Specific Buzzwords to be used in EIC Accelerator Applications (SME Instrument Phase 2)

The European Commission (EC) and the European Innovation Council (EIC) in particular have a variety of keywords (or buzzwords) that are often asked for in the official EIC Accelerator grant proposal template (SME Instrument Phase 2). Such keywords are not required to be part of a good business model but, since evaluators will have to grade certain pre-defined criteria, it is useful to be aware of them and, if possible, include them in the writing process.

Especially professional writers and consultants should be able to implement certain keywords so that the evaluators have them in the back of their head when its time to review each individual criterion (read: Using the Evaluation Summary Report). The following is a list that can be used by innovation startups or Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) who are aiming to apply for the EIC Accelerator or similarly competitive grant financing programs.

It can also be useful to edit existing applications and investigate if the following keywords have been considered thoroughly or if they have been neglected in previous submissions. Such attention to detail can make the difference between a barely rejected proposal and a funded project.

Buzzwords

Game-changing

While being directly mentioned in the EIC Accelerator template, the phrasing game-changing can be valuable to add to the product description or when addressing how the customer needs are addressed. (Read: Identifying a Broad Vision)

Non-bankable

Non-bankability is a very important criterion to address and can, arguably, be the most difficult to receive a high score on. It should be used in the context of other efforts made to receive financing, its general accessibility and how it relates to the EIC Accelerator. (Read: The EIC Accelerator Budget)

Agile

Disruptive and New Markets

The EU and EIC generally want to fund projects that bring something new to the table and have a significant, long-term impact. This means that phrases such as disruption and new market creation should be used throughout the Impact Section (read: Developing a Commercial Strategy). It should be highlighted how a new market is created and why a current market is disrupted in a believable way.

Scalable

Scalability is a key focus for the EIC Accelerator and it should be used whenever applicable, i.e. in the commercial strategy, work packages, scale-up potential and related sections. If an innovation is not scalable then receiving the EIC Accelerator grant financing will be near impossible (read: Business Models for EIC Accelerator Applications).

New Value-Chains and Business Models

To further illustrate the impact of the applying company and innovation on the industry and European Union (EU) as a whole, it should be described what the effect on adjacent stakeholders will be. This can be related to the creation of new value-chains (i.e. by providing a missing link) or by enabling new business models through a new product or service.

High Risk and De-Risking

Discussing the risk of the EIC Accelerator project is very important and its description is directly requested in multiple parts of the proposal template (i.e. in all major sections). The project should be identified as a high-risk / high-reward project and the EIC Accelerator grant must be presented as the only support available in order to de-risk the project and reach the appropriate Technolgy Readiness Level (TRL) (read: How the EIC Accelerator Funds Technology Readiness Levels).

Gender-Equality

Gender equality is an important topic for the European Union (EU) and it should be understood as increasing the presence and outcomes of women in a variety of different environments. The evaluators will respond to any company, project or innovation that specifically benefits women whereas a fully female management team will be more favourably evaluated than its male counterpart. It is useful to identify female issues wherever applicable and, if suitable, include them in the editing process.

Inclusion and Diversity

Just like gender equality, inclusion and diversity are other political terms that have made its way into the business world which means that it is useful to include it into certain sections. These words could be applied to the hiring description, team strengths, strategic partners, marketing efforts and the broader impact.

Sustainability and a Circular Economy

Discussing the environmental impact of an EIC Accelerator project can greatly affect the results and success of the application and terms such as sustainable and circular economy can be useful tools to illustrate a certain principle. These words can be added to the introduction or the broader impact section.

Ease-of-Use and Value-for-Money

When discussing the innovation (i.e. in the Innovativeness section), describing the ease-of-use and value-for-money is a must since evaluators will be looking for these exact terms. In the end, pricing and convenience are key metrics that determine buying decisions so they should be given extra care when discussing the Unique Selling Points (USP), Key-Value Propositions (KVP) and competitive differentiators.

Unicorn Start-Up

The term unicorn loosely describes a startup with a €1bn+ valuation and the EC, naturally, is aiming to create a nourishing environment to help such companies grow. The reason why the EIC Accelerator is so competitive and why a project must be impressive in order to succeed is because the EU wants more unicorns and not fall too far behind the US and China. While the term does not need to be used directly, the companies vision should reflect that such a scale is possible and that it is part of the companies future.

Jobs

This is a rather simple term but it should not be underestimated how much the EU likes the creation of jobs. A healthy economy has a low incidence of unemployment which means that any EIC Accelerator application should discuss direct and indirect job creations. This can be part of multiple proposal sections since it can also include the avoidance of unemployment in certain sectors.

Summary

Important buzzwords for an EIC Accelerator application are:

• Game-changing
• Non-bankable
• Agile
• Disruptive and New Markets
• Scalable
• New value-chains and Business models
• High Risk and De-Risking
• Gender-Equality
• Inclusion and Diversity
• Sustainability and a Circular Economy
• Ease-of-use and value-for-money
• Unicorn Start-Up
• Jobs

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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