Deep-Tech Startups from “widening” countries in Horizon Europe
The WIDERA Pre-Accelerator is an initiative of the Horizon Europe 2025 program, which offers targeted financial and strategic support to deep-tech startups and SMEs from countries with lower participation in research and innovation (Widening Countries). The goal is to develop their technology, strengthen their business models and prepare them for future investment.
With grants from €300,000 to €500,000 (covering 70% of eligible costs), the program helps companies progress from laboratory validation (TRL 4) to real-world demonstration (TRL 5 or 6), preparing them for the EIC Accelerator or other public/private investment opportunities.
At JOIST Innovation Park, we provide support to deep-tech businesses at every stage of the WIDERA Pre-Accelerator application process — from proposal development and technology validation, to investment readiness and market entry.
About the Programme
The programme is aimed at individual SMEs established in widening countries, developing innovative technologies in the fields of physics, biology or digital technology. These are innovations based on scientific research, have a long development cycle and often struggle to attract initial funding.
Eligible countries include EU Member States such as Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Portugal, Poland and Slovakia, as well as associated countries such as Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.
The programme aims to move from early R&D (TRL 4) to applied validation in industrial or market environments (TRL 5–6), while enhancing the viability and commercial maturity of the technological solution.
Our Services
We offer comprehensive and practical support, tailored to the requirements of the WIDERA Pre-Accelerator call:
➤ Proposal Development and Strategy
We help you clearly capture the value of your innovation, align the proposal with the EIC Transition evaluation criteria, and formulate a clear and documented proposal, both at a technical and business level.
➤ Planning for Technology Validation (TRL)
We support the creation of a clear plan for the transition from TRL 4 to TRL 6, with test environments, pilot collaborations and compliance with technical standards.
➤ Investment & Business Readiness
We contribute to the review of your business model, the understanding of regulatory requirements, the preparation of financial forecasts and the preparation of investment presentation material (pitch deck, IP strategy, etc.).
➤ Application Management
We undertake the collection of the necessary supporting documents, the preparation of the budget, the submission of the proposal through the F&T Portal, as well as the monitoring of the progress of the application after submission.
➤ Post-Funding Support
In case of success, we provide support for the implementation of the project, the interim evaluation, as well as for the inclusion in the EIC Accelerator Fast Track. In addition, we leverage the Seal of Excellence to seek additional funding.
Eligibility Criteria
Your company must:
✔ Be an SME in an eligible country (widening countries)
✔ Be a single-applicant legal entity
Develop a deep-tech solution at TRL 4 or higher
Have or have secured Intellectual Property (IP) rights
Present a realistic market entry strategy, with clear milestones and performance indicators (KPIs)
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals are assessed by independent experts according to the EIC Transition standards:
🔹 Excellence: Scientific and technological level, quality of innovation
🔹 Impact: Market potential, commercial strategy, social contribution
🔹 Implementation: Team capacity, resource management, risk analysis, clear work plan
Funding & Key Dates
Grant amount: €300,000 – €500,000 (lump sum)
Funding rate: 70% (the balance from the beneficiary)
Project duration: up to 24 months
Total call budget: €20 million
Deadline for submission: 18 November 2025, 17:00 (Brussels time)
Why Work With Us
At JOIST Innovation Park, we know the challenges faced by deep-tech startups, especially when they come from widening countries.
✔ We have supported dozens of innovative teams to secure funding and move from research to market.
✔ We understand the requirements of the EIC and what makes a proposal stand out.
✔ We work closely with each team, adapting their strategy based on their own needs and ambitions.
I4G SA, the company behind JOIST, has created the first private technology incubator in a Widening country, offering substantial support to startups that are now leading the way in their field.
Our CEO has been a member of the EIC jury (2019–2023) and has an insider’s understanding of the criteria, challenges and opportunities that accompany each application.
Our commitment:
To help you make the journey from innovation to funding simpler, more targeted and — most importantly — more successful.
Contact Us
Are you developing an innovative technology and want to apply to the WIDERA Pre-Accelerator?
Fill out the form below and our team will contact you for a free pre-assessment: https://forms.office.com/e/VM6DkdCt8x