EIC ACCESS+ Info Session #5: How EIC beneficiaries can access up to €60,000 in co-funding — replay and practical guide

Brussels, May 8th 2025

Summary

›The EIC ACCESS+ Info Session #5 (6 May 2025) is available for replay and explains how EIC Awardees and Seal of Excellence holders can access co-funding to use services from the EIC Service Catalogue.
›Eligible beneficiaries may receive up to EUR 60,000 each to cover up to 50% of selected service costs, with a total programme budget of €3.45 million and a target of supporting 180 companies.
›Applications are handled on a rolling first-come-first-served basis through the EIC ACCESS+ Community Hub and require selecting a vetted provider from the EIC Service Catalogue.
›Services must be completed by 30 June 2026 and most service deliveries are capped at six months except the research package which can last up to one year.
›Practical considerations include the need to secure the non-funded 50% of costs, watch for a tight timetable, and ensure no breach of double funding rules.

EIC ACCESS+ Info Session #5: Replay and practical takeaways

The EIC ACCESS+ Info Session number five took place on 6 May 2025 and focused on co-financing opportunities for EIC Awardees and Seal of Excellence holders who want to access specialised services from the EIC Service Catalogue. The recording is available for replay on the EIC Community YouTube channel. The webinar covered practical steps for applying, how to select and engage vetted service providers, how to access up to EUR 60,000 of co-funding per beneficiary, and options for arranging the remaining 50 percent of the service cost.

What the EIC ACCESS+ scheme offers

EIC ACCESS+ is a co-funding initiative run under the EIC Business Acceleration Services designed to help deep-tech innovators buy specialised support from vetted partners. The open call launched in November 2024 and runs until 31 May 2026. Each eligible beneficiary can receive a grant covering up to 50 percent of the cost of selected services, with a cap of EUR 60,000 per beneficiary. The total funding envelope for this call is reported at €3.45 million and the programme aims to support around 180 companies. Funding is allocated on a continuous rolling basis and awards are made on a first-come-first-served principle subject to eligibility and selection procedures.

Package	Maximum co-funded amount per beneficiary	Typical services included
Research	Up to EUR 60,000	Access to infrastructure, R&D support, prototyping and proof of concept
Skills improvement	Up to EUR 10,000	Coaching, mentoring, HR and talent support
Business acceleration	Up to EUR 30,000	Acceleration, incubation, venture building, business planning, matchmaking, internationalisation
Access to funds	Up to EUR 30,000	IP and legal support, due diligence, fundraising support

Who can apply:Eligible applicants are EIC Awardees from the EIC Pathfinder, EIC Transition and EIC Accelerator strands and holders of the Seal of Excellence under Horizon Europe. Applicants must be legal entities registered in an EU Member State or an Associated Country. Spin-offs from EIC projects may also be eligible if legal links can be documented and the project coordinator provides written consent.

What the grant covers and double funding rules:Grants cover up to 50 percent of the cost of selected services excluding VAT. The remaining 50 percent must be covered by the beneficiary by other means. The services financed via ACCESS+ must not already have been funded by other European or similar programmes. Applicants must check and document compliance with double funding rules before accepting support.

Service duration and delivery deadlines:Most services should be delivered within six months. Services in the Research package can have a delivery period up to one year. Importantly all selected services must be completed by 30 June 2026 to be eligible for the programme.

How to apply and the assessment process

Applications are submitted through the EIC ACCESS+ Community Hub. Applicants must select a service provider listed in the EIC Service Catalogue and describe the requested service, expected impact and timeline. Once submitted an electronic timestamp is applied. The programme operates on a rolling intake and awards follow a first-come-first-served approach subject to eligibility checks.

Assessment cadence and timing:Applications are reviewed in cohorts on a regular cadence. EIC documentation references weekly cohort checks and also a selection committee reviewing applications every two weeks. Applicants should therefore expect a variable but relatively short processing window and plan accordingly. Early submission increases the chance of allocation given the finite budget.

Documentation, contracts and payments:If approved beneficiaries sign a Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) agreement. Grants up to EUR 10,000 are typically paid as a single instalment after the service is delivered and the service provider invoice is submitted. Grants above EUR 10,000 are usually paid in two instalments: a 50 percent pre-financing and a 50 percent final payment on service completion and invoice submission. A short report and a satisfaction questionnaire are required before the final payment.

The EIC Service Catalogue and Ecosystem Partnership Programme

The EIC Service Catalogue is the searchable platform where vetted partners list services that target deep-tech needs. It is run as part of the EIC Ecosystem Partnership Programme under EIC Business Acceleration Services. The partnership programme aims to close gaps many innovators face such as access to lab infrastructure, specialist due diligence or market-entry coaching, by bringing accelerators, incubators, research organisations and other providers into a curated network.

Types of providers and services available:Partners in the Service Catalogue include private and public accelerators, incubators, technology parks, research infrastructures, venture builders and specialised professional services. Service categories include acceleration and incubation, fundraising support, matchmaking, business planning, prototyping and PoC, access to R&D infrastructure, IP and legal support, due diligence, internationalisation, coaching and talent support and other niche technical offerings.

Practical considerations and potential limits

EIC ACCESS+ provides useful targeted support but it is not a full solution for capital intensive development. The 50 percent co-funding rule and maximum EUR 60,000 cap may not be enough for expensive prototyping projects or significant infrastructure access. The rolling first-come-first-served allocation and finite €3.45 million budget mean many eligible applicants risk missing out if they delay. The requirement that services finish by 30 June 2026 creates a hard timeline that may be unrealistic for longer R&D cycles.

How to cover the remaining 50 percent of costs:Beneficiaries will need to secure the non-funded share of service costs. Common approaches include using internal cash reserves, matching regional or national innovation grants, private investment such as seed or bridge funding, corporate partnerships or sponsorship, or negotiating payment plans with service providers. In-kind contributions such as staff time are acceptable if they comply with the programme rules. Applicants should verify these arrangements against double funding restrictions and keep clear documentation.

Support materials, recordings and contact points

The Info Session #5 recording and earlier session recordings are hosted on the EIC Community YouTube channel. The EIC ACCESS+ website hosts the open call description, eligibility criteria, application form templates, the FSTP agreement, the Declaration of Honour and a detailed FAQ. For technical or programme queries contact the EIC ACCESS+ helpdesk and the EIC Ecosystem partnerships helpdesk. The programme also encourages joining the EIC ACCESS+ Community Hub to access application forms and matchmaking events.

Resource	Where to find it	Contact
Info session recordings	EIC Community YouTube channel	—
Open call documents	EIC ACCESS+ website and Community Hub	info@eicaccessplus.eu
EIC Ecosystem Partnership technical issues	EIC Community contact page	eicpartnerships-helpdesk@eic-bas.eu

Subscribe to the EIC BAS newsletter to receive updates on open calls, partner opportunities and events. The EIC Business Acceleration Services also run a broader portfolio of programmes from investor readiness to international trade fairs and procurement matchmaking that may offer complementary routes to funding or market entry.

Bottom line for innovators

EIC ACCESS+ is a practical, targeted instrument to help EIC-backed deep-tech companies buy specialist support. It can lower the cost barrier to accessing acceleration, legal, IP, prototyping and fundraising services. However applicants should plan for the uncovered 50 percent of costs, move quickly because funding is limited and allocated on a rolling basis, and be realistic about the June 2026 completion deadline for services. Careful selection of a service provider from the EIC Service Catalogue and clear documentation will speed approvals and reduce the risk of ineligibility.

EIC ACCESS+ Info Session #5: How EIC beneficiaries can access up to €60,000 in co-funding — replay and practical guide

EIC ACCESS+ Info Session #5: Replay and practical takeaways

What the EIC ACCESS+ scheme offers

How to apply and the assessment process

The EIC Service Catalogue and Ecosystem Partnership Programme

Practical considerations and potential limits

Support materials, recordings and contact points

Bottom line for innovators

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