European Commission extends several Horizon Europe deadlines after attacks in Israel, including EIC Pathfinder and Accelerator
- ›The European Commission extended deadlines for multiple Horizon Europe calls following disruptive events in Israel.
- ›EIC Pathfinder deadline moved to 25 October 2023 at 17:00 CET.
- ›EIC Accelerator Step 2 cut-off moved from 19 October to 8 November 2023 at 17:00 CET and the 12 month Step 1 to Step 2 limit is relaxed for certain applicants.
- ›The ERC Starting Grant and ERC Synergy calls were also extended in parallel.
- ›Extensions apply to all applicants regardless of country and are framed as an exceptional measure to preserve inclusivity and participation.
Deadline extensions for Horizon Europe calls after attacks in Israel
In mid October 2023 the European Commission announced exceptional extensions to several Horizon Europe call cut-off dates. The move followed an internal assessment of disruptions caused by the fallout from the Hamas terrorist attacks across Israel. The Commission said some partner organisations in the affected region would face difficulty completing and submitting proposals in the days and weeks ahead and therefore agreed to extend deadlines to give applicants more time without unduly delaying programme delivery.
Which calls were changed and new deadlines
| Programme / Call | Original deadline (local time) | New deadline (CET) |
| EIC Pathfinder Challenges | 18 October 2023 | 25 October 2023 at 17:00 CET |
| EIC Accelerator Step 2 (full proposals cut-off) | 19 October 2023 | 8 November 2023 at 17:00 CET |
| ERC Starting Grant | 24 October 2023 | 7 November 2023 |
| ERC Synergy Grant | 8 November 2023 | 15 November 2023 |
The Research and Innovation department made clear that the ERC extensions and the EIC changes apply to all applicants irrespective of where they are based. The Commission framed the measure as intended to preserve inclusivity and to help organisations affected by the crisis to complete submissions.
What these calls are and why the difference matters
Who manages these programmes and practical steps for applicants
Operationally the EIC and related Horizon Europe programmes are implemented by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency, or EISMEA, on behalf of the Commission. EISMEA handles calls and IT systems, while the EIC Fund manages co-investment and equity components. Applicants use the EU Funding and Tenders Portal and must have EU Login credentials and a Participant Identification Code when required.
Applicants affected by disruption should use the extra time to finalise and quality check submissions and to contact their national or regional Horizon Europe National Contact Points for support. The Commission pointed to business coaching and other EIC acceleration services that can help teams prepare Step 2 full proposals when appropriate.
Administrative and contractual detail included in the announcements
The Commission published the deadline changes alongside standard legal and procedural material relating to the implementation of Horizon Europe calls. Announcements made clear that extensions are exceptional, that they aim not to unduly delay the overall programme timetable and that evaluators and jury arrangements will proceed according to the updated calendar.
Official tone and political context
Commissioner Iliana Ivanova, who held the research and innovation portfolio at the time, described the extensions as a way to support those affected by the hostilities and to uphold inclusivity and equal chances for the research community. The Commission positioned the move as limited and targeted rather than a broader rule change.
What this means in practice and possible implications
A short extension can relieve immediate pressure on applicants directly affected by the crisis. However extensions create practical consequences for evaluators, jury scheduling and grant preparation. Shifts in cut-offs can increase administrative workload for agencies and reviewers and may compress subsequent stages. The Commission has not signalled further extensions, so applicants should plan for the updated deadlines.
There is also a fairness trade-off. Extending deadlines for all applicants is administratively simpler than making geographically limited exceptions but it gives additional time to applicants who were not affected. The Commission chose the universal approach and framed it as the most inclusive option in the circumstances.
Practical guidance for applicants
If you are preparing an application in one of the affected calls take the following steps now: verify the new cut-off in the Funding and Tenders Portal; ensure EU Login credentials are active and that your organisation has a PIC if required; confirm any business coaching arrangements and use the extra time to strengthen budgets, ethics statements and data management plans; document any disruption you experienced in case evaluators or auditors request clarification; and contact EISMEA or your National Contact Point for help.
Contacts and further reading
The official announcements and programme pages on the European Commission, EIC and Research and Innovation web portals contain the formal notices and additional practical information for applicants. EISMEA operates helpdesks for applicants to each EIC instrument and the Funding and Tenders portal provides the submission interface and expert workspaces.
Final note
The deadline extensions were an operational response to a geopolitical shock that interrupted normal activity for some applicants. They illustrate how large EU funding instruments can adapt in the short term. Applicants should treat the revised dates as definitive unless follow up communications indicate otherwise and should use the breathing space to deliver the best possible submissions.