The European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator programme continued to offer exciting opportunities for emerging European (and associated country) businesses in 2024. In a highly competitive application process, only the most promising, truly breakthrough projects will receive funding – up to €2.5 million in grants and a further €10 million in venture capital. It is no wonder that many fail on their first try, but then become successful applicants through peer review and persistent refinement.
What, that Arto Consulting Every day at our team, we come across projects that are initially rejected, but by rethinking and redesigning critical points, they not only get into the application framework, but also achieve a real market breakthrough. That is why we always emphasize: a negative response from the EIC Accelerator is far from the end of the story, but can rather be the beginning of an even higher level of innovation.
Three examples of 2024 winners
From the official results for 2024, the following three projects are an excellent illustration of the diverse areas supported by the EIC Accelerator and the market potential that European experts see in these innovative solutions.
1. Remilk (Israel)
• Area: Sustainable food industry, precision biotechnology
• Where does it take place? In Israel and several European test markets, such as Belgium and Denmark
• Why is it exciting?
Remilk produces dairy proteins without animal origin, using a fermentation process. The goal: to develop proteins that are much more environmentally friendly than traditional dairy production, but with the same taste and nutritional value. After attracting a significant investor base and international attention, Remilk received funding from the EIC Accelerator to expand capacity and accelerate regional licensing processes.
2. MiMARK (Spain)
• Area: Healthcare, minimally invasive diagnostics
• Where does it take place? The company operates in Barcelona, in collaboration with European hospitals (e.g. France, Italy)
• Why is it exciting?
MiMARK has developed a new diagnostic method for the detection of endometrial (uterine lining) diseases, based on specific biomarkers. The method is much faster and less burdensome for patients than traditional histological examinations. Thanks to the 2024 EIC Accelerator grant, the team is launching further clinical validation rounds and preparing to introduce its solution in several European countries.
3. Epiclay (Belgium)
• Area: Sustainable construction, urban green solutions
• Where does it take place? They are being developed in Brussels, with their first references installed in Paris and Amsterdam, among others.
• Why is it exciting?
Epiclay has come up with a modular, “biowall” system that insulates and decorates buildings with layers of living plants. Built-in sensors continuously monitor the condition of the vegetation and environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, air quality), providing immediate feedback on the effectiveness of the system. With EIC support, the company is producing these panel-integrated green wall solutions in larger volumes and is preparing for European expansion.
What do they have in common?
The projects presented above all illustrate the same thing: the EIC Accelerator is not just a source of money, but also offers serious professional opportunities. Thanks to the jury's feedback, many companies perfect their business plans, rethink their technological solutions, and ultimately create a marketable product that is worth entering the international arena.
Perseverance, development, success
Based on our own experience, we see that perseverance is the most important factor on the path to success. An initially rejected application can bring much more benefits than we think: relying on criticism, companies often discover completely new directions or supplement their projects with solutions that ultimately lead to triumph.
At Arto Consulting Therefore, we advise all applicants not to see the first rejection as a failure, but as an opportunity to improve. We train our clients on how to interpret and utilize professional feedback and how to incorporate it into their projects. This way, they can submit a much stronger application in the next round – one that has the highest chance of winning the trust (and support) of the EIC Accelerator.
