Designing Images for an EIC Accelerator Application (SME Instrument Phase 2) - Part 2

Part 1 of this article can be found under the provided link.

4. Image Guide for Selected Sections

Whatever type of EIC Accelerator (formerly SME Instrument Phase 2 - grant, equity and blended finance) project it is, in almost all cases, it is useful to create or re-create certain images. A professional writer or consultant should always be aware of the impact of graphics and design on the evaluation process which can be applied to both the proposal (i.e. following the application template) and the EIC Accelerator interview (i.e. the pitch deck).

The following is a shortlist of a few selected image principles under the Excellence section of an EIC Accelerator application:

4.1 Introduction

The introduction sets the stage for the entire application since it connects the innovation and business plan with the context of its European and global impact (read: Identifying a Broad Vision). As such, the images found in this section should be to-the-point and perfectly exemplify the environmental, political, social or commercial issue that is to be solved by the project.

Such a graphic can summarize a whole page of text and express it in simple terms through numbers and charts in order to quickly get a point across. It ideally follows a narrative flow where one fact leads to another and culminates in the main lynchpin of the problem (or business opportunity).

4.2 Technology

It can sometimes be useful to introduce a certain type of technology or principle before the innovation of the respective startup or Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) is detailed. If this is the case, a compact schematic graph or mindmap-like concept chart can be introduced to explain how the technology works in a general sense (i.e. explaining electric microgrids, a chemical process, an IT architecture, etc.) since it will enhance the evaluators understanding of the following product description.

If there is no need to introduce a basic technology principle ahead of the product description, the same principle can also be applied to further illustrate the missing link (read: Providing the Missing Link) and describe what exactly a solution would need to exhibit in order to fill the need as well as its general effect on the problem. Such a graphic helps the evaluators to visualise the overall strategy of fixing the problem and shows how it will be solved.

4.3 Solution

The Solution section (i.e. the product presentation) should be very visual and, according to the chosen subsegments, help the reviewers properly understand what each product feature or constituent looks like and how it operates.

As such, the types of images used in this section can be very broad and can range from concept charts over simple product photos to screenshots of reports, production machinery, the User Interface (UI) or back-end analytics.

Generally speaking, it can make sense to begin this section with a concept graphic to fully explain the way the innovation is applied or operates and then to segway into images that represent the software side of the product, followed by the hardware components (if applicable) or any other type of sub-classification.

4.4 Innovativeness

The Innovativeness section revolves around technological and commercial differentiators from the competition which lends itself to adding comparison tables, axis graphics, overlapping-circles graphs or similar variations.

Tables are often the most essential type of graphic in such a section since they allow the clear communication of unique value propositions while showcasing a complete list of the shortcomings of competitors.

In addition, it can make sense to introduce other types of figures into this section which are more technically oriented rather than targeting specific competing differentiators. This might be useful to introduce principles that are true across all competing technologies and are a fact based on the technology-type itself but only represent a small aspect of the overall innovation.

As an example, this can be the comparison of a chemical process with technological alternatives (ie. visualised through a column diagram), a technical principle that bypasses common problems or a variation of an established technical design. Since such comparisons are unique to each EIC Accelerator project, these should be customized for each specific case.

4.5 Timing and Technology Readiness Levels (TRL)

Using timelines and scheme's to accentuate the past and future developments of a project is always a useful approach to simplifying the evaluation process and improve the proposals score. The timing can be illustrated through a comparison of past and future whereas the current point in time can be highlighted as a unique opportunity to invest now.

The TRL stages have to be addressed in the text since they are an integral part of the official EIC Accelerator template and are also looked for during the evaluation (read: How the EIC Accelerator Funds TRL's). TRL's can be presented in a variety of ways by either segmenting the past (ie. TRL1-6) from the future developments (i.e. TRL6-9) or by summarizing the entire project timeline into a full-width spread.

This simple graphical choice can significantly help the evaluators to assess the proposals development stage and benefit the grading of the respective criteria (read: Using the Evaluation Summary Report).

5. Illustration Software to Use

There are no established best practices for the software choices in grant proposal writing since the outcome is all that matters and there are many great choices for software available (read: Software Choices for the Annexes and Microsoft Word vs. Adobe InDesign).

The two general choices for the preparation of dedicated proposal images are vector graphic software products (i.e. Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw) and slide software (i.e. Powerpoint or Google Slides) since they use an artboard-type work environment with responsive elements for drag-and-drop use.

• Slide software has the benefit of being very easy to use and allowing the selection of many presets for shapes and forms that can be used immediately (i.e. arrows, lines, boxes) as well as great design choices (i.e. fills, shadows, inner glow, transparency, opacity).
• Vector graphics, while requiring slightly higher skill levels, has the benefit of providing extensive features to not only design but also customize every image perfectly.

If one is able to use both software choices equally well then the result of vector graphic software will always be higher in quality, more customized and be much faster to create. Vector graphics software also lends itself to working with customized pictograms (read: EIC Accelerator Proposal Design Resources) and other imported vector graphics that can be used without tedious conversions.

6. Page Design

Lastly, the general formatting of the application and the overall page design is an important means to increase the EIC Accelerator proposals appeal. Using a cover page, consistent colours, easy-to-read spacing/fonts, a table of contents and visually separated headers and sub-headers are a simple but useful last step in creating a competitive application.

These tips are not only useful for European startups, professional writers, consultants and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) but are generally recommended when writing a business plan or investor documents.

Deadlines: Post-Horizon 2020, the EIC Accelerator accepts Step 1 submissions now while the deadlines for the full applications (Step 2) under Horizon Europe are listed below. The Step 1 applications must be submitted weeks in advance of Step 2. The next EIC Accelerator cut-off for Step 2 (full proposal) can be found here. After Brexit, UK companies can still apply to the EIC Accelerator under Horizon Europe albeit with non-dilutive grant applications only - thereby excluding equity-financing. Switzerland has resumed its participation in Horizon Europe and is now eligible for the EIC Accelerator.

Contact: You can reach out to us via this contact form to work with a professional consultant.

AI Grant Writer: ChatEIC is a fully automated EIC Accelerator grant proposal writer: Get it here.

Eureka Network: The Eureka Network delivers various international collaborative R&D initiatives such as Network Projects, Clusters, Eurostars, Globalstars, and Innowwide, providing funding from €50K to €6.75M per project based on the specific initiative. This network emphasizes market-driven innovation and deep-tech advancement across multiple technology sectors including ICT/Digital, Industrial/Manufacturing, Bio/Medical Technologies, Energy/Environment, Quantum, AI, and Circular Economy. Eligible participants include SMEs, large enterprises, research organizations, universities, and startups, with Eurostars particularly focused on R&D-performing SMEs. Get Started

EIC Transition: EIC Transition delivers up to €2.5 million in funding to overcome the 'valley of death' gap between laboratory research and market deployment, emphasizing technology maturation and validation. The initiative supports single legal entities or small consortia of 2-5 partners including SMEs, start-ups, spin-offs, and research organizations. Key technology domains include Health/Medical Technologies, Green/Environmental Innovation, Digital/Microelectronics, Quantum Technologies, and AI/Robotics. Get Started

EIC STEP Scale-Up: EIC STEP Scale-Up delivers significant equity investments of €10-30 million for established deep-tech companies prepared for hyper-growth and large-scale expansion. The initiative targets SMEs or small mid-caps with up to 499 employees who have obtained pre-commitment from qualified investors. Primary focus areas include Digital & Deep Tech (Semiconductors, AI, Quantum), Clean Technologies for Net-Zero objectives, and Biotechnologies. Get Started

EIC Pre-Accelerator: EIC Pre-Accelerator represents a 2025 pilot initiative delivering €300,000-€500,000 in funding for early-stage deep-tech development and preparation for the EIC Accelerator program. This program is exclusively accessible to single SMEs or small mid-caps from 'Widening countries' to foster regional innovation development. The initiative encompasses deep-tech innovations across physical, biological, and digital domains. Get Started

EIC Pathfinder: EIC Pathfinder delivers up to €3 million for Open calls and up to €4 million for Challenge-based calls to support early-stage research and development with proof-of-principle validation. The initiative requires research consortia with a minimum of 3 partners from 3 different countries, including universities, research organizations, and SMEs. Primary technology focus areas include Health/Medical, Quantum Technologies, AI, Environmental/Energy, and Advanced Materials. Get Started

EIC Accelerator: EIC Accelerator delivers flexible funding options including blended finance (€2.5M grant + €0.5M-€10M equity), grant-only (up to €2.5M), or equity-only arrangements for scale-up and market deployment of breakthrough innovations. The initiative targets SMEs, start-ups, and small mid-caps with up to 499 employees, with MedTech/Healthcare representing 35% of funded projects. Additional technology areas include Biopharma, Energy, AI, Quantum, Aerospace, Advanced Materials, and Semiconductors. Get Started

Innovation Partnership: Innovation Partnership enables collaborative innovation between public and private sectors with typical funding of €1-5 million per project. The initiative supports cross-sectoral strategic technologies through public-private partnerships and consortia. Projects concentrate on addressing societal challenges through collaborative innovation approaches. Get Started

Innovation Fund: The EU Innovation Fund delivers substantial funding of €7.5 million to €300 million for large-scale demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies. The initiative targets clean energy, carbon capture, renewable energy, and energy storage technologies to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. Eligible participants include large companies, consortia, and public entities capable of implementing large-scale demonstration projects. Get Started

Innovate UK: Innovate UK delivers various programs with funding ranging from £25K to £10M depending on the specific initiative, supporting business-led innovation, collaborative R&D, and knowledge transfer. The organization funds projects across all sectors with particular emphasis on emerging technologies and supports UK-based businesses, research organizations, and universities. Programs are designed to drive economic growth through innovation and technology commercialization. Get Started

Industrial Partnership: Industrial Partnership delivers €2-10 million in funding for industrial research and innovation partnerships focusing on manufacturing, industrial technologies, and digital transformation. The initiative supports industrial consortia and research organizations in developing collaborative solutions for industrial challenges. Projects aim to strengthen European industrial competitiveness through strategic partnerships. Get Started

Eurostars: Eurostars represents a joint EU-Eureka initiative delivering €50K-€500K for international R&D collaboration specifically led by SMEs. The program adopts a bottom-up approach, accepting projects from all technology fields without predefined thematic restrictions. R&D-performing SMEs must lead the consortium and demonstrate significant R&D activities. Get Started

LIFE Programme: The LIFE Programme delivers €1-10 million in funding for environmental protection, climate action, and nature conservation projects across the European Union. The initiative supports environmental technologies, climate adaptation strategies, and biodiversity conservation initiatives. Eligible participants include public authorities, private companies, NGOs, and research institutions working on environmental and climate challenges. Get Started

Neotec: Neotec represents a Spanish initiative delivering €250K-€1M in funding for technology-based business creation and development, supporting the growth of innovative Spanish SMEs and start-ups. The program covers all technology sectors and aims to strengthen Spain's technology ecosystem. Funding is specifically targeted at Spanish technology-based SMEs and start-ups to enhance their competitiveness and market presence. Get Started

Thematic Priorities: EU Thematic Priorities encompass various programs aligned with EU strategic priorities including green transition, digital transformation, health, and security initiatives. Funding amounts vary based on the specific program and call requirements, with projects designed to address key European challenges. Applicant eligibility varies by specific program and call, with different requirements for different thematic areas. Get Started

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