EIC STEP Scale-UP funding for further investment

The EIC STEP Scale Up programme is an equity-only investment scheme under the EU’s Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP). It supports high-potential startups, SMEs and small mid-caps developing strategic technologies in digital and deep tech, clean and resource-efficient technologies, and biotechnology. Through the EIC Fund, eligible companies can receive €10–30 million in equity investment to catalyse major funding rounds of €50–150 million or more.

The programme aims to strengthen Europe’s technological sovereignty, reduce strategic dependencies and address the financing gap faced by innovative companies scaling breakthrough technologies.

• Eligible companies: A single startup, SME or small mid-cap with fewer than 500 employees, established in an EU Member State or eligible Horizon Europe Associated Country (excluding the United Kingdom).
• Investor applications: An investor may submit an application on behalf of an eligible company.
• Investor pre-commitment: Applicants must provide an equity pre-commitment from a single qualified investor representing at least 20% of the total target funding round. The qualifying amount must remain fully uninvested when the pre-commitment letter is issued. Quasi-equity instruments do not count towards this threshold.
• Funding round: The target funding round is expected to be €50–150 million or more, and at least 3–5 times the requested EIC investment.
• Strategic technology areas:
  • Digital technologies and deep-tech innovation, including AI, quantum technologies and semiconductors.
  • Clean and resource-efficient technologies.
  • Biotechnologies.

• Type of financing: Equity-only investment through the EIC Fund, with no grant component.
• Investment amount: €10–30 million per eligible company.
• 2027 indicative budget: €290 million.
• Target funding round: €50–150 million or more, with the EIC investment helping to catalyse larger financing rounds.
• Investor commitment: An equity pre-commitment from one qualified investor covering at least 20% of the total target funding round.
• Purpose: Scaling strategic technologies, supporting commercial expansion and strengthening Europe’s technological sovereignty and critical value chains.

The EIC STEP Scale Up call is open for continuous submission, with applications evaluated in batches throughout 2027, subject to budget availability.

The four EIC STEP Scale Up 2027 batching dates are:

• Batch 1: 28 January 2027
• Batch 2: 29 April 2027
• Batch 3: 6 September 2027
• Batch 4: 24 November 2027

Submission time: 17:00 Brussels time for all batching dates.

Applications submitted after a batching date may be considered in a subsequent evaluation batch, subject to the call’s conditions and available budget. If the full annual budget has been allocated by the end of the third batch, the fourth batch will not take place.

For the official call documentation and application portal, visit the European Innovation Council’s EIC STEP Scale Up page.

1. Step 1: Submit your applicationApply through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Your application must include:
   • A full business plan (maximum 50 pages), including the company’s ownership and financial structure and its contribution to STEP objectives.
   • A pitch deck (maximum 15 pages).
   • An equity pre-commitment from one qualified investor covering at least 20% of the target funding round.
   • A financial plan using the required template.
   • A freedom-to-operate (FTO) analysis. If unavailable, submit a note of up to two pages; if not relevant, provide an explanatory statement.
   • CVs of key personnel.
2. Step 2: EIC jury interviewApplications meeting the eligibility and admissibility requirements are invited to an interview with an EIC jury of up to six members. The jury assesses the proposal against the programme’s evaluation criteria.
3. Step 3: Investment assessmentCompanies recommended for funding proceed to EIC Fund investment assessment and due diligence. Any investment remains subject to the EIC Fund’s investment decision and successful negotiations.

Evaluation outcomes: Following the EIC jury interview, proposals may receive one of three outcomes:

• GO and Sovereignty (STEP) Seal: The proposal meets all evaluation criteria and is recommended for a potential EIC Fund investment, subject to due diligence, negotiations and the final investment decision.
• NO GO and Sovereignty (STEP) Seal: The proposal meets the main evaluation criteria but is not recommended for investment because of budget constraints and the jury’s overall assessment. It receives the STEP Seal and access to EIC Business Acceleration Services.
• NO GO: The proposal does not meet all the required evaluation criteria. The applicant receives detailed feedback.

GO Reserve (2027): For the final batch, the EIC jury may place proposals on a reserve list. These proposals may receive funding if additional budget becomes available and the investor pre-commitment eligibility conditions remain valid.

EIC STEP Scale Up proposals are assessed through a GO/NO-GO evaluation, considering the innovation’s strategic relevance, its potential impact and the company’s capacity to implement its scale-up plans.

1. Excellence: Breakthrough and deep-tech nature of the innovation, technological feasibility, and intellectual property protection and strategy.
2. Impact: Market opportunity, business model, realistic financial projections, and measurable contribution to STEP objectives and Europe’s strategic autonomy.
3. Level of risk, implementation, and need for Union support: Team capability, investment risk, investment leverage, and risk management. Applicants must present a credible plan to attract at least 3–5 times the requested EIC investment from other investors.

Resubmission limit: From 1 January 2026, a company with three unsuccessful applications across EIC STEP Scale Up and EIC STEP Defence, including rejections at the eligibility or interview stage, cannot apply again to either call under the Horizon Europe Framework Programme.

EIC STEP Scale Up provides equity investment rather than a grant reimbursing eligible project costs. Investment is intended to support the company’s scale-up strategy, with the use of funds assessed through its business plan, financial plan and the EIC Fund’s investment process.

EIC STEP Scale Up is an equity investment programme under the European Innovation Council (EIC) that supports startups, SMEs and small mid-caps developing strategic technologies. It provides €10–30 million in EIC Fund investment to catalyse larger funding rounds of €50–150 million or more in digital and deep tech, clean technologies and biotechnology.

The four EIC STEP Scale Up 2027 batching dates are 28 January, 29 April, 6 September and 24 November 2027, at 17:00 Brussels time. Applications can be submitted continuously through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and are evaluated in batches, subject to budget availability.

EIC STEP Scale Up offers €10–30 million in equity investment per eligible company through the EIC Fund. The indicative programme budget for 2027 is €290 million. The scheme is designed to support companies raising total funding rounds of €50–150 million or more.

Eligible applicants include individual startups, SMEs and small mid-caps with fewer than 500 employees established in an EU Member State or an eligible Horizon Europe Associated Country, excluding the United Kingdom. Investors may also apply on behalf of eligible companies. Applicants must operate in a qualifying STEP technology area and meet the investor pre-commitment requirements.

Applicants must provide an equity pre-commitment from one qualified investor covering at least 20% of the total target funding round. The target round is expected to be €50–150 million or more and at least 3–5 times the requested EIC investment.

EIC STEP Scale Up targets companies preparing major financing rounds and offers equity investments of €10–30 million without a grant component. EIC Accelerator supports startups and SMEs developing and scaling breakthrough innovations, with smaller investment amounts and, depending on the funding option, grant support. STEP Scale Up is designed for larger-scale financing needs in strategic technology sectors.

Yes. Companies that previously received support through EIC programmes may apply for STEP Scale Up if they meet the current eligibility, strategic technology and investor pre-commitment requirements. Previous EIC funding does not automatically guarantee eligibility or selection.

Applicants submit a business plan, pitch deck, qualified investor pre-commitment, financial plan, freedom-to-operate documentation and CVs of key personnel. Eligible and admissible applicants are invited to an EIC jury interview. Companies recommended for investment then undergo EIC Fund assessment and due diligence before any final investment decision.

The EIC STEP Scale Up 2027 call does not specify a universal numerical Technology Readiness Level (TRL) threshold. Instead, applicants must demonstrate their readiness to scale strategic technologies, satisfy the eligibility requirements and present a credible business and financing plan supported by a qualified investor.

The STEP Sovereignty Seal is awarded to companies whose proposals meet all evaluation criteria, including companies not ultimately selected for investment. It helps facilitate access to additional EU funding opportunities, investors and EIC Business Acceleration Services, but does not guarantee funding.