European funding · EIC Pre-Accelerator
€500,000 to €1 million to make your deep-tech start-up investment-ready.
For early-stage deep-tech SMEs in Poland, Malta, Portugal and other widening countries: a stepping stone to the EIC Accelerator and private investors.
Overview
What the EIC Pre-Accelerator is
A joint scheme of the European Innovation Council and the EU’s Widening Participation programme that strengthens the technology, business and investor readiness of promising deep-tech start-ups in countries with lower innovation performance. For 2027 the budget doubles to €40 million and grants rise to between €500,000 and €1 million. In April 2026, 70 companies were selected to share around €32.5 million.
Eligible countries
Also eligible: associated countries with similar innovation performance (Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Faroe Islands, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Tunisia, Türkiye and Ukraine, plus Morocco and Egypt once associated) and the EU’s outermost regions, such as the Canary Islands, Madeira, the Azores and the French overseas regions.
A good fit if…
- Your company is registered in an eligible country or an EU outermost region
- Your technology is validated in the lab (at least TRL 4)
- You hold the IP rights you need and have freedom to operate
- You have a pathway to market with milestones and verifiable KPIs
- You want to scale, raise private investment or apply to the EIC Accelerator later
Not the right fit yet if…
- Your company is registered in France, Italy, Germany or another country outside the widening group: the EIC Accelerator is the closer match
- You cannot co-fund 30% of the project costs from your own resources
- Your technology is not yet validated in the lab (below TRL 4)
MBA view
A call reserved for your region, so prepare early
For founders in Central, Eastern and Southern Europe this is one of the few EU schemes reserved for their region, and it comes with free business coaching and access to the Fast Track into the EIC Accelerator after a mid-project review. The call opens on 5 May 2027: use the months before to secure your IP position, define measurable KPIs and plan the 30% co-funding.
DueDiligence.Management
A professional opinion before you apply
A readiness check of your IP position, KPIs and 30% co-funding plan, with written findings and next steps.
Members’ guide
The full EIC Pre-Accelerator guide is for Founder Members
- Eligibility and document checklist
- Step-by-step process for the 2027 call
- What evaluators focus on and why proposals fail
- A readiness self-check, including the 30% co-funding
- Work Programme, templates and info session materials
Keep exploring
Other European funding programmes
Source: European Innovation Council – EIC Pre-Accelerator. Summarised in our own words; information checked on 28 October 2026. Always confirm rules and dates on the official call page before applying. Monaco Business Angels and DueDiligence.Management are independent and are not affiliated with the European Commission.