Innovayt supported 16 out of 31 Danish EIC Accelerator projects funded since the launch of Horizon Europe
Since the launch of Horizon Europe in 2021, 31 Danish EIC Accelerator projects have been selected for funding. Innovayt has supported 16 of them, which means more than half of all funded Danish projects during this period.
This builds also on our experience under Horizon 2020, where Innovayt also supported more than half of the funded Danish projects in the programme that preceded the EIC Accelerator.
Working across these projects has given our team a close view of what the EIC Accelerator asks of companies and, importantly, where even technically strong projects can run into difficulties.
What does a strong EIC Accelerator application need to demonstrate?
A breakthrough technology is only one part of a strong EIC Accelerator case.
Companies also need to demonstrate a credible market opportunity, a realistic route to scale and a team capable of delivering the company’s ambitions. These elements need to support one another and form a convincing overall case.
In practice, many of the decisions behind a competitive application therefore need to be made well before the proposal itself is written.
The question is not only whether the technology is innovative. Companies also need to consider whether the commercial opportunity is sufficiently clear, whether the proposed scale-up path is realistic and whether there is enough evidence to support the assumptions behind the project.
Why should companies start preparing for the EIC Accelerator early?
Starting early gives companies time to assess whether the EIC Accelerator is genuinely the right funding route before committing significant resources to an application.
This means looking critically at the programme fit, identifying gaps that still need to be addressed and deciding whether the company is ready for the next relevant cut-off.
An early assessment can also reveal where additional work is needed around the market case, scale-up strategy, team, financing or supporting evidence. Addressing those questions before intensive proposal preparation begins can make the overall process considerably stronger.
For companies considering an EIC Accelerator application, the first step should therefore not necessarily be writing. Instead, it should be understanding how ready the company and project are to make the case the programme requires.
Experience across Danish EIC Accelerator projects
Supporting 16 out of the 31 Danish projects selected for EIC Accelerator funding since 2021 has given Innovayt experience across different companies, technologies and application journeys.
While every project is different, one point remains consistent: a promising technology alone does not make an application ready.
The technology, market opportunity, scale-up strategy and team need to come together in a credible case. Understanding where that case is already strong and where it still needs development is an important part of deciding when to apply.
Considering an EIC Accelerator application?
If you are exploring the EIC Accelerator, Innovayt can help you assess the fit of your project, identify potential gaps and determine whether the timing is right for an application.