61 start-ups and SMEs selected for €467 M in funding support by the EIC Accelerator

61 start-ups and SMEs will receive funding after being selected by the European Innovation Council on 17/02/2026. "Out of 121 proposals that reached the interview stage, these companies were chosen for their transformative technologies and strong commercial promise, securing a mix of grant and equity support", comments the EU Agency.

The European Innovation Council is dedicated to the promotion of "breakthrough innovation" with a scale-up potential. The EIC Accelerator supports start-ups and small businesses with grants up to €2.5 M, complemented with equity investments of between €0.5 and €10 M. " The 61 companies selected this month will benefit from a total estimated budget of €467 M, with 85% of them receiving blended finance.

"A further 60 applications that were assessed positively by the EIC jury, but for which there was insufficient funding available, will be awarded a  Seal of Excellence", adds the EIC. "In addition, all 23 companies that reached the interview stage will receive a quality label that is granted to projects that contribute to at least one of the objectives of the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform."

Among the selected companies, some propose innovative solutions to environmental and climate issues. Grapheal, for example, is a French company that aims to "transform water safety in Europe" by deploying graphene sensors for real-time PFAS detection. Co-reactive, a German company, "turns CO2 into high-performance cementitious materials". Nitrocapt, a Swedish start-up, creates nitrate-based fertiliser entirely without fossil fuels. PlantSea, a UK solution, is a bio-based biodegradable replacement biopolymer for Polyvinyl Alcohol in large-scale Fast Moving Consumer Goods packaging applications.

"The selected companies represent 17 EU and associated countries, with the highest number coming from Germany, Spain, France, and Sweden", outlines the EIC.