OPEN CALL FOR WOMEN-LED
DEEP-TECH STARTUPS

Apply to take part in the Acceleration+ Programme designed to empower women-led deep-tech startups. Selected startups will receive an equity-free grant of to €60,000 (of which €20,000 is exclusively for business coaching activities),  capacity-building sessions, cross-border collaboration opportunities, and visibility at EU-level events, including the EPIC-X Demo Day.

Find out more

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE?

To be eligible, applicants must:  

1

be a start-up that qualifies as an SME under EU Recommendation 2003/361/EC and have been founded before 1 January 2024 

2

be established in one of the 16 moderate or emerging innovator countries identified in the 2023 European Innovation Scoreboard

3

have at least one woman (cis or legally recognized transgender woman) holding a founder or C-level position with at least 25% ownership or equivalent decision-making power 

4

submit a business coaching plan

5

have achieved market-product fit or have raised at least a seed round.

6

not be under liquidation or are under difficulty according to the Commission Regulation No 651/2014, art. 2.182, or that are excluded from the possibility of obtaining EU funding

If so, explore the EPIC-X Open Call for women-led
deep tech start-ups and find out how to apply.

open call

Total Budget Available: EUR 1,200,000 
Budget per selected project: Fixed equity-free lump sum of EUR 60,000 
Call Closes: January 5th, 2026 @ 17h00 CET 

Open Call Guidelines Blank Application Form Apply here! Tutorial video

Info sessions

Register for one of the upcoming Information Session Webinars to gain insights into the call’s objectives, learn about the application process, and receive practical tips for preparing a successful proposal. 

Info session #1

November 17, 2025
11h00 – 12h00 CET

Info session #2

December 4, 2025
11h00 – 12h00 CET

Video recording available here

Info session #3

December 15, 2025
12h00 – 13h00 CET

Video recording available here
Register here!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who is eligible to apply for the EPIC-X Open Call? 

Eligible applicants must be women-led startups that fulfill the following criteria: 

  • Established in one of the 16 moderate and emerging innovator countries: Bulgaria; Croatia Czech Republic; Estonia; Greece; Hungary; Italy; Latvia; Lithuania; Malta; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain
  • At least one woman must hold a founder or C-level position (e.g., CEO, CTO) with a minimum of 25% ownership or equivalent decision-making power. 
  • The startup must be a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) and founded before January 1, 2024. 

For a full list of further details, please refer to the Eligibility Criteria section of the guidelines. 
 
Can I apply if my startup is not established in an EU Member State? 
No, the EPIC-X Open Call is only open to startups with headquarters in one of the 16 moderate and emerging innovator countries, as identified in the 2023 European Innovation Scoreboard (https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/5d1b30d5-1ba9-11ee-806b-01aa75ed71a1/language-en). 
 
What is “market fit” and why is it important for my application? 
Market fit refers to the stage where your product or service meets the needs of its target market, demonstrating strong customer demand and satisfaction. This means that your product has been validated through user feedback, engagement, or sales, and is well-positioned to scale. 
Applicants need to show that their deep-tech innovation aligns with a market-product fit or that they have raised external funding (e.g., seed round or later) to demonstrate this alignment. 
This stage typically corresponds to a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) between 6 and 8, where the technology is nearing commercialisation. 
 
What is an “unbiased mission”? 
An unbiased mission is a commitment to ensuring that your innovation does not perpetuate or reinforce gender biases or other forms of discrimination. In the context of the EPIC-X Open Call, applicants must demonstrate how their product or service addresses the gender equality barriers in innovation ecosystems, particularly for women founders in deep-tech. 
Examples of unbiased missions include: 

  • AI models that are free from gender biases, ensuring fair decision-making.
  • Biotechnological innovations that account for gender differences, leading to more equitable health outcomes. 
  • Technology designs that avoid reinforcing traditional gender roles and promote inclusivity in tech development

For more examples, please refer to the Scope of the Call section of the guidelines. 

What are the financial support and grant details? 

EPIC-X offers a €60,000 lump sum grant to selected startups. This grant is equity-free. 

  • Business coaching: A minimum of €20,000 of the grant must be allocated for business coaching as part of the Acceleration+ Programme. 
  • The grant cannot be used to generate profit but must be spent on the proposed project activities. 

What are the key components of the EPIC-X Acceleration+ Programme? 

The Acceleration+ Programme includes:

  • Equity-free grant of €60,000 to support project growth. 
  • 15-20 days of business coaching, delivered by experts tailored to each startup’s needs. 
  • 10 follow-up sessions for ongoing guidance during the program. 
  • Monthly capacity-building sessions to strengthen startup capabilities. 
  • Cross-fertilization sessions  
    • Participation in four meetings (one in-person). 
    • One visit to a counterpart in another region to foster cross-border collaboration. 
    • Participation in 6 webinars 
  • Co-organization of a multiplier event to showcase results 
  • Attendance to the Demo Day: An event where startups pitch to investors and gain visibility. 

What are my obligations if I’m selected? 

Receiving an EPIC-X grant entails: 

  • Mandatory attendance of 15-20 days of business coaching 
  • Attendance of support and follow-up sessions for ongoing guidance during the program. 
  • Attendance of capacity-building sessions to strengthen startup capabilities. 
  • Mandatory attendance of launching in-person cross-fertilization event 
  • Mandatory visit to a counterpart in another region to foster cross-border collaboration. 
  • Mandatory co-organization of an online multiplier event to showcase results 
  • Mandatory attendance to the Demo Day 

How do I submit my application?

All applications must be submitted through the EU Survey platform. Paper or email submissions will not be accepted.

In which language must I submit my application and related documents?

All submissions and communications must be in English. Applications will not be accepted in any other language. 

What documents and materials do I need to submit with my application

You must submit the following:

  • Application form (including a 2-minute pitch video and annexes). 
  • Annexes: 
    • Legal Entity Form and supporting documents (e.g., company registration). 
    • Women’s leadership declaration (confirming at least 25% female ownership and leadership). 
    • Business coaching plan, detailing your startup’s needs for coaching and goals. 
    • Market fit or investment documents, such as market validation or investment agreements. 
    • Declaration of Honour, confirming no exclusionary situation

Can I save my progress and continue later?

Yes. You can save your progress even without logging into an EU Survey account. Once you start filling in the form, a “Save draft” button will appear on the right side of your screen. Clicking this will generate a personalized link, which you can use to return to your draft and continue your application later.

How do I know my application was successfully submitted?

After submission, an on-screen confirmation message will appear. This includes a unique contribution ID, which is the identifier code of your application (be sure to save it) and a PDF copy of your completed form. 

Can I edit my submission after sending it?

No. Once you click “Submit”, your application is final and cannot be modified. Please make sure to review all your answers carefully before submitting. 

What should I do if my file is too large to upload?

If your document exceeds the maximum file size allowed by the platform, please include a shareable link to the file instead. To do this, create a Word document containing the URL link to your video or file and upload that document in place of the original file.

Make sure that the link:

  • Does not expire, and 
  • Does not require login or special access permissions (it must be open access). 

Please note that links requiring access approval or expiring before the evaluation period may lead to the exclusion of your application. 

How should I upload my pitch video link?

There is a designated field to insert your video link in the application form. The link to the video must be a direct, shareable link. Meaning, it is open acess (not requiring a login, password, or access approval) and, it should not expire before the end of the evaluation period. It is important that you consider this, ensuring the link takes the evaluators directly to the video (e.g. hosted on Youtube, Vimeo, or a cloud service without restricted viewing access). Links that are private, restricted, or time-limited may lead to ineligibility of your application. 

What is the application deadline? 

The application deadline is January 5, 2026, at 17:00 CET. All applications must be submitted electronically via the EU Survey platform. Late submissions will not be accepted.

What is the timeline for the EPIC-X Open Call? 

The EPIC-X Open Call follows the following timeline:

  • Call launch: November 3, 2025 – The guidelines, application form, and EU Survey submission platform open. 
  • Deadline for submission: January 5, 2026, at 17:00 CET – Final date for submitting applications electronically via the EU Survey platform. 
  • Evaluation period: January 6 – February 27, 2026 – The eligibility check and full evaluation will take place. 
  • Notification of results: March 6, 2026 – Applicants will be informed of the evaluation and selection results. 
  • Contract signing: March 2026 – Selected applicants will sign sub-grant agreements. 
  • Acceleration+ programme implementation: April 1 – September 30, 2026 – The six-month programme will begin. 

How will my application be evaluated?  

Applications will go through a two-stage evaluation process: 

  • Relevancy pre-screening: The relevance of your innovation to EPIC-X’s objectives, including alignment with deep-tech domains and addressing gender equality barriers, will be assessed. 
  • Full application evaluation: The full application will be reviewed based on the following criteria: 
    • Excellence and innovation 
    • Impact and market potential 
    • Feasibility and capacity 

The application must meet the minimum thresholds in each of the criteria. You will need to achieve at least 50 points across all criteria to be eligible for funding. For more details, check the Evaluation and Selection section of the guidelines. 

What happens if I am selected for the EPIC-X Open Call?

Once selected, the applicant will be asked to sign a Sub-Grant Agreement with EPIC-X. This will take place in March 2026.

What is the payment scheme?

The payments will be made in three instalments: 

  • 40% advance after signing the contract. 
  • 40% mid-term after a progress report. 
  • 20% final balance after submission and approval of the final report. 

How does EPIC-X ensure data protection and confidentiality?  

EPIC-X follows strict GDPR compliance to ensure the protection of personal data. The General Data Protection Regulation (2016/679/EU) guarantees that all data processed during the application process will be handled in full accordance with the principles of privacy, confidentiality, and data protection. 

  • Applicant data: Information such as your name, contact details, startup details, and application data will be used solely for the purposes of the EPIC-X Open Call and stored securely. 
  • Confidentiality: All data will be treated confidentially, and only the necessary information will be shared with the evaluation committee or relevant stakeholders involved in the selection process. 
  • Rights: Applicants can exercise their rights related to personal data processing as specified in Articles 12-22 of the GDPR. For more information on how your data is handled, refer to the EPIC-X Privacy Policy. 

Where can I ask questions if I need clarification on the application process?

For questions, you can contact the EPIC-X team via email at general@epic-x.eu. Additionally, you can attend one of the live information webinars for an overview of the application process and tips for success.

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