EIC Pre-Accelerator: funding for deep-tech startups in Widening countries (WIDERA)

The EIC Pre-Accelerator (WIDERA) is a targeted EU funding programme jointly launched by the European Innovation Council (EIC) and Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area (WIDERA) to support early-stage deep-tech startups in Widening countries. It is a grant that helps startups advance their technologies (from TRL 4 to TRL 5/6*), strengthen their investment and market readiness, and prepare for follow-on funding opportunities such as the EIC Accelerator.

* Completed TRL 5 (Technology validated in relevant environment—industrially relevant environment in the case of key enabling technologies) or TRL6 (Technology demonstrated in relevant environment—industrially relevant environment in the case of key enabling technologies).

The 2027 call (HORIZON-WIDERA-2027-01-WIDENING-01) has a €40 million budget and should fund around 60 projects.

• Applicant type: A single small or medium-sized enterprise (SME), including start-ups. Consortium applications are not eligible.
• Location: The applicant must be established in an eligible Horizon Europe Widening country or eligible EU outermost region.
• Technology readiness: The innovation must have achieved TRL 4 at application and aim to complete at least TRL 5, potentially progressing to TRL 6 during the project.
• Innovation potential: The project must involve high-impact deep-tech innovation with the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones.
• Intellectual property: The applicant must possess the necessary intellectual property rights to ensure freedom to operate and adequate protection of its innovation.
• Commercialisation strategy: The applicant must demonstrate a clear pathway to market, supported by concrete milestones and verifiable KPIs.
• Growth ambition: The company must demonstrate the commitment and ambition to scale its innovation.

• Type of funding: Grant-only funding provided as a lump sum.
• Grant amount: €500,000 to €1 million per project.
• Funding rate: Up to 70% of eligible project costs.
• Co-financing: The beneficiary must cover the remaining 30% of eligible project costs.
• Project duration: Up to 24 months.
• Total call budget: €40 million.

The next EIC Pre-Accelerator call is scheduled under the Horizon Europe WIDERA Work Programme 2026–2027, with the following officially announced dates:

• EIC Pre-Accelerator 2027 opening date: 5 May 2027.
• EIC Pre-Accelerator 2027 application deadline: 18 November 2027.
• Expected evaluation results: February–March 2028.
• Expected grant agreement signature: June–July 2028.

Applications must be submitted through the European Commission Funding & Tenders Portal under topic HORIZON-WIDERA-2027-01-WIDENING-01.

Evaluation results and grant agreement dates are indicative and subject to the European Commission’s final timetable.

• Application procedure: Single-stage submission through the European Commission Funding & Tenders Portal.
• Proposal content: Applicants must explain the innovation, technology development plan, expected impact, market potential and implementation strategy.
• Financial information: Applications must include a detailed budget table for the proposed lump-sum grant.
• Supporting documents: Complete the administrative and technical application forms and any applicable annexes in accordance with the official submission requirements.
• Application templates: Use the call-specific templates and instructions published in the Funding & Tenders Portal.

EIC Pre-Accelerator proposals are evaluated in a single stage by three independent evaluators, using the EIC Transition Open first-step evaluation criteria specified in the Horizon Europe WIDERA Work Programme.

The evaluation is based on three criteria, each with a specific minimum threshold:

• Excellence (minimum 4/5): Technological breakthrough, innovation potential, credibility of objectives, KPIs and methodology.
• Impact (minimum 4/5): Commercial potential, economic and societal benefits, investment readiness and go-to-market strategy.
• Quality and efficiency of implementation (minimum 3/5): Team capabilities, measurable milestones and KPIs, risk management, work plan and allocation of resources.

Proposals must meet the applicable thresholds to be considered for funding. Proposals exceeding all evaluation thresholds but not selected due to budget limitations may receive a Seal of Excellence.

EIC Pre-Accelerator funding can support eligible activities needed to advance a deep-tech innovation from TRL 4 towards TRL 5–6, including technology development, prototyping, validation, market assessment and intellectual property protection.

Eligible project costs may include personnel, equipment, travel and subcontracting, subject to Horizon Europe eligibility rules and the applicable lump-sum grant conditions. Subcontracting is permitted for parts of the project, but the beneficiary remains responsible for implementation.

The EIC Pre-Accelerator 2027 call is scheduled to open on 5 May 2027. Applications must be submitted through the European Commission Funding & Tenders Portal under topic HORIZON-WIDERA-2027-01-WIDENING-01.

The EIC Pre-Accelerator 2027 application deadline is 18 November 2027 at 17:00 Brussels local time, according to the Horizon Europe WIDERA Work Programme 2026–2027. Applicants must submit their proposals through the European Commission Funding & Tenders Portal before this deadline.

The EIC Pre-Accelerator offers grants of €500,000 to €1 million per project, covering 70% of eligible costs through lump-sum funding. The total call budget is €40 million, with approximately 60 projects expected to receive funding. Beneficiaries must cover the remaining 30% of eligible project costs.

The EIC Pre-Accelerator is open to eligible SMEs, including start-ups, established in Horizon Europe Widening countries and eligible EU outermost regions.

Eligible EU Member States: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Eligible associated countries: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Tunisia, Türkiye and Ukraine. Morocco and Egypt are eligible once their Horizon Europe association conditions are fulfilled.

Applicants should verify their country’s eligibility against the official call conditions before submitting a proposal.

Only single SMEs, including start-ups, established in eligible Horizon Europe Widening countries or eligible EU outermost regions can apply. Consortium applications are not permitted. Applicants must demonstrate high-impact deep-tech innovation, the required technology maturity, sufficient intellectual property rights and a credible pathway to market.

The first EIC Pre-Accelerator call selected 70 companies from 1,056 eligible applications, representing an approximate selection rate of 6.6%. This percentage is calculated from the European Commission’s published application and selection figures; it is not an officially published success-rate indicator. Future success rates will depend on the number and quality of applications and the available budget.

Yes. EIC Pre-Accelerator beneficiaries may qualify for the EIC Accelerator Fast Track, allowing them to apply directly to the full proposal stage. However, access is not automatic: it depends on a successful project review by EISMEA and the innovation reaching the required technology maturity, including completed TRL 5.

The first EIC Pre-Accelerator call selected 70 early-stage deep-tech companies from 22 countries, with approximately €32.5 million in EU funding. An additional 320 high-quality applications were identified for Seals of Excellence, providing recognition and access to support services that may help companies secure alternative funding.

The EIC Pre-Accelerator targets innovations at TRL 4 (technology validated in the laboratory), with the objective of completing at least TRL 5 and potentially reaching TRL 6 during the funded project. Technologies that have already completed TRL 5 may be too mature for this programme and should consider the EIC Accelerator instead.

Yes. Applicants must possess the necessary intellectual property rights to ensure freedom to operate and adequate protection of their innovation. The application should demonstrate that the company has sufficient rights to develop and commercialise the proposed technology.