FAQs - EIC Accelerator Challenges - European Innovation Council

Advanced Materials for Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Systems

Are proposals submitted under the EIC Accelerator Challenges WP 2026 - Advanced Materials for Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Systems call required to include a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as an attachment, or to present LCA-related data within the proposal itself?

Does the EIC Accelerator Challenges WP 2026 - Advanced Materials for Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Systems call - consider materials related to semiconductors, such as those used for energy harvesting, sensors, wearables, conformable electronics, flexible electronics, and IoT applications?

Are there any restrictions, or limitations, on the use of critical raw materials (CRMs) in the proposals submitted to this challenge?

Would a hydrogen technology that focuses on improving the quality of hydrogen for off-takers be considered a deep tech innovation?

Would biogas or biomethane, produced from organic matter such as agricultural waste, food waste, or sewage sludge, be considered a form of renewable energy or energy storage for the purposes of this Challenge in Advanced Materials for Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Systems?

Are materials that can be used as coatings to enhance energy efficiency in buildings, such as thermal insulation coatings, be considered within the scope of this challenge?

Alternative Concepts and Key Enabling Technologies for Fusion Power Plants

Given that the allocated budget of €20 million for the EIC Accelerator Challenge - Alternative Concepts and Key Enabling Technologies for Fusion Power Plants can potentially be exhausted by just two companies applying for the maximum grant and equity? Is the budget allocated on first come first serve basis or are the 20me split between application dates?

Are technologies that enable the construction and licensing of fusion reactors considered in scope for the EIC Accelerator Challenges WP 2026 -Alternative Concepts and Key Enabling Technologies for Fusion Power Plants call? Additionally, if a proposed technology has applications in both fusion and fission reactors, is it still eligible for funding under this challenge, or is the focus exclusively on fusion reactor technologies?

Given the high costs associated with fusion technology development and the focus on supporting SMEs, are there any constraints or requirements regarding the proportion of eligible costs that must be incurred directly within the awarded company, as opposed to being sub-contracted to third-party providers?

What is the maximum Technology Readiness Level (TRL) that a project is expected to achieve within the 24-month timeframe of the EIC Accelerator program? Given that the minimum TRL is 4, is it expected that projects will reach TRL 8, or is a lower TRL, such as TRL 6 or 7, considered sufficient? And what types of evidence will be expected from participants to demonstrate their technology's maturity?

For non-EU applicants, how is the "strategic relevance" of a project evaluated when it supports Critical Raw Material (CRM) goals indirectly through circularity and efficiency measures, and what specific criteria are prioritized in the evaluation process?

How the requirement that "at least 50% of the indicative budget will be provided to legal entities established in Member States or countries associated to both Euratom and Horizon Europe" will be implemented in practice, such as: how will the budget be allocated to ensure that at least 50% goes to eligible entities?

Given that the challenge is specifically asking for innovative solutions in the area of fusion technology, would a project that delivers a conceptual or engineering design of a fusion technology, but does not necessarily involve constructing, or testing, a physical prototype, be considered sufficient to meet the EIC's requirements?

Biotech for Regenerating Agricultural Soils

Are robotic vertical farms, which use automated systems and controlled environments to produce vegetables, considered an eligible area for funding under this Biotech Challenge?

For innovations, related to Biotech for Regenerating Agricultural Soils call, that have the potential to deliver combined impacts across multiple sectors, such as agriculture, waste reduction, and climate mitigation, should applicants focus their proposal strictly on the soils challenge, or is it acceptable to take a more holistic, multi-sector systems approach that addresses the interconnectedness of these challenges?

Can soil-enhancing carbon materials produced from high-moisture organic residues, using an integrated biological pre-treatment and thermochemical conversion, be considered within the scope of the EIC Accelerator call in Biotech for Regenerating Agricultural Soils if they can demonstrate improvements in soil structure, water retention, and nutrient efficiency?

Does a bio-stimulant solution, specifically a peat replacement product derived from upcycled waste milk, align with the scope and objectives of the EIC Accelerator challenge, and are the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and sensor technologies considered essential or desirable components for eligibility?

Is it possible for a company that wants to scale up rapidly to participate in this challenge with an investment-only option, meaning they would not receive a grant but just equity?

Although our deep-tech innovation is rooted in physics, its primary impact and application are in the biological sciences, specifically in the areas of plant health, biological crop treatments, and soil microbiology. Given this intersection of physics and biology, are we likely to be considered eligible for this Challenge in Biotech for Regenerating Agricultural Soils?

We are a company at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5-6, developing a circular and zero-emission biotechnology solution. Our technology uses agricultural residues to produce bio-fertilizers and a novel organic insecticide that has no EU equivalent. Would our proposal be eligible for support from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator program?

Are processes like pyrolysis, which convert plastic into biofuel, eligible for financing under this program, and if so, what specific requirements or criteria must be met to qualify for funding?

Boosting the European Critical Raw Materials value chain

Does the EIC Accelerator Challenge - Boosting the European Critical Raw Materials value chain call - support the development of machines or technologies focused on manufacturing products from recycled materials, or is the scope limited to other areas of recycling or sustainability?

Does the EIC Accelerator Challenges WP 2026 focus exclusively on the raw materials listed in the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, or does it also cover secondary raw materials, such as those obtained through recycling or urban mining?

Would the development of new materials that aim to replace certain critical raw materials be considered eligible for this challenge Boosting the European Critical Raw Materials value chain?

Is there a specific plan in place for each EU country to extract or import raw materials, in order to supply final products to industries of interest, considering the EU's resource development strategies and research initiatives, such as the RESourceEU? (RESourceEU is a new program designed to secure raw materials and promote recycling policy)

Is a company that uses biomass (such as algae or vegetables) to recycle lithium-ion batteries and recover valuable raw materials like graphite, nickel, manganese, and cobalt with high yield, a good fit for this challenge in Boosting the EU Critical Raw Materials value chain?

Deep Tech for Climate Adaptation

Does the climate-smart agriculture objective under the Deep Tech for Climate Adaptation call include the development of sustainable fertilizers using biotech or microbial solutions, as mentioned in the 'microbial solutions and bio stimulants' bullet point in the EIC WP? If so, are there any specific requirements or priorities for these types of solutions, such as reducing synthetic fertilizer use or promoting soil health?

Is ocean pollution, specifically plastics, within the scope of this Deep Tech for Climate Adaptation call, particularly when it comes to the collection, recycling, and manufacturing of products from those materials?

How can asset management be financed, considering that damage to buildings and infrastructure is the most impacted area (79%), and different countries have varying investment models and fundamental quality requirements? Should it be financed through policy, investment models, or other means?

Are materials that can be used as coatings to enhance energy efficiency in buildings, such as thermal insulation coatings or smart coatings that regulate heat transfer, considered within the scope of this challenge In Deep Tech for Climate Adaptation?

When submitting a proposal for an innovation that addresses both climate-risk reduction and soil resilience, such as improvements in water retention, erosion reduction, or nutrient runoff, should applicants primarily position their proposal under the climate adaptation category, even if the primary mechanism of the innovation is soil-related?

Is a biological solution for wastewater treatment that produces biohydrogen, as a byproduct, considered within the focus areas of this challenge in Deep Tech for Climate Adaptation?

Would projects that focus on the impacts of climate change on cultural heritage, such as the effects of rising temperatures, sea-level rise, or extreme weather events on cultural artifacts, sites, or traditions, be considered relevant and eligible for funding under this challenge?