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Newsletter of the National Contact
Point EIC Accelerator for the EU programme Horizon Europe (NKS EIC
Accelerator)
Nr. 08/2026
Latest news
EIC selects new European scale-ups for STEP scale-up
investments – one German company among the successful
applicants
The European Commission has announced a new group of
companies selected to receive investments of up to 30 million euros to
help them expand their business operations and establish a strong market
position. The investments form part of the ‘Scale Up’ call for proposals
under the EIC’s ‘Strategic Technologies for Europe’ (STEP) platform. Of
the 24 companies that submitted proposals, 17 were invited to an interview
with independent high-level experts. Six of these, including one German
company, met all the eligibility and evaluation criteria and will now –
subject to a due diligence review – be submitted to the EIC Fund for an
investment decision. If the negotiations are successfully concluded, the
companies could receive a total of 97 million euros in equity
investment.
Launch of the ‘Scaleup Europe Fund’
The European Commission has completed the final legal
steps to establish the ‘Scaleup Europe Fund’, which, with a target volume
of €5 billion, will help Europe’s scale-up companies to grow more rapidly
and become globally competitive. The fund can now operate at full capacity
and invest directly in Europe’s leading scale-ups.
Innowwide: Details of the 2026 call for
proposals
This year’s call for proposals for the Innowwide funding
programme opens on 1 October. Innowwide supports SMEs and start-ups from
all sectors in tapping into an international target market. The deadline
for submitting applications is 1 December. Companies from Germany are
subject to innowwide.de further
information and contact details for advice are available. In addition, two
online information sessions will take place:
- 29 September, 11.00 am: Webinar organised by the Eureka Secretariat
(in English)
- 6 October, 10.00 am: Information session for German companies (in
German)
Innowwide is funded by the European Commission as part of
the Europäischen
Partnerschaft Innovative SMEs
Good to know
Will the 4th EIC STEP Scale-Up Call 2026 be cancelled?
As a large proportion of the budget will already have been
committed by the first deadlines, the fourth EIC STEP Scale-Up Batch 2026
may be cancelled. According to the rules of the work programme, this will
only take place if funds remain after the third batch – applicants should
factor in a possible postponement to 2027.
Dates
Online Seminar: The Investment Process in the EIC Fund
(held in English)
29 September 2026, 10:00–11:30 a.m. (CEST),
online (Webex)
The European Innovation Council (EIC) supports deep-tech
startups and scale-ups with grants and equity financing. The EIC Fund
plays a central role in equity investment. However, transitioning from
grant funding to equity investment often raises questions. This online
seminar provides an overview of the steps following the grant award.
Key topics covered:
-
Investment Conditions: Amount and
duration of investments
-
Investment Process: Structure and
workflow of due diligence and contract negotiations
-
Investment Agreement: Essential
criteria, clauses, and key implications for participating
companies
This event is intended for companies currently preparing
an EIC Accelerator application and teams that have already received a
positive decision and are preparing for the investment phase. Consulting
agencies are excluded from participation.
Note: The webinar will be conducted
in English. Participation is free of charge, but
registration is required.
-
Guest Speaker: Franz Derler (European
Investment Bank – EIB, EIC Fund)
-
Date: 29 September 2026
-
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 am CEST
-
Format: Online (Webex)
-
Registration Deadline: September 25,
2026
EU Funding at a Glance: EIC Accelerator (held in
German)
30 September 2026, 12:00 – 13:30 Uhr,
online
This free information session provides a concise overview
of the EIC Accelerator, the European funding programme for highly
innovative SMEs and start-ups with significant growth potential.
The focus is on funding opportunities, eligibility criteria and
key factors for a successful application. The event will be complemented
by a case study of a company that has successfully secured funding. The
event is organised by EEN Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein in cooperation with
EEN partners from Northern Germany and Berlin/Brandenburg.
Date: Wednesday, 30 September 2026
Time: 12:00–13:30 pm
Format: Online
Participation: Free of charge,
registration required.
Registration and further information via the
following link:
Webinar series: Success in the EIC Accelerator (held in
German)
7 October 2026, 10:00 – 11:30 am, online
The webinars are aimed at innovative SMEs and start-ups
that are interested in the funding programmes or are already planning to
submit an application. Please note that participation is restricted to
companies only. Consultancy agencies are excluded from
participation.
To provide you with the best possible support with your
application and preparations, the EIC Accelerator National Contact Point
(NCP) is offering a free, three-part online webinar series in autumn 2026.
Dates & topics at a glance
Part 1: Applicant workshop on the EIC Accelerator short
application
Date: Wednesday, 7 October 2026
Time: 10:00–11:30 am
Content: The application process for the
EIC Accelerator begins with Stage 1. In this applicants’ workshop, you
will gain practical insight into how to prepare the short application. We
will introduce you to the application system and the proposal template,
and provide important guidance on the pitch presentation and video.
Closing date for applications: Tuesday, 6
October 2026, 10.00 am
Part 2: Applicant
workshop on the full application for the EIC Accelerator
Date: Wednesday, 14 October 2026
Time: 10:00–11:30 am
Content: Those who successfully complete
Stage 1 will submit a full application in Stage 2. In this webinar, we
will guide you through Stage 2 of the process, present the specific
application template and explain the requirements of the application
process.
Closing date for applications: Tuesday 13
October 2026, 10.00 am
Part 3: EIC Work
Programme 2027 – EIC Accelerator and EIC STEP Scale-up
Date: Tuesday, 3 November 2026
Time: 10:00–11:00 am
Content: We’ll provide you with a concise
overview of the EIC Work Programme 2027. Find out everything you need to
know about the new deadlines, the planned budgets and the key changes to
the EIC Accelerator and EIC STEP Scale-up.
Registration deadline: Monday, 2 November
2026, 10.00 am
Please note that participation is restricted to businesses
only. Consultancy firms are excluded from participation.
Participation in all webinars is free of charge.
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