Support for the Ukrainian tech SMEs and startups

The "Support for the Ukrainian tech innovators" program, identified as HORIZON-EIC-2025-UKRAINIANTECH-01, is part of the European Innovation Council (EIC) Work Programme 2025, aimed at fostering the growth of Ukrainian tech startups and SMEs, specifically those engaged in deep-tech innovations. The initiative includes a total budget of €20 million, with individual grants ranging from €300,000 to €500,000 planned to support approximately 40 startups. Each eligible startup may receive up to €60,000 to facilitate business maturation and validate market readiness, helping them move from a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4 to at least TRL 6-7.

Eligible applicants include Ukrainian deep tech startups and SMEs, with those temporarily based in EU or Horizon Europe associated countries also being eligible, provided they express an intent to return to Ukraine when possible. The program focuses on high-impact innovations capable of generating new markets or disrupting existing ones, encompassing various fields within deep tech, such as advanced materials, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology.

The application process is a single-stage open call, with a submission window from August 12, 2025, to November 26, 2025. The approach promotes non-repayable grants and hybrid support, combining financial aid with valuable non-financial services, including access to EIC Business Acceleration Services, coaching, and the potential for fast-tracked access to larger EIC Accelerator funding.

The call emphasizes technological excellence and societal impact, requiring startups to demonstrate developed technology, market validation potential, and clear business objectives. It aims to increase investments in the Ukrainian tech ecosystem, enhance market preparedness of startups, and promote their integration into European and global markets. Overall, this initiative plays a critical role in strengthening Ukraine's innovative capacity and supporting its economic resilience amidst ongoing challenges.

The HORIZON-EIC-2025-UKRAINIANTECH-01 call, under the Horizon Europe Programme, aims to support Ukrainian tech SMEs and start-ups in attracting private investments, deploying innovations, and scaling up. The funded activities must be for civilian applications only. The call falls under the HORIZON-EIC HORIZON EIC Grants action type and utilizes the HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] Model Grant Agreement. The call is forthcoming with a single-stage deadline model. The planned opening date is 12 August 2025, and the deadline is 26 November 2025, 17:00:00 Brussels time. The total budget allocated for this topic is 20,000,000 EUR, with individual contributions ranging from 300,000 to 500,000 EUR. The indicative number of grants to be awarded is 40.

The expected impact of this call is to enable Ukrainian tech companies to better attract investments, commercialize innovations, and achieve scale-up. The grant should be used for addressing investors and testing/validating market readiness, including market research, value proposition development, business case and model creation, intellectual property protection, competitor analysis, and addressing regulatory, certification, and standardization aspects. It can also be used for the maturation and validation of novel technologies from TRL 4 to at least TRL 6-7.

At the end of the project, beneficiaries should demonstrate that their technology has been tested and validated in a laboratory and relevant environments (at least TRL 5 completed, preferably higher). They should be ready to apply for the EIC Accelerator, seek other investors, enter licensing or collaboration agreements, or pursue other routes to market deployment. Beneficiaries should also benefit from increased global visibility and access to funding and European and global markets. Successful applicants will receive free access to EIC Business Acceleration Services, including coaching and tailored events, and will be eligible for the Fast Track to the EIC Accelerator, providing access to larger grants and EIC Fund investments.

The scope of this action is focused on deep-tech startups with high-impact innovation technology, products, services, or business models that can create new markets or disrupt existing ones, and which have the ambition and commitment to scale up. The successful applicants are expected to work on deep-tech innovations within priority areas. The call is designed to help these startups develop their innovations from at least TRL 4 and attract the necessary investment for scale-up in a shorter timeframe.

Applicants are expected to demonstrate that they have developed technology validated at the lab level (at least TRL 4 completed), have the potential to reach application and market in 2-3 years, possess the necessary Intellectual Property Rights, and have a clear vision on the pathway and route to market, including specific milestones and verifiable KPIs. Applications from women-led companies are encouraged. If applicable, companies currently located in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country should express a clear intention to relocate back to Ukraine when feasible.

The general conditions for this call include:

1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout, as described in Annex 2 (A. ADMISSIBILITY) of the Amended EIC WP 2025 and Part B of the Application Form.
2. Eligible Countries, as described in Annex 2 (B. ELIGIBILITY) of the Amended EIC WP 2025.
3. Other Eligible Conditions, as described in Annex 2 (B. ELIGIBILITY) of the Amended EIC WP 2025.
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion, as described in Annex 2 (C. FINANCIAL and OPERATIONAL CAPACITY) of the Amended EIC WP 2025.
5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds, as described in Section VIII.11 and Annex 2 (D. AWARD CRITERIA) of the Amended EIC WP 2025.
5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes, with proposals assessed according to the following award criteria:
 * Excellence (Threshold: 4/5):
 * Technological breakthrough: Does the technology have a high degree of novelty and higher performance compared to other technologies available or in development? Does the technology present high commercial potential?
 * Objectives: How credible and feasible are the objectives for the planned technology development and maturation? How credible and feasible are the objectives and KPIs for the planned business development process?
 * Methodology: Is the timing right for this technology/innovation (i.e., feasibility, minimum technological readiness level (TRL))?
 * Impact (Threshold: 4/5):
 * Credibility of the impacts: To what extent the expected commercial impact(s) described in the proposal are credible and substantial within the project and beyond (e.g., one or several sectors, setting new standards, etc.)?
 * Economic and/or societal benefits: To what extent does the proposed innovation have scale-up potential including high capacity to gain or create new markets? To what extent is the proposed innovation expected to generate positive impacts for Ukraine (e.g., strategic autonomy, employment etc.)?
 * Quality and efficiency of the implementation (Threshold 3/5):
 * Quality and motivation of the team: To what extent does the team have the necessary high-quality capabilities and high motivation to move decisively towards market? To what extent does the applicant team have the necessary expertise to create a unique commercial value from the emerging technology and develop an attractive business and investment proposition?
 * KPIs and Milestones: Are both milestones and KPIs present, relevant and clearly defined (measurable, well-timed, comparable, etc.) to track progress along the pathway towards objectives? Have the main risks (e.g., technological, market, financial etc.) been identified, together with measures to mitigate them, in order to achieve the project objectives?
 * Workplan and allocation of resources: How appropriate and effective is the allocation of resources (person-months and equipment) between work packages?
6. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes, as described in Annex 2 (E. Documents and F. Procedure) of the Amended EIC WP 2025.
7. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement, as described in Annex 2 (F. Procedure) of the Amended EIC WP 2025.
8. Legal and financial set-up of the grants, as described in Annex 2 (G. LEGAL AND FINANCIAL SET-UP OF THE GRANT AGREEMENTS) of the Amended EIC WP 2025.

Specific conditions are described in Section VIII.11 of the Amended EIC WP 2025. The call document is the Amended EIC WP 2025. Application forms will be available in the Submission System. Guidance documents include the HE Programme Guide, Model Grant Agreements (MGA), Lump Sum MGA, call-specific instructions, detailed budget table (HE LS), and information on clinical studies (HE). Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 14. General Annexes, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, decision authorizing the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme, rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA Annotated Model Grant Agreement, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

This funding opportunity, HORIZON-EIC-2025-UKRAINIANTECH-01, is designed to bolster the Ukrainian deep-tech ecosystem by providing financial and business support to promising startups. It seeks to bridge the gap between laboratory-validated technologies and market-ready innovations, enabling these companies to attract further investment and scale their operations. By focusing on deep-tech, the call aims to foster high-impact innovations that can create new markets and contribute to Ukraine's economic and strategic autonomy. The program offers not only financial assistance but also access to valuable business acceleration services and potential fast-track entry into the EIC Accelerator, making it a comprehensive support package for Ukrainian tech entrepreneurs. The emphasis on civilian applications ensures that the innovations contribute to societal well-being and economic growth, aligning with the broader goals of the Horizon Europe program.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are Ukrainian tech SMEs and start-ups and SMEs. Companies currently located in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country are eligible, but a clear intention to relocate back the company to Ukraine whenever feasible is expected. Applications from women-led companies are encouraged.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON EIC Grant, utilizing a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] model.

Consortium Requirement: The call is single-stage, implying that a single applicant is expected, although collaboration through partner search is possible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The primary geographic eligibility is for Ukrainian tech SMEs and start-ups. Companies located in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries are eligible if they intend to relocate back to Ukraine when feasible.

Target Sector: The target sector is deep-tech, focusing on startups with high-impact innovation in technology, products, services, or business models. The activities funded should be for civilian applications only.

Mentioned Countries: Ukraine, EU Member States, Horizon Europe Associated Countries.

Project Stage: The project stage targets innovations at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 or higher, specifically aiming to advance technologies from TRL 4 (technology fully validated in a lab) to at least TRL 6-7 (viable demonstrators of the technology in the intended field of application).

Funding Amount: The contributions range from EUR 300,000 to EUR 500,000. The total budget for the topic is EUR 20,000,000.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant. They will also receive non-monetary services, including free access to EIC Business Acceleration Services, such as coaching and specific events tailored to their needs. Successful applicants will also be eligible for the Fast Track to the EIC Accelerator, which provides access to larger grants and EIC Fund investments.

Application Stages: The application process is a single-stage process.

Success Rates: The indicative number of grants is 40, but the success rate cannot be determined without knowing the expected number of applications.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, "Support for the Ukrainian tech innovators," aims to bolster the Ukrainian tech ecosystem by providing financial support and business acceleration services to deep-tech SMEs and start-ups. The call seeks to enable these companies to attract private investments, deploy innovations on the market, and scale up their operations. The focus is on deep-tech innovations at TRL 4 or higher, with the goal of reaching TRL 6-7 through the funded projects. Eligible applicants include Ukrainian tech SMEs and start-ups, as well as companies located in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries that demonstrate a clear intention to relocate back to Ukraine when feasible. The funding mechanism is a lump sum grant ranging from EUR 300,000 to EUR 500,000, with a total budget of EUR 20,000,000 allocated for approximately 40 grants. Successful applicants will also gain access to EIC Business Acceleration Services and may be eligible for the EIC Accelerator program. The call emphasizes the importance of technological breakthrough, credible impact, and quality of the implementation plan, with specific thresholds for excellence, impact, and efficiency in the evaluation criteria. The application process is a single-stage submission, with a planned opening date of August 12, 2025, and a deadline of November 26, 2025. This initiative is designed to support the growth and competitiveness of Ukrainian tech companies, facilitating their integration into European and global markets.