The European Innovation Council (EIC) has attracted substantial interest from start-ups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with its highly competitive Accelerator programme
For the final 2025 cut-off, which closed on 1 October, the EIC received 923 complete applications, reflecting strong demand for EU-backed support for breakthrough innovations.
Demand for blended finance remains high
Applicants collectively requested close to €7 billion in funding, showing the scale and ambition of the projects under consideration. A significant majority of companies, 683 out of the 923, representing 74% have applied for blended finance.
This funding model combines grant support with equity investments, offering both financial flexibility and long-term capital, making it particularly attractive to deep-tech and scale-up companies with high-risk, high-potential innovations.
Participation across Europe
The 2025 application round received submissions from companies across 32 different countries, showing the continued appeal of the EIC Accelerator across the European innovation ecosystem.
Twelve of the participating countries are classified as widening countries, highlighting the EIC’s commitment to inclusive participation and geographical balance in EU-funded innovation activities.
Germany, Spain, and France accounted for the highest number of applications, reinforcing their positions as leading contributors to the European start-up and innovation landscape. However, the breadth of participation indicates a pan-European appetite for support in scaling high-impact technologies.
Representation of women-led companies
Women led 33% of the submitted proposals in key executive roles such as CEO, CTO, or CSO. This figure signals continued progress in increasing gender diversity in leadership within the European innovation sector, aligning with broader EU goals to foster inclusivity in research and entrepreneurship.
Evaluation and selection process
All proposals submitted for the 1 October 2025 deadline are now undergoing evaluation by independent experts. This assessment process is designed to identify the most promising companies based on the potential impact, excellence, and viability of their innovations.
Companies with the highest-scoring proposals will be invited to the next stage of the selection process, which includes a pitch session before a jury of investors and business experts. These interviews are scheduled to take place between 19 and 23 January 2026. Final decisions on which projects will receive funding are expected by the end of February 2026.
For companies seeking equity support, the process extends beyond the grant decision. These applicants will be referred to the EIC Fund, which will assess their suitability for investment and conduct further due diligence as needed.
2026 funding opportunities
This was the final cut-off for complete applications to the EIC Accelerator in 2025. The following opportunities will be outlined in the upcoming 2026 EIC Work Programme, which is expected to be adopted in early November 2025. The programme will set out the funding priorities and timelines for the coming year.
While full application deadlines are set periodically, short applications remain open for submission at any time. This continuous intake enables companies to start their EIC journey immediately, without waiting for the next scheduled cut-off.
