EIC defence call

EIC STEP Scale Up Defence HORIZON-EIC provides direct equity investments to scale up critical defence technologies in the EU, with an indicative 2026 budget of €100 million and individual investments of €10–€30 million. Eligible single beneficiaries are startups, SMEs and small mid-caps established in EU Member States, EEA associated countries or Ukraine, and investors may apply on behalf of an eligible company where agreed. Applications require the solution to have a primary defence application and demonstrate a pre-commitment from a single qualified investor covering at least 20% of the target funding round, with additional security and control guarantees applying to entities under third-country control. The single-stage call opens 30 June 2026 and closes 28 October 2026 at 17:00 CET, with evaluation including an EIC Jury interview and EIC Fund due diligence.

What it funds

Purpose

Equity investments to scale up companies developing critical defence technologies across defined STEP defence areas (air and missile defence, artillery and precision strike, missiles and ammunition, drones and counter-drones, strategic enablers including space, cyber/AI/electronic warfare, military mobility, ground combat, maritime, air combat, medical and countermeasures). Solutions must have a primary defence application and address strategic relevance (innovative/cutting edge or reducing strategic dependencies).

Funding range:Equity investment component typically €10,000,000 to €30,000,000 per company; the call has an indicative total budget of €100,000,000 and expects ~10 investments ¹.

1. 1Who can apply: single SMEs, start-ups or small mid-caps (up to 499 employees) established in EU Member States, Ukraine, or EEA states associated to Horizon Europe; investors may apply on behalf of eligible companies if a prior agreement exists.
2. 2Key eligibility: company must demonstrate an existing pre-commitment from a single qualified investor representing at least 20% of the target funding round (that portion must be uninvested at time of pre-commitment).
3. 3Security / control restrictions: entities directly or indirectly controlled by non-eligible third countries are generally excluded unless national guarantees accepted by the Commission are provided; additional investment safeguards and due diligence apply.

Applications are submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; proposals must meet admissibility and eligibility conditions in Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2026 and follow EIC submission procedures. Use the topic page for full call text and submission entry-point EIC STEP Scale Up Defence topic.

Footnotes

1. 1Details and official call documentation available in the EIC Work Programme 2026 and the Funding & Tenders Portal topic page: ec.europa.eu

Call Title:EIC STEP Scale Up Defence. Call Identifier: HORIZON-EIC. Type of action: HORIZON EIC Equity Only (equity investment). Opening / status: Open (submission session available). Single-stage submission. Deadline: 28 October 2026 (17:00 Brussels time). Submission and documentation available via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and the EIC submission system. The call is implemented under the EIC Work Programme 2026 (EIC Work Programme 2026).

Scope, Objectives and Thematic Coverage

Purpose:Direct equity investments (via the EIC Fund / EIC investment mechanism) to scale up companies developing critical defence technologies. The call supports scaling up of technologies with a primary defence application and which are critical as defined under STEP guidance: technologies that either bring an innovative, emerging and cutting-edge element with significant economic potential to the internal market or contribute to reducing or preventing strategic dependencies of the Union.

Defence strategic technology areas covered:Air and missile defence; Artillery and precision strike; Missiles and ammunition; Drones and counter-drones; Strategic enablers (including space assets and protection, situational awareness, PNT, secure communications, critical infrastructure protection, energy security); Cyber, AI and electronic warfare; Military mobility; Ground combat; Maritime; Air combat; Medical and countermeasures (including military medical technologies and CBRN).

Note on scope:Only solutions with a primary defence application are eligible for this EIC STEP Defence call. Innovations with predominantly civilian or dual-use applications should apply to the general EIC STEP Scale Up call instead. The innovation must also be critical, meeting at least one of: a) introducing an innovative, emerging and cutting-edge element with significant economic potential to the internal market; or b) contributing to reducing or preventing strategic dependencies of the Union.

Who Can Apply and Eligibility

Participation restrictions and target applicants are set out in Article 48(2) of the Horizon Europe Regulation and the EIC Work Programme 2026. Participation is limited to SMEs, including start-ups, and small mid-caps (up to 499 employees) established in the European Union, in Ukraine, or in an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe. A single company may apply; investors may apply on behalf of an eligible company provided a prior agreement exists with the company. Holding companies used for investment must be established in a Member State, Ukraine or an EEA associated country.

General exclusion and guarantees:General exclusion rule: legal entities established in the Union, Ukraine or an EEA associated country that are directly or indirectly controlled by a third country other than Ukraine or an EEA associated country cannot participate. Exception: such entities may participate if they provide appropriate guarantees to the Commission that are approved in accordance with national procedures in the Member State or associated country where the entity is established. Applicants must perform a self-assessment and provide guarantees at application or when requested during evaluation/due diligence. Failure to provide guarantees when required will render the application ineligible. Guarantees must assure respect for EU security and defence interests under the CFSP framework ¹.

Funding Modality, Amounts and Financial Conditions

Funding type:Direct equity investment only (HORIZON EIC Equity Only). Investment range per selected company: €10 million up to €30 million (per the budget overview). The indicative budget for this specific call: €100 million (EIC STEP Defence Scale Up budget overview). Expected number of grants/investments: approximately 10 for the related budget lines in EIC STEP calls, with specific expected grants in this defence call informed by the EIC Work Programme. Investment instruments are managed via the EIC Fund and implemented in compliance with EIC Fund investment guidelines and KYC/“Red Flag” checks.

Pre-commitment condition (required):Applicants must demonstrate an existing pre-commitment for equity investment that meets the following elements: the pre-commitment must come from a single qualified investor (subject to KYC by the EIC Fund or the European Investment Fund); the pre-commitment must represent at least 20% of the total target funding round the company is aiming to raise; and at least 20% of the funding round corresponding to the pre-commitment must be fully uninvested as of the date of the pre-commitment letter. Syndicated pre-commitments are ineligible if any single entity in the syndicate contributes 20% or more of the round.

Application and Selection Process

Submission route:Applicants must prepare and submit a proposal via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal / EIC submission system. The application form specific to this call is available in the Electronic Submission Service/Submission System. This call follows a single-stage submission procedure. Evaluation type: Remote evaluation by EIC experts and an interview-based assessment with an EIC Jury using binary GO/NO GO decision criteria for STEP Scale Up calls, consistent with the EIC approach for scale-up equity calls.

Application timing and deadlines:Submission deadline: 28 October 2026. The submission session was announced open as of 30 June / 1 July 2026. Applicants must register and submit on the Funding & Tenders Portal before the deadline and use the submission-button directing to the correct model grant/equity action entry.

Admissibility, Required Documentation and Templates

Application form:The specific application form and templates are provided in the Submission System for HORIZON-EIC. Applicants must follow admissibility and eligibility rules in Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2026 (including financial and operational capacity checks). Relevant reference documents: EIC Work Programme 2026, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Rules for Legal Entity Validation and LEAR appointment, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, and the Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions and Privacy Statement.

Template and evaluation-related structure:The equity investment application form is available inside the Submission System (the EIC uses HORIZON-EQU type of MGA for equity investments). Applicants should expect to provide: company description, technology and defence use-case description, technology maturity and TRL, market and strategic relevance for EU defence, business and financial plan (including target funding round and investor pre-commitment evidence), governance and ownership information, KYC-relevant documentation, risk assessment and proposed use of EIC funds, IP status and safeguards, and details on security and export control considerations. Specific templates and the HORIZON-EQU MGA entry are linked in the submission system.

Evaluation, Due Diligence and Investment Safeguards

Evaluation approach:For STEP Scale Up calls including Defence, evaluation uses remote assessment and interview with the EIC Jury, applying a GO/NO GO binary decision at the interview stage. The EIC Fund performs investment due diligence with the EIB as Investment Advisor. Know Your Customer (KYC) and red flag checks are mandatory prior to investment decisions. Economic security and IP transfer notifications are included in the assessment.

Investment safeguards and economic security measures:Investment agreements may include tailored safeguards to protect Union strategic assets, interests and security, and to achieve technological objectives. Safeguards apply in particular to STEP Scale Up calls (non-defence and defence) and to projects within the four priority technology areas in the Commission Recommendation on critical technology areas (advanced semiconductors, AI technologies, quantum technologies and biotechnologies). For STEP Defence, the Commission Award Decision may set specific safeguards to be applied by the EIC Fund in the investment agreement.

Consortium Requirement and Application Format

Consortium requirement:single beneficiary accepted. The call targets single companies (SME or small mid-cap up to 499 employees). An investor may apply on behalf of an eligible company but the investment agreement will be signed with the selected SME or small mid-cap. A holding entity used for investment must be established in a Member State, Ukraine or an EEA associated country. The submission is single-stage and single-entity oriented.

Geographic and Beneficiary Scope

Geographic eligibility:legal entities established in the EU Member States, in Ukraine, or in an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe. Participation of legal entities controlled by third countries is generally excluded unless approved guarantees are provided under national procedures. The call follows Horizon Europe association rules and the associated country eligibility provisions.

Target Sector and Project Stage

Target sector:Defence and security technologies, covering the full list of defence strategic technology areas above. The call is focused on deep tech and strategic defence-enabling technologies including AI, cyber, electronic warfare, space, sensors, optronics, radiofrequency, platforms (air, maritime, ground, drones), weapons systems, CBRN countermeasures, logistics and manufacturing technologies for military mobility, and related strategic enablers. Project stage: scale-up / commercialization readiness — companies should be preparing to scale and raise larger funding rounds. The expected TRL for STEP Scale Up applicants is higher than early research — investments target companies already with market interest and mature technology suitable for scaling.

1. 1Eligible Applicant Types: SMEs, including start-ups; small mid-caps (up to 499 employees); investors may apply on behalf of eligible companies (with prior agreement).
2. 2Funding Type: Equity investment only (HORIZON EIC Equity Only).
3. 3Consortium Requirement: Single beneficiary (single company). Investors can apply on behalf of a company; holding companies must be established in eligible countries.
4. 4Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): Companies established in EU Member States, Ukraine, or an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe. Entities controlled by third countries are excluded unless approved guarantees are provided.
5. 5Target Sector: Defence and security (air/missile defence; artillery/precision strike; missiles and ammunition; drones and counter-drones; strategic enablers including space; cyber, AI and electronic warfare; military mobility; ground combat; maritime; air combat; medical and countermeasures).
6. 6Project Stage: Scale-up / commercialization (companies raising significant funding rounds; technology mature and market interest demonstrated).
7. 7Funding Amount: Equity investments typically €10 million to €30 million per company; total indicative call budget €100 million.
8. 8Application Type: Single-stage open call via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal / EIC Submission System (open call, competitive).
9. 9Nature of Support: Monetary (equity investments) plus non-monetary Business Acceleration Services (coaching, mentoring, access to ecosystems).
10. 10Application Stages: One submission stage; evaluation includes remote review and interview stage with EIC Jury and EIC Fund due diligence (effectively a two-step assessment: eligibility/remote assessment and interview/due diligence leading to award).
11. 11Success Rates: Not specified in the call text; EIC STEP Scale Up calls are competitive and selection depends on assessment, portfolio balance and available budget.
12. 12Co-funding Requirement: No formal grant co-funding percentage; however, applicants must demonstrate a pre-commitment from a qualified investor representing at least 20% of the targeted funding round, and private co-investment and syndication are expected to be mobilised.

Detailed Eligibility and Mandatory Conditions

Mandatory conditions summary:Applicants must be SMEs or small mid-caps established in eligible jurisdictions; must provide pre-commitment evidence from a single qualified investor representing at least 20% of the intended funding round (minimum 20% must be fully uninvested at date of pre-commitment letter); must demonstrate initial market interest such that EIC investment acts as catalyst for larger funding rounds; must meet financial and operational capacity conditions in Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme; must comply with exclusions related to control by non-eligible third countries unless approved guarantees are provided.

Application Templates and Form Structure Guidance

Where to find templates:The application form specific to this EIC STEP Defence call is available in the Submission System. Applicants should use the HORIZON-EQU model entry in the submission portal. The EIC Work Programme and Annex 2 contain admissibility and eligibility templates and checks. Applicants should consult the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual and the EIC Work Programme 2026 for detailed documentation.

Recommended structure and sections to prepare in the application:Executive summary and strategic defence relevance; Company and organisational information (legal status, establishment country, employee count); Technology description and TRL; Primary defence application and use case; Criticality justification (economic potential to internal market or contribution to reducing strategic dependencies); Business and scaling plan (use of proceeds, target funding round, valuation rationale); Pre-commitment letter from single qualified investor (>=20%); Market interest evidence (LOIs, pilots, contracts, MOUs); Intellectual property status and protection strategy; Security, export control and economic security considerations; Governance and ownership structure (including details on any third-country control and guarantees where applicable); Financial information (audited accounts, cap table, financial projections); Proposed investment amount and milestones; Exit considerations; Commitment to BAS and portfolio activities.

Support Available Beyond Equity

All EIC Awardees receive access to Business Acceleration Services including bespoke coaching, mentoring, investor introductions, access to corporates and ecosystems, support on IP and standardisation, facilitated access to research and testing infrastructures, and priority access to EIC community platforms. For STEP and STEP Defence awardees additional proactive portfolio management by EIC Programme Managers is expected, and possible specific portfolio activities coordinated across selected investees.

Investment Use and Follow-on Financing

EIC investments are designed to catalyse further private investment rounds. The call targets companies raising significant funding rounds where the EIC equity acts as a catalyst to secure larger investments. Investment sizes (€10-€30 million) aim to unlock subsequent rounds and scaling activities. EIC may apply safeguards as needed and will not invest if KYC/AML/sanctions checks identify risks. The EIC Fund will not contract with parties listed on sanctions lists or non-cooperative jurisdictions in line with EU rules.

Application Stages and Timeline

Number of stages:Single-stage application followed by evaluation steps that effectively include remote assessment and interview with EIC Jury and EIC Fund investment due diligence. Indicative timeline: submission to outcome - timelines for STEP Scale Up interviews and decisions are managed by EIC; grant/investment agreements and KYC/due diligence timelines apply after selection. The EIC Work Programme indicates that STEP Scale Up proposals are evaluated remotely and at interview stage with GO/NO GO decisions.

Success Rates, Competition and Selection Factors

The opportunity is highly competitive and selection depends on technology criticality, strength of market traction, presence and quality of pre-commitment investor, security and ownership considerations, and portfolio composition needs. The Work Programme does not publish fixed success rates for this call. The EIC uses portfolio considerations and budget limits to allocate awards. Applicants should expect rigorous evaluation and investment due diligence.

Co-funding and Financial Conditions

There is no conventional co-funding percentage for equity investments as with grants; however, applicants must demonstrate a private funding pre-commitment of at least 20% of the targeted funding round from a single qualified investor. The EIC investment is intended to be catalytic and leveraged with other private capital. The EIC Fund will conduct KYC, AML, sanction checks, and may apply investment safeguards and contractual conditions.

Key Risks and Compliance Considerations

Entities controlled by non-eligible third countries must complete a self-assessment; guarantees must be provided under national procedures. Applicants must comply with EU economic security measures, export and defence controls, IP transfer notification obligations, and anti-money laundering and sanctions rules. Failure to comply with guarantee requirements or to pass KYC/sanctions checks can lead to ineligibility or interruption of investment process.

Mentioned Countries and Geographic Scope

Explicitly mentioned eligible locations:European Union Member States, Ukraine, and EEA members associated to Horizon Europe. The call refers to non-eligible third countries in relation to control and participation restrictions but does not name specific third countries in the call text.

Useful Links and Reference Documents

Applicants must consult the EIC Work Programme 2026, Annex 2 eligibility and financial capacity rules, the Submission System application form, the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, and the EIC Fund Investment Guidelines. The call topic page and submission entry point are on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. See the official topic page for HORIZON-EIC and the EIC Work Programme 2026 for full details EIC STEP Scale Up Defence Topic EIC Work Programme 2026.

• Pre-commitment letter from a single qualified investor >=20% of target round (uninvested portion >=20% at date of letter)
• Evidence of primary defence application and criticality justification
• Company registration and legal entity documents (established in eligible country)
• Information on ownership/control and guarantees if controlled by non-eligible third country
• Financial statements and financial capacity evidence per Annex 2
• IP status documentation and exploitation plan
• Security, export control, and compliance documentation

Summary Conclusion — What This Opportunity Is About and How to Approach It

The EIC STEP Scale Up Defence call is a targeted EIC equity investment opportunity designed to accelerate growth of European defence-focused deep tech companies. It provides sizeable equity investments (€10-€30 million) to single SMEs or small mid-caps with primary defence applications in strategic technology domains defined under STEP. To qualify, applicants must be established in the EU, Ukraine or an associated EEA country, be SMEs or small mid-caps, and demonstrate significant market traction and a pre-committed qualified private investor representing at least 20% of the intended funding round. Entities under third-country control are generally excluded unless national guarantees are provided and approved. Evaluation involves remote assessments and an interview stage leading to GO/NO GO investment decisions, followed by EIC Fund due diligence and KYC. Awardees receive equity investment plus Business Acceleration Services and proactive portfolio management. Applicants should prepare comprehensive technical, business and security documentation, pre-commitment evidence, and be ready for rigorous investment and security due diligence. This call is highly competitive and intended to catalyse follow-on private capital while protecting Union strategic interests and ensuring economic security.

Practical next steps for applicants:1) Read the full EIC Work Programme 2026 and Annex 2 eligibility rules; 2) Prepare and secure the required investor pre-commitment letter from a qualified investor; 3) Ensure company legal, financial and ownership documentation is compliant and that any third-country control self-assessment and guarantees are in place if applicable; 4) Complete the application form in the EIC Submission System (HORIZON-EQU entry) before 28 October 2026; 5) be prepared for interview and rapid due diligence following shortlisting.

This summary is based on the official call text and the EIC Work Programme 2026 published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and EIC websites. Applicants must consult the official call page and submission system for authoritative templates, forms and the definitive legal text of the call and its annexes ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Official call page and EIC Work Programme 2026 provide the source text and full eligibility, evaluation and contractual provisions: ec.europa.eu and eic.ec.europa.eu

What This Funding Is For

This call provides direct equity investment to scale up critical defence technologies in Europe, strengthening the EU's defence technological and industrial base while reducing strategic dependencies ¹. It is the first time an EU funding programme has invested direct equity in defence companies, targeting breakthrough innovations in areas like air and missile defence, drones, counter-drones, and cyber/AI warfare ². The scheme complements the civilian-focused EIC STEP Scale Up call by addressing exclusively defence-specific applications ¹.

Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants are single startups, SMEs, and small mid-caps (fewer than 500 employees) established in EU Member States, countries from the European Economic Area associated to Horizon Europe, or Ukraine ¹. Investors may also submit proposals on behalf of an eligible company if a prior agreement exists ¹. Legal entities directly or indirectly controlled by a third country (other than Ukraine or an associated EEA member) are generally excluded unless they provide specific guarantees approved by national procedures ¹.

Key Eligibility Requirements

1. 1The innovation must have a primary defence application (solutions with predominantly civilian or dual-use applications should refer to the general EIC STEP Scale Up call) ¹
2. 2The innovation must be critical, meaning it brings an emerging/cutting-edge element with significant economic potential OR reduces strategic dependencies of the Union ¹
3. 3Companies must demonstrate a pre-commitment for equity investment from a single qualified investor covering at least 20% of the total target funding round ¹
4. 4The pre-committed portion must be fully uninvested as of the date of the pre-commitment letter ¹
5. 5Applicants must submit a self-assessment document regarding third-country control and, if applicable, submit guarantees at the application stage ¹

Funding Amounts and Structure

Critical Defence Technology Areas

The call supports projects in the following strategic defence areas as defined in STEP guidance ¹:

• Air and missile defence (integrated multi-layered systems, interceptors, radars)
• Artillery and precision strike (long-range capabilities, advanced munitions)
• Missiles and ammunition (guided missiles, warheads, propellants)
• Drones and counter-drones (unmanned aerial systems, swarming, jammers)
• Strategic enablers (space assets, protection, situational awareness, secure communications)
• Cyber, AI and electronic warfare (AI for command/control, cyber-defence, electromagnetic operations)
• Military mobility (warehousing, agile logistics, additive manufacturing)
• Ground combat (close fire support, soldier systems, ground combat systems)
• Maritime (situational awareness, surface/underwater combat, seabed warfare)
• Air combat (airborne early warning, tactical transport, rotorcraft, air-to-air refuelling)
• Medical and countermeasures (military medical tech, CBRN defence, decontamination)

Application Timeline and Process

Applications open on 30 June 2026 and close on 28 October 2026 at 17:00 CET ². This is a single-stage submission process with an EIC Jury interview as part of the evaluation ¹. Selected projects are expected to be announced in early 2027 ³. The process is "first come, first served" within the budget limits ⁴.

Additional Support and Benefits

Beyond equity investment, awardees receive extensive access to global partners, including leading corporates, investors, and procurers ¹. They also gain access to Business Acceleration Services (BAS) for coaching, mentoring, and ecosystem matching ¹. Selected companies receive the Sovereignty (STEP) Seal, facilitating privileged access to other EU funding and investors ⁴.

Footnotes

1. 1Official EIC STEP Scale Up Defence page: EIC STEP Scale Up Defence
2. 2LinkedIn announcement of the open call: EIC STEP Scale Up Defence Investment Open Call
3. 3KMTP article on defence and dual-use support: European Innovation Council Opens Support for Defence
4. 4Complete guide to EIC STEP Scale Up 2026: EIC STEP Scale Up 2026 Guide