EIC ACCESS+ info session outlines co-funding mechanics, partner roles and coordination gaps for EU deep-tech support
- ›EIC ACCESS+ co-funds up to 50 percent of costs for services from the EIC Service Catalogue, capped at 60,000 euro per company.
- ›The call runs from 1 November 2024 to 31 May 2026 with services to finish by 30 June 2026 and grants awarded on a first come first served basis.
- ›Eligibility includes EIC awardees and Seal of Excellence holders, with strong demand for fundraising, IP and business planning services.
- ›Intermediaries are encouraged to coordinate across ACCESS2EIC and EEN2EIC to reduce fragmentation and support widening countries.
- ›Total budget of 3.45 million euro targets around 180 companies which raises questions about reach and equity given the co-funding requirement.
EIC ACCESS+ info session for EEN, NCPs and support organisations: what changed, what is funded and what still does not add up
On 2 February 2026 the EIC ACCESS+ team held Info Session number 10 for Enterprise Europe Network members, National Contact Points and business support organisations. The discussion walked through the co-funding scheme mechanics, where it sits within the EIC Business Acceleration Services, how intermediaries can steer beneficiaries to the EIC Service Catalogue and what current uptake signals suggest. Speakers highlighted collaboration with ACCESS2EIC and EEN2EIC to reach Seal of Excellence holders and innovators in widening countries while acknowledging fragmentation and uneven national follow-up.
Where ACCESS+ fits in the EIC support stack
EIC ACCESS+ is part of the EIC Ecosystem Partnership Programme under the Business Acceleration Services. It plugs a practical gap by co-financing third party services from vetted partners so awardees can access infrastructure, fundraising support, legal advice, mentoring and other specialised help listed in the EIC Service Catalogue.
Gisela Santos, Project Adviser at the European Innovation Council, framed ACCESS+ as an upgrade to the partnership approach. Quote: The EIC ACCESS+ initiative is an important upgrade of the EIC Ecosystem Partnership Programme. By teaming up with innovation ecosystem partners from Europe and beyond, we provide targeted services for EIC Awardees, while the co-funding scheme has introduced a new dynamic to the programme.
What ACCESS+ funds and how the packages are capped
ACCESS+ reimburses up to 50 percent of eligible service costs, excluding VAT, with a ceiling of 60,000 euro per beneficiary across one or multiple services. Beneficiaries must choose providers from the EIC Service Catalogue and specify expected results and impact in the application.
| Package | Examples of services | Per-package cap |
| Research | Access to infrastructure and R and D support, prototyping, proof of concept | Up to 60,000 euro |
| Skills improvement | Coaching and mentoring, HR and talent | Up to 10,000 euro |
| Business acceleration | Acceleration, incubation and venture building, business planning, matchmaking and internationalisation | Up to 30,000 euro |
| Access funds | IP and legal, due diligence, support for fundraising | Up to 30,000 euro |
Eligibility and who should consider applying
The co-funding call is open to EIC awardees under Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe across Pathfinder, Transition and Accelerator, Seal of Excellence holders under Horizon Europe, spin-offs from EIC awardee projects with documented linkage and according to the session also EIC Pilot awarded projects. Applicants must be established in an EU Member State or an Associated Country and qualify as deep-tech start-ups or SMEs combining advanced science, technology or engineering. Double funding is not allowed for the 50 percent co-funded portion.
| Eligibility dimension | Requirement | Notes |
| Applicant status | EIC awardee or Seal of Excellence holder | Spin-offs allowed with coordinator consent and legal proof |
| Geography | EU or Associated Country legal entity | Per EC list of associated countries |
| Budget ceiling | Max 60,000 euro per beneficiary | Aggregate across multiple services and packages |
| Co-funding rate | Up to 50 percent of service cost | VAT not covered |
| Provider choice | Must select from EIC Service Catalogue | Describe expected results and impact in application |
| Service period | Max 6 months for most services | Research package can extend up to 12 months |
| Completion date | All services must conclude by 30 June 2026 | Hard stop for eligibility |
Application process, timing and evaluation cohorts
Applications are accepted from 1 November 2024 until 31 May 2026 through the EIC ACCESS+ Community Hub. Applicants select a service provider from the EIC Service Catalogue, join the Hub to access the form, and submit. A timestamp is assigned on submission. The scheme operates first come first served against a fixed budget envelope.
Documentation includes an Open Call description, application form, Financial Support to Third Parties agreement template, Declaration of Honour and detailed eligibility criteria. Payments depend on grant size: one instalment at completion for grants up to 10,000 euro and two instalments for larger grants with 50 percent pre-financing and balance after service completion and reporting.
| Milestone | Date or rule | Source |
| Call opening | 1 November 2024 | EIC ACCESS+ call materials |
| Call deadline | 31 May 2026 | EIC ACCESS+ call materials |
| Service completion cutoff | 30 June 2026 | ACCESS+ video guide and eligibility note |
| Evaluation cadence | Weekly cohort evaluations within 7 days of cohort close | Funding page |
| Alternative cadence reference | Every two weeks by selection committee | Eligibility article |
| Award rule | First come first served subject to eligibility | Funding page and session brief |
| Payment tranches | Up to 10,000 euro single tranche at end. Above 10,000 euro two tranches 50 percent pre-financing then 50 percent after completion | Eligibility article |
There is a minor inconsistency in public materials on whether evaluations are weekly or biweekly. Intermediaries should advise applicants to assume short cohort cycles and to submit early to avoid budget exhaustion.
Uptake signals and what companies are actually buying
Session figures indicated strong demand for fundraising support, IP and legal and business planning. This aligns with persistent gaps facing deep-tech ventures in Europe where capital intensity, long development cycles and regulatory pathways push teams toward investor readiness and risk management rather than generalist acceleration.
EIC Accelerator beneficiaries and Seal of Excellence holders are among the most active users of the scheme, which is consistent with their proximity to investment and commercial milestones.
Coordination with ACCESS2EIC and EEN2EIC and the widening agenda
The session emphasised synergies with ACCESS2EIC and EEN2EIC to widen access to EIC opportunities and to align intermediary capacity. Work on Seal of Excellence revealed divergent national and regional approaches, ongoing fragmentation and a need for better knowledge sharing. That matters because Seal of Excellence labels rarely come with immediate funding which forces companies to navigate a patchwork of national instruments.
Alessia Rotolo, EU project manager for ACCESS2EIC, outlined the intent. Quote: ACCESS2EIC aims to improve NCP capacities, identifies and shares good practices among the EIC ecosystem, for Pathfinder, Transition to Accelerator proposals, identify most relevant novelties in relation to the financial instruments and give support to other networks including EEN.
What intermediaries should watch out for
Budget is limited. ACCESS+ allocates 3.45 million euro to about 180 companies. That is a modest reach relative to the EIC portfolio size. First come first served may privilege organisations with stronger bid-writing capacity and faster internal approvals. The 50 percent co-funding requirement also filters out cash constrained start-ups or those facing state-aid stacking limits.
Provider lock-in is a consideration. Services must be sourced from the EIC Service Catalogue. That concentrates spend with vetted partners which can raise quality but may exclude capable local providers who are not yet onboarded. Intermediaries should encourage prospective suppliers to apply to become EIC Ecosystem Partners if gaps are evident.
Timing is tight. Most services must finish within six months and all by 30 June 2026. Deep-tech projects that rely on access to infrastructure or complex IP work should plan realistic scopes to avoid eligibility risks. For research package items which can run up to 12 months, applicants need to reconcile the longer delivery window with the global cutoff date.
Admin still matters. Although ACCESS+ promises a streamlined process, beneficiaries must deliver invoices from providers, short result reports and satisfaction surveys. Intermediaries should build these tasks into project calendars to avoid delaying final payments.
Data protection, platform use and contacts
Participation runs through EU Login and EIC platforms managed by EISMEA or contractors. The EIC data protection notice covers processing for evaluations, coaching, matchmaking, event management, community functions and analytics. It lists categories of personal data collected, who can access it and retention periods. For example, data of funded applicants can be retained up to 10 years after programme closure with some data potentially kept for research and statistics up to 25 years. Interview-specific identity data are kept for up to 6 months. Users have rights to access, rectify or erase data and to object within the limits of Regulation 2018-1725.
Questions on EIC BAS, including the Service Catalogue and partnerships, are channelled via the EIC Community contact page. ACCESS+ specific help is available through the EIC ACCESS+ website, FAQ and help desk. Public-facing materials include a seven minute video guide titled EIC ACCESS+ Open call: How to apply which reiterates the 30 June 2026 service completion deadline.
Practical checklist for advisers and applicants
| Step | Action | Tip for intermediaries |
| 1. Confirm eligibility | Validate awardee or Seal of Excellence status and legal entity in EU or Associated Country | For spin-offs secure a written declaration from the original project coordinator |
| 2. Define need and outcomes | Specify service category, provider and expected results and impact | Align scope with 6 month delivery max and global 30 June 2026 cutoff |
| 3. Select provider | Choose from EIC Service Catalogue and obtain a clear offer | If a needed provider is missing, suggest they apply to become an EIC Ecosystem Partner |
| 4. Apply via Hub | Join the EIC ACCESS+ Community Hub and submit the application | Submit early. First come first served can exhaust budgets quickly |
| 5. Prepare reporting | Plan for provider invoices, short results report and satisfaction questionnaire | Set internal deadlines to avoid payment delays |
| 6. Check funding stack | Ensure no double funding of the co-financed 50 percent | Map state aid and other public support to avoid overlaps |
Key figures, limits and dates at a glance
| Item | Value | Comment |
| Total call budget | 3.45 million euro | As per ACCESS+ funding page |
| Estimated number of companies | Circa 180 | First come first served award policy |
| Max grant per beneficiary | 60,000 euro | Aggregate across packages |
| Co-funding rate | Up to 50 percent | VAT excluded |
| Application window | 1 November 2024 to 31 May 2026 | Unless officially updated |
| Service completion deadline | 30 June 2026 | Eligibility cutoff for all services |
| Evaluation cadence | Weekly or biweekly cohorts | Public materials differ on exact cycle |
Context in the EU innovation ecosystem
The ACCESS+ co-funding focus mirrors structural bottlenecks in EU deep-tech. Access to expensive facilities, specialist legal and regulatory advice and investor networks often determines whether science-based ventures can cross the lab-to-market divide. EIC BAS already reports thousands of one-to-one meetings, hundreds of deals and significant fundraising support through its broader programmes. ACCESS+ targets a narrower but practical pain point by subsidising specific services. Its impact will depend on how quickly intermediaries surface eligible firms beyond the usual hubs and whether the partner catalogue keeps pace with sector needs across regions.
Where to find materials and support
EIC ACCESS+ website: eicaccessplus.eu. EIC Service Catalogue: partnerservices.eismea.eu. Community Hub and calls: EIC Community Platform. Video guide: EIC ACCESS+ Open call: How to apply on the EIC Community YouTube channel published 21 March 2025. For programme queries select EIC Ecosystem Partnership Programme in the EIC Community contact form. ACCESS+ help desk email is listed on the project website and FAQ. Subscribe to the EIC BAS Newsletter or the Open Calls Digest to track new opportunities. Public materials include the standard disclaimer that views expressed do not represent the official position of the European Commission or EISMEA.