INNTERCONECTA STEP 2026: €138M and Requirements
INNTERCONECTA STEP 2026: Funding for Collaborative R&D Projects
CDTI Innovación has announced the upcoming INNTERCONECTA STEP 2026 call. It will have an estimated budget of €138 million, co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through Spain’s Multi-Regional Programme 2021–2027.
Specifically, the programme will fund collaborative R&D projects led by companies across the three STEP technology areas: digital technologies, clean and resource-efficient technologies, and biotechnology.
Regarding the timeline, the application period is expected to open in October 2026 and close in November. The funding decision is then expected in the first half of 2027. In addition, the main updates include a €10 million reserve for women’s health projects and the addition of the Balearic Islands as an eligible region.
Although applications are not yet open, companies can already start forming their consortia, checking their fit with the STEP technology areas, and preparing their proposals.
What is INNTERCONECTA STEP?
INNTERCONECTA STEP is a public funding programme for collaborative R&D projects in strategic technologies. It is part of the European STEP initiative (Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform) and is managed by CDTI Innovación with co-funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Main objectives:
- 🎯 Support business-led R&D projects in strategic technologies.
- 🎯 Strengthen the technological competitiveness of Spanish industry.
- 🎯 Promote regional cooperation between Spanish companies.
Also, the programme forms part of Spain’s National Deep Tech Strategy 2026-2030, which aims to expand funding for knowledge-intensive business R&D.
INNTERCONECTA STEP 2026 requirements
The following conditions are based on the preliminary 2026 call and will be confirmed when the official call is published.
- Estimated call budget: €138M
- Expected opening: October 2026
- Expected closing: November 2026
| Requirement | Updated information |
| Applicants | Consortia of 2 to 6 Spanish companies |
| SME participation | Mandatory, with at least one SME |
| Project budget | Between €1 million and €4 million |
| Minimum budget per company | €175,000 |
| Type of funding | Non-repayable grant awarded through a competitive procedure |
| Funding intensity | Up to 80% for small companies, 75% for medium-sized companies, and 65% for large companies |
| Minimum subcontracting | At least 10% with research organisations |
| Thematic reserve | €10 million for women’s health projects |
| Geographical coverage | Entities from at least 2 of the 9 eligible autonomous communities |
| Consortium agreement | Mandatory before submitting the application |
| Coordination | One company will act as coordinator or representative before CDTI Innovación |
INNTERCONECTA STEP will fund projects developed within one of the three technology areas defined by STEP:
- Digital technologies: artificial intelligence, advanced computing, cybersecurity, microelectronics, semiconductors, and other technologies linked to the Digital Decade 2030.
- Clean and resource-efficient technologies: renewable energy, energy storage, hydrogen, green industry, and technologies supporting the transition to a net-zero economy.
- Biotechnology: applications in health, industry, and resilience, including essential medicines identified by the European Union and their components.
Requirement: Your project must focus on at least one of these three areas to be eligible.
€10M reserve for women’s health projects
One of the main updates to INNTERCONECTA STEP 2026 is a specific €10 million budget reserve for projects related to women’s health.
In particular, the reserve aims to boost R&D in an area with a “historical research gap” that is becoming increasingly relevant in European priorities (CDTI). However, it forms part of the total €138 million budget and does not change the three STEP technology areas. Therefore, projects must still fit within at least one of them.
What funding does INNTERCONECTA STEP offer?
The grant can cover up to 80% of eligible costs for small companies, 75% for medium-sized companies, and 65% for large companies. However, the funding intensity will depend on whether the activities are classified as industrial research or experimental development.
In addition, consortia must subcontract at least 10% of the eligible project budget to knowledge-generating centres. Moreover, they must also include companies from at least two eligible autonomous communities.
Nine eligible autonomous communities
INNTERCONECTA STEP 2026 expands its geographical coverage with the addition of the Balearic Islands, which did not participate in the 2025 edition. The estimated €138 million budget will be distributed across nine eligible autonomous communities.
Galicia will receive the largest allocation: €51 million, around 37% of the total budget.
These amounts are estimates and may change before the official call is published, depending on the final availability of ERDF funding in each region.
Results from the first INNTERCONECTA STEP call
The first edition, launched in 2025 and resolved in June 2026, approved 100 projects involving 388 entities. Of these, 64.7% were SMEs.
The programme awarded €146.9 million in grants, equal to 98% of the available budget, and mobilised a total eligible budget of €231.5 million.
Digital technologies accounted for 62.1% of the approved projects, followed by biotechnology at 21.6% and clean and resource-efficient technologies at 16.2%. Additionally, the average subcontracting rate to knowledge-generating centres reached 14.8%, above the required minimum of 10%.
How to get INNTERCONECTA STEP funding
Application process: 5 key steps
Step 1: Form the consortium
Bring together 2 to 6 companies from at least two eligible autonomous communities, including at least one SME. In addition, the project must allocate at least 10% of the eligible budget to subcontracting knowledge-generating centres.
Step 2: Check eligibility and STEP fit
Make sure your project meets the key requirements, including the STEP technology area, regional coverage, budget, and DNSH criteria.
Step 3: Prepare the full proposal
Prepare the technical proposal, budget, implementation plan, and all required documentation.
Step 4: Submit the application through the CDTI platform
Submit the application through the CDTI platform. The 2026 call is expected to open in October and close in November. Yet, the exact dates will be confirmed when the official call is published.
Step 5: Evaluation and formalisation
CDTI Innovación will assess the proposal and issue its decision. If approved, the project will move into formalisation, implementation, and periodic reporting.
Accelerate your INNTERCONECTA STEP application with Evolution Europe
At Evolution Europe, we specialise in public R&D funding and CDTI grants. We support companies throughout the entire INNTERCONECTA STEP application process.
Our services:
- Eligibility assessment
We assess whether your project meets the technical, budget, and DNSH requirements.
- Technical and financial structuring
We define the project structure, eligible budget, and R&D plan. - Consortium building
We help identify and bring together complementary project partners. - Competitive proposal writing
We prepare strong applications designed to maximise technical and financial evaluation scores. - Full administrative support
We manage the application, advance payment procedures, and required documentation in line with CDTI criteria.
