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Find similar grantsEIC STEP Defence Scale Up is sponsored by European Innovation Council (EIC). This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.
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STEP Scale Up - European Innovation Council - European Commission EIC Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) Scale Up scheme What for Scaling up strategic technologies Catalysing major funding rounds to scale up breakthrough innovations in the fields of digital, deep tech, clean tech & biotech. Who can apply Startups, SMEs and investors Single startups and SMEs, small mid-caps, investors on behalf of eligible companies.
What you get Major investments Investment component of EUR 10 - 30 million. What is the EIC STEP Scale Up scheme? The EIC STEP Scale Up scheme is part of the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), offering financial support in the form of investments to startups, SMEs, and small mid-caps, between EUR 10 to 30 million.
Its goal is to scale-up innovation in Europe's strategic technology sectors, particularly in quantum technologies and semiconductors, thereby enhancing the EU´s economic and technological competitiveness. The EIC Step Up scheme will catalyze larger funding rounds, amplifying the impact of the initial investment. Total 2026 budget of EUR 300 million .
Minimum investment EUR 10 million , maximum EUR 30 million in 2026. Managed by the EIC Fund , the STEP Scale Up scheme aims to bridge the funding gap for high-risk innovations that cannot be fully financed by other investors.
For details see the Guidance Note on STEP Access Business Acceleration Services (BAS) : Access to global partners Access to coaches, mentors, expertise and training Access to innovation ecosystem and peers A STEP Seal for companies that meet the evaluation threshold, facilitating access to additional funding programs and investors.
This document presents the 2026 European Innovation Council (EIC) Work Programme funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. It sets out how the EIC will allocate its funding of for the year 2026 and has been prepared following the advice of the EIC Board.
A single SME or small mid-cap (fewer than 500 employees) established in an EU Member State or in an eligible Associated Country (excluding the UK) An investor may submit a proposal on behalf of an eligible SME or small mid-cap as defined above, Note: This scheme targets companies seeking major funding rounds, requiring proof of initial market interest from a qualified investor covering at least 20% of the total target funding round, You can apply anytime via the Funding & Tenders Portal.
To be deemed admissible and eligible, proposals must consist of: a full business plan , including information on the company’s ownership and financial structure and a justification on the STEP related objectives (maximum 50 pages); a pitch-deck (maximum 15 pages) in pdf format (this version will be presented to the jury if invited to interview); a pre-commitment from a single qualified investor (according to the official template on the Funding and Tenders Portal and also available on the EIC website); The pre-commitment must represent at least 20% of the total target funding round, which must range between EUR 50 to 150 million, and be at least 3-5 times the EIC investment); a financial plan and agreement document (according to the template available on the EIC website).
Results of the freedom to operate (FTO) analysis. If you do not have one, please upload a note of maximum 2 pages outlining your freedom to operate and providing as much information as possible on this issue. In cases where the FTO is not relevant (e.g. software), please upload a simple statement.
If your application meets the eligibility requirements, you will be invited to attend a jury interview. You will be informed about the interview in 4-6 weeks from the start of the evaluation process. At the interview, you will be assessed by a Jury of maximum six members.
You will be informed about the result of the interview in 2 weeks from the date of the interview. Companies, irrespective of whether they are retained for funding or not, that meet all evaluation criteria will be awarded the Sovereignty Seal and gain access to Business Acceleration Services . Furthermore, if your proposal does not meet the criteria, you will receive feedback to help improve future applications.
STEP application guidance document Pre-commitment template (STEP) The network of National Contact Points (NCPs) is the main structure to provide guidance, practical information and assistance on all aspects of participation in Horizon Europe.
Find your National Contact Point Find answers to questions frequently asked by applicants about types of funding, eligibility, submission of proposals and much more Check the frequently asked questions All EIC supported projects and companies get access to coaching, mentoring, partnering and other EIC Business Acceleration Services (BAS).
The EIC selects new European scale-ups for STEP Scale Up investments Six companies are now put forward for investment decisions by the EIC Fund. EIC STEP Scale Up Defence call opens today Apply by 28 October 2026.
The European Innovation Council opens to defence and dual-use technologies As from today, the European Innovation Council (EIC) will provide investments in defence and dual-use technologies, marking a strategic pivot in Europe’s innovation policy.
EIC Impact Report 2026: Europe strengthens its position as a global deep tech scaling hub The European Innovation Council (EIC) today published its Impact Report 2026 Eight European startups set to receive scale-up funding from the EIC under the STEP Scale Up scheme The Commission announced a new group of eight companies to receive €10 and €30 million investments to support them in the crucial scale-up phase to establish a market position...
Congratulations to Axelera AI, securing more than €200 million funding on global commercial growth Axelera AI has been supported by the EIC since 2023, first under the EIC Accelerator, then under the EIC STEP Scale Up call.
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Companies in EU Member States, countries from the European Economic Area associated with Horizon Europe, and Ukraine, working on critical defense technologies. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
Applications for EIC STEP Defence Scale Up are due October 28, 2026. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, and final submission checks.
EIC STEP Defence Scale Up is funded by European Innovation Council (EIC). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
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The European Innovation Council Pathfinder Challenge DeepRAP (Deep Reasoning, Abstraction, and Planning) funds breakthrough research in cognitive AI at the earliest technology readiness levels (TRL 1-3). Awards of up to EUR 4 million support projects exploring fundamental advances in AI reasoning, abstraction, and planning capabilities that go beyond current pattern-recognition approaches. The challenge seeks research into AI systems capable of genuine logical reasoning, abstract thought, hierarchical planning, and transfer learning across domains — capabilities that current large language models and deep learning systems struggle to achieve reliably. Projects should propose novel architectures, algorithms, or theoretical frameworks that could enable AI systems to reason about novel situations, form and manipulate abstract concepts, and plan complex multi-step strategies. Like other EIC Pathfinder challenges, this programme does not require large consortia, making it accessible to individual researchers, small teams, and startups. The deadline is October 28, 2026.
The European Innovation Council Pathfinder Challenge on Physical AI funds visionary research in embedded intelligence for autonomous robotics at the earliest technology readiness levels (TRL 1-3). Awards of up to EUR 4 million support projects exploring how AI can be physically embedded into robotic systems to achieve truly autonomous behavior in unstructured real-world environments. The challenge focuses on embodied intelligence — AI systems that learn and adapt through physical interaction with their environment rather than purely through data-driven approaches. Unlike most EU programmes, the EIC Pathfinder does not require large consortia, making it accessible to individual researchers, small university teams, and startups pursuing breakthrough concepts. This ARPA-style programme emphasizes high-risk, high-reward research that could fundamentally reshape autonomous robotics. The deadline is October 28, 2026. This is distinct from the EIC Pathfinder DeepRAP Challenge (focused on reasoning, abstraction, and planning in cognitive AI) and from Horizon Europe robotics calls that target higher TRL levels.
SBIR Phase I — US Small Business Innovation is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). This program provides early-stage funding for highly innovative R&D projects, with active funding areas including blockchain for federal applications, decentralized identity, AI safety, and quantum computing. It is non-dilutive and open to US-based small businesses.
Kidney Cancer Research Program (KCRP) Idea Development Award (IDA) is sponsored by Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA. This award supports the development of high-impact ideas that advance the understanding of kidney cancer and ultimately lead to improved patient outcomes, with a focus on well-formulated, testable hypotheses and strong scientific rationale.
Pancreatic Cancer Research Program (PCARP) Patient-Centered Focus Area Award is sponsored by Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), Department of Defense. This award supports the exploration and development of impactful and innovative concepts under a patient-centered focus that could ultimately lead to major advancements in patients' overall quality of life.
The U.S. Small Business Growth and Innovation Program closes October 21, 2026 at 12:00 PM PT with $2 million in grants of $100,000 to $250,000. Eligibility requires an annual operating budget between $1 million and $10 million — a two-sided gate that excludes the neighborhood provider and the national intermediary alike.
Read articleThe Wisconsin DOR Innovation Grant reopened October 1, 2026 with nearly $228 million of its $300 million unclaimed. Round one funded 35 projects across 81 local governments. The binding constraint is not the application — it is a signed three-year contract dated on or after November 13, 2024.
Read articleThe Citi Foundation's fourth Global Innovation Challenge commits $25 million in restricted grants — 50 awards of $500,000 — to organizations preparing low-income youth for an AI-shaped economy. The letter of inquiry closes October 6, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET, full applications land in December, grant terms start no sooner than June 1, 2027, and the cash splits across 2027 and 2028. Here is the eligibility math, the two rules that eliminate most applicants, and why this is a planning instrument, not budget relief.
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