The EIC pre-accelerator has opened applications for deep tech startups and SMEs from Emerging Europe.
Selected companies will receive between 300,000-500,000 EUR in grant funding, intensive support to enhance business, investor, and technology readiness, and guidance to secure follow-on funding.
- Who can apply? Startups and scaleups at TRL 4-6, from Horizon Europe Widening Countries
- Application deadline? November 18, 2025
- Where to apply? Here
Participants in the EIC pre-accelerator can expect to leave the programme in a position better-situated to move on to the next stage of development. The objective is to raise the readiness of high-potential deep-tech startups in widening countries to a level where they will:
- attract national and regional funding (e.g. through national Seal of Excellence programmes).
- be successful in applying and attracting the EIC Accelerator funding
- manage to secure other private investment
The pilot EIC Pre-Accelerator call is a joint scheme between the European Innovation Council and the Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area (WIDERA) programme. It is funded under the WIDERA Work Programme 2025.
The aim of the call is to boost the innovation potential of early-stage deep-tech startups in widening countries by enhancing their business, investor, and technology readiness to secure funding from different sources.
What are the eligible Horizon Europe Widening Countries?
The program accepts applications from Horizon Europe Widening Countries, which include 13 EU member states and 14 additional countries.
The eligible EU member states are:
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Estonia
- Greece
- Hungary
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Malta
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
The eligible additional countries are:
- Albania
- Armenia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Faroe Islands
- Georgia
- Kosovo
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- North Macedonia
- Serbia
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Ukraine
For more information, visit the EIC pre-accelerator website and check out their tender page.
