SME Instrument Phase 1 vs. Phase 2 (EIC Accelerator) Posted on October 12, 2019March 20, 2020 By Stephan Segler, Ph.D. Since Phase 1 (€50,000) of the EUs start-up grant will be discontinued after September 2019 but Phase 2 (€2,500,000) will remain open, here is an overview of the main differences between the applications. While Phase 1 &2 proposals do follow almost the exact same template, there are important variations to consider: Feasibility vs Implementation: Phase 1 is granted for a feasibility study of the project while Phase 2 is for the implementation of all technical and commercial developments. Grant amount and competitiveness: Due to the higher grant amount, Phase 2 is more difficult to achieve than Phase 1 Funding threshold: The official threshold for funding is 13/15 for Phase 1 and 12/15 for Phase 2 Interview: Phase 2 requires an in-person interview before the grant is approved Proposal length and additional sections: The main document is 10 pages for Phase 1 while Phase 2 is 30 pages. Value for money of subcontracting is rated: The subcontracting in the proposed project must be described and justified according to its best value for money. EIC Accelerator Horizon 2020 Phase 1 Phase 2 SME Instrument / EIC Accelerator EIC Accelerator grantEIC Accelerator templateGrant AmountInvestorsSME Instrument Phase 1SME Instrument Phase 2
EIC Accelerator AI For EIC Accelerator Grant Proposals: Are The Disruptors About To Be Disrupted? (Part 1) Posted on March 24, 2025 The EIC Accelerator funding (grant and equity, with blended financing option) by the European Commission (EC) and the European Innovation Council (EIC) awards up to €2.5 million in grant and €10 million in equity financing per project (€12.5 million total). This article provides a perspective on the use of Artificial… Read More
EIC Accelerator How to Prepare a Good EIC Accelerator Application: General Project Advice Posted on April 10, 2023March 27, 2023 The EIC Accelerator funding (grant and equity, with blended financing option) by the European Innovation Council (EIC) and European Commission (EC) is a selective program designed for startups and Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME). The funding per project can reach €17.5 million in total (€2.5 million in grant and €15… Read More
EIC Accelerator Choosing a Good Project for the EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument Phase 2) Posted on May 29, 2020October 9, 2020 While any type of industry or product is eligible for an EIC Accelerator application, the EU specifically seeks out innovative businesses that are providing high-risk and high-reward products or services. The evaluation criteria directly mention new market creation, market disruption as well as the establishment of new value-chains and, while… Read More