the EIC Accelerator at Step 2 – the full application stage – and through the Plug-in scheme.
The maximum grant amount is NOK 100,000. Apply for Project Establishment Support (PES) as soon as you receive confirmation that you have progressed to step 2. The Research Council of Norway will process your application.
The application process consists of four stages and is evaluated by the EU:
Step 1: Short application
You can submit a brief description of the project at any time. We group submissions into batches for evaluation on the first Tuesday of each month. Four external EIC experts will evaluate your proposal.
- A short 12-page form where you summarise the project and answer a set of questions about the innovation, its market potential and the team.
- A pitch deck of up to ten slides in PDF format.
- A video pitch of up to three minutes, in which the core team members (up to three people) present their motivation for the proposal.
You will normally receive feedback within 4–6 weeks. If your application meets the basic criteria for EIC Accelerator funding, we will invite you to prepare a full application.
Step 2: Full application
If your application in step 1 gets the go-ahead, you can submit a full application by your preferred 2026 cut-off date for Accelerator Open or Accelerator Challenge.
Your application must include
- a 20-page form based on the template used for the short application
- pitch deck in PDF format
- implementation plan
- financial information
- Letters of Intent (LOI)
- FTO analysis (Freedom to Operate)
- A three-minute video pitch
A technology expert and an evaluation panel of at least three experts will assess your application in parallel. Around 3–4 weeks after the batch deadline, you will have a digital interview with the technology expert.
After the interview, the technology expert sends a report to the evaluation panel, which then assesses the proposal and assigns the final score.
Based on the scores, the highest-ranked proposals are invited to an interview with an EIC jury. You will receive the results of the external assessment of your application within 8–9 weeks.
We group proposals into batches for evaluation at 17:00 on the following dates:
- 07/01/2026
- 04/03/2026
- 06.05.2026
- 08.07.2026
- 02.09.2026
- 04.11.2026
Step 3: Pitch/interview
After every second application round, you will be invited to an interview with an EIC jury. You will receive more detailed information about the timing and format of the interview.
The interview results will be available within 2–3 weeks after the interview week ends.
We hold interview rounds three times a year:
- May 2026
- October 2026
- February 2027
Step 4: Sign the agreement and begin due diligence for the investment component
Grants only: You sign the grant agreement and receive the first advance payment.
Blended finance: You can use the additional flexibility offered by the investment component and negotiate an increase of up to €2 million.
Relevant information about your project is shared with the EIC Fund, which assesses your investment needs. EIC Business Acceleration Services (BAS) helps you find other investors. You will receive a decision on the investment component within 2–6 months.
If the due diligence process concludes that the project is not ready for investment, you will start with the grant component. We will reassess the case at defined milestones.