Can I apply to EIC Pre-Accelerator?

By country

• Can a company from an EU country apply?NoOrganisations in Germany can't apply: it is open to Widening countries (mostly Central, Eastern and Southern Europe).
• Can a company from Poland (a Widening country) apply?Yes
• Can a company from the UK apply?NoOrganisations in the United Kingdom can't apply: it is open to Widening countries (mostly Central, Eastern and Southern Europe).
• Can a company from Switzerland apply?NoOrganisations in Switzerland can't apply: it is open to Widening countries (mostly Central, Eastern and Southern Europe).
• Can a company from Norway apply?NoOrganisations in Norway can't apply: it is open to Widening countries (mostly Central, Eastern and Southern Europe).
• Can a company from Israel apply?NoOrganisations in Israel can't apply: it is open to Widening countries (mostly Central, Eastern and Southern Europe).
• Can a company from Ukraine apply?Yes
• Can a company from Türkiye apply?Yes
• Can a company from Canada apply?NoOrganisations in Canada can't apply: it is open to Widening countries (mostly Central, Eastern and Southern Europe).
• Can a company from Japan apply?NoOrganisations in Japan can't apply: it is open to Widening countries (mostly Central, Eastern and Southern Europe).
• Can a company from South Korea apply?NoOrganisations in South Korea can't apply: it is open to Widening countries (mostly Central, Eastern and Southern Europe).
• Can a company from the United States apply?NoOrganisations in the United States can't apply: it is open to Widening countries (mostly Central, Eastern and Southern Europe).
• Can a company from India apply?NoOrganisations in India can't apply: it is open to Widening countries (mostly Central, Eastern and Southern Europe).

By organisation

• Can a founder without a company yet apply?Yes, ifRegister a company first: the applicant must be an incorporated SME.
• Can a startup apply?Yes
• Can an established SME apply?Yes
• Can a mid-cap company apply?NoNot open to a mid-cap. One SME only, under the EU SME definition.
• Can a large company apply?NoNot open to a large company. One SME only, under the EU SME definition.
• Can a university apply?NoNot open to a university. One SME only, under the EU SME definition.
• Can a research organisation apply?NoNot open to a research organisation. One SME only, under the EU SME definition.
• Can a company apply on its own, without partners?Yes

By stage

• Can I apply with an idea or early research?NoToo early: this starts at TRL 4 (a proof of concept).
• Can I apply with a proof of concept?Yes
• Can I apply with a prototype?NoToo far along: this funds work up to TRL 4.
• Can I apply with a pilot with real users?NoToo far along: this funds work up to TRL 4.
• Can I apply with a product on the market?NoToo far along: this funds work up to TRL 4.

The rules in full

Where you must be based

Widening countries (mostly Central, Eastern and Southern Europe), plus MA, EG

Only companies established in a Horizon Europe Widening country: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, plus Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine. The EIC page also lists Morocco and Egypt. EU outermost regions (for example the Canary Islands, Azores, Madeira, French overseas regions) also count.

Who can apply

a startup or an SME

One SME only, under the EU SME definition. The 2027 work programme says SME; a line on the EIC page mentioning small mid-caps does not override it. Universities and research organisations cannot apply.

Alone or with partners

Alone

One company applies alone (mono-beneficiary).

Stage

TRL 4 to 4

Technology validated in the lab (at least TRL 4). The project takes it to TRL 5 or 6. If you have already completed TRL 5, look at the EIC Accelerator instead.

What you get

grants, up to €1M

2027 call: 500,000 to 1 million euros as a lump sum, for up to 2 years. The 2025 call gave 300,000 to 500,000 euros.

Funding rate

70% of eligible costs; you fund at least 30% yourself