Fast Track to the EIC Accelerator: New Eureka Call Opens for Eurostars-Backed Innovators

Startups, SMEs, and small mid-caps that have successfully completed a Eurostars-3 project now have a unique opportunity to accelerate their journey toward European Innovation Council (EIC) funding. The Eureka Network has launched Call 5 of the Fast Track to the EIC Accelerator, with applications open from 31 August to 25 September 2026.

A Faster Route to the EIC Accelerator

The Fast Track to the EIC Accelerator is an initiative of the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs, co-funded through Horizon Europe. The scheme is specifically designed to help innovative companies build on the results of their Eurostars-3 projects and access the prestigious EIC Accelerator more efficiently.

The key advantage is that eligible applicants can skip the first stage of the EIC Accelerator application process - the short proposal - and proceed directly to the full proposal stage. This provides a streamlined route to one of Europe's most

competitive innovation funding programmes.

What Is the EIC Accelerator?

The EIC Accelerator supports startups, SMEs, and small mid-caps developing breakthrough innovations with the potential to create entirely new markets or disrupt existing ones. The programme combines:

• Grant funding and investment funding

• Coaching and mentoring support

• Access to investors and corporate partners

• Support for scaling deep-tech innovations

For 2026, the EIC Accelerator has an allocated budget of €634 million.

Who Can Apply?

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be a legal entity established in an EU Member State, Iceland, Israel, Norway, Switzerland, Türkiye, or the United Kingdom.

• Be a startup, SME, or small mid-cap.

• Have successfully completed a Eurostars-3 project after 25 September 2024, or currently participate in a Eurostars-3 project that will finish before 25 March 2027.

• Have an innovative business concept resulting from the Eurostars-3 project.

• Hold, or have rights to, the intellectual property underlying the innovation.

• Submit the required application documentation.

Application Timeline

The application process follows a short and focused timeline:

• Call opens: 31 August 2026

• Submission deadline: 25 September 2026, 14:00 CEST

Interested companies should prepare their applications early to ensure all eligibility and documentation requirements are met.

Eligible Countries

The call is open to applicants from numerous Eureka countries, including Bulgaria, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, Israel, and Iceland. 

Why This Opportunity Matters

For companies emerging from a successful Eurostars-3 project, the Fast Track offers a strategic bridge between collaborative R&D funding and large-scale commercialization support. By providing direct access to the EIC Accelerator's full application stage, the programme can significantly reduce the complexity of the application process and increase visibility among Europe's innovation investors and experts.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the Eureka Network's Fast Track to the EIC Accelerator – Call 5 portal before 25 September 2026, 14:00 CEST. 

Official Call Page: https://www.eurekanetwork.org/programmes-and-calls/fast-track-to-the-eic-accelerator-call-5/

Check out our guides for funding opportunities

Agriventures Connect 3.0 is coming on 20th of April 2027 in Sofia, Bulgaria

The role of Agriventures in supporting agrifood innovation

As the agritech startup ecosystem grows across Europe, initiatives such as Agriventures are helping connect entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and policymakers working in agriculture and food innovation.

Agriventures focuses on supporting agrifood startups, biotechnology innovation, and access to European funding for agriculture, while also helping entrepreneurs navigate the complex landscape of startup financing, venture capital, and research commercialization.

By strengthening connections between startups, research institutions, investors, and farmers, Agriventures contributes to building a stronger agricultural innovation ecosystem that can accelerate the transition toward sustainable agriculture and resilient food systems.

Through knowledge sharing, events, and ecosystem building, Agriventures helps ensure that promising agritech innovations can scale and reach farmers, food producers, and global markets.