Newsletter of the National Contact
Point EIC Accelerator for the EU-programme Horizon Europe (NKS EIC
Accelerator) Nr. 06 / 2025
Latest news
"Choose Europe to Start and Scale" -
Commission presents new strategy for start-ups and
scale-ups
The European Commission has presented the new EU strategy
“Choose Europe to Start and Scale” for start-ups and scale-ups. The aim is
to make Europe an attractive and sustainable location for the creation and
growth of technology-oriented companies. The strategy is in line with the
broader “Choose Europe” initiative launched by EU Commission President von
der Leyen. The strategy identifies the key needs of start-ups and
scale-ups and proposes a series of measures in five main areas. Among
other measures, a Scaleup Europe Fund is to be set up to close the
financing gap for deep-tech scale-up companies.
Second round of EIC STEP Scale-up applications
completed
The Commission has announced the second group of companies
that have successfully passed the second round of EIC STEP Scale-up
applications. Four companies from four countries, including one from
Germany, were selected from 19 applications submitted. They will receive a
total of up to 90 Mio. EUR in equity investment and will now be submitted
to the EIC Fund for an investment decision. They will also receive the
STEP seal, which is intended to facilitate access to supplementary or
alternative financing as well as access to the EIC Business Acceleration
Services.
EIC in fifth place in the Sifted Investor
Ranking 2025
For the "Sifted 100: DACH & CEE investor ranking
(2025)", the investors who support the most successful companies in the
region were identified and a list of 125 investors was compiled. EIC
occupies fifth place on the list.
Good to know
Teams that have submitted a successful short application to
the EIC Accelerator in 2023 still have the opportunity to submit a full
application by the deadline of 1 October 2025. This also applies to
resubmissions. After that, a new short application must be submitted.
Please note that teams that have been rejected three times from 2024
onwards (regardless of the stage) will be blocked from the EIC Accelerator
until 2028.
Dates
Online seminar of the NCP EIC Accelerator in
July 2025 (in German language)
1 July, starting at 11:00 a.m., online
The EIC Accelerator is aimed at small and medium-sized
enterprises, including start-ups, that develop ground-breaking, high-risk
innovations with high market potential. The program offers both grants and
equity capital to bring innovations to market. The application process for
the EIC Accelerator has three stages: In the first stage, a short
application with video and pitch presentation is submitted. In the second
stage, the candidates with the best short proposals submit a full
proposal. In the third stage, particularly promising applicants are
invited to an interview. The online seminar of the NCP EIC Accelerator
provides applicants with information on the program and an insight into
the application process.
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1.7. Applicant workshop on the full proposal with tips
and tricks from an expert's perspective, 11:00-12:30 a.m., online.
Guest: Prof. Erwin Prassler, reviewer EIC Accelerator. This online
seminar is aimed at SMEs and start-ups preparing a full proposal for the
deadline on 1.10.2025.
Participation in the modules is only open to SMEs and
start-ups that have already submitted their own application to the EIC
Accelerator or are planning to do so. Consulting agencies are excluded
from participation. Participation is free of charge.
Web seminar on funding opportunities in the
funding programmes of the European Innovation Council (EIC) - EIC
Pathfinder & EIC Transition & EIC Accelerator (in German
language)
2 July 2025, 10:00-11:30 a.m., online
On 2 July 2025, the Steinbeis Europa Zentrum, in
cooperation with the National Contact Points EIC Pathfinder and EIC
Accelerator, invites you to a compact online information event on the
current and upcoming calls for proposals within the framework of the
European Innovation Council (EIC). The focus is on the EIC Pathfinder,
EIC Transition and EIC Accelerator funding programmes, which specifically
support pioneering research ideas, technological advances,
innovation-related projects and high-growth start-ups.
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