Library FAQ
Will proposals addressing only parts of the waste-to-value process be considered?
No. Proposals addressing only parts of the full waste-to-value process (e.g., half reactions) will not be considered; full integration is required.
How are full proposals evaluated before face-to-face interviews?
Full proposals undergo a remote evaluation by three EIC expert evaluators matched to the technology/application area; each evaluator gives a GO or NO GO per award criterion. If all three give GO for all criteria, the proposal is invited to a face-to-face inter...
How is the budget allocated across cut-offs?
Indicatively, the budget is allocated approximately equally between cut-offs. If GO applicants in a cut-off require less than the available budget, remaining funds roll to the next cut-off; if GO applicants exceed the budget, some applicants will be funded usi...
How is the 'risk level of the investment' assessed?
By determining whether the nature and level of risk mean European market actors are unwilling to commit the full amount alone, and whether there is evidence that market actors would invest alongside the EIC or later. Small mid-caps are expected to provide docu...
What are the award criteria at the full proposal and interview stage?
Award criteria include Excellence (breakthrough nature, timing, technological feasibility, intellectual property), Impact (scale-up potential, broader impact; for Challenges: contribution to Challenge objectives), Market fit and competitor analysis, Commercial...
What are the Intellectual Property expectations for applicants?
Applicants must demonstrate necessary Intellectual Property Rights to ensure freedom to operate and adequate protection of the idea.
What are the objectives of the EIC Accelerator Challenge on Technologies for Open Strategic Autonomy?
The Challenge seeks technologies and innovations that preserve and strengthen Europe’s supply and value chains for strategically important deep-tech solutions to reduce dependency on other regions, supporting areas such as pharmaceutical components and manufac...
What are the resubmission limitations for short proposals?
If a short proposal is rejected once, you may resubmit at any time but are expected to have made improvements. If rejected a second time, you cannot submit another proposal for 12 months from the revised short proposal submission date, after which only a new o...
What are the resubmission rules for full proposals and face-to-face interviews?
If a full proposal is rejected once, you may resubmit directly to remote evaluation at a following cut-off but should have made improvements; a second rejection bars submission for 12 months, after which only a new or significantly improved short proposal is a...
What are the short proposal stage evaluation criteria for the EIC Accelerator?
Short proposals are assessed on Excellence (breakthrough/market-creating nature and timing), Impact (scale-up potential and broader societal/economic/environmental/climate impacts), and Level of risk, implementation and need for Union support (team capability,...
What happens during the face-to-face interview stage?
The EIC jury reviews the short and full proposals and remote evaluation results, plus EIC AI-platform analyses and possibly an independent specialist assessment; the jury may focus the interview based on these materials and can recommend funding, adjust grant...
What is assessed under 'Technological feasibility'?
Whether the innovation is based on technology adequately assessed in laboratory and relevant environments (at least TRL 5/6), and whether the technology is developed in a safe, secure and reliable manner.
What is evaluated regarding the project team?
Whether the team has the capability and motivation to implement the proposal and bring it to market, and whether there is a plan to acquire critical missing competencies, including adequate representation of women and men.
What is expected in the commercialisation strategy?
A convincing strategy covering regulatory approvals/compliance, time to market/deployment, and the business and revenue model.
What is the EIC Accelerator Open?
EIC Accelerator Open has no predefined thematic priorities and is open to proposals in any field. It supports later stages of technology development and scale-up for deep-tech innovations where EIC support can catalyse other investors; technologies should be a...
What is the scope and expected impact of the 'Fit for 55' EIC Accelerator Challenge?
The Challenge supports breakthrough, scalable innovations that accelerate decarbonisation in line with the 'Fit for 55' goals (e.g., clean energy conversion, decarbonisation of hard-to-abate industries, energy-efficient built environment, zero-emission mobilit...
What must applicants show about milestones and implementation?
A clear implementation plan with defined milestones, work packages and deliverables, together with realistic resources and timings.
What should be included in risk mitigation?
Identification of main risks (technological, market, financial, regulatory) together with measures to mitigate them.
What should be included in the assessment of market fit and competitor analysis?
An assessment of the potential market including conditions and growth rates, a thorough competitive analysis identifying potential customers and users (including women and men), unique selling points and key differentiation from competitors.
What specific conditions apply to the Open Strategic Autonomy Challenge regarding investment and control?
Applications may request an investment component above EUR 15 million in duly justified cases. The Commission may set specific conditions and milestones to protect Union strategic interests if necessary to ensure technologies are not directly or indirectly con...
What technological readiness is expected for EIC Accelerator proposals?
The technology component must have been tested and validated in a laboratory or other relevant environment—at least Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5/6 or higher for the EIC Accelerator which supports later stages and scale-up.
How are interview invitations prioritised for Strategic Technologies proposals?
All companies receiving a GO from remote evaluation are invited to interviews. If interview capacity is exceeded, priority is given to: (a) at least 40% of invited SMEs/start-ups addressing digital priority areas; (b) at least 40% addressing health priority ar...
How does the EIC decide which Green Deal proposals are funded?
Evaluation follows the EIC Accelerator Open call. Companies receiving a GO from remote evaluation are invited to interviews. If interview capacity is exceeded, prioritisation invites carried-over or invited resubmissions first, then ensures at least 50% addres...
How should Green Deal proposals describe their contribution to goals?
They must describe contribution to at least one Green Deal goal, using quantitative impact assessments where possible, and must not cause significant harm to any EU taxonomy environmental goals.