1. Strategic Importance of the EIC Grant for the Ukrainian Innovation Ecosystem
1.1. Political and Economic Context
The financial support programme for Ukrainian technology small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups, announced by the European Innovation Council (EIC) under the HORIZON-EIC-2025-UKRAINIANTECH-01 initiative, is a direct element of the European Commission’s ongoing efforts aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s innovation capacity. This initiative is particularly significant against the backdrop of the military invasion, demonstrating the EU’s commitment to help Ukraine not only preserve but also develop its deep technological potential (Deep-Tech).
The programme’s goal is to provide critically needed funding for high-impact innovations, enabling Ukrainian companies to overcome the internal economic and logistical challenges associated with the war. The EIC views this support as an investment in the future of the European innovation ecosystem, where Ukraine is set to play a key role. The assistance focuses on supporting technologies with high potential for commercialisation and scaling up in the European and global markets.
1.2. Key Programme Parameters
The EIC allocates a total indicative budget of €20 million for this specialised action. The EIC expects this funding to support approximately 40 high-potential projects.
A crucial characteristic of this initiative is its focus on overcoming the “Valley of Death”—the phase when lab developments have proven their concept but are not yet ready for the market and attracting large private investments. This programme is designed as a unique, one-off opportunity. According to the information provided, no similar call is currently planned for 2026. This underscores the necessity for Ukrainian Deep-Tech companies to seize this chance within the established timeframe.
The EIC particularly emphasises the requirement for exclusively civilian application. This condition is critical. Although the Ukrainian technology sector demonstrates a significant reorientation towards Defence-Tech, the EIC, as a civilian EU financial instrument, does not finance dual-use activities or militarised developments. Therefore, companies whose technologies have military origins must clearly “demilitarise” their proposal and present a convincing and well-substantiated civilian market case to avoid automatic rejection at the initial stage of application.
2. Detailed Breakdown of Financial Terms: Mastering the Lump Sum Mechanism
2.1. Grant Amount, Co-financing, and Project Duration
Under HORIZON-EIC-2025-UKRAINIANTECH-01, each selected project can receive a grant in the form of a fixed sum (Lump Sum) ranging from €300,000 to €500,000.
This sum is non-repayable financial support but requires mandatory co-financing. The EIC covers 70% of the project’s eligible costs. The beneficiary must secure the remaining 30% through its own resources. Projects can have a maximum duration of up to 24 months.
2.2. Lump Sum: Strategic Challenge and Advantage
The key financial feature of this call is the use of the Lump Sum mechanism. This mechanism fundamentally differs from the traditional reimbursement of actually incurred costs (Actual Cost), which is standard for many national programmes. In the Lump Sum format, the EIC pays grant funds not based on detailed reporting of every receipt or person-hour, but for achieving previously agreed upon and clearly defined milestones.
The main advantage of the Lump Sum for SMEs is the significant simplification of the administrative burden and reduction of bureaucracy associated with collecting primary documents and auditing expenses. However, it also creates a strategic challenge. The applicant’s financial literacy and ability to accurately project costs become more critical than meticulous reporting.
All attention from EIC experts during project evaluation shifts to the detailed breakdown of the budget and its link to measurable KPIs. The applicant must divide the total grant amount into 3–5 logical, clearly measurable milestones. For example, “Achieving TRL 5 and completing field trials” may be valued at a fixed sum of €150,000. If the company achieves and confirms the milestone, it receives the fixed amount, regardless of whether the actual incurred costs exceeded or fell below this sum. An insufficiently substantiated budget, vague KPIs, or failure to achieve agreed-upon Milestones may lead to the non-payment of the corresponding portion of the grant.
2.3. Table: Key EIC Grant Conditions for Ukrainian Deep-Tech SMEs
| Parameter | Condition Detail |
| Total Call Budget | €20 million |
| Grant Amount (per project) | Lump Sum from €300,000 to €500,000 |
| Co-financing | EIC covers 70% of costs, 30% — beneficiary’s funds |
| Maximum Duration | Up to 24 months |
3. Selection Criteria: Who Can Apply and Relocation Conditions
3.1. Applicant Type and Participation Format
The EIC programme is aimed at supporting innovative technological SMEs, including startups. The EU Recommendation of 6 May 2003 defines the requirements for SMEs.
The key requirement for the participation format is that this is exclusively a mono-beneficiary call. This means that only one company can apply and receive funding. Consortia consisting of multiple partners (universities, research centres, or other companies) are not eligible. This format allows the EIC to directly fund the innovative Deep-Tech company, eliminating the need for complex coordination and management of international consortia, which is typical of other Horizon Europe programmes. For startups with strong intellectual property, this significantly speeds up the application and implementation process.
3.2. Geographical Eligibility
The programme has specific and flexible requirements regarding company registration, taking into account the circumstances of the war:
– Primary Category: The company must be established and registered in Ukraine; or.
– Relocated Companies: The company was established in Ukraine but relocated to an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated Country after February 24, 2022.
For relocated companies, there is an additional requirement ensuring that EIC support is aimed precisely at preserving Ukrainian intellectual capital: at least one founder, co-founder, or top manager (CEO, CTO, or CSO) must hold Ukrainian citizenship. Thus, the EIC ensures that the funding maintains its target focus, supporting Ukrainian innovators even if their operations were temporarily moved to Europe.
3.3. Additional Criteria
The EIC actively encourages inclusivity in Ukraine’s technological landscape. The EIC prioritises applications from women-led enterprises.
4. Technological Focus (TRL 4 – TRL 7)
4.1. Technology Readiness Level (TRL) Requirements
The EIC grant has clearly defined Technology Readiness Level (TRL) boundaries that correspond to the funding objective.
The project must start at a minimum TRL 4, meaning the technology must already be validated at the laboratory level. By the end of the 24-month project, beneficiaries must reach TRL 6 or TRL 7. Achieving TRL 6 means the technological component has been tested and validated in a relevant environment, and TRL 7 means the prototype system has been demonstrated in an operational environment.
This transition from TRL 4 to TRL 7 is the most expensive and riskiest stage in the lifecycle of Deep-Tech innovations. The EIC funds precisely this gap, allowing companies to transform a laboratory proof of concept into a commercially viable demonstrator.
4.2. Priority Deep-Tech Areas
The programme supports high-impact Deep-Tech innovations. While the EIC welcomes all strong innovative proposals, the EIC pays particular attention to priority verticals critical for Ukraine, such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, biotechnology, and cybersecurity. The EIC has identified these sectors as critical for the country’s economic resilience and future development.
4.3. The Role of Intellectual Property (IP)
It is extremely important for the EIC that funding is directed towards projects with high scaling potential, protected from legal risks. Therefore, applicants must prove that they possess the necessary Intellectual Property Rights (IP) to ensure freedom to operate and adequate protection of their idea.
The EIC will not invest in technologies that may face patent disputes or can be easily copied by competitors. In the application, it is critically necessary to provide clear evidence of IP ownership, such as registered patents or applications, and to demonstrate a strategy for IP protection in the European and global markets. Such attention to legal aspects indicates the company’s maturity and its readiness to enter the international investment level.
5. Target Use of the Grant and Expected Impact
5.1. Two Components of Funding
The EIC funding in the Lump Sum format is two-component and must cover costs for two interrelated strategic components:
– Technical Maturation (R&D): This is the main part, aimed at validating and refining technologies beyond the proof of concept (PoC) to viable demonstrators (TRL 4 to TRL 6-7). This includes costs for equipment, materials, salaries for engineers and scientists, and testing the technological component in a relevant environment.
– Commercialisation Preparation (Market Readiness): The EIC requires applicants to simultaneously prepare their business for attracting investment and entering the market. This includes competitor analysis, IP protection, developing a compelling Value Proposition, creating a detailed business case, and working on issues of certification, regulation, and standardisation.
Projects that focus exclusively on technical development without a clear strategy for monetisation and market entry have low chances of success. EIC experts evaluate the integration of technical progress with the commercial strategy. Therefore, applicants must allocate resources to both engineering personnel and business consulting and legal services to ensure the necessary balance.
5.2. Project Outcomes
At the end of the 24-month term, the EIC expects beneficiaries to achieve concrete, measurable results that serve as a springboard for further scaling:
– Technological Readiness: The company must test and validate the technology at a minimum of TRL 5, preferably higher.
– Investment Readiness: The company should be ready to apply for the flagship EIC Accelerator programme (Fast Track) or actively seek other sources of funding, including venture capital, for concluding licensing or partnership agreements.
– Market Presence: Beneficiaries must gain increased global visibility and access to European and global markets.
Thus, this grant is not just R&D funding, but an EU-paid preparation of the company for receiving millions in investments.
6. Timeline and Submission Procedure: Strict EIC Framework
6.1. Key Dates and Deadline
The EIC hosted the info session where they discussed this programme on October 24, 2025. EIC experts, including Giovanni La Placa and Lubomir Dluhy, detailed the proposal template and evaluation criteria during the session.
Key dates for applicants:
– Opening Date: August 12, 2025.
– Submission Deadline: November 26, 2025, 17:00 (CET).
6.2. Evaluation Process and Contract Signing
The EIC procedure is multi-stage and requires patience due to the necessity of thorough international expert evaluation. The assessment begins only after the official closing of the call on November 26, 2025.
Expected timeline:
– Completion of Remote Evaluation: Beginning of February 2026.
– Notification of Results: End of February – March 2026.
– Signing of Grant Agreement: June – July 2026 (maximum three months after result announcement).
– Project Start: Projects should start around this time or later, subject to agreement with the EIC and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA).
The long period between the submission deadline (November 2025) and the signing of the grant agreement (June-July 2026), which is about 7–8 months, is a critical factor. Rapidly developing startups must have a clear financial strategy to ensure the company’s sustainability and team support during this transition period until the company receives the first Lump Sum tranche.
6.3. Table: Key EIC Evaluation Stages and Timeline (HORIZON-EIC-2025-UKRAINIANTECH-01)
| Stage | Expected Term | Significance |
| Proposal submission deadline | November 26, 2025 | Single deadline; no similar call planned for 2026 |
| Completion of remote evaluation | Beginning of February 2026 | Evaluation by EIC experts |
| Notification of results to applicants | End of February – March 2026 | Official announcement of winners |
| Signing of Grant Agreements | June – July 2026 (max.) | Official start of project implementation |
| Maximum project duration | Up to 24 months | Timeframe for achieving TRL 6-7 and market readiness |
7. How to Form a Competitive Application: Evaluation Strategies
The success of an EIC grant application depends on the company’s ability to demonstrate the high quality of the innovation, its technical feasibility, and a clear commercial strategy. EIC experts look for a multi-faceted approach to the project.
7.1. Technical Feasibility and Resources
One of the most common reasons for rejection in the EIC Accelerator is insufficient substantiation of technical feasibility. The applicant must clearly prove that the innovation is not only possible but also technically achievable within the defined 24-month timeframe and budget. This requires providing evidence of already conducted research (TRL 4) and detailed development plans demonstrating how the company will achieve TRL 6-7. Furthermore, the team must clearly articulate the resources needed for implementation, which directly correlates with the justification of the Lump Sum value.
EIC key experts also implicitly assess the team’s capacity during project evaluation. Since the grant is significant and requires a complex transition in TRL, it is necessary to highlight the experience of the key management staff (CEO, CTO, CSO) in the Deep-Tech sector and their commercial skills.
7.2. Market Strength (Value Proposition)
A weak or unclear Value Proposition is another typical mistake leading to rejection. The EIC funds innovations with high market potential. The application must:
– Clearly define customer pain points and explain how the innovation solves them.
– Articulate Unique Selling Points that differentiate the solution from existing competitors.
– Provide a clear vision for market entry within 2–3 years, including specific and verifiable KPIs to assess progress.
The combination of technical excellence (TRL) with compelling commercial viability is mandatory for success.
7.3. Project Management and Lump Sum Reporting
In the context of Lump Sum funding, defining clear Milestones is the central element of project management and financial reporting. Experts must understand how the company will measure success and when the company will achieve significant interim results.
It is necessary to establish Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART) success indicators (KPIs). Applicants must tie each Milestone to a fixed Lump Sum amount. This creates a roadmap for the project and allows evaluators to effectively determine whether the company is capable of implementing its plan and receiving the corresponding funding.
8. EIC Ecosystem Additional Support (Business Acceleration)
The EIC grant for Ukrainian Deep-Tech companies is more than just financial support; it is integration into the EIC ecosystem, providing significant non-financial benefits.
8.1. BAS for Investment Readiness
Successful applicants receive free access to tailored Business Acceleration Services (BAS). These services include coaching, one-on-one consultations, and participation in bootcamps and pitching sessions. The main goal of BAS is to enhance the company’s investor readiness and improve its attractiveness to private investors.
Utilising BAS is vital for companies transitioning from R&D to commercialisation, as European experts help adapt the business model to the requirements of the global market.
8.2. Fast Track to Accelerator
The most strategic non-financial advantage is the right to the Fast Track to the flagship EIC Accelerator programme. The EIC Accelerator is one of the most prestigious and largest European funding programmes, offering grants of up to €2.5 million and venture investments from the EIC Fund.
Receiving the HORIZON-EIC-2025-UKRAINIANTECH-01 grant is essentially an EU-funded “test drive.” It allows the company to prove TRL 6-7, which is the minimum requirement for the Accelerator. The Fast Track allows skipping some initial selection stages, significantly increasing the chances of receiving the millions in investments and grants needed for full-scale scaling.
8.3. Seal of Excellence
Even if the budget is limited, projects that pass the evaluation thresholds but limited resources prevent the EIC from funding will receive the “Seal of Excellence.”
This mark is a recognition of the high quality and innovative value of the application by the European Commission. The Seal of Excellence carries significant weight, and the company can use it to successfully attract alternative national or regional funding in EU countries that have relevant national support programmes for recipients of this seal.
9. Conclusion: Immediate Steps for Submitting a Successful Application
The European Innovation Council’s support programme for Ukrainian Deep-Tech SMEs and startups represents a unique, time-limited opportunity to attract significant (70%) non-repayable funding (Lump Sum up to €500,000) to move laboratory innovations (TRL 4) to market readiness (TRL 6-7).
This grant is not an ordinary cost reimbursement; it is a strategic tool that requires:
– Clear TRL. The technology must have evidence of validation at the laboratory level (minimum TRL 4).
– Lump Sum Strategy. Applicants must structure the budget and work plan around clear, measurable Milestones and KPIs, as funding is tied to their achievement.
– Commercial Maturity. The application must include not only a technical description but also a strong Value Proposition and a clear Pathway to Market.
– Sustainability. It is necessary to ensure the availability of 30% co-financing and have a financial plan to cover operations during the 7–8 months between application submission and the signing of the grant agreement.
– Civilian Application. Adherence to the requirement for exclusively civilian application is an absolute and mandatory selection criterion.
Considering that no similar EIC call is currently planned for 2026, this opportunity until November 26, 2025, is a one-time chance that must not be missed. Immediate engagement of experts to prepare application documentation that meets the high standards of the EIC is critical to maximising the chances of success and ensuring Ukrainian Deep-Tech innovations enter the European market.
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