Insights from the first EIC ACCESS+ matchmaking session:
Spotlight on EIC awardees’ needs

December 1, 2025

On 25 November 2025, the first EIC ACCESS+ Matchmaking Session – Spotlight on EIC Awardees’ Needs brought together EIC partners and deep-tech innovators for an exchange focused on the challenges and support required to accelerate their innovation, aiming to address these development challenges, facilitating access to specialised services and foster collaboration. 

As part of the wider EIC ACCESS+ initiative, the session strengthens collaboration within the European innovation ecosystem and enables EIC Awardees and Seal of Excellence holders to benefit from up to EUR 60 000 in co-funding to engage with vetted EIC Partners via the EIC Service Catalogue and obtain specialised services that directly address their needs. 

A focused exchange on deep-tech innovators needs 

During the event, a selected group of EIC Awardees and Seal of Excellence holders presented short pitches highlighting their needs in areas such as R&D infrastructure, prototyping, business planning, fundraising, HR, internationalisation, and investor matchmaking. 

The companies pitching included: 

  • Avvie (Medtech, Austria)  
  • Wicow (Agritech / Animal Health Tech, Türkiye/Germany) 

 

Their pitches enabled EIC Partners to gain a clearer understanding of where their expertise can help address company-specific gaps and create tangible impact. The open dialogue also provided valuable insight into market dynamics and operational barriers faced by deep-tech SMEs across Europe

Strengthening EIC partnerships through specialised support 

The session moderated by the EIC ACCESS+ team, featured the contribution of Gisela Santos, representing the EIC Business Acceleration Services (EIC BAS), presenting the support mechanisms available for innovators and the role of the EIC Service Catalogue in connecting companies to specialised European providers across sectors and technology domains.  

The session highlighted how structured partnerships unlock growth opportunities, while the EIC ACCESS+ co-funding scheme actively enables companies to secure specialised services that are often difficult to finance during the early stages of innovation.