The document summarizes new guidelines for accessing the first €10B of EU capital for breakthrough innovation through the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator. Key changes include a pre-screening stage to reduce wasted time for applicants and increase success rates, a "go/no go" evaluation system giving equal chances of success, and a 12-month cooling off period after two rejections to incentivize readiness. Applicants will also receive evaluator feedback and 40% of interview invites will target female CEOs. The submission process uses an "AI platform" focusing on content. Securing EIC Accelerator funding requires a breakthrough high-risk, high-impact innovation at TRL5-6, a strong founding

1. Accessing the first €10B of EU capital
for breakthrough innovation
A webinar organised by
On 30 March 2021
With
Analysis of new guidelines
&
Insights on successful applications

2. What do the new
mean for applicants?

3. 1.
The new pre-screening stage
and fast-track and plug-in short-cuts
mean less wasted time for applicants
and a higher statistical success rate
once over the pre-screening

4. 2.
The new go/no go evaluation system
brings an equal chance of success
to equally excellent applicants
once at full application stage

5. 3.
The compulsory 12-month
cooling-off period
after 2 unsuccessful
applications incentivises
applicants to submit only
when truly ready

6. 4.
EIC applicants will
now know why their
application failed as
they will receive the
verbatim feedback
from evaluators

7. 5.
The EIC's commitment that
40% of applicants invited
to the interview should be
female CEO's means
female scientists and
entrepreneurs have
a much higher chance
of being funded
in the EIC Accelerator
than in the market

8. 6.
The submission process
through an "AI platform"
means
content will be king

9. ➢ mainly positive changes as a whole
➢ a fairer and more efficient system for applicants
In short

10. What does it take to secure EIC Accelerator funding?

11. 1.
Being a true high-
risk breakthrough
innovation with
potentially high
societal and
commercial impact

12. 2.
Striking a fine
balance btw being
sufficiently advanced
(i.e. TRL5-6) but
not too advanced
(i.e. seed, series A)

13. 3.
Being a founding
team
of equally strong
founding members

14. 4.
Being able to
prove every
single of your
claims

15. 5.
Being able to
evidence how
your project is
aligned with EU
policy and feeds
into Europe's
technological
sovereignty

16. 6. Being realistic
and humble about
the very high
competitiveness
of the programme

17. 7. Being fully engaged
in the process
from A-Z

18. 8. Being equally strong at
strategy and
communication

19. 9. Being rigorous and
methodical

20. 10. Obsessing over standing out
every step of the way

21. Thank you for your attention
and good luck !
caroline@bergaud-partners.com
+32 485 317 341
I remain available for a longer chat over an e-coffee