EIC Accelerator Deadlines: 2026 Cut-Off Dates and Steps
The EIC Accelerator deadlines for 2026 are six full-proposal cut-offs: 7 January, 4 March, 6 May, 8 July, 2 September and , each at 17:00 Brussels time (EIC Accelerator page). You can submit a short application at any time. Short applications are collected into a batch for evaluation on the first Tuesday of every month. As of , the only cut-off left this year is 4 November, and you can only submit to it if your short application has already received a "GO".
Which option is right for you?
Choose your route based on where your application stands today. The table names the first page to open for each situation.
| Your situation | What to pick first | First page to open |
|---|---|---|
| New to EIC, no PIC yet | Register your organisation, then write the short application | Funding & Tenders Portal + our PIC guide |
| You already have a short-application GO | Submit the full proposal by , 17:00 Brussels | EIC Accelerator page |
| Short application not yet sent | Aim for the batch, then target an early-2027 cut-off | Call HORIZON-EIC-2026-ACCELERATOR-01 |
| Early-stage (TRL 4) start-up in a Widening country | Watch for the next EIC Pre-Accelerator call instead | CORDIS call record |
| Small budget, no consultant | Free help from your National Contact Point or Enterprise Europe Network | EEN |
| Your technology may fit a strategic topic | Compare the Challenges with the Open call before you write | EIC Work Programme 2026 PDF |
If you're still deciding whether the EIC suits you at all, our overview of EU funding for SMEs: 7 open 2026 calls compares it with less competitive options.
What Are the EIC Accelerator Deadlines for 2026?
The 2026 EIC Accelerator has six fixed full-proposal cut-offs and a short application that stays open all year. The EIC moved to a schedule of one cut-off every two months for 2026. This replaced the two cut-offs it ran in 2025.
These dates come from the official EIC Accelerator page and the Cyprus national funding portal's summary of call HORIZON-EIC-2026-ACCELERATOR-01. Status is as of October 2026:
| Full-proposal cut-off (17:00 Brussels) | Status on |
|---|---|
| Closed | |
| Closed | |
| Closed | |
| Closed | |
| Closed | |
| Open, and the last cut-off of 2026 |
According to the Cyprus portal, if your short application succeeds under the 2026 Work Programme, you can send your full proposal to any of these 2026 dates. The call opened on . Its budget is €634 million: €414 million for EIC Accelerator Open and €220 million for EIC Accelerator Challenges (Cyprus portal).
Pitfalls with the 2026 dates
- Third-party sites show different "deadline" dates. Aggregators list different closing dates for the same call ID. One shows 17 December, another shows 4 November (euacc.ai, Cyprus portal). To fix this, trust only the deadline shown on the official topic page and the batching dates in the Work Programme PDF.
- Time zone. The 17:00 cut-off is Brussels time (CET/CEST). For example, a team in Lisbon or Dublin has until 16:00 local time. A team in Helsinki has until 18:00.
- Interviews follow every second cut-off, not every one. Jury interview sessions are organised after every second full-proposal batch, and tentative dates are posted on the EIC website (Cyprus portal). Keep that period free in the team's calendar.
What Are the EIC Accelerator Deadlines for 2027?
The 2027 EIC Accelerator dates are only in draft: 3 February, 1 April, 1 September and . A draft of the EIC Work Programme 2027 dated lists these four full-proposal cut-offs. That draft is labelled as not adopted or endorsed by the European Commission (evolution-europe summary of the draft). As of October 2026, no adopted 2027 programme turned up in the sources checked. So treat these dates as planning estimates, not commitments.
| Draft 2027 cut-off | Gap since the previous cut-off |
|---|---|
| 3 months after | |
| 2 months | |
| 5 months | |
| 2 months |
The draft makes three changes that affect planning (evolution-europe, Myriad Associates, ):
- The number of cut-offs falls from six to four. Missing April 2027 would mean waiting five months for the next one.
- A new "GO Reserve" list lets the jury hold strong near-misses. They could be funded if budget is left over after the year's selections (Rasph summary).
- Challenge topics fall from five to four. The draft sets €150 million across climate-neutral and smart cities (€50m), carbon removal and circularity (€50m), in-situ ocean observation (€30m) and fusion power plants (€20m).
Pitfall: don't make investor or hiring commitments that depend on the draft dates. Fix: plan for an April 2027 submission and keep September 2027 as the fallback. Recheck once the Commission announces adoption. The 2026 programme's adoption was announced on the Commission press corner, so watch there.
What Were the EIC Accelerator Deadlines for 2025?
The 2025 EIC Accelerator had only two full-proposal cut-offs: and . Short applications were batched on the first Tuesday of each month, as they are now (ERRIN call listing, Segler Consulting). Both dates are closed, and a 2025 GO does not entitle you to submit under 2026 rules automatically. Check the eligibility section of the 2026 Work Programme before you rely on an older result.
| Year | Full-proposal cut-offs | Count | Short-application batching |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 Mar, 1 Oct | 2 | First Tuesday monthly |
| 2026 | 7 Jan, 4 Mar, 6 May, 8 Jul, 2 Sep, 4 Nov | 6 | First Tuesday monthly |
| 2027 (draft) | 3 Feb, 1 Apr, 1 Sep, 3 Nov | 4 | First Tuesday monthly |
Across these three years, the number of cut-offs changes but the short-application rhythm does not. So plan your preparation around the monthly batch, then pick a cut-off.
What Are the Current EIC Accelerator Submission Dates?
The current schedule has a monthly short-application batch and one remaining full-proposal cut-off on . Short proposals are "batched for evaluation every first Tuesday of the month at 5pm Brussels time" (EIC).
Here are the dates that matter from today, :
| Date | What happens | Source |
|---|---|---|
| (Tue), 17:00 | Next short-application batch (first Tuesday of November) | EIC |
| , 17:00 | Last 2026 full-proposal cut-off | EIC |
| (Tue), 17:00 | December short-application batch | Same monthly rule |
| , 17:00 | First draft 2027 full-proposal cut-off | Draft WP 2027 summary |
Each stage takes roughly this long, according to the official EIC page:
| Stage | What you submit | Typical result time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Short proposal | 12-page form, pitch deck of up to 10 slides (PDF), video of up to 3 minutes | 4–6 weeks |
| 2. Full proposal | 20-page form, pitch deck, implementation plan, financial information, Letters of Intent, FTO analysis, 3-minute video | 8–9 weeks |
| 3. Jury interview | Live pitch to the EIC Jury | 2–3 weeks after interview week |
| 4. Due diligence (equity component) | Investment documentation | 2–6 months to an investment decision |
For example, say a short application goes into the 3 November batch and gets results after four to six weeks. That means early-to-mid December 2026. By then the last 2026 cut-off has passed, so the realistic full-proposal target becomes the first 2027 cut-off. Whether a GO received in late 2026 can be used for a 2027 cut-off depends on the transition rules in the adopted 2027 programme. Confirm this with your National Contact Point rather than assuming it.
How Does EIC Accelerator Submission Deadlines Work (Step-by-Step)?
You can submit a short application at any time. A GO lets you submit a full proposal by a fixed cut-off, and that is followed by remote evaluation and then a jury interview. Every proposal goes through the Funding & Tenders Portal, so start with your organisation's registration.
Steps from zero to full proposal
- Get a PIC. On the Funding & Tenders Portal, log in with your EU Login and register your organisation to receive a 9-digit Participant Identification Code. Our PIC registration guide walks through all six screens. If you're a natural person who hasn't founded the company yet, you can still apply (EIC).
- Open the topic. In the Portal, go to Search Funding & Tenders, search for
HORIZON-EIC-2026-ACCELERATOR-01, and open the topic page. - Pick Open or Challenge. Read the Challenge topics in the 2026 Work Programme. If your innovation fits one, the Challenges budget (€220m) is competing for a narrower field than Open (€414m).
- Start the short proposal. On the topic page, use Start submission, enter your PIC, and complete the 12-page short form. Upload a pitch deck of up to 10 slides as a PDF, and a video pitch of up to 3 minutes.
- Submit before the first Tuesday of the month, 17:00 Brussels. That puts your proposal in the month's batch. Expect a GO or NO-GO within 4–6 weeks.
- After a GO, build the full proposal. You need the 20-page form, an updated pitch deck, the implementation plan, financial information, customer or partner Letters of Intent, a freedom-to-operate (FTO) analysis and a new 3-minute video (EIC).
- Submit to a cut-off. Choose one of the batching dates and submit before 17:00 Brussels. The proposal is reviewed remotely by EIC experts, with results in 8–9 weeks.
- Prepare for the interview. If you're shortlisted, you pitch to the EIC Jury. Results arrive 2–3 weeks after the interview week.
Use the Horizon Europe Part B scoring map for general guidance on writing to the evaluation criteria. Keep in mind that the EIC uses its own templates and does not use the standard Part B.
Common mistakes and fixes
| Mistake | Why it hurts | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Submitting a second application while the first is under evaluation | Only one application is allowed at a time (EIC) | Wait for the result before resubmitting |
| Starting Letters of Intent and FTO analysis after the GO | These take outside parties weeks to deliver | Ask for LoIs and commission the FTO while the short application is being evaluated |
| Uploading at 16:55 Brussels time | Portal slowdowns can push you past the cut-off | Submit at least one working day early |
| Choosing a Challenge that only loosely fits | Fit with the Challenge is part of the assessment | If the fit is weak, use Open |
| Ignoring TRL | The Accelerator expects at least TRL 5 completed, and the grant funds TRL 6–8 work (euacc.ai, EIC) | Earlier-stage teams should look at EIC Transition or Pre-Accelerator |
What Is the EIC Pre-Accelerator and Its Deadline?
The EIC Pre-Accelerator is a separate, earlier-stage grant for deep-tech start-ups in Horizon Europe Widening countries. It has no 2026 call, and a 2027 call is expected. It is run jointly by the EIC and the Horizon Europe WIDERA programme. Its only deadline so far was (CORDIS: HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-02-ACCESS-01, Opportunity Desk). It is a Funding & Tenders Portal call, not an Enterprise Europe Network bootcamp. People often confuse it with national "pre-accelerator" programmes.
| EIC Pre-Accelerator (2025 pilot) | EIC Accelerator (2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | Single SMEs in Widening countries | SMEs, start-ups, small mid-caps (up to 499 staff) in EU/Associated countries |
| Tech readiness | At least TRL 4 | At least TRL 5 completed |
| Grant | €300k–€500k lump sum, 70% of costs | Up to €2.5m, 70% of eligible costs |
| Budget | €20m | €634m |
| Deadline | (closed) | Cut-offs every 2 months in 2026 |
Sources: Opportunity Desk, EIC, Cyprus portal.
On the 2026 gap, Catalyze states that "there is no Pre-Accelerator in 2026, but it is expected to return in 2027". It lists an indicative 2027 window of 5 May to , €500k–€1m per project and a €40m budget (Catalyze). The draft EIC 2027 Work Programme itself contains no Pre-Accelerator section (evolution-europe). The call sits under WIDERA, so watch the WIDERA work programme, not the EIC one.
Pitfall: applying to the Accelerator at TRL 4 because the Pre-Accelerator is closed. Fix: use the time to reach TRL 5 and gather customer evidence. If you're in a Widening country, prepare for the expected 2027 Pre-Accelerator call.
How Much Is the EIC Accelerator Grant and When Is It Due?
The 2026 EIC Accelerator grant is up to €2.5 million, and investment of €1–10 million is available on top. You apply for both through the same short application and full-proposal cut-offs. The grant is a lump sum for TRL 6–8 activities completed within 24 months (EIC).
| Route | What you get (2026) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Grant only | Up to €2.5m, 70% of eligible costs | Listed for start-ups/SMEs (Cyprus portal) |
| Blended finance | Grant (70% of costs) + €1–10m investment | The investment needs due diligence of 2–6 months |
| Investment only | €1–10m equity or quasi-equity | Larger rounds are possible through STEP Scale-Up (EIC) |
If a guide you're reading quotes a different equity ceiling, check its date against the official page. For 2026, the official range is €1–10 million per company in the Accelerator itself (as of October 2026, EIC). Larger amounts go through STEP Scale-Up, which is a separate call. One consultancy reports that a separate EIC STEP Defence Scale Up call offers up to €30 million and closes on (One Synergy). Check that call's own topic page before relying on it.
Payment timing: the grant is not paid at the cut-off. The steps are evaluation (8–9 weeks), the interview (results in 2–3 weeks), grant preparation and then the first payment, so plan cash flow accordingly. Applicants who pass the thresholds but aren't funded receive a Seal of Excellence, which some national programmes accept (EIC).
For example, a €3m project budget under grant-only would receive at most €2.1m (70%). The company would have to fund €0.9m itself. Show where that 30% comes from in the financial information.
Is the EIC Accelerator Open Right Now?
Yes, the EIC Accelerator is open: short applications are accepted at any time, and the full-proposal cut-off is still ahead. Only teams that already hold a GO can use the November cut-off.
To check the live status yourself:
- Open the topic page for HORIZON-EIC-2026-ACCELERATOR-01.
- Look at the Topic status label (Open / Forthcoming / Closed) and the deadline field in the General information box.
- Compare with the batching dates on the EIC Accelerator page.
- Once November passes, search the Portal for
HORIZON-EIC-2027-ACCELERATOR. Aggregators already mention a 2027 call ID (euacc.ai), but only an official topic page confirms that it exists.
If you use the Portal's search filters, the same filter tips from our cascade funding guide apply, especially filtering by Open for submission.
Next steps
Today, choose your target cut-off and plan backwards from it.
Do-it-yourself actions for today
- Check that your organisation has a validated PIC. If it doesn't, follow the PIC registration guide today, because validation can take time.
- If you have no GO yet, draft the 12-page short form, the 10-slide deck and the 3-minute video. Aim for the batch at 17:00 Brussels, or 1 December if that's too tight.
- Download the 2026 Work Programme PDF and read the Challenge annexes to decide between Open and Challenge.
If you'd rather not do it alone
- National Contact Points (NCPs): free, government-funded advisers for Horizon Europe in each EU and Associated country. They're a good fit if you want rule checks and a proposal pre-read. They don't fit if you need someone to write the proposal for you, because they won't. Capacity varies by country.
- Enterprise Europe Network (EEN): free support for SMEs (as of October 2026; check the official page). EEN is useful for partner search and local guidance. It is not a dedicated proposal-writing service.
- Private EIC consultancies: before you sign, ask each provider for its full fee structure, including any success fee, and what happens after a NO-GO, and get it in writing. A consultancy suits teams with funding but no writing time. It doesn't suit first-time applicants who haven't validated their own market story yet, and no consultant can guarantee a GO.
Related guides on this site
- EU Funding for SMEs: 7 Open 2026 Calls and How to Qualify
- Horizon Europe Proposal Template Part B: 2026 Scoring Map
- Cascade Funding Open Calls: Portal Filters and 2026 Dates
FAQ
What is the EIC Accelerator open deadline?
There is no single closing date for short applications. They are open all year and batched on the first Tuesday of each month at 17:00 Brussels time (EIC). Full proposals have fixed cut-offs, and the last one in 2026 is 4 November.
What are the EIC Accelerator dates for 2026?
The full-proposal cut-offs are 7 January, 4 March, 6 May, 8 July, 2 September and , all at 17:00 Brussels time. Interview sessions follow every second batch (Cyprus portal).
What are the EIC Accelerator deadlines for 2027?
A draft 2027 Work Programme lists 3 February, 1 April, 1 September and . The draft has not been adopted, so the dates could change (evolution-europe). Check the Funding & Tenders Portal once the 2027 call is published.
Is there an EIC Pre-Accelerator deadline in 2026?
No. The pilot call closed on , and sources say a new call is expected in 2027 (CORDIS, Catalyze). It is limited to start-ups in Widening countries at TRL 4 or higher.
Sources
- European Innovation Council – EIC Accelerator
- EIC Work Programme 2026 (PDF)
- Funding & Tenders Portal – HORIZON-EIC-2026-ACCELERATOR-01
- Cyprus Funding Programmes Portal – EIC Accelerator 2026 short application
- European Commission press corner – 2026 EIC work programme adoption
- CORDIS – EIC pre-accelerator – Widening (HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-02-ACCESS-01)
- ERRIN – EIC Accelerator 2025 short application
- Segler Consulting – EIC Accelerator 2025 deadlines
- evolution-europe – EIC Work Programme 2027 draft
- Myriad Associates – What's changing for EIC grants in 2027
- Rasph – EIC Accelerator 2027 guide
- Catalyze – EIC Pre-Accelerator call
- Opportunity Desk – EIC Pre-Accelerator 2025
- One Synergy – EIC Accelerator 2026 cut-offs and changes
- euacc.ai – HORIZON-EIC-2026-ACCELERATOR-01
- Enterprise Europe Network
Spotted something out of date or wrong? Tell us at shigoto.ai.note@gmail.com. Guides are re-checked against official sources on a rolling schedule.