EIC Accelerator: Which projects is it suited to and what makes a successful application?

What you will learn in this episode

• Which companies and projects the EIC Accelerator is suited to.
• What deep tech means and how to demonstrate your technology’s breakthrough potential.
• Why your project’s technology readiness matters.
• The importance of your team, intellectual property and customer interest.
• What to focus on when preparing your proposal, pitch deck and video.

Which projects are a good fit for the EIC Accelerator?

The EIC Accelerator helps start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises develop breakthrough innovations and bring them to market. It focuses on solutions with the potential to create new markets or fundamentally transform existing ones. Alongside breakthrough technology, you need the ambition to grow internationally and funding that you cannot secure at the required scale from private sources alone because of the high level of risk.

Depending on the type of support, you can receive a grant normally below EUR 2.5 million, an equity investment of EUR 1–10 million, or a combination of the two.

Before preparing your proposal, ask yourself:

• What problem does your technology solve?
• How does it represent a significant advance over available alternatives?
• Who will use it, and why will they pay for it?

Your answers will help you assess whether your project matches the programme’s objectives.

Your development stage also matters. For the Accelerator, you must have completed validation of your technology in a relevant environment, meaning at least TRL 5. Provide evidence of what you have tested, the results you achieved and the steps still needed to bring your solution to market.

The instruments offered by the European Innovation Council serve different purposes. Pathfinder supports early-stage research into breakthrough technologies, Transition helps turn results from eligible research projects into practical applications, and the Pre-Accelerator focuses on the technology, business and investment readiness of companies in widening countries, which include Czechia and Slovakia. Choosing the right instrument is therefore one of the first steps in preparing your application.

What you need to demonstrate in your proposal

Technology and competitive advantage

Deep tech refers to innovations rooted in advanced scientific or technological knowledge. Explain the technological breakthrough and how it translates into your solution’s features, performance or costs. Support your claims with specific comparisons and validation results.

“The fact that a project or product is not deep tech and is not a fit for the EIC does not mean it is a bad product.”

— Michaela Vlková

Preparing your application also involves protecting your intellectual property. Think through how you will maintain your advantage and whether you can commercially exploit your technology while respecting other parties’ rights. If you are a spin-off, clarify the rights to any technology originating from a university.

“… even if the technology is patentable, a patent may not be the most suitable form of protection.”

— Michaela Vlková

Trade secrets, for example, may be a suitable alternative to patent protection. Proprietary data, the pace of further development or a head start in certification can also strengthen your competitive advantage. Explain why competitors cannot easily catch up with you.

Market and customers

Connect your technology to a business opportunity. Who are your target customers, how large is the addressable market and what share can you realistically capture? Explain your business model and how you plan to reach your first or additional customers.

In the episode, we also discuss Letters of Intent expressing interest from potential customers or partners. When preparing them, focus on specific interest: how the technology would be used, which problem it would solve and how the collaboration could develop. The more specific your supporting evidence, the more clearly you can explain the relationship between your solution and market needs.

Team and proposal preparation

Evaluators also assess your team’s ability to deliver the project. Business experience and the ability to manage company growth are important alongside technical expertise. Describe who is responsible for each area, the experience they bring and how you plan to fill any skills gaps.

Involve the entire project team in preparing the proposal. Assign the technical, commercial and financial sections to people who understand those areas. Your proposal, pitch deck and video must explain the same project consistently. Allow time for independent feedback and subsequent revisions.

“It is good to have projects and proposals assessed through a different pair of eyes.”

— Zuzana Ellis

According to Michaela Vlková, you do not need a professionally produced video. Focus on the content: clearly present your project, your motivation and the people behind it.

Identify risks and explain how you will manage them

A credible proposal addresses technological and commercial risks as well as barriers to market entry. Claiming that a breakthrough innovation carries no risk is unconvincing.

“… do not be afraid to acknowledge that the project involves some risks.”

— Michaela Vlková

Describe the obstacles you anticipate and how you will address them. This demonstrates that you can assess your project realistically.

Watch the full enoVoice episode

In our conversation with Michaela Vlková, we also discuss using AI to prepare a proposal, technologies with both civilian and defence applications, and the Plug-in and Fast Track mechanisms. These topics offer further insights into preparing your application and the questions to resolve before you start writing.

The episode is in Czech. Quotations in this article have been translated into English.

Considering the EIC Accelerator for your project?

Not sure whether your project matches the programme’s objectives? Complete the short project suitability test for the EIC Accelerator to get an initial indication in just a few minutes.

Start by assessing your technology’s breakthrough potential, readiness and commercial prospects. Explore the EIC Accelerator programme or contact our specialists. Together, we will review your project and its funding options.