EIC Accelerator 2024 vs. 2025: What the Data Tells Us

Every year, the EIC Accelerator data gives us a clearer picture of how Europe's most competitive deep tech funding programme is evolving. With 2025 now behind us, the last two years offer a meaningful benchmark: same programme, same structure, but a very different experience for applicants.

2025 marked a significant tightening of the process. There were fewer applications, stricter gatekeeping at the Full Application stage, and a record-high conversion rate for those who made it to interview. If you're preparing to apply to the EIC Accelerator, this data should inform your strategy.

How did success rates compare?

Across 2024 and 2025 combined, 240 companies secured EIC Accelerator funding: 139 in 2024 and 101 in 2025. So fewer companies were funded in 2025, but the story behind those numbers is more nuanced than it looks.

In 2024, the Full Application-to-Win rate held at 6%. Notably, the rate of full applications that made it to a face-to-face interview rate hit a record high of 36%. This spike was largely driven by the introduction of the consensus meeting rule in the 2024 Work Programme, which changed how borderline applications were handled before the face-to-face stage.

In 2025, the Full Application-to-Win rate dropped further to 5%. More strikingly, the full applications to face-to-face rate fell sharply to just 13% in the October 2025 cut-off, compared to 36% in October 2024 in a dramatic reversal. But here's the flip side: the rate of companies at interview stage that won reached a record high of 37% in 2025.

The EIC is filtering harder at the Full Application stage, but it's rewarding the companies that make it through more generously. Getting to interview seems now to be a better indicator of success.

Are fewer companies applying to the EIC Accelerator?

Yes, and the trend is likely to continue. The October 2024 cut-off saw 1,211 full applications submitted. By October 2025, that figure had dropped to 923. That's a reduction of nearly 25% in a single year, from the same cut-off window.

The three-max-submissions rule, introduced in 2024, is almost certainly part of the explanation. Under this rule, collecting three "No Go" decisions at any stage (short application, full application, or interview) permanently bars a company from reapplying under Horizon Europe. This has removed a cohort of repeat applicants who previously cycled through multiple attempts.

This contraction is probably healthy. A smaller, more strategic applicant pool should mean higher average quality, which benefits both the programme and genuine applicants.

Which countries are performing well?

Germany continued its dominance in both years. In 2024, it overtook France for only the second time since 2021. In 2025, it led for the third time in that period. France, despite slipping out of the top three in the October 2024 cut-off, recovered to finish in the top three for 2025 overall.

The standout story of 2025 was Spain, which had its best-ever year with 14 companies funded. Switzerland also made a notable return following its re-entry into Horizon Europe, securing four companies in the October 2025 cut-off alone.

For Irish applicants, the picture improved in 2025. After a difficult 2024, when Ireland had just one successful company (its worst result since 2021), the country recovered to three successes in 2025.

The vast majority of successful companies received Blended Finance (a combination of grant and equity). The UK is an exception, as UK-based companies can only access Grant Only funding under the current rules.

What about gender diversity?

There's genuine progress here. In 2024, 21% of funded companies were female-led (defined as having a female CEO, CSO or CTO). By 2025, that figure rose to approximately 30%. That's a meaningful shift in a short timeframe.

The EIC has been placing greater emphasis on gender equality across its funding instruments, and the numbers suggest this focus is having an effect. For female founders, this is an encouraging trend, and one that looks set to continue under the 2026 Work Programme.

What rule changes are shaping the programme?

Several structural changes have reshaped the EIC Accelerator landscape across 2024 and 2025, and more are coming in 2026:

• Three-max-submissions rule: From 2024, three No Go decisions at any stage permanently close the door for that company under Horizon Europe. This is structurally reducing repeat low-quality applications.
• TRL5 completion requirement: Companies must have completed all TRL5 activities before applying or reapplying. This is a harder entry bar than many realise.
• Equity cap at €10M: The maximum equity component available through the EIC Accelerator is now capped at €10M. Companies seeking a larger equity round should consider the EIC STEP Scale-up programme instead.
• 2026 simplifications: From 2026, full application forms are being cut from 50 to 20 pages, and evaluation rounds will take place every two months rather than twice a year. For companies planning ahead, this is a significant positive change.

You can read more about what's changed for the EIC Accelerator in 2026 in our dedicated article.

What does the cumulative data tell us?

Drawing from five years of EIC Accelerator data (2021–2025), a few clear patterns have solidified:

1. The programme is getting harder to enter, not just to win. The Full Application-to-Face to Face rate swung from 36% in 2024 to 13% in October 2025. The full application is no longer a stepping stone; it's a near-final hurdle, and you should treat it that way.
2. Overall success rates remain stubbornly low. The cumulative Full Application-to-Win rate sits at 7% across 11,873 full applications submitted over five years. One in four full applications reaches the face-to-face stage, but only 7% ultimately secure funding.
3. Application volumes are contracting, and that's probably a good thing. The decline from 2024 to 2025 is at least partly structural, driven by the max-submissions rule. A higher-quality, more strategic applicant pool benefits everyone.
4. Getting to the interview stage is now a meaningful quality signal. With the Face to Face-to-Win rate at a record 37%, an invitation to interview is a genuine indicator of fundability. It may also qualify companies for the Seal of Excellence, which recognises applications deemed very high quality but not funded in that round.

Key takeaways for applicants

The EIC Accelerator is becoming a more selective, higher-stakes programme with each passing year.

• Don't apply until you're ready. The three-max-submissions rule means a premature application has long-term consequences.
• Study the data. Understand which call type, country context, and funding instrument best suits your stage and sector.
• Be realistic about your application's strength before committing a submission, and get honest external feedback.

The companies winning EIC funding in 2025 are the ones who planned ahead, understood the process, and submitted applications of genuine quality. If you'd like support preparing a competitive application, get in touch with our team.