EIC STEP Scale Up

The EIC STEP Scale Up is an equity investment program under the Horizon Europe framework, targeting ambitious scale-up companies (SMEs and small mid-cap firms) with groundbreaking innovations in critical technology sectors. The aim is to provide equity-only investments between €10 million to €30 million, facilitating larger funding rounds ranging from €50 million to €150 million per company. The total budget allocated for 2026 is €300 million, expected to increase to €900 million by 2027.

Eligible applicants include single SMEs and small mid-cap enterprises (up to 499 employees) that are established in EU Member States or countries associated with Horizon Europe. While investors may apply on behalf of these firms, a pre-existing agreement is necessary. These investments are purely equity-based with no grant component and are managed by the EIC Fund.

The focus sectors for funding encompass advanced digital technologies and deep tech innovations, clean and resource-efficient technologies, and biotechnologies. Notably, the program is particularly aligned with areas that reduce strategic dependencies within the Union.

The beneficiaries receive not only financial investments but also access to Business Acceleration Services, which include coaching, mentoring, and connection to the broader innovation ecosystem. A key feature of this funding scheme is the requirement for a co-funding commitment from qualified investors, who must collectively pledge at least 20% of the target funding round.

The application process allows for continuous submissions, with evaluation sessions held quarterly. The final deadline for submissions is November 25, 2026, with an indicative number of 10 grants expected to be awarded. The process involves multiple stages, including initial proposal submission, eligibility checks, and interviews with a jury.

Historically, success rates for this program hover around 20-21%, indicating a competitive selection process. Applicants must demonstrate market validation with engagement from external investors to de-risk their proposals. The EIC STEP Scale Up is structured as an investment initiative designed to strengthen Europe's position in essential technology areas, ultimately enhancing its strategic autonomy and economic growth potential.

The EIC STEP Scale Up call, under the Horizon Europe program, aims to provide equity-only investments to ambitious scale-up companies (SMEs and small mid-caps) with game-changing innovations in Europe's critical technology areas. The call is part of the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), supporting the development or manufacturing of critical technologies within the EU.

The total indicative budget is EUR 300 million for 2026, expected to increase to EUR 900 million for 2025-2027. Any unused funds will be reallocated to the EIC Accelerator Open call.

The EIC Fund manages the equity-only investments, with no grant component available. Applicants should request investments between EUR 10 million and EUR 30 million, to co-invest in funding rounds ranging from EUR 50 million to EUR 150 million. The EIC contribution should be at least three to five times smaller than the total funding round. Investment terms are negotiated on a case-by-case basis, following the EIC Fund Investment Guidelines.

The EIC STEP Scale Up call addresses the funding gap for companies scaling up high-risk innovations that cannot be fully financed by other investors, including InvestEU. Applicants should consider complementarity with Venture Debt from InvestEU implementing partners.

The EIC Fund ensures that supported companies retain most of their value, including IP, within the EU or Associated Countries, contributing to economic growth and job creation. Safeguard measures may be implemented to protect European interests.

Beyond funding, companies receive support through Business Acceleration Services. Applicants meeting evaluation thresholds will be awarded a Sovereignty (STEP) Seal, facilitating access to funding and support from other EU programs and investors.

Selected companies will receive investments between EUR 10 million and EUR 30 million to accelerate technology development and market launch, disrupt markets, and achieve global impact. This investment aims to catalyze larger funding rounds of EUR 50 million to EUR 150 million, with the EIC investment being a smaller portion.

In 2026, support will focus on start-ups in semiconductor and quantum technologies, aligning with the Chips Act. The EIC Accelerator Open call remains available for startups and SMEs in quantum and semiconductor technologies.

To be eligible, innovations must fall within the STEP regulation's priority areas, including Critical Raw Materials. These areas are further detailed in the Guidance note and include:

a. Digital technologies and deep tech innovations:
Advanced semiconductor technologies
Artificial intelligence technologies
Quantum technologies
Advanced connectivity, navigation, and digital technologies
Advanced sensing technologies
Robotics and autonomous systems
Deep tech innovations (see Glossary of the EIC Work Programme 2026)

b. Clean and resource-efficient technologies, including net-zero technologies:
Solar technologies
Onshore and offshore renewable technologies
Battery and energy storage technologies
Heat pumps and geothermal technologies
Hydrogen technologies
Sustainable biogas and biomethane technologies
Carbon capture and storage technologies
Electricity grid technologies
Nuclear fission technologies
Sustainable alternative fuel technologies
Hydropower technologies
Other renewable technologies
Energy system-related energy efficiency technologies
Renewable fuels of non-biological origin technologies
Biotech climate and energy solutions
Transformative industrial technologies for decarbonisation
CO2 transport and utilisation technologies
Wind and electric propulsion technologies
Other nuclear technologies
Advanced materials, manufacturing, and recycling technologies
Technologies vital to sustainability such as water purification and desalination
Circular economy technologies

c. Biotechnologies, including medicinal products on the Union list of critical medicines and their components:
DNA/RNA
Proteins and other molecules
Cell and tissue culture and engineering
Process biotechnology techniques
Gene and RNA vectors
Bioinformatics
Nanobiotechnology

These technologies are considered critical if they:
a. Bring an innovative, emerging, and cutting-edge element with significant economic potential to the internal market.
b. Contribute to reducing or preventing strategic dependencies of the Union.

The Commission Guidance note provides detailed information on criticality conditions. The call targets companies raising significant funding rounds and requires demonstration of initial market interest to catalyze larger funding rounds. A pre-commitment for equity investment is necessary, meeting specific criteria:

The pre-commitment must come from a single qualified investor with demonstrable know-how and experience in the relevant market, technology, and jurisdiction, subject to KYC by the EIC Fund or the EIF. The pre-committed investor can be an existing investor and does not need to lead the investment round.
The pre-commitment must represent at least 20% of the total target funding round.

Eligible applicants include:
A single company classified as an SME or small mid-cap (up to 499 employees) established in a Member State or Associated Country (see Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2026). The company may have a holding entity established in a Member State or Associated Country.
An investor may submit a proposal on behalf of an eligible SME or small mid-cap, provided a prior agreement exists. The investment agreement will be signed with the selected SME or small mid-cap.

Proposal page limits and layout are described in Part B of the Application Form, available in the Submission System.

Eligible countries are described in Annex 2(B. Eligibility) of the EIC Work Programme 2026.

Other eligibility conditions are described in Annex 2 (General conditions for proposals) of the EIC Work Programme 2026.

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion are described in Annex 2(C. Financial and Operational Capacity) of the EIC Work Programme 2026.

Evaluation and award criteria, submission and evaluation processes, and the indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement are described in section VI of the EIC Work Programme 2026.

Key documents include the EIC Work Programme 2026, application form templates (available in the Submission System), the HE Programme Guide, call-specific instructions, information on financial support to third parties, information on clinical studies, and additional documents such as the HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 13. General Annexes, the EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and the Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The call opens on 06 November 2025, and the deadline for submission is 25 November 2026, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The indicative number of grants is 10.

The EIC STEP Scale Up call is essentially an invitation for high-potential European SMEs and small mid-caps to secure substantial equity investments to scale up their innovative technologies in strategically important sectors. It's not a grant in the traditional sense, but rather an opportunity to attract significant funding from the EIC Fund, which acts as a catalyst for even larger investment rounds. The focus is on technologies that can strengthen Europe's strategic autonomy and competitiveness, particularly in digital, clean, and biotech fields. To be successful, applicants need to demonstrate not only the disruptive potential of their innovation but also a clear path to market and the ability to attract significant co-investment from other qualified investors. The call also provides access to valuable business acceleration services and the prestigious STEP Seal, further enhancing the visibility and attractiveness of the selected companies.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicants are single companies classified as SMEs or small mid-caps (up to 499 employees) established within a Member State or an Associated Country. The company may have a holding entity for the purposes of the investment, and this holding company must also be established in a Member State or an Associated Country. An investor may submit a proposal on behalf of an eligible SME or small mid-cap, provided that a prior agreement exists with the company. The investment agreement will be signed with the selected SME or small mid-cap.

Funding Type: The funding type is equity-only investments managed by the EIC Fund. There is no grant component.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity is for a single applicant, although an investor can apply on behalf of an eligible company if a prior agreement exists.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and Associated Countries (see Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2026 for a specific list).

Target Sector: The program targets companies with game-changing innovations in Europe's critical technology areas. These areas include:
a. Digital technologies, and deep tech innovations, including: advanced semiconductor technologies; artificial intelligence technologies; quantum technologies; advanced connectivity, navigation and digital technologies; advanced sensing technologies; robotics and autonomous systems; Deep tech innovations.
b. Clean and resource efficient technologies, including net-zero technologies, including: solar technologies; onshore wind and offshore renewable technologies; battery and energy storage technologies; heat pumps and geothermal technologies; hydrogen technologies; sustainable biogas and biomethane technologies; carbon capture and storage technologies; electricity grid technologies; nuclear fission technologies, sustainable alternative fuel technologies; hydropower technologies; other renewable technologies; energy system -related energy efficiency technologies; renewable fuels of nonbiological origin technologies; biotech climate and energy solutions; transformative industrial technologies for decarbonisation; CO2 transport and utilisation technologies; wind and electric propulsion technologies; other nuclear technologies; advanced materials, manufacturing and recycling technologies, technologies vital to sustainability such as water purification and desalination; and circular economy technologies.
c. Biotechnologies, including medicinal products on the Union list of critical medicines and their components, including: DNA/RNA; proteins and other molecules; cell and tissue culture and engineering; process biotechnology techniques; Gene and RNA vectors; bioinformatics; and nanobiotechnology.

Mentioned Countries: EU Member States and Associated Countries are mentioned as eligible regions.

Project Stage: The program targets scale-up companies, indicating that the projects should be at the commercialization or scale-up stage.

Funding Amount: The investment ranges from EUR 10 million to EUR 30 million. This investment is designed to catalyse major funding rounds in the range of EUR 50 to 150 million, and at least 3-5 times the EIC investment.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a continuous deadline model. The opening date is 06 November 2025, and the deadline is 25 November 2026.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive equity investments and access to Business Acceleration Services. They may also be awarded a Sovereignty (STEP) Seal.

Application Stages: The number of application stages is not explicitly mentioned, but the provided information suggests a multi-stage evaluation process based on admissibility conditions, eligibility criteria, and award criteria described in the EIC Work Programme 2026.

Success Rates: The indicative number of grants is 10. The success rate cannot be determined exactly from the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: Yes, co-funding is required. Applicants must demonstrate an initial market interest and a pre-commitment for an equity investment representing at least 20% of the total target funding round. The EIC investment is designed to catalyse major funding rounds in the range of EUR 50 to 150 million, and at least 3-5 times the EIC investment.

Summary:
The EIC STEP Scale Up call is a funding opportunity under the Horizon Europe program, specifically targeting ambitious scale-up companies (SMEs and small mid-caps) with game-changing innovations in Europe's critical technology areas. The call aims to provide equity investments ranging from EUR 10 million to EUR 30 million to help these companies scale up their high-risk innovations and bridge the funding gap that cannot be fully financed by other investors. The total indicative budget for 2026 is EUR 300 million, expected to rise to EUR 900 million for the period 2025-2027. The selected companies will also benefit from Business Acceleration Services and may receive a Sovereignty (STEP) Seal to facilitate access to other EU funding programs. To be eligible, companies must be based in an EU Member State or Associated Country and demonstrate a pre-commitment for an equity investment representing at least 20% of their total target funding round. The call focuses on innovations in digital technologies, clean and resource-efficient technologies, and biotechnologies that contribute to the Union's strategic dependencies and have significant economic potential. The application process involves demonstrating the innovation's alignment with STEP regulation priorities, meeting admissibility and eligibility conditions, and showcasing the company's financial and operational capacity. The call is designed to catalyse larger funding rounds, with the EIC investment acting as a catalyst for attracting additional investment from other sources.