European Innovation Council extends EIC Accelerator cut-off to 16 June 2021

Brussels, April 23rd 2021

Summary

›The European Innovation Council extended the EIC Accelerator cut-off date to 16 June 2021 for both Accelerator Open and Accelerator Challenge.
›The next scheduled cut-off after the extension is 6 October 2021.
›Applicants should check the EIC portal and prepare short proposals, pitch decks and video pitches in advance because competition remains strong.
›The extension does not change eligibility rules or the Accelerator process but may reflect operational or demand pressures on the programme.

European Innovation Council extends Accelerator call deadline

On 23 April 2021 the European Innovation Council published a short announcement that it has extended the cut-off date for the EIC Accelerator to 16 June 2021. The extension applies to both the Accelerator Open strand and the Accelerator Challenge strand. The announcement notes the next cut-off date after this extension will be 6 October 2021. No further explanation was provided in the brief notice.

What the change means for applicants

The stated change is limited to the scheduling of a cut-off. It does not alter the structure of the Accelerator instrument or eligibility rules. Practically, the extension gives potential applicants more time to finalise and submit Step 1 short proposals. It also concentrates application activity into the revised batching windows which can increase competition for interview slots and funding.

Who is affected:Startups, SMEs, certain small mid-caps and natural persons intending to set up an SME who were planning to apply to the EIC Accelerator Open or EIC Accelerator Challenge in the April/June 2021 round. Applicants from third countries who need to relocate should still meet the relocation timing requirements in the EIC rules.

Context on the EIC Accelerator process and why the dates matter

The EIC Accelerator is a flagship Horizon Europe instrument that combines grants and equity style investments to support high risk, high impact deep tech companies aiming to scale. Because the programme uses batched evaluations, cut-off dates determine when applications are assessed and when successful projects can move to the full proposal and interview stages. Alterations to the timetable can affect coaching availability, due diligence scheduling for the investment component and the flow of Business Acceleration Services.

EIC Accelerator in brief:The Accelerator targets innovations at Technology Readiness Levels around TRL 6 to TRL 8 and offers a grant component of up to €2.5 million and an investment component typically from €1 million up to about €10 million. The scheme can deliver blended finance with both a grant and equity or quasi-equity. There are variants such as grant only and investment only depending on company needs.

Four key application steps:Step 1 is a short proposal submission assessed monthly with a short form, pitch deck of up to ten slides and a three minute video pitch. Feedback typically takes around four to six weeks. Step 2 is a full proposal submission with a longer written form, implementation plan and financial information. Step 3 is a face to face or online interview with an EIC Jury. Step 4 covers grant signature and due diligence for any investment component and contracting.

Practical implications and recommended actions

Applicants should not treat the extension as a reason to delay preparation. The Accelerator remains highly competitive and the extended window may draw in more applicants. Prepare the mandatory Step 1 materials early including the short form, a concise and formatted pitch deck and the 3 minute video pitch. Ensure prerequisite accounts and identifiers are in order such as EU Login and Participant Identification Code, and check relocation or nationality conditions if you are from a third country.

Documentation and administrative checks:Be ready with your company data and legal documents, a coherent team CV, a clear technology and market narrative, and realistic financing needs. For blended finance candidates expect later due diligence with the EIC Fund and possible involvement of external partners such as the European Investment Bank and appointed fund managers.

Use of EIC support services:If eligible, applicants can request an EIC business coach to help develop full proposals. All shortlisted companies also gain access to Business Acceleration Services including mentoring, partner search and investor outreach. Take advantage of National Contact Points and the EIC helpdesk for process and eligibility questions.

Timetable and deadlines

Event	Date or timing	Notes
EIC announcement of extension	23 April 2021	EIC announced the cut-off extension via its news page
Revised cut-off for Accelerator Open and Accelerator Challenge	16 June 2021	Extension applied to the April/June round
Next cut-off after the extension	6 October 2021	Published as the next scheduled batching date
Typical Step 1 feedback time	About 4 to 6 weeks	After short proposal submission applicants generally receive a GO or NO GO
Typical Step 2 remote stage duration	Around 8 to 9 weeks	Includes remote evaluation and interview with technology expert
Interview results	2 to 3 weeks after interview week	If invited to an interview with the EIC Jury

Policy and practical caveats

The public announcement is terse and does not specify reasons for the extension. Extensions commonly reflect IT issues, the need to manage application backlogs, or administrative adjustments. They do not typically change evaluation rules, eligibility or the stages of assessment. Applicants should confirm all details on the official EIC and Funding and Tenders portals since dates and procedures remain authoritative only on those platforms.

Risks for applicants:A condensed or shifted timetable can increase pressure on interview scheduling and on due diligence resources for the investment component. That can create bottlenecks and lengthen the time to contracting even where an application is successful. Expect strong competition and do not rely on the extension to materially improve your chance of success.

Where to find official information and help

The EIC and the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency maintain the authoritative pages for Accelerator calls, procedural guidance and helpdesks. Use the Funding and Tenders Portal for submissions and the EIC web pages for detailed guides, work programmes and the Accelerator Guide for Applicants. National Contact Points and the EIC helpdesk offer practical support to applicants.

Key links and support:EIC Accelerator calls page, EIC Pathfinder calls page, the Funding & Tenders Portal and the EIC Helpdesk. Check EISMEA and EIC official pages for the latest cut-off dates and procedural updates.

Bottom line

The EIC extension to 16 June 2021 gives applicants extra time but does not change the nature of the challenge. Prepare and submit as early as you can, use available coaching and support services, and verify deadlines and rules on the official EIC and Funding and Tenders portals. Treat the extension as an operational scheduling update rather than a loosening of competitive requirements.