The EIC Fund Investment Guidelines provide applicants and
co-investors with detailed information on the investment process. They set
out the strategy and conditions for investment decisions under the
EIC Accelerator and EIC STEP.
Compared to the previous version, the guidelines now also
cover defence-related activities and reflect the higher
investment amounts of the updated EIC Work
Programme.
On September 11, the EIC Board welcomed the Council's
adoption of the Partial General Approach (PGA) for the 2028–2034
programming period. The Board views the PGA as a key milestone for the
legislative proposals concerning Horizon Europe and the European
Competitiveness Fund (ECF).
Jointly awarded by the EIC and EIT, the prize honors women
behind breakthrough innovations and successful companies across Europe. It
spotlights leaders who turn ideas into practical solutions and help close
the gender gap in innovation.
Deadline: 1 December 2026
The EIB Group is advancing tech financing and has hosted
the inaugural meeting of the TechEU Advisory Council in Luxembourg. The
meeting brought together leading figures from industry, finance, and
science.
The Council will advise the EIB Group on implementing the
TechEU programme. Its goal is to promote strategic key technologies - from
AI and semiconductors to defence - that are vital for the EU’s
competitiveness and sovereignty.
To attract investors, professional management is
essential. Intellectual Property (IP) plays a key role: it secures
competitive advantages, reduces legal risks, and supports company
valuation.
The European IP Helpdesk has published a new fact sheet. It
explains how companies can strengthen their position and what criteria
investors consider during due diligence.
The Federal Ministry for Digital Transformation and State
Modernisation (BMDS) has launched a new initiative to foster sovereign and
market-oriented innovations in digital technologies. The program aims to
transform excellent development work into marketable innovations that
drive value creation.
Good to know
EIC work programme for 2027
The EIC work programme for 2027 is due to be published in
late October/early November. The EIC Accelerator looks set to continue as
before – we do not currently anticipate any significant changes.
Dates
Webinar series: Success in the EIC Accelerator (held in
German)
7 October 2026, 14 October 2026, 3 November 2026
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.
