The Ministry of Science, Education and Youth has published the 2nd amendment to the Call for Proposals “Seal of Excellence under the Synergies Program” (DIGIT.2.2.01).

With this amendment, eligible applicants now also include holders of a Seal of Excellence certificate awarded under the EIC Pre-Accelerator – Widening call, which is currently open under the Horizon Europe programme, with a submission deadline of 18 November 2025.

Micro, small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may apply to the EIC Pre-Accelerator – Widening call if they:

• propose deep-tech innovation projects with validated proof of concept (at least TRL 4),
• hold proven intellectual property rights and have a clear business plan,
• have a clearly defined pathway towards applying for the EIC Accelerator or securing alternative funding sources (national or private).

Projects may receive lump sum grants ranging from EUR 300,000 to EUR 500,000, with up to 70% co-financing of eligible costs.

The Ministry encourages all potential applicants to seize this opportunity and submit project proposals under the EIC Pre-Accelerator – Widening call. In case a Seal of Excellence certificate is awarded, applicants become eligible for national co-financing under the DIGIT Call, allowing them to implement high-quality proposals that were positively evaluated but not directly funded by the EU.

The updated call documentation is available on the official website of the respective call.