EIC STEP Scale UpHORIZON-EIC-2026-STEP
- Deadline
- Rolling call (continuous submission): the EIC states you can apply at any time. The deadline date shown on the official topic page has changed since Grantline first checked it — 25 November 2026 as read on 23 September 2026, 8 October 2026 as read on 11 October 2026 — while the topic status remains Open. Check the topic page before planning around a date.
- Application model
- Single-stage application, due by the deadline below.
EIC STEP Scale Up is an equity-only investment, not a grant: there is no non-repayable component. It funds scale-up of high-risk innovation in technologies the EU classifies as critical under the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform — digital and deep-tech, clean and resource-efficient technologies including net-zero, and biotechnologies including critical medicines on the EU list. The investment is €10-30 million per company, meant to catalyse an overall funding round of €50-150 million. It is a rolling call: the EIC states applications are accepted at any time.
| Programme | Horizon Europe, Pillar III — European Innovation Council (EIC), STEP component (Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform) |
|---|---|
| Budget | €300 million indicative for 2026 (10 indicative investments); €900 million total indicative for the 2025-2027 period. |
| Typical amount | Equity-only investment (no grant component) of €10-30 million per company, catalysing an overall funding round of €50-150 million (at least 3-5 times the EIC contribution). |
| Funding type | Equity, not a grant |
Last verified by Grantline: 2026-10-20 · Official source ↗
Grantline digest
This page states what this call funds and when it closes. The Grantline digest adds the analysis: who can actually apply, grant or equity, and how it fits against the others.