The EIC Accelerator Step 2 full-proposal submission is not entered through a general public link in the same way as the Step 1 short proposal. A company must first receive permission to submit a full proposal, normally by obtaining a GO at Step 1 or through an eligible Fast Track or Plug-in route.

Once eligible, the applicant receives communication from the European Commission providing access to the relevant Step 2 submission topics. The first important decision is selecting the correct topic before creating the draft.

Official reference: European Innovation Council, EIC Accelerator application process and 2026 documents.

Who Can Submit a Step 2 Full Proposal?

A company can proceed to the full proposal when it has one of the recognised entry routes:

  • A GO on an EIC Accelerator Step 1 short proposal.
  • An invitation through an eligible Fast Track scheme.
  • An invitation through an approved national or regional Plug-in scheme.

The invitation or eligibility communication connects the applicant to the Step 2 submission options. Applicants should not rely on an old public link or another company's portal URL because eligibility is connected to the legal entity and the qualifying application route.

Select the Correct Open or Challenge Topic

Eligible applicants can see several Step 2 submission links because the EIC Accelerator contains an Open call and multiple Challenge calls.

EIC Accelerator Open

The Open call has no predefined thematic restriction. A company can apply from any industry if it satisfies the general Accelerator requirements, including breakthrough innovation, appropriate Technology Readiness Level, significant market potential, high risk and a clear need for EIC support.

EIC Accelerator Challenges

Each Challenge targets a defined strategic technology or policy objective, such as energy, agriculture, raw materials or climate adaptation. A Challenge application must fit its scope and specific conditions rather than merely having a loose connection to the topic.

The chosen link determines the call under which the proposal is evaluated, so applicants should read the full Challenge text before creating the draft. If the project does not clearly satisfy a Challenge, the Open call is the appropriate route.

Create the Step 2 Draft

After selecting the correct topic, create the full-proposal draft in the Funding and Tenders Portal. Companies that passed through Step 1 will normally already have an EU Login account, an organisation registration and a PIC, but these details should be checked before substantive work begins.

The draft should be created early for the same reasons as at Step 1: it confirms the selected call, exposes the current portal forms and allows the applicant to receive call-specific notifications.

Prepare the Full Proposal in a Team Workspace

The full proposal should be developed outside the portal in a controlled workspace where founders, technical leaders, finance staff and external advisors can review one consistent set of documents. The portal should be treated as the final submission interface rather than the main writing environment.

Under the 2026 application process, the full proposal includes a substantially shortened main form together with detailed supporting documents, including:

  • A 20-page full-proposal form expanding the company's innovation, market, impact, implementation and financing case.
  • A pitch deck in PDF format that can be used if the company reaches the jury interview.
  • An implementation plan defining work packages, activities, milestones, deliverables and resources.
  • Detailed financial information covering historical performance, forecasts, financing needs and the requested EIC support.
  • Letters of Intent supporting commercial, investment or partnership claims where relevant.
  • A freedom-to-operate analysis addressing the intellectual-property landscape.
  • A video pitch of up to three minutes.

Keep Every Document Consistent

The main proposal, pitch deck, implementation plan and financial documents must describe the same company and strategy. Inconsistencies in the funding request, development timeline, market assumptions, Technology Readiness Level or hiring plan can undermine otherwise strong material.

The 2026 process also includes an in-depth assessment by a technology expert, including an online meeting with the applicant. This makes internal ownership of the proposal essential: the company must understand and defend the submitted work packages, technical claims, intellectual property, commercial strategy and financial plan.

Step 2 Submission Checklist

  • Confirm the legal entity's eligibility to submit a full proposal.
  • Review every available topic and select Open or the correct Challenge.
  • Create the portal draft under the correct call.
  • Verify the EU Login, PIC and organisation data.
  • Prepare all narrative and financial documents in a shared workspace.
  • Check that the technology, market, budget and timeline are consistent across every file.
  • Have the management and technical team review the complete proposal before submission.
  • Submit before the intended batching date and preserve the final submitted package for interview preparation.

The full proposal is not merely a longer Step 1 document. It is the complete technical, commercial and financing case that will support the expert assessment, evaluation-panel decision and, if successful, the final jury interview.