TheIncubatorPro
List your programme
List your programme

Grant · Brussels, Belgium

EIC Accelerator

The EU's Horizon Europe programme for start-ups and SMEs with breakthrough innovations. It offers a grant below EUR 2.5 million, equity investment of EUR 1-10 million, or both, plus coaching.

Open · closes 4 Nov 2026 Run by European Innovation Council (EIC)

Visit the programme's site

Verified 18 October 2026 · From the programme's own pages

Terms

Funding
not published Lump-sum grant below EUR 2.5 million for innovation activities (TRL 6-8) over up to 24 months; equity or quasi-equity investment of EUR 1-10 million; options are grant only, blended finance or investment only
Instrument
Grant
Equity taken
not published
Programme fee
not published
Duration
not published
Cohort size
not published
Cohorts
not published
Delivery
Remote
Stages
Seed, post-seed
Sectors
Deep tech
Open to founders from
not published
Perks
  • Coaching and mentoring
  • Networking

2026 budgets: EUR 414 million for Accelerator Open and EUR 220 million for Accelerator Challenges.

Application dates

Open · closes 4 Nov 2026November 2026 full-proposal cut-off

Usual timing: Short proposals can be submitted at any time and are batched for evaluation on the first Tuesday of each month; 2027 full-proposal cut-offs will follow the 2027 EIC Work Programme.

Who can apply

  • Single start-ups and SMEs, or individuals planning to launch an SME; small mid-caps can apply for equity only
  • Established in an EU member state or Horizon Europe associated country (third-country applicants may relocate before the full application)
  • UK applicants can apply for the grant-only option
  • A positive short proposal is needed before a full proposal
  • Stage: seed, post-seed

What founders should check

  1. The programme does not publish how much equity it takes. Ask before you accept a place.
  2. It does not publish a fee. Ask whether you pay for desks, services or the programme itself.
  3. It runs remotely. Check the time zone of live sessions.
  4. Applications are open until 4 November 2026. That is less than a month away, so start the form now.

Similar grants

Other grants that share a sector with EIC Accelerator or run in Belgium.

Grant · Belgium

Women TechEU

An EU-funded programme for women-led, early-stage deep tech startups in Europe. Each selected startup receives EUR 75,000 in non-dilutive funding plus mentoring, coaching and training.

€75k grant · equity-free

Open · closes 14 Jan 2027

Grant · Austria

aws Preseed - Deep Tech

An Austrian grant for deep tech founders before or just after incorporation, funding a proof of concept or prototype based on applied research over one to two years.

Funding not published · equity-free

Rolling applications

Grant · United States

DoD SBIR/STTR

The US defence department's SBIR and STTR programmes for US small businesses, run through annual Broad Agency Announcements and Commercial Solutions Openings with topics released monthly.

Funding not published · equity-free

Status unknown

Grant · Washington, United States

DOE SBIR/STTR

Department of Energy grants for US small businesses working on energy and science technologies, in phases from feasibility (Phase I) to development and prototyping (Phase II).

Funding not published · equity-free

Status unknown

Grant · United States

NASA SBIR/STTR

NASA's small business research funding for US companies. Since 2026, SBIR, STTR and SBIR Ignite subtopics are released in appendices to a single announcement through the year.

Funding not published · equity-free

Status unknown

Run this programme?

Send us your next dates and terms and we will update the listing from your own pages, free.

How listing works