The EIC Accelerator has evolved significantly between 2022 and 2025, shifting from higher volumes of winners and funding to a more streamlined and selective process with a strong preference for blended finance.
Yearly Statistical Overview
The following table summarizes the key metrics for the four years based on the available data:
| Metric | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| Total Winners | 227 | 172 | 139 | 101 |
| Total Funding | €1,252M | €1,090M | €798M | €766M |
| Success Rate | 7.2% (Avg) | 7% – 8% | 6.37% | 6.6% (Oct) |
| Applications | 3,171 | 2,758 | 2,180 | ~1,600+* |
*2025 application data is estimated based on the 923 applications for October and the known selectivity of March.
Comparative Analysis: 4-Year Trends
Funding and Selectivity
The program reached a peak in 2022, funding 227 companies with over €1.25 billion. By 2024 and 2025, the number of winners declined to roughly 140 and 100 respectively, with funding stabilizing between €760M and €800M. The March 2025 call stands out as one of the most selective in history, awarding only 40 winners.
Geographic Focus
- Germany and France have remained the dominant forces throughout all four years.
- Spain has shown significant growth, moving from a secondary position to tying with Germany for first place in the October 2025 call (both with 10 winners).
- The Netherlands and Sweden have consistently appeared in the top five, though their specific rankings have fluctuated annually.
Shift in Financing Types
There has been a definitive move toward blended finance (a mix of grant and equity):
- 2022: Blended finance was the majority, ranging from 57% to 65% across calls.
- 2023: 55% of companies chose blended finance.
- 2024: Reached a peak of 96% in the March call before settling to 79% in October.
- 2025: Maintained high levels at 85% – 87%. Notably, “grant-first” funding was removed as a standalone option starting in 2024.
Industry Focus
Health remains the most consistently funded sector across the four-year span. However, 2025 saw a strategic pivot toward Engineering and Environmental Technologies, which together accounted for 48% of the winners in the final cut-off of the year.
Company Profile
The “sweet spot” for winners has remained companies with 11–50 employees, representing 57% to 62.5% of winners in 2025. While the program favors young companies (36% founded less than 5 years ago in 2025), it continues to support mature SMEs undergoing technological pivots, with some winners founded as far back as 2000.
About the author of this post
Sara Gavidia
Communications Manager
Funding Expert
LinkedIn
sara.gavidia@strata.team
Hello! I’m Sara 👋🏻 I’m the Lead content editor at Strata. Would you like to become one of the next EIC winner? Then contact our Team of experts: they will offer personal support to review your case and help you prepare a great application!
