• Total Companies Funded: 71
• Countries Represented: 16
• Major Funding Recipients: Germany (21%), Netherlands (16%), Sweden (10%), and Spain (8%). Notably, France saw a decrease in representation (7%), while Israel made a significant comeback with 6% of selected companies.
• Funding Types:
  • Blended Finance (Grant + Equity): ~70%
  • Grant Only: ~20%
  • Equity Only: ~10%

The selected companies span a wide range of innovative fields, with some clear trends emerging:

• Deep Tech: Quantum computing, advanced semiconductors, and photonics technologies.

• AI & Data: Machine learning, AI security, and synthetic data generation.

• Healthcare & Biotech: Medical devices, gene therapy, and drug discovery platforms.

• Energy & Sustainability: Green hydrogen, carbon capture, energy efficiency, and sustainable materials.

• Space & Aerospace: Satellite communications, microgravity experiments, and space cargo solutions.

The EIC STEP Scale-Up Call is open to:

• Quantum Leap: Increasing interest in quantum computing and AI chips.
• AI in Biotech: A notable rise in startups leveraging AI for accelerated drug development and precision medicine.
• Sustainability Focus: Strong push for innovative solutions in manufacturing, food tech, and agriculture aimed at sustainability and carbon reduction.

• Company Sizes:

  • Startups (<50 employees): Approximately 60% of selected companies.

  • Scale-ups (50–200 employees): 30%.

  • Larger Companies (>200 employees): 10%.

• Capital Raised Before EIC Funding:

  • 40% of companies had raised between €2M and €10M.

  • 35% were early-stage with less than €2M raised.

  • 25% were high-growth scale-ups with over €10M raised.

Approximately 21% of the selected companies have women in leadership roles, such as CEO, co-founder, or other C-level positions. This trend is more pronounced in the biotech and medtech sectors, where female leadership is traditionally higher. However, there remains a gap in deep-tech sectors like AI, quantum computing, and semiconductors.