The EIC Accelerator continues to attract high levels of interest from startups and SMEs across Europe. A total of 923 companies submitted full applications for the 1 October 2025 cut-off, the final opportunity of the year to apply for funding under the programme.
Collectively, applicants requested nearly €7 billion in funding. The majority—683 companies (74%)—applied for blended finance, combining grant support with equity investment. Notably, 33% of applications were submitted by companies led by women in key roles such as CEO, CTO, or CSO.
Applications came from 32 countries, including 12 enlargement countries, with the highest number of submissions from Germany, Spain, and France.
What Happens Next?
All proposals will undergo evaluation by independent experts. The top-ranked companies will be invited to pitch their innovations to a jury of investors and business experts between 19 and 23 January 2026. Final funding decisions are expected by end of February 2026, while companies selected for equity support will be referred to the EIC Fund for investment decisions.
Looking Ahead
This cut-off marks the end of the 2025 application cycle for the EIC Accelerator. New funding opportunities and cut-off dates will be announced in the 2026 Work Programme, expected to be published in early November 2025. Meanwhile, the short application process remains open on a rolling basis.