How To Improve Your Chances of Getting Funded Posted on August 29, 2017May 23, 2020 By Stephan Segler, Ph.D. To find out if your project is suitable for funding, please read What Types of Industries Receive Funding?. Three of the four evaluators that will review the proposal have a business background and only one will have a technical or scientific background. While it is impossible to know what the specific evaluators will focus on and look for, there are some general things that make the project look more suitable for investments: You have financial backing other than the SME Instrument (Own revenues, parent company, private investors) You have been acknowledged for your innovation (prices, funds, awards, features on blogs, TV or magazines) You address a promising market segment (market growth, market size, small competition) You have Letters of Recommendation from key partners and stakeholders (regulatory agencies, decision makers, relevant authorities, thought leaders) You have Letters of Intent from Suppliers, Customers or Distributors You have a highly experienced and capable team (work experience, relevant projects, education, extensive support network) Your project brings not only financial but also social benefits to the EU Your project has more potential than just the Phase 2 developments and can be expanded further within the next decade It is not necessary to fill all the boxes but we should be able to address as many points as possible. Horizon 2020 Phase 1 Phase 2 SME Instrument / EIC Accelerator Industries & CompaniesInvestorsSME Instrument Phase 1SME Instrument Phase 2Writing Tips
EIC Accelerator How To Identify a High Quality SME Instrument Project (EIC Accelerator) Posted on October 12, 2019March 20, 2020 If you are considering to apply for the start-up grant by the EU, here is the most important information on how to identify a high-quality project: (1) Hardware products: More than 60% of all funded projects are related to hardware manufacturing, followed by subscription services at only 16%. This… Read More
EIC Accelerator Who Should Not Apply To The EIC Accelerator And Why Posted on April 24, 2023April 17, 2023 The EIC Accelerator grant financing (with blended equity option) by the European Innovation Council (EIC) and European Commission (EC) funds Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) and startups with up to €2.5 million in grants and €15 million in equity financing per project (€17.5 million total). The EIC Accelerator sets out… Read More
EIC Accelerator An Inside Look into the EIC Accelerator Fund and its Equity Financing (SME Instrument) Posted on February 5, 2021February 4, 2021 The EIC Accelerator blended financing (formerly SME Instrument Phase 2, grant and equity financing) is a highly competitive program that is slowly evolving into a fully fletched startup financing initiative (read: EIC Accelerator Introduction). Unfortunately, the latest developments regarding its equity financing have led to confusion and criticism as it… Read More