Can a single company apply for the EIC Accelerator?

Yes. Unlike most Horizon Europe calls, the EIC Accelerator accepts single applicants — an SME or startup registered in an EU member state or Horizon Europe associated country. No consortium is required.

How much funding does the EIC Accelerator give?

A grant component of up to €2.5 million (typically for TRL 5/6–8 activities), plus an optional investment component through the EIC Fund for scale-up. Exact conditions are set per work programme — always check the current call.

What is the EIC Accelerator?

The EIC Accelerator is the European Innovation Council's flagship funding instrument for individual startups and SMEs developing breakthrough innovations. It combines a grant of up to €2.5 million with an optional equity investment through the EIC Fund, and accepts single-company applications from EU member states and Horizon Europe associated countries.

How it works

The Accelerator sits inside Horizon Europe's European Innovation Council pillar. Applications go through a staged funnel: a short application (pitch deck, video, written summary), a full application against fixed cut-off dates, and a jury interview. Successful proposals receive blended finance — the grant covers technology maturation, while the equity component (managed by the EIC Fund) supports commercial scale-up.

For space startups the Accelerator matters because it is one of the few EU instruments that funds a single company — no consortium building required — at ticket sizes that move the runway needle. Space-relevant proposals compete in the open call or in periodic challenge topics.

Key characteristics

Aspect	Detail
Who applies	Single SME / startup (EU or associated country)
Grant	up to €2.5 million
Equity	optional, via EIC Fund
Maturity	typically TRL 5/6 upwards for the grant part
Cadence	fixed cut-off dates, several per year

Rejected-but-excellent proposals can receive a Seal of Excellence, unlocking national funding routes.

Official source: European Innovation Council — EIC Accelerator. Programme rules change with each work programme — verify against the current version before applying.

Written by Tymofiy Badikov, founder of VIRA.space (Virtual Innovation Research Assistant) — operated by Space Tech Gateway Sp. z o.o., Kraków Technology Park. VIRA tracks live European space funding calls and checks your eligibility free: see live tenders.