EIC ACCESS+ closes its open call after 20 months; new opportunity due in early 2027

Twenty months after launching on 1 November 2024, the EIC ACCESS+ open call has closed its application phase. The scheme, run under the EIC Business Acceleration Services, enabled 233 eligible applicants to secure grants to buy specialised services offered by EIC Ecosystem Partners through the EIC Service Catalogue. Funding covered up to 50 percent of service costs in most cases and beneficiaries could receive cumulative financial support up to EUR 60,000 per organisation or project. The full grant budget of €3.45 million was allocated. The EIC team will continue to oversee service implementation and reporting for approved beneficiaries and will publish selected results and success stories. A new EIC BAS initiative is expected to open in early 2027.

Which services did innovators use and why they matter

Demand data from ACCESS+ highlights the non-financial bottlenecks that many deep tech ventures face as they move from research to market. The most requested services were fundraising support, business planning, intellectual property assistance, internationalisation help and matchmaking. Those categories point to four persistent gaps in European deep tech scaleup paths. First, investment readiness remains a core hurdle even for EIC-backed teams. Second, translating technology into a coherent business plan and route to market is still a weak point. Third, IP strategy and legal advice are necessary for protecting and commercialising advanced science. Fourth, access to buyers, partners and foreign market knowledge is essential for scaling beyond a local market.

How the scheme worked and where it sits in the EIC offer

Who will be eligible under the follow-up programme in 2027

The EIC Business Acceleration Services has indicated that the follow-up project expected in early 2027 will maintain eligibility criteria broadly aligned with ACCESS+. Confirmed groups that will be able to apply include current EIC Awardees, Seal of Excellence holders from Horizon Europe calls and awardees from the H2020 EIC Pilot (2018 to 2020). The new initiative will also add EIC Pre-Accelerator beneficiaries supported under the WIDERA Work Programme. The maximum grant will remain EUR 60,000 per beneficiary or project.

Funding mechanics and special cases

Funding under ACCESS+ was provided as lump sums that usually covered up to 50 percent of the contracted service costs. The forthcoming programme will apply the same principle but will allow higher co-funding in specific circumstances. Where services relate to R and D infrastructure, prototyping, intellectual property or legal support, the lump sum may cover up to 70 percent of service costs. Details and eligibility rules for these higher rates will be set out when the new project is announced.

Numbers and demographics in context

ACCESS+ received just over 300 completed applications and approved 233 for funding. The programme reports that 35 percent of supported organisations were women founded and 59 percent were women led. Beneficiaries who had completed service implementation reported an average satisfaction of 4.4 out of 5. Sixty five percent of applicants chose to work with EIC Ecosystem Partners located in a different country, which suggests the scheme helped promote cross-border collaboration.

Critical observations and practical caveats

The scheme filled an important niche by subsidising access to specialist business, legal and technical services. At the same time the total envelope of €3.45 million is modest relative to the needs of European deep tech scaleups and the scale of EU innovation funding overall. Grants of up to EUR 60,000 are useful for targeted assistance but will not substitute for larger investments or long term operating budgets. Reported satisfaction of 4.4 out of 5 is a positive signal, but the headline score lacks detail on sample size and distribution. There is also limited public information about selection criteria, geographic distribution of beneficiaries and whether funding concentrated in particular sectors or countries. The forthcoming 2027 call should clarify these points and publish monitoring data to allow independent assessment of impact.

What applicants and partners should prepare for the next call

Teams considering the next round should do three things now. First, map the specific services they need and estimate costs so they can check whether a lump sum covering 50 percent or potentially 70 percent would be sufficient. Second, document cross-border procurement or partner engagement that took place during the interim so they can apply retroactively if eligible. Third, keep an eye on the EIC Community for the formal call text, which will contain the application window, revised eligibility and conditions.

Key takeaways

EIC ACCESS+ delivered quick, targeted co-funding that addressed non-financial gaps in deep tech scaleup pathways. The programme helped 233 beneficiaries access services ranging from fundraising and business planning to IP and matchmaking and encouraged cross-border collaboration. The €3.45 million envelope demonstrates the EIC's intention to complement direct grants and investments with service access. At the same time the modest budget and unanswered questions on selection and impact mean stakeholders should treat headline figures as a start rather than proof of systemic change. The planned follow-up in early 2027 offers an opportunity to broaden eligibility, increase transparency and sharpen outcome metrics.