Navigating the EIC Accelerator: Understanding the “3 Strikes, You’re Out” Rule The European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator is a pivotal funding mechanism under Horizon Europe, aimed at startups and Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) that are pushing the boundaries of innovation. With a blend of grants and equity, it represents a critical opportunity for groundbreaking … Read more
Discover the Opportunities with the EIC Accelerator: Igniting Innovation and Growth! Discover a world of opportunity with the EIC Accelerator, an empowering funding program brought to you by the European Innovation Council (EIC), a key player within the Horizon Europe framework. This dynamic initiative is dedicated to uplifting innovative companies that are at the forefront … Read more
Introduction In June 2023, the European Innovation Council (EIC) implemented significant changes to its application system, particularly affecting the Evaluation Summary Report (ESR). Now, the ESR only shows the final score and comments without specifying which evaluator provided a ‘Go’ or ‘No-Go’ decision. This article explores the implications of these changes for applicants and how … Read more
Introduction: The Unpredictability of EIC Accelerator’s Evaluation Process The European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator program’s evaluation process, particularly in Steps 1 and 2, is fraught with unpredictability and a sense of randomness, leading to frustration among applicants. The lack of clear consequences for evaluators who provide inconsistent, incorrect, or uninformed assessments exacerbates this issue. The … Read more
Inconsistencies in the EIC Accelerator’s Communication and Evaluation The European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator program, a key funding mechanism for innovative startups and SMEs, faces significant challenges in transparently communicating its objectives and expectations to applicants. This situation contributes to confusion and uncertainty among those seeking funding. Communication Gaps and Political Agendas: The EIC has … Read more
The Dichotomy of EIC Accelerator’s Step 3 Jury Evaluation The European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator program plays a pivotal role in nurturing startups and Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), especially in the DeepTech sector. However, the final step of this funding journey, Step 3, which involves a jury evaluation, presents a unique challenge. The jury’s … Read more
Understanding the EIC Accelerator Timeline The European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator program, a beacon of hope for startups and SMEs in the EU, offers a promising avenue for securing funding. However, it’s crucial to recognize that the path to this funding is often a long and unpredictable journey. With an average processing time of 300 … Read more
Introduction Securing funding in the highly competitive landscape of startup grants, especially through prestigious programs like the European Innovation Council’s (EIC) Accelerator, is often a journey marked by initial rejections. This article explores the common trajectory of startups facing rejections before finally achieving approval, highlighting the resilience required in the pursuit of non-dilutive grants and … Read more
In 2021, the EIC Accelerator blended financing (formerly SME Instrument Phase 2, grant and equity) has completed its first year under the new application framework (read: Application Process). With 2 cut-offs in 2021 (June and October), it presented a steep learning curve for Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME), professional writers and the European Innovation Council … Read more
The EIC Accelerator blended financing (formerly SME Instrument Phase 2, grant and equity) has reinvented itself in 2021 with a new submission process, a larger budget and new success thresholds (read: AI Tool Review). The latter is significant since they directly define how much time companies will need to spend on an application and how … Read more
