EIC Pre-Accelerator Opens with Up to €500K Grants
EIC Pre-Accelerator Opens with Up to €500K Grants to Fuel Deep Tech Startups in Emerging Innovation Regions
New EU call offers funding and fast-track access to the EIC Accelerator—spotlighting alternative funding routes alongside national grants and crowdfunding models like Reclimb.
The European Innovation Council (EIC) has launched its first-ever EIC Pre-Accelerator call, a bold initiative aimed at boosting early-stage deep tech startups in “widening” countries—regions in the EU with lower levels of private investment and innovation uptake. The call is now open, with a deadline of 18 November 2025, and offers individual grants of up to €500,000 per company alongside business support services, coaching, and direct access to EU-level funding mechanisms.
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Funded through the Horizon Europe WIDERA Work Programme 2025, the EIC Pre-Accelerator is designed to help high-potential startups at TRL 4–6 (technology validated in lab environments) build the momentum needed to reach market readiness. In total, the programme has allocated €20 million to support early deep tech commercialization.
A Practical Launchpad for the EIC Accelerator and Beyond
The core aim of the Pre-Accelerator is to prepare selected companies for a successful transition to the EIC Accelerator—Europe’s flagship funding instrument for scaling groundbreaking innovations—as well as national and regional instruments like Seal of Excellence grants and private capital. Companies will receive:
€300K–€500K grants (70% of eligible project costs)
Free access to the EIC Business Acceleration Services (coaching, mentoring, bootcamps, investor matching)
Fast-track eligibility to apply directly for EIC Accelerator funding upon project evaluation
The grant duration is capped at two years, with tailored KPIs and coaching along the way.
Who Can Apply?
Only single SMEs or small mid-caps established in Horizon Europe’s widening countries can apply. Eligible applicants must show:
High-impact innovation with disruptive potential
Clearly protected intellectual property (or a strategy to secure it)
A defined commercialization pathway and scaling plan
Commitment to reaching investor and market readiness
The application process is fully digital and available via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
Alternative Investment Models Gaining Traction
The EIC Pre-Accelerator’s debut reflects Europe’s broader shift toward more diverse innovation financing models—especially in undercapitalized regions like Central and Eastern Europe. In parallel to EU-level support, new investment pathways are emerging, including crowdfunding and mixed financing strategies.
One example is Reclimb, a Polish sporttech startup that recently launched a public share issue campaign alongside winning PLN 13.7 million in grant funding through the PARP SMART program. Reclimb is combining equity crowdfunding with state-backed grants to finance the production of its interactive climbing wall system, SkyWall—demonstrating how startups can blend grassroots investment with deep tech innovation.
In this context, the EIC Pre-Accelerator helps close a critical funding gap: giving startups access to non-dilutive capital at a phase too early for traditional VC, while simultaneously preparing them to become bankable for private funds, regional programs, or large-scale EU accelerators.
For many founders, it’s a rare chance to validate technology, build investor confidence, and grow on their own terms—without immediately giving up equity or control.
Read more and apply by 18 November: https://eic.ec.europa.eu/eic-funding-opportunities/eic-pre-accelerator_en
