Day One: when should your EIC Accelerator project start?
One of the important decisions to make in the final stage of the Grant preparation process is when to start your project. There are many factors to consider in choosing a date that will facilitate resource allocation and help streamline the start of your project with your usual business activity.
The European Commission offers two available options to choose a starting date:
- The default date is the first day of the month following the signature of the Grant Agreement by the beneficiary and the Commission.
- A fixed date is established by the beneficiary and approved by the Commission.
Both options have pros and cons, and it is the responsibility of each beneficiary to evaluate these factors and make the decision.
By default, projects start on the first day of the month, however if the beneficiary requests a different date and can justify the reason, the Commission may agree to fix the start for another day.
One of the most important factors to keep in mind is that if the beneficiary requests a starting date before the entry into force of the Grant Agreement, it assumes the risk of not being reimbursed for the costs incurred if the GA is finally not signed for any reason.
The fixed starting date option might also have an impact on the timing of the pre-financing payment, since the beneficiary might not receive the first instalment of the grant before starting the project.
Not sure what the best starting date for your project is? Contact us at hello@getpolite.eu. We will solve your doubts.