EIC ACCESS+ Info Session #5 and what applicants need to know about co-financing

The EIC ACCESS+ project is running an online information session on 6 May 2025 at 16:00 CEST that focuses on how EIC Awardees and Seal of Excellence holders can tap a co-financing scheme to access specialised business and technical services. The session aims to explain eligibility, the application steps, and practical ways to secure the remaining 50 percent of service costs that are not covered by the grant. It also offers connections to EIC Partners who deliver services in areas such as fundraising, intellectual property, and due diligence.

Event details and agenda

The session timetable is organised to present the EIC Business Acceleration Services and the EIC Service Catalogue, followed by partner case studies, a detailed take on the co-financing model, guidance on applying via the Community hub, a live Q and A, and short meetings with partners by request.

What EIC ACCESS+ actually offers

EIC ACCESS+ is a co-financing scheme implemented by the EIC Business Acceleration Services under Horizon Europe funding. The open call launched in November 2024 and remains open for applications until 31 May 2026 unless otherwise stated. The programme aims to reimburse up to 50 percent of the cost of specialised services listed in the EIC Service Catalogue. The maximum cumulative grant per beneficiary is EUR 60 000. The project targets 180 companies and the total financial envelope cited for the call is approximately €3.45 million.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants are organisations that have received an EIC Award or hold a Seal of Excellence under Horizon Europe. This includes awardees from the EIC Pathfinder, EIC Transition and EIC Accelerator strands. Applicants must be legal entities registered in an EU Member State or an Associated Country. Spin-offs of EIC Awardees may be eligible where a written declaration links the spin-off to the originating project.

Four service packages and funding ceilings

Applicants may select one or more services across the packages with a combined maximum grant of EUR 60 000. Service delivery durations are limited. Most services must be completed by 30 June 2026. Research package activities may allow a longer delivery window of up to one year but still must fit the programme rules and deadlines.

How to apply and the selection process

The application workflow is digital and routed through the EIC ACCESS+ Community hub. Key steps are: join the community hub and create a profile, choose a service provider from the Service Catalogue, prepare the required documentation available on the project website, and submit the online application form in the hub. After submission each application receives an electronic timestamp. Applications are assessed on a first-come, first-served basis subject to eligibility and the project’s selection procedures.

The materials published by the project state that assessments are run in cohorts on a periodic schedule. Different pages in the project documents use slightly different language about frequency, for example weekly cohorts with assessment within seven days and a selection committee meeting every two weeks. Applicants should not assume identical timing and should verify the current operational timetable on the Community hub before applying.

Reporting and payments

Payment arrangements depend on the grant size. Grants up to EUR 10 000 are typically paid in a single instalment after completion of the service and upon presentation of the service provider invoice. Grants above EUR 10 000 normally use two instalments. The first instalment is a 50 percent pre-financing payment and the second instalment is the remaining 50 percent after service completion and upon invoicing. Beneficiaries must submit a short implementation report and a satisfaction questionnaire to receive the final payment.

Important compliance points and limits

Applicants must avoid double funding. The co-financed 50 percent must not already be covered by other EU, national or similar initiatives. The grant ceiling per beneficiary is EUR 60 000. Services must be procured from catalogue providers and be described in the application. Eligible costs typically exclude VAT but applicants must check the open call documents for the final financial rules.

Practical ways to secure the remaining 50 percent of costs

The grant covers half of eligible costs which still leaves beneficiaries with a non-trivial funding gap. The info session promises to cover co-financing strategies. Typical routes for covering the remaining 50 percent include internal company funds, corporate partnerships and cost sharing, national or regional grants or vouchers, in-kind contributions from service providers, patient capital or convertible notes, and targeted investor introductions. Each option has trade-offs. For example public grants can be slower to secure, VC funding may demand equity dilution, and in-kind offers require clear contractual scope so that outputs remain usable for the start-up.

Assessment of the scheme and caveats for applicants

The EIC ACCESS+ co-financing model plugs a recognised gap for deep-tech ventures which often need specialised services such as prototyping, IP strategy and investor readiness. The maximum grant of EUR 60 000 is useful but modest relative to many capital intensive deep-tech milestones. The first-come, first-served allocation favours teams that are able to prepare complete applications quickly and who already have clear service scopes and provider selections. Administrative requirements such as reporting, invoices, and the FSTP agreement are standard, but they can be onerous for very small teams. Applicants should weigh the expected value of the service against the time and administrative cost of applying and co-financing.

Applicants should also perform due diligence on EIC Service Catalogue providers. The catalogue lists many partners and offers, but quality and fit vary. Ask for references, check sample deliverables, and clarify post-service rights over IP and deliverables before committing funds.

Contacts and resources

Primary contact points and resources published by the project include the EIC ACCESS+ Community hub for applications, the EIC Service Catalogue to choose providers, and downloadable documents such as the Open Call Description, Application Form, FSTP Agreement template and Frequently Asked Questions. For technical or programme questions applicants can contact the EIC ACCESS+ helpdesk at info@eicaccessplus.eu and for EIC Ecosystem Partnership Programme queries use eicpartnerships-helpdesk@eic-bas.eu.

Recommended next steps for interested applicants

1. Confirm your eligibility under the open call rules. 2. Identify the specific service or package you need and shortlist providers from the EIC Service Catalogue. 3. Prepare realistic budgets including VAT treatment and a plan for the non-funded 50 percent. 4. Join the EIC ACCESS+ Community hub and submit a complete application early to secure a favourable timestamp. 5. Use the info session and partner meetings to test providers and to discuss co-financing options. 6. Retain documentary evidence and plan for the reporting and invoicing requirements spelled out in the FSTP agreement.

Final note

EIC ACCESS+ presents a pragmatic, supply-side intervention to help EIC-backed deep-tech ventures purchase targeted, specialised services. The funding can lower direct costs and expand access to vetted providers. At the same time applicants should be realistic about the ceiling of EUR 60 000 and the need to mobilise the co-financing portion. Early preparation, careful provider selection, and a clear plan for the remaining 50 percent are the best ways to maximise the chance of a useful outcome.