DueDiligence.Management · European funding
Up to €30 million of EU funding. One clear route to your application.
The European Innovation Council backs breakthrough companies from the laboratory to scale-up with grants, equity and expert support. We explain every programme in plain language, track the deadlines and give you a professional opinion before you apply.
Start here
Which programme fits your stage?
Start with where your technology is today. TRL (Technology Readiness Level) runs from 1, a principle proven on paper, to 9, a product proven in real operation. Each EIC programme funds a different step of that journey.
| Where you are today | TRL | Start with |
|---|---|---|
| Breakthrough research with no product yet | 1–4 | EIC Pathfinder |
| Lab-validated results from an EU-funded research project | 4 → 6 | EIC Transition |
| Early deep-tech start-up in Poland, Malta, Portugal or another widening country | 4 → 6 | EIC Pre-Accelerator |
| Product close to market and ready to scale | 6–8 | EIC Accelerator |
| Fast-growing company raising a €50m+ round with a lead investor | Scale-up | STEP Scale Up |
| A solution to a specific EU challenge (2026: physical AI and alternatives to animal testing) | Varies | Advanced Innovation Challenges |
European Innovation Council
Explore the programmes
EIC Accelerator
Scale a market-ready, game-changing product with a grant and an EIC Fund investment.
- Amount
- Grant below €2.5m + €1–10m equity
- For
- Start-ups and SMEs, TRL 6–8
- Next
- 4 Nov 2026 · short proposals any time
EIC Pathfinder
Fund high-risk research that lays the science for a radically new technology.
- Amount
- Up to €4m
- For
- Research teams, TRL 1–4
- Next
- 2027 round
EIC Transition
Turn results from an EU-funded research project into a validated technology and business case.
- Amount
- Up to €2.5m
- For
- Teams with eligible EU project results, TRL 4 → 6
- Next
- 2027 round
EIC Pre-Accelerator
Make an early deep-tech start-up investment-ready. Reserved for widening countries such as Poland, Malta and Portugal.
- Amount
- €500k–€1m (2027 call)
- For
- SMEs in widening countries, TRL 4 → 6
- Next
- Opens 5 May 2027
STEP Scale Up
Anchor a major funding round in digital, clean or biotech with EIC Fund equity. Includes a Defence call.
- Amount
- €10–30m
- For
- SMEs and small mid-caps raising €50–150m
- Next
- 25 Nov 2026
Advanced Innovation Challenges
Compete to solve a defined deep-tech challenge, from feasibility to real-world testing.
- Amount
- €300k, then up to €2.5m
- For
- Start-ups, SMEs and research organisations
- Next
- Stage 2: 18 Jun 2027
Deadline tracker
Key dates
| Programme | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| EIC Accelerator – short proposal | Any time; batched on the first Tuesday of each month, 17:00 Brussels time | Open |
| EIC Accelerator – full proposal (after a GO) | 4 November 2026, 17:00 Brussels time | Open |
| STEP Scale Up | Next cut-off 25 November 2026 | Open |
| EIC online info day: funding in 2027 | 19 November 2026 | Event |
| EIC Pathfinder (Open and Challenges) | 2026 deadlines: 12 May and 28 October 2026 | Next: 2027 |
| STEP Scale Up Defence | 2026 deadline: 28 October 2026 | Next: 2027 |
| EIC Transition | 2026 deadline: 16 September 2026 | Next: 2027 |
| EIC Pre-Accelerator | Opens 5 May 2027 · deadline 18 November 2027 | Upcoming |
| Advanced Innovation Challenges – Stage 2 | 18 June 2027 (Stage 1 winners only) | Restricted |
Checked on 28 October 2026 against the European Innovation Council website. Dates and budgets can change; always confirm on the official call page before applying.
Beyond the EIC
33 grants, loans and funding rounds in one hub
National grants, state-backed loans, equity programmes, competitions and tax incentives across the United Kingdom, France and Monaco, alongside every EIC programme.
DueDiligence.Management
Get a professional opinion before you apply.
EU applications take weeks to prepare and competition is intense: in the latest EIC Transition round, 40 of 611 proposals were selected, and the first Advanced Innovation Challenges call drew 709 proposals for 20 places. An independent review shows you the gaps while there is still time to fix them.
- Eligibility check against the programme rules
- Business plan, forecasts and funding request stress-tested
- Pitch deck and proposal draft reviewed in writing
- A clear list of gaps and next steps
Pre-application review
€249 + VAT
per application · written findings within 5 working days
A review strengthens your preparation; it does not guarantee funding, investment or a loan.
Beyond the money
What successful applicants also get
EIC-backed companies can use the EIC Business Acceleration Services, with no expiry date:
- Coaching, mentoring and leadership programmes
- Introductions to corporates, investors and public buyers
- International trade fairs and global expansion programmes
- A Seal of Excellence for strong proposals that narrowly miss out, to help raise funding elsewhere
EIC Accelerator applicants who reach the full-proposal stage can also receive three days of coaching.
Founder Membership
Unlock the full guide for every programme
- Complete document checklists for each programme
- Step-by-step process with realistic timelines
- What evaluators focus on and why proposals fail
- A readiness self-check before you invest weeks of work
- Official guides, templates and portal links in one place
- Updates on confirmed MBA application rounds, grants and small-business loans
€12.99 / month
or €119.88 / year, saving 23% compared with monthly billing. Membership renews until cancelled.
Already a member? Log in
Based in Monaco?
How Monegasque companies can access EU research funding
Monaco is neither an EU Member State nor a country associated to Horizon Europe, so single-company schemes such as the EIC Accelerator need a company established in the EU or an associated country (the Accelerator allows relocation before the full proposal). Monegasque businesses can, however, join most collaborative Horizon Europe projects through a co-funding arrangement between Monaco and the European Commission, with Monaco-based partners funded directly by the Prince’s Government.
Monaco’s priority themes include energy, the bioeconomy, digital technology and health, as well as Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions. The Monaco National Contact Point sits within the Government’s Business Development Agency (Direction du Développement Économique).
Coming soon
More countries and funds
Next we are adding national and institutional funding, starting with the markets our founders ask about most.
Questions
EU funding: common questions
Which EIC programme is right for my company?
Pathfinder funds early-stage research towards breakthrough technologies. Transition takes research results towards market. The Pre-Accelerator gets early deep-tech start-ups in widening countries ready to invest in. The Accelerator is for start-ups and SMEs with an innovation close to market (TRL 6–8), with a grant below €2.5m and optional equity. STEP Scale Up invests €10–30m in scale-ups in strategic technologies.
Can UK companies apply for EIC funding?
Yes, for the grants. The UK has been associated to Horizon Europe since 1 January 2024, so UK companies can apply for EIC grants, including the EIC Accelerator grant. The EIC Accelerator’s equity component, provided by the EIC Fund, is not open to UK companies.
Can a company based in Monaco apply?
Not to the EIC Accelerator on its own: single applicants must be established in an EU member state or a Horizon Europe associated country, and Monaco is neither. Monaco companies can join collaborative Horizon Europe projects, with the Prince’s Government funding up to 50% of their eligible costs.
Are there funding options beyond the EIC?
Yes. Our Funding Hub also covers national grants, loans, equity programmes and tax incentives in the UK, France and Monaco.
Can you check my application before I submit?
Yes. DueDiligence.Management reviews your eligibility, business plan, forecasts and pitch for €249 + VAT, with written findings within 5 working days. Book a review.
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Founder Membership from €12.99 a month, a €249 + VAT pre-application review and quarterly funding rounds.
Join or book a review →Sources: European Innovation Council – funding opportunities and the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Summarised in our own words; information checked on 28 October 2026. Programme rules, budgets and deadlines can change, so always confirm on the official call page before applying. Monaco Business Angels and DueDiligence.Management are independent and are not affiliated with the European Commission or the European Innovation Council.