EIC Accelerator January 2022 cut-off cancelled after delay to EIC work programme adoption
- ›The EIC announced on 15 December 2021 that the planned January 2022 cut-off for the EIC Accelerator will not take place.
- ›The cancellation follows a delay in the formal adoption of the EIC work programme 2022.
- ›The EIC said updates on the next cut-off date will be published on the EIC website and shared via its social channels.
- ›Applicants and potential applicants should keep application materials ready and monitor official channels for the next schedule.
EIC Accelerator January 2022 cut-off cancelled after work programme adoption delayed
On 15 December 2021 the European Innovation Council published a short notice announcing that the first EIC Accelerator cut-off date originally planned for January 2022 was cancelled. The stated reason was a delay in the adoption of the EIC work programme for 2022. The EIC said it will publish information on the next cut-off date on its website and share updates via social media.
What the announcement means
The EIC message was brief. It confirmed that, because the 2022 work programme had not been formally adopted in time, the administrative milestone that would have supported a January cut-off cannot proceed. The agency promised to publish the next cut-off date as soon as that information is available and to use the EIC website and social channels to communicate the update.
Why the EIC work programme adoption matters
The EIC work programme sets the operational and budgetary framework for the European Innovation Council for a given year. It defines priorities, calls, timelines and funding envelopes. The work programme must be adopted before specific calls and cut-off dates are launched. A delay in adoption therefore has a direct procedural effect. In this case the EIC said the delayed adoption of the 2022 work programme made it impossible to keep the January cut-off that had been announced earlier.
Practical implications for applicants
For companies and teams preparing EIC Accelerator applications the immediate consequence is scheduling uncertainty. Applicants who had planned to submit or who had aligned investor or organisational milestones to the January cut-off will need to revise timelines. The EIC advised stakeholders to await the updated schedule which will appear on the EIC website and on EIC social channels.
| Event or item | Immediate action for applicants | Who is affected |
| Cancellation of January 2022 cut-off | Do not plan formal submissions for January, monitor the EIC website and social channels for the next date | All prospective EIC Accelerator applicants |
| Work programme adoption delay | Expect revisions to call texts, eligibility or timelines; keep proposal drafts flexible | Applicants, evaluators, intermediaries |
| Next cut-off publication | Be ready to submit within a shorter window, verify EU Login and PIC, refresh pitch materials | Applicants planning to apply in Q1 and Q2 2022 |
Context and wider effects
Delays to administrative steps like work programme adoption are not uncommon in EU funding programmes. They can stem from interdepartmental clearance, budgetary decisions or legal checks. However, even short postponements create friction for deep tech start-ups that operate on narrow cash runway and fundraising windows. The EIC Accelerator is a major EU instrument combining grants and an equity or blended finance element under the EIC Fund. Uncertainty in its calendar can increase pressure on founders to seek bridge financing or to shift fundraising timelines.
Communications and where to look for updates
The EIC said updates will be published on the EIC website and shared through its social media channels. EISMEA is the executive agency running EIC calls and typically posts news items and call calendar updates on its own site. Applicants should rely on official Commission or EISMEA channels and be cautious about third party notices that do not link back to official announcements.
A note of caution for the ecosystem
The EIC is an important source of deep tech funding and signalling in the EU. While procedural delays are usually administrative, they can have knock on effects for early stage companies that time product development, regulatory filings and fundraising to funding calendar expectations. Stakeholders should not assume any cut-off will be reinstated unchanged once the work programme is adopted. Applicants should be prepared for the possibility that call texts, available budget, or eligibility criteria could be adapted when the work programme is finalised.
What to do next if you planned to apply
Maintain a ready submission package and keep your team briefed on likely scenarios. Confirm EU Login and PIC status. If you need coaching, confirm availability with potential business coaches listed in EIC resources. Keep investors and partners informed about the procedural delay and its potential impact on timelines. Monitor official channels for the definitive schedule and read the adopted work programme carefully when published to understand any changes.
Data protection and administrative providers
EIC and EISMEA processing of personal data for applications is governed by Regulation (EU) 2018/1725. The EIC IT platform and related submission systems use EU Login and the Funding and Tenders Portal. Applicants should familiarise themselves with the privacy notices for those services and with EISMEA data protection information when sharing CVs, identity documents for jury interviews or other personal data as part of the selection and contracting process.
Bottom line
The December 15 notice is a procedural update not a change of policy. The EIC cancelled the January 2022 cut-off because the work programme for 2022 had not been adopted in time. Applicants and intermediaries should treat the situation as a scheduling disruption and prepare accordingly. The most reliable course is to keep materials ready, follow official channels for the confirmed calendar and expect that finalized call texts in the adopted work programme may bring changes to timing or conditions.