The EIC Accelerator is migrating to the Submission & Evaluation Platform (SEP). The portal is available with immediate effect for future and on-going applications to the EIC Accelerator.
- The FAQs will be regularly updated with answers to questions that are received by the EIC from applicants.
- On 12 June, the EIC organised a training session about the new application process on the SEP platform. Watch the recording.
- If you haven’t found the reply to your question in the FAQs, you can contact us by e-mail: support
eic [dot] eismea [dot] eu (support[at]eic[dot]eismea[dot]eu). The EIC is doing its utmost to quickly respond to questions.
Why is the EIC Accelerator AI Platform no longer available for the submission of proposals?
The EIC Artificial Intelligence (AI) Platform for applying to the EIC Accelerator, which had been used since April 2021, was discontinued on 2 June 2023 due to a contractual dispute. Consequently, as an emergency measure, the EIC has restructured the EIC Accelerator application forms on the Horizon Europe Funding & Tenders Portal Submission & Evaluation Platform (SEP) and will continue to improve them.
Are there any consequences for EIC Pathfinder and EIC Transition applicants?
No. This situation only concerns EIC Accelerator applicants. Other parts of the EIC Work Programme are not affected.
Does my EIC Accelerator short (Step 1) proposal need to be submitted on the new IT platform, or rather in the Horizon Europe Submission & Evaluation Platform (SEP)?
Short (Step 1) applications will not be submitted on the Submission & Evaluation Platform (SEP), but on a separate new IT platform that became operational on 3 July. A separate platform for Step 1 proposals is needed due to its specific requirements (a short form, slide deck and video pitch). A separate platform for Step 1 proposals is needed due to its specific requirements (a short form, slide deck and video pitch).
Will the questions in the step 1 application form remain the same as before?
The template for the short (Step 1) proposal has been simplified and is available as of 3 July 2023.
Where can I find the new template for the short proposal?
An overview of the new form is given in the Guide for Applicants. To access the form, just search online "EIC Accelarator" and select the button “Apply to the EIC Accelerator”
I have already successfully passed the short (Step 1) proposal, will this be recognised by the new Portal?
Yes, the Submission & Evaluation Platform (SEP) will recognise all eligible applicants who have received a positive result from their short (Step 1) proposal.
I have submitted my short (Step 1) application, but I have not yet received the results. Will I have to resubmit my short proposal?
No, all submitted short (Step 1) proposals will be evaluated. No action from the applicant is needed.
If I submit a short (step 1) proposal in summer 2023, will I be able to submit a full (step 2) proposal, if selected, by the 19 October 2023 cut-off?
Companies who are preparing short (Step 1) applications can now submit, as of 3 July, their short proposal via the new IT platform. EISMEA aims to continue with a fast evaluation of all short (Step 1) applications within four weeks. Successful Step 1 applicants will then still have sufficient time to prepare a full (Step 2) proposal for the 19 October 2023 cut-off or will have up to one year to submit for a subsequent cut-off, with dates for 2024 to be announced in the autumn.
Regarding eligibility, what about applicants who have received a GO for a short (step 1) proposal and are currently within the 1-year limit before they can submit a full (step 2) application?
Applicants who have submitted a short proposal but not yet a full (Step 2) proposal will have one year, from the day they received the GO notification, to submit a full proposal (Step 2).
Will the evaluation criteria change and how will evaluators be briefed on the changes to the IT platform and the application forms?
The evaluation criteria for short proposals (Step 1) and full proposals (Step 2) will not change. This is reflected in the new application templates available within the new IT tool (for short proposals) and SEP (for full proposals), while dedicated briefing materials for evaluators have been made available.
Will the original cut-off deadline on 4 October 2023 for the submission of full proposals (Step 2) be postponed?
The cut-off deadline previously set on 4 October is postponed to 19 October 2023.
I have submitted my full (Step 2) application to the 21 June 2023 cut-off. When will I be informed about the evaluation outcome?
The full (Step 2) proposals are now being evaluated by independent experts. The companies receiving a GO, will then be invited to pitch in front of a jury of investors and business experts at interviews in the first week of October and will be informed at the very end of October 2023.
Will the interview dates for the June cut-off be correspondingly postponed?
The interviews for successful applicants to the June cut-off are currently scheduled for the first week of October.
Where will I submit a full (Step 2) proposal for the upcoming cut-offs?
From now on, all full (Step 2) proposals will be submitted via the Submission & Evaluation Platform (SEP) on the Horizon Europe Funding and Tenders Opportunities portal. More information on how to submit a proposal can be found in the online manual.
When can I submit my EIC Accelerator full (Step 2) application?
Full (Step 2) applications can be submitted at any time before the next cut-off on 19 October 2023 (17:00 CET). See the EIC Work Programme 2023 for the full details about the application process. The 2024 cut-off dates will be published with the 2024 EIC work programme, planned to be adopted in November 2023.
Is the structure of the full (Step 2) proposal under SEP the same as under the EIC AI Platform?
No. The new structure of the proposal forms within the Submission & Evaluation Platform (SEP) will follow the recommendations of the EIC Board and feedback from applicants, better reflecting requirements imposed by private investors. The number of questions has been reduced and re-organised to simplify the application. More information on the criteria that proposals are expected to meet can be found in the EIC Work Programme 2023.
Where can I find the new template for the full proposal?
The new template for the EIC Accelerator full proposal is available under the Reference Documents section on the Horizon Europe Funding and Tenders Opportunities portal. Please note that the editable Part B form, the templates for the mandatory data and consent as well as the financial information forms are available for download by eligible applicants once they begin to prepare their full (step 2) proposal within the Submission & Evaluation Platform (SEP).
I submitted a successful step 1 proposal in 2022, and I had planned to submit a step 2 proposal for the 7 June 2023 cut-off date. As I did not have enough time to submit my step 2 proposal in the SEP system before 21 June, I am now only able to submit for the October cut-off. As this will be more than 12 months since I received the positive evaluation of my step 1 application (which is the maximum permitted time according to the EIC Work Programme), ...
...will I no longer be eligible to submit my step 2 proposal?
Due to the exceptional circumstances of the extension of the June cut-off, it is expected that some successful step 1 applicants will not be not able to submit a step 2 proposal before the new cut-off deadline on 21 June 2023 (due to the need to redo/finalise their step 2 proposal application on time within a new submission platform) and would consequently lose their eligibility as the 12-month period would have elapsed during this period.
As a result, the Commission has decided to exceptionally extend the 12-month eligibility rule for applicants in this situation. Therefore, those successful step 1 applicants who pass the maximum 12 months for submitting a step 2 proposal between the original 7 June 2023 cut-off date and the next cut-off date on 19 October 2023 will now be allowed to submit a step 2 proposal to the 19 October cut-off date.
I have received an invitation to prepare a full application following the Fast Track process from an EU Programme or a Plug In from a national programme; can I still submit my full application?
Yes, the Submission & Evaluation Platform (SEP) will recognise all eligible applicants whose proposals were submitted via the Fast Track and Plug In schemes.
Why has the financial form been changed?
The financial form has been simplified and streamlined based on feedback received from applicants and along the lines of the statement published by the EIC Board in March 2023, and companies will be able to use the existing information from their business plans in a similar way as on the EIC AI Platform.
We will, however, continue to refine the financial form in order to make it user-friendly for companies (reflecting the fact that the overall simplification process will continue for all parts of the application forms). This includes the method for calculating the investment needs, which has been corrected in an updated version of the financial form available as of 13 June.
In the financial information form for step 2 proposals, is the method for calculating the total investment needs the same as in the previous template that was available on the EIC AI Platform?
Yes, except that the 30% co-financing for the grant part is no longer added to the total of investments needed (as this normally should not be covered by the equity investment). The investment needed is now calculated based on cash flow data (the proceeds from issuance of equity) and, when applicable, on the costs estimated for the work packages to be covered by the investment component.
In the financial information form for step 2 proposals, how do we estimate our post-money valuation if we are in the middle of negotiations with investors?
This should be specified on the basis of the previous financing round that your company completed.
In the financial information form for step 2 proposals, financial data for which year should be inputted into the ‘Year N’ column?
This should be the information for the year 2023 so far.
In table 2 of the financial information form, which information should be provided under “Major short term liabilities of the company”? Can this match the Short Term Liabilities in the Balance Sheet for the last closed financial year?
Yes.
In the financial information form for Step 2 proposals, under the ‘drivers of cash burn’ and ‘company has cash until MM/YY’ sections the number cells are greyed out. Are we therefore expected to only give a text explanation here?
Indeed, the row of the driver requires you to select the main driver from a drop/down menu. The figures on the cash burned are to be provided in the row just above.
In the financial information form for step 2 proposals, is it possible to add other columns for the forecast?
Yes, you can copy the last columns in table 1.
In the financial information form for Step 2 proposals, can you explain how the system exactly calculates the eligible grant, the EIC equity contribution and contributions from other sources?
The estimated eligible costs and requested grant amount are included in the worksheet ‘budget grant’ of the financial information template. The maximum grant amount is 70% of the total eligible costs. In addition, applicants have to request less than €2.5 million unless it is justified to ask for more.
Regarding equity (included in the worksheet ‘budget investment’), the applicant must determine which part of the total investment needed for the company (calculated on the basis of the figures entered in the financial information worksheet and when applicable, on the costs estimated for the work packages to be covered by the investment component) is requested to the EIC. In addition, the amount of investment that the applicant wants to reserve to potential co-investors (lead investors) or own resources is shown in the field ‘Total funding from other sources’ in the worksheet ‘budget investment’.
In the financial information form for step 2 proposals, giving details of the balance sheet up to 2028 is a very complicated task, especially for smaller SMEs with small financial departments. This may lead to inaccurate numbers. Will this be reduced for exemple up to the project duration (2025)?
Estimated figures on the balance sheet are requested here, as it is important to understand major changes. For example, if you acquire new assets for substantial value, if you need more raw materials to support a targeted increase in quantities sold, or if you intend to plan next funding rounds. This is crucial for evaluators to understand your business plan. Figures until year N+5 are required.
In the financial information form for step 2 proposals, we only foresee entering the market in 2028 as we have to perform multiple clinical trials beforehand. Can we include additional years in the financial forecast?
Yes, you can copy-paste the last column.
In the financial information form for Step 2 proposals, where should the projected EIC funding be taken into account in the excel sheet (P&L line and Cashflows)?
The requested EIC funding amount should be specified in the following places:
- as ‘other revenue’ in row 25 (P&L - Other revenues/expenses (including grants)).
- in the row 35 (Cashflows - Proceeds from grants), and
- in row 45 (Balance Sheet - Cash and cash equivalents).
In the financial information form for step 2 proposals, within the annex on ‘Mandatory data and consent’, why is the table on gender balance within the ‘Team’ section limited to CEO, CSO and CTO positions?
This is not limited: these three lines correspond to these key positions, however extra lines can be added (while these three lines are not mandatory either).
Will applicants be able to retrieve in SEP their prior EIC Accelerator application that was submitted or saved in draft on the EIC AI Platform?
Applicants who were eligible to submit a full proposal for the extended cut-off on 21 June 2023 were sent an email with the information and full proposal data that they had saved on the EIC AI Platform. The short proposal data are accessible in the new platform (https://myeic.eismea.eu/) as of 3 July 2023.
Why have new elements (i.e. key assets and governance of the company) been added to the application forms at a moment when companies have to reshape their current application version into SEP?
These are more precise sub-questions, rather than one general question asking for a description of the company. The purpose of these new sub-questions is the same: to provide a clear picture of the company and to help illustrate its key activities.
Are there any specific formatting rules within the maximum 50 pages for the full (step 2) proposal form in SEP?
The formatting rules follow the general Horizon Europe rules and are indicated in the new EIC Accelerator template. There is a 50-page recommended length including the description of the challenges and re-submission information.
Will the pitch deck have a limit on the number of slides?
There is no limit on the number of pages or slides. The only limit remains the 10 minutes maximum time for the presentation.
Will the executive summary section be made public?
No, this is only made available to evaluators. The proposal abstract for those proposals selected for funding will be made available on the EIC website and on CORDIS, once the grant agreement has been signed.
Will evaluators for Step 2 proposals submitted in SEP have access to the corresponding proposal submitted at Step 1 evaluation and the evaluators’ comments?
Yes, SEP provides access to the Step 1 proposal and evaluator comments.
Will evaluators for Step 2 proposals submitted in SEP have access to the videos provided within the Step 1 applications?
Yes, they will.
Will the evaluators know the number of GO vs. NO GO results in previous evaluations of my proposal?
If the proposal is a resubmission, the evaluators will have access to the most recent full proposal result and evaluator comments.
The new proposal template already asks for team members’ CVs for Step 1. Can the applicants simply refer to this within their Step 2 proposal?
Applicants should provide CVs as this is essential core information of the proposal, for which evaluators should not be forced to refer to the Step 1 application. Moreover, in many cases the information on team members might need to be updated at the time of the full proposal submission. It is important for evaluators to assess at each stage of the evaluation, the team members proposed for the project.
Are the rebuttal box and the box to list improvements still available?
Yes, there is still space in Part B of the proposal template for applicants to summarise the main changes compared to the previous (rejected) full proposal and to provide a rebuttal (if any) to the experts’ comments on the previous proposal.
Is it only possible to use a font other than Times New Roman within the step 2 full proposal form?
You are able to use another font as long as the overall formatting rules are respected. Using Times New Roman is simply a recommendation intended to ensure consistency amongst all the proposals submitted.
Do we need to state deliverables for WPs to be financed with the investment component within the step 2 full proposal form?
No, this is not required.
What is the difference between the ‘Section 7: Risks’ and the critical risks related to the Work Packages within the step 2 full proposal form?
The risks related to the Work Packages are for potential risks/issues in implementing the project, whereas the risks detailed within Section 7 should be wider (for example, risks related to the technology or the market).
Do sections on rebuttal questions and on intention to apply under the Challenges count within the 50 pages for the full (step 2) proposal Part B form in SEP?
The description of the Challenges and resubmission information should be included within the updated Step 2 proposal template. It is now recommended that proposals do not exceed 50 pages, therefore this is no longer a strict maximum page limit.
Will Participant Identity Codes (PIC) have to be newly validated for full proposals in SEP?
PICs do not have to be validated in order to submit a proposal at step 2. Validation of the PIC is only necessary at the step before the grant can be signed.
Will there be a test account in SEP for National Contact Points (NCPs)?
NCPs can use their current EULogin account and create a test account (having received the same dedicated links that applicants for the June cut-off have received by email) for this purpose.
In Part A, there is a question: "Has this proposal (or a very similar one) been submitted in the past 2 years in response to a call for proposals under any EU programme, including the current call?" - what should the applicant put here?
The applicants that have already submitted a proposal (received a “NO GO” either at the remote or the interviews stage) and are now re-submitting a full proposal, should choose the option “Yes” and enter the proposal number of the most recently submitted proposal. The applicants of first-time submissions (at full proposal stage) should choose the option “No”.
How can successful Step 1 applicants request a coach?
https://eic.eismea.eu/mydashboard/mycoaching
Applicants who are eligible for the coaching service can access the service via the SME Dashboard.
Where can I find more information?
For more information on how this affects different steps of EIC Accelerator applications, please consult our Frequently Asked Questions on the EIC Website.
The FAQs will be regularly updated with answers to questions that are received by the EIC from applicants.
The EIC organised a training session on 12 June about the new application process and to support applicants. The recording is available below.
Please contact your “National Contact Point (NCP)” for any other questions.
If you haven’t found the reply to your question in the FAQs and the NCP cannot help you, you can contact us by e-mail: support
eic [dot] eismea [dot] eu (support[at]eic[dot]eismea[dot]eu). The EIC is doing its utmost to quickly respond to questions.