Replay: EIC ACCESS+ Info Session #9 — How EIC-backed Innovators Can Access Up to EUR 60,000 for Fundraising Support

Brussels, November 4th 2025

Summary

›Recording of EIC ACCESS+ Info Session #9 is available for replay following the webinar on 22 October 2025
›EIC ACCESS+ offers co-funding of up to EUR 60,000 per beneficiary covering up to 50% of approved service costs
›Eligible applicants are EIC awardees and Seal of Excellence holders based in EU or Associated Countries
›The open call runs until 31 May 2026, funding is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis
›Services must be selected from the EIC Service Catalogue and completed by 30 June 2026
›Session showcased a set of vetted service providers offering fundraising, investor readiness and related services
›Practical caveat, applicants must cover the remaining 50% of service costs and comply with reporting and procurement rules

EIC ACCESS+ Info Session #9 Replay: Fundraising Support for EIC-backed Innovators

The EIC ACCESS+ Info Session number nine was held online on 22 October 2025 and its recording is now available for replay. The webinar was targeted at EIC awardees and Seal of Excellence holders who want to strengthen their fundraising strategies. It explained how beneficiaries can use the EIC ACCESS+ open call to co-finance specialised services listed in the EIC Service Catalogue, with grants covering up to 50 percent of service costs and a maximum grant of EUR 60,000 per beneficiary.

What EIC ACCESS+ offers and how it sits in the EIC ecosystem

EIC ACCESS+ is a grants scheme implemented under the European Innovation Council Business Acceleration Services. It aims to reduce one of the common barriers for deep-tech start-ups and scaleups which is the cost of specialised, sector specific advisory services. The open call launched in November 2024 and offers co-funding for services drawn from a curated list of EIC Ecosystem partners. The total envelope for this continuous call is designed to support up to 180 companies and the programme operates on a first-come, first-served basis after eligibility checks.

Total funding pool and per-beneficiary limits:The EIC ACCESS+ open call includes a total financial envelope of approximately €3.45 million. Each beneficiary may receive a grant that reimburses up to 50 percent of the approved service costs. The maximum cumulative grant per beneficiary is EUR 60,000. VAT is treated separately and applicants should check whether VAT is eligible under their specific case.

Who can apply:Eligible applicants are legal entities that have received an EIC award under the Pathfinder, Transition, or Accelerator programmes or have a Seal of Excellence under Horizon Europe. Applicants must be registered in an EU Member State or one of the Horizon Europe Associated Countries. Spin-offs from EIC projects can be eligible provided the legal link to the original project is documented.

Service packages, eligibility rules and delivery deadlines

The grant supports services grouped into four broad packages with different funding caps. The packages are designed to cover typical needs of deep-tech ventures from research through market entry to fundraising. Service delivery periods are limited and all funded services must be completed by 30 June 2026. That deadline narrows the window for longer or complex engagements and is a practical constraint applicants must factor in when planning.

Package	Maximum grant contribution per beneficiary	Typical services included
Research package	Up to EUR 60,000	Access to infrastructure, R&D support, prototyping, 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, due diligence, fundraising support

Double funding and eligible costs:The EIC ACCESS+ co-funding must not duplicate existing funding for the same service costs from other European, national or equivalent sources. The grant covers up to 50 percent of the cost of a service, and beneficiaries must plan how to finance the remaining share. Applicants should check national rules and VAT treatments when budgeting.

How to apply and selection mechanics

Applications are submitted via the EIC ACCESS+ Community Hub. After submission, each application receives an electronic timestamp. The selection follows a first-come, first-served logic subject to eligibility checks. Applications are assessed in cohorts regularly and decisions communicated to applicants. Once approved, beneficiaries sign a Financial Support to Third Parties agreement which governs the grant, invoicing and reporting rules.

Reporting and payment stages:For grants up to EUR 10,000 the payment is typically a single instalment after service completion upon submission of the service provider invoice and short report. For grants above EUR 10,000, payments are usually split into a 50 percent pre-financing and a final 50 percent at completion subject to reporting and invoice submission. Beneficiaries must submit a short report describing the results and a satisfaction questionnaire before the final payment is released.

Partner showcase in Info Session #9

Info Session number nine included short presentations from several EIC Ecosystem Partners that offer fundraising, investor readiness and related services through the EIC Service Catalogue. The session also explained matchmaking opportunities and one-on-one meetings with providers.

Partner	Country or region	Services highlighted	Timestamp in recording
Futurewave AG / SIGF	Switzerland	Business planning, fundraising support, internationalisation	09:13
Blumorpho	France	Business planning, investor readiness, fundraising support	12:55
LIRA Ltd	Italy	Access to finance, business planning, life cycle assessment	16:53
Winnovart	United Kingdom	Fundraising readiness and investor exposure	22:05
Argentum Consultants	Israel/Europe	Argentum Investment Link, investor readiness package	28:40
Bee Granted	Netherlands	Fundraising support and project financing strategies	32:21
SmiLe Venture Hub	International	SmiLe e-Dragon Academy, support to raise international venture capital	33:54

Practical advice from the session and implications for applicants

The session was practical in tone and focused on matching company needs to specialised providers. Several recurring recommendations emerged. First, define clearly the specific outcome you expect from a service and pick a provider whose track record and deliverables align with those outcomes. Second, plan finances for the uncovered 50 percent early. Third, check the service delivery timeline against the 30 June 2026 completion deadline. Finally, keep evidence of no double funding and follow the invoicing and reporting requirements in the FSTP agreement.

A realistic caveat for applicants:The co-funding is useful but not a substitute for investor diligence or long term fundraising effort. Grants can lower the barrier to access advisory expertise. They do not guarantee investor introductions or funding rounds. Because the scheme is first-come, first-served with a limited envelope, eligible organisations should not assume funding will be available and should have contingency plans.

Context: how this fits with the broader EIC Business Acceleration Services

EIC ACCESS+ is one piece of a larger EIC BAS architecture. The EIC Business Acceleration Services include programmes such as investor readiness outreach, corporate partnerships and international expansion support. The EIC Service Catalogue is the operational tool that lists vetted partner offers. The initiative is managed under EISMEA and sits within the Horizon Europe framework for supporting deep-tech companies. For many innovators, the catalogue plus co-funding can accelerate access to services that are otherwise costly or difficult to procure.

EIC Service Catalogue explained:The catalogue is a searchable platform where EIC beneficiaries and Seal of Excellence holders can find offers from partner accelerators, incubators, research infrastructures and consultants. Services are tagged by category, TRL stage and geographic coverage. To use EIC ACCESS+ funds, applicants must select a provider listed in the catalogue and describe the requested service in the application.

How to get help and where to find the replay and resources

The recording of Info Session #9 is hosted on the EIC Community YouTube channel and the EIC Community platform. The EIC ACCESS+ website provides the open call description, application templates, eligibility criteria, FAQ and a video guide on how to apply. For technical or procedural questions, applicants can contact the EIC ACCESS+ helpdesk. If you are a service provider interested in joining the EIC Ecosystem Partnership Programme, separate guidance and recordings from provider oriented sessions are available.

Contact and support:EIC ACCESS+ helpdesk and contact points are listed on the project website and on the EIC Community pages. For technical help with the community hub and application form use the EIC ACCESS+ helpdesk email. For programme queries select the 'EIC Ecosystem Partnership Programme' topic on the EIC Community contact page.

Final observations

EIC ACCESS+ supplies a focused, practical support channel for EIC-backed deep-tech innovators who need specialist fundraising and investor readiness services. The co-funding lowers the financial barrier to engage professional advisors. Applicants should however approach the scheme with realistic expectations, accounting for timelines, reporting obligations and the need to finance the uncovered share of costs. Given the limited envelope and first-come, first-served rule, timely preparation and clear articulation of expected deliverables will be decisive for applicants seeking to benefit from the programme.

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