The European Innovation Council (EIC) and the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change have partnered to fast-track climate resilience innovations across Europe, allocating €50 million through the EIC Accelerator to support pioneering start-ups and SMEs. Half of this funding, €25 million, comes from the EU Mission, aimed at helping a dozen companies develop deep-tech solutions that tackle the continent’s most pressing climate challenges.
The initiative focuses on four urgent priorities: keeping cities cool during extreme heatwaves, advancing climate-smart agriculture to ensure resilient food systems, addressing water scarcity, and enhancing protection for communities exposed to floods and coastal hazards. These areas have been identified as critical for accelerating adaptation to climate change in Europe.
The challenge is open to individual companies prepared to scale breakthrough climate adaptation solutions, with a strong encouragement for female-led ventures to participate. Interested applicants can gain insights and guidance during the EIC Info Days on 13–14 November 2025, which will cover support services, national contact points through the Access2EIC network, and a full presentation of the Deep Tech for Climate Adaptation challenge.
Successful applicants may receive up to €2.5 million in grants alongside equity investments of up to €10 million. Additional support includes tailored coaching, mentoring, and access to a Europe-wide innovation network. Companies developing new materials, frontier technologies, or nature-based solutions can leverage this funding to turn innovations into large-scale climate impact.
The application process involves three stages: submission of a short proposal with a pitch deck and video, a full proposal including a comprehensive business plan, and a final pitch before an expert jury. Selected companies then negotiate the funding and investment package to scale their solutions. Further information is available through the EIC Accelerator portal, the Deep Tech for Climate Adaptation challenge page, the EIC Work Programme 2026 factsheets, and the EIC Accelerator Guide for Applicants.
