The European Innovation Council (EIC) is introducing a pre-acceleration call specifically for WIDERA (Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area) countries in its 2025 work program. This initiative aims to support early-stage, deep tech startups from less-developed EU regions in preparing for full EIC funding opportunities or attracting other investors. With €20M allocated, the program’s primary focus is to boost innovation competitiveness and business readiness among startups from these areas.
Startups accepted into this pre-accelerator program will receive grants between €300,000 and €500,000 for up to two years, covering 70% of project costs while requiring the startups to cover the remainder. This funding supports technological development, market readiness, and investor appeal, helping companies better position themselves to apply for the EIC Accelerator program or seek other investment opportunities. Additionally, participants will have access to EIC’s Business Acceleration Services, which include networking, mentoring, and investor matchmaking to help companies scale and attract further investment.
The call for proposals will open on May, 2025, with a submission deadline of November, 2025. Proposals will undergo a single-stage assessment by independent evaluators to determine eligibility and suitability for this funding