{"id":5155,"date":"2019-10-11T15:26:47","date_gmt":"2019-10-11T13:26:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.joconsulting.eu\/horizon-2020-from-the-sme-instrument-to-the-eic-accelerator-for-scaling-up\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T12:27:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T10:27:07","slug":"horizon-2020-from-the-sme-instrument-to-the-eic-accelerator-for-scaling-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.joconsulting.eu\/en\/horizon-2020-from-the-sme-instrument-to-the-eic-accelerator-for-scaling-up\/","title":{"rendered":"HORIZON 2020: THE SME INSTRUMENT AND EIC ACCELERATOR"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"5155\" class=\"elementor elementor-5155 elementor-5141\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6265a99 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6265a99\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ba551c2\" data-id=\"ba551c2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cef2a42 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cef2a42\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In a previous article about &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.joconsulting.eu\/en\/horizon-2020-sme-instrument\/\">HORIZON 2020: SME INSTRUMENT<\/a>&#8221; we already talked about <strong>the Horizon 2020 SME Instrument <\/strong>funding scheme, dedicated exclusively to those SMEs with a\u00a0<strong>revolutionary business<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>idea<\/strong>\u00a0and breakthrough products, services, processes or models.<\/p><p>Now the SME Instrument evolves and becomes part of the <strong>European Innovation Council (EIC) pilot<\/strong>, which supports top class innovators, entrepreneurs and\u00a0small companies\u00a0with funding opportunities and acceleration services.<\/p><p>The main focus of the <strong>EIC Accelerator<\/strong> (SME Instrument) is on market-creating innovations that shape new markets and generate jobs, growth\u00a0and higher standards of living.<\/p><p>Therefore, the\u00a0Accelerator\u00a0(SME Instrument) is addressed to those small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups with radically new ideas for rolling out\u00a0marketable innovation solutions\u00a0and with\u00a0<strong>ambitions to scale up <\/strong>in Europe and worldwide.<\/p><p>It targets\u00a0<strong>for-profit SMEs only<\/strong>, including young companies and start-ups, from any sector &#8211; there are no set topics<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bf972d8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bf972d8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">THE EUROPEAN INNOVATION COUNCIL (EIC) PILOT FOR A FULL INNOVATION SUPPORT <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a23937f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a23937f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In the broad framework of the <strong>European Innovation Council (EIC) pilot<\/strong>, the <strong>EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument)<\/strong> offers financial support to high-potential enterprises, as well as coaching and mentoring services, to develop and bring to market new products, services and business models that could drive economic growth, filling the market gap by supporting innovation considered \u2018high-risk\u2019 for private investors.<\/p><p>This instrument is complemented by the\u00a0<strong>EIC Pathfinder pilot<\/strong>, which supports advanced technologies\/early-stage innovation, and the\u00a0<strong>EIC Fast Track to Innovation<\/strong>, which supports consortia made of SMEs and industrial players. All these instruments together are thought to cover the entire innovation chain.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c13967 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7c13967\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"439\" src=\"https:\/\/media.joconsulting.eu\/joconsulting.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/img-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5150\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.joconsulting.eu\/joconsulting.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/img-1.jpg 780w, https:\/\/media.joconsulting.eu\/joconsulting.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/img-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.joconsulting.eu\/joconsulting.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/img-1-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-312d548 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"312d548\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">EIC ACCELERATOR (SME INSTRUMENT): ALL THE NOVELTIES OF 2020 <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d26b6e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5d26b6e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAmong the main changes introduced in the updated version of the Work Programme, the following are the most significant ones:\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7dbcfab elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"7dbcfab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-check\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M173.898 439.404l-166.4-166.4c-9.997-9.997-9.997-26.206 0-36.204l36.203-36.204c9.997-9.998 26.207-9.998 36.204 0L192 312.69 432.095 72.596c9.997-9.997 26.207-9.997 36.204 0l36.203 36.204c9.997 9.997 9.997 26.206 0 36.204l-294.4 294.401c-9.998 9.997-26.207 9.997-36.204-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\"><strong>Phase 1 SME Instrument has been discontinued<\/strong>; the final deadline for applications was the last 5th September 2019. Phase 1 was conceived to support the applying SMEs in exploring the technical feasibility and commercial potential of their disruptive idea and developing it into a credible business plan for scaling it up, with a lump sum of <strong>\u20ac 50 000<\/strong> for a 6-months project;<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-check\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M173.898 439.404l-166.4-166.4c-9.997-9.997-9.997-26.206 0-36.204l36.203-36.204c9.997-9.998 26.207-9.998 36.204 0L192 312.69 432.095 72.596c9.997-9.997 26.207-9.997 36.204 0l36.203 36.204c9.997 9.997 9.997 26.206 0 36.204l-294.4 294.401c-9.998 9.997-26.207 9.997-36.204-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Starting from October 9th 2019, beneficiaries may apply to Phase 2\/EIC Accelerator <strong>only as a single company<\/strong>, not as a consortium.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-check\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M173.898 439.404l-166.4-166.4c-9.997-9.997-9.997-26.206 0-36.204l36.203-36.204c9.997-9.998 26.207-9.998 36.204 0L192 312.69 432.095 72.596c9.997-9.997 26.207-9.997 36.204 0l36.203 36.204c9.997 9.997 9.997 26.206 0 36.204l-294.4 294.401c-9.998 9.997-26.207 9.997-36.204-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">A <strong>new financing option<\/strong> has been integrated to the current Phase 2 of the SME Instrument (EIC Accelerator), that is an <strong>equity component<\/strong>, starting from October 9th 2019. From this deadline, the funding will be provided only in the form of grant, or blended finance (combining grant and equity). More specifically, grants will finance activities from TRL (Technology Readiness Level) 6-8. Activities above TRL 8 will be financed only through <strong>blended finance<\/strong>. Applicants will be asked to indicate if they want blended finance and the amount requested for equity. The maximum is <strong>\u20ac 15 million for equity investement<\/strong>.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a348ac2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a348ac2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"352\" src=\"https:\/\/media.joconsulting.eu\/joconsulting.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/img-2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5153\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.joconsulting.eu\/joconsulting.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/img-2.jpg 780w, https:\/\/media.joconsulting.eu\/joconsulting.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/img-2-300x135.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.joconsulting.eu\/joconsulting.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/img-2-768x347.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bd40b2d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bd40b2d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDespite the big novelties introduced, the key aspects of the EIC Accelerator (SME Instrument) funding scheme remain the same:\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8df53d4 elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"8df53d4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-check\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M173.898 439.404l-166.4-166.4c-9.997-9.997-9.997-26.206 0-36.204l36.203-36.204c9.997-9.998 26.207-9.998 36.204 0L192 312.69 432.095 72.596c9.997-9.997 26.207-9.997 36.204 0l36.203 36.204c9.997 9.997 9.997 26.206 0 36.204l-294.4 294.401c-9.998 9.997-26.207 9.997-36.204-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\"><a href=\"\u201d\" target=\"\u201d_blank\u201d\">SME-2b SME Instrument<\/a> (grant only and blended finance) helps SMEs and start-ups to develop their business concept further into a market-ready product, service or process aligned with the company's growth strategy. Activities could, for example, include trials, prototyping, validation, demonstration and testing in real-world conditions, and market replication. To do so, the grant offers an amount that can vary from EUR 500,000 and 2,5 million (70% of total cost of the project as a general rule). Projects should normally take from <strong>12 to 24 months<\/strong> to complete, but could be longer in exceptional and well-justified cases.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-check\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M173.898 439.404l-166.4-166.4c-9.997-9.997-9.997-26.206 0-36.204l36.203-36.204c9.997-9.998 26.207-9.998 36.204 0L192 312.69 432.095 72.596c9.997-9.997 26.207-9.997 36.204 0l36.203 36.204c9.997 9.997 9.997 26.206 0 36.204l-294.4 294.401c-9.998 9.997-26.207 9.997-36.204-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Free-of-charge business coaching (optional) in order to support and enhance the company\u2019s innovation capacity and help align the project to strategic business needs, facilitated by the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN).<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-check\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M173.898 439.404l-166.4-166.4c-9.997-9.997-9.997-26.206 0-36.204l36.203-36.204c9.997-9.998 26.207-9.998 36.204 0L192 312.69 432.095 72.596c9.997-9.997 26.207-9.997 36.204 0l36.203 36.204c9.997 9.997 9.997 26.206 0 36.204l-294.4 294.401c-9.998 9.997-26.207 9.997-36.204-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Access to a wide range of other business acceleration services and facilitated access to risk finance, in the form of partnering and networking with investors, larger firms and other SME clients, to facilitate the commercial exploitation of the business product\/service. This is ensured thanks to the <a href=\"\u201d\" target=\"\u201d_blank\u201d\">EIC Community Platform<\/a>, a virtual meeting-place where companies funded by the European Innovation Council (EIC) pilot can connect, share their experiences and build potential businesses partnerships.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fb1b9eb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fb1b9eb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIf you want to stay updated on the latest news on European funds, read our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.joconsulting.eu\/en\/journal\/\">JOurnal<\/a>.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a previous article about &#8220;HORIZON 2020: SME INSTRUMENT&#8221; we already talked about the Horizon 2020 SME Instrument funding scheme, dedicated exclusively to those SMEs with a\u00a0revolutionary business\u00a0idea\u00a0and breakthrough products, services, processes or models. Now the SME Instrument evolves and becomes part of the European Innovation Council (EIC) pilot, which supports top class innovators, entrepreneurs [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":5143,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[54],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5155","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-european-projects"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.joconsulting.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5155","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.joconsulting.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.joconsulting.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.joconsulting.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.joconsulting.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5155"}],"version-history":[{"count":40,"href":"https:\/\/www.joconsulting.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5155\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12538,"href":"https:\/\/www.joconsulting.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5155\/revisions\/12538"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.joconsulting.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5143"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.joconsulting.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.joconsulting.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5155"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.joconsulting.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}