Why Funding Often Ends at TRL 6 — And What You Can Do About It

Live Webinar · 22 December 2026

Many innovation teams successfully reach TRL 5–6 — only to discover that obtaining scale-up funding becomes harder, not easier.

Early-stage research funding is relatively structured and predictable. After TRL 6, however, the landscape becomes fragmented across instruments such as EIC Transition, EIC Accelerator, EUREKA Eurostars, STEP, national schemes, and private investment — each requiring different evidence, business maturity, and commercial readiness.

This is where many promising technologies stall.

This practical 90-minute webinar explains why projects struggle after TRL 6, how scale-up evaluators think differently from research evaluators, and how to map the right funding instrument to your maturity stage.

You will also receive an early preview of the upcoming EIC Pre-Accelerator for Widening countries expected in Q2 2027.

Whether you are building a spin-off, preparing for commercialisation, or supporting innovation ecosystems, this session will help you navigate the difficult transition from funded project to scalable venture.

Webinar Details

Date: Tuesday, 22 December 2026
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 CET
Format: Live Zoom + 14-day recording access
Price: EUR 50

Reserve Your Seat — EUR 50

Why Attend

TRL 6 is often treated as the finish line.

In reality, it is where many projects encounter:

• Fragmented funding landscapes

• Investor-readiness gaps

• Weak commercial evidence

• Scale-up risks

• Unclear market validation

• Strategic confusion between funding instruments

Many teams fail because they:

• Apply to the wrong funding scheme

• Present research logic instead of scale-up logic

• Lack commercial traction evidence

• Misunderstand what post-TRL 6 evaluators expect

This webinar explains:

• Which funding instruments fit which maturity stages

• Why strong projects fail during scale-up

• What evaluators actually assess at commercialisation stage

• How the upcoming EIC Pre-Accelerator may support Widening-country innovators

You will leave with a clearer roadmap for planning post-project growth and funding strategy.

What You Will Walk Away With

1. Understand the Post-Project Funding Landscape

Learn which instruments best fit different maturity levels, including:

• EIC Transition

• EIC Accelerator

• STEP

• EUREKA Eurostars-3

• National and regional scale-up schemes

2. Understand Why Projects Fail After TRL 6

Identify the most common structural and strategic gaps that block scale-up funding success.

3. Learn What Scale-Up Evaluators Actually Assess

See how investor-readiness, commercial validation, deployment strategy, and growth logic differ from research-stage evaluation.

4. Preview the EIC Pre-Accelerator for Widening Countries

Understand the expected direction of the upcoming Q2 2027 EIC Pre-Accelerator initiative and who may benefit.

Who Runs the Webinar

Nikolaos Floratos

EU funding consultant since 2002 and European Commission evaluator with more than 20 years of experience across Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, and EIC programmes.

• 50,000+ researchers and innovation actors trained

• Experience across 45+ countries

• Extensive deep-tech commercialisation and scale-up funding background

Who Should Attend

This webinar is designed for:

• Deep-tech founders

• University spin-off teams

• Innovation-driven SMEs

• Scale-up ventures

• Incubators and accelerators

• SME associations

• Innovation ecosystems in Widening countries

• Teams approaching or operating at TRL 5–6

Included with Your Registration

Your EUR 50 registration includes:

• Live webinar access

• 14-day webinar recording

• Q&A session

• EUR 50 discount toward the scale-up funding workshop

Next Step: Funding Beyond the Project · 14 January 2027

A half-day practical workshop focused on planning scale-up funding pathways before project completion.

Includes:

• Instrument-fit matrix development

• EIC Transition vs Accelerator vs STEP comparison

• EUREKA Eurostars-3 strategy

• Investor Readiness Level (IRL) toolkit

• Pitch-deck refinement

• Commercialisation pathway planning

Webinar participants receive EUR 50 off the EUR 350 follow-up course.

Frequently Asked Questions

I cannot attend live. Will I receive the recording?

Yes. The recording is sent within 24 hours and remains available for 14 days.

Is this only for first-time applicants?

No. Experienced applicants and resubmitting ventures benefit equally. Most scale-up funding failures arise from strategic positioning and commercial-readiness gaps rather than technology quality.

Can the EUR 50 webinar fee be applied to the course fee?

Yes. Attendees receive a EUR 50 discount code for the follow-up course.

Questions?

Email: nf@cyberall-access.com