The focus of STEP is on projects in the development and manufacturing stages. Project proposals submitted are assessed based on the rules of each individual programme. The award criteria ensure that all project proposals evaluated above the threshold and considered for funding and STEP Seal award meet at least one of the following conditions:
- They bring an innovative, cutting-edge element with significant economic potential to the Single Market
- They help reduce or prevent strategic dependency for the EU.
For a detailed perspective into implementing the STEP, read the non-binding guidance note about the STEP objectives, technology sectors and conditions.
Microelectronics, including processors; photonic including high energy laser technologies; high frequency chips; semiconductor manufacturing equipment at very advanced node sizes; space-qualified semiconductor technologies
AI algorithms; high performance computing (HPC); cloud and edge computing; data analytics technologies; computer vision, language processing, object recognition; privacy-preserving technologies (e.g., federated learning)
Quantum computing; quantum cryptography; quantum communications; Quantum Key Distribution (QKD); quantum sensing including quantum gravimetry; quantum radar; quantum simulation; quantum imaging; quantum clocks; metrology; space-qualified quantum technologies
Secure digital communications and connectivity, such as RAN (Radio Access Network) & Open RAN (Radio Access Network), and 5G and 6G; cyber security technologies including cyber- surveillance, security and intrusion systems, digital forensics; internet of things and virtual reality; distributed ledger and digital identity technologies; guidance, navigation, and control technologies, including avionics and maritime positioning, and space-based PNT; satellite-based secure connectivity.
Electro-optical, radar, chemical, biological, radiation and distributed sensing; magnetometers, magnetic gradiometers; underwater electric field sensors; gravity meters, and gradiometers
- Autonomous habited and uninhabited vehicles (space, air, land, surface, and underwater), including swarming; robots and robot-controlled precision systems; exoskeletons; AI-enabled systems
Solar photovoltaic technologies; solar thermal electric technologies; solar thermal technologies; other solar technologies
Onshore wind technologies; offshore renewable technologies
Battery technologies; energy storage technologies
Heat pump technologies; geothermal energy technologies
Electrolysers; hydrogen fuel cells; other hydrogen technologies
Sustainable biogas technologies; sustainable bio-methane technologies
Carbon capture technologies; carbon storage technologies
Electricity grid technologies; electric charging technologies for transportation; technologies to digitalise the grid; other electricity grid technologies
Nuclear fission energy technologies; nuclear fuel cycle technologies
Sustainable alternative fuels technologies
Hydropower technologies
Osmotic energy technologies; ambient energy technologies, other than heat pumps; biomass technologies; landfill gas technologies; sewage treatment plant gas technologies; other renewable energy technologies
Energy system-related energy efficiency technologies; heat grid technologies; other energy system-related energy efficiency technologies
Renewable fuels of non-biological origin technologies
Biotech climate and energy solutions
Transformative industrial technologies for decarbonisation
CO2 transport technologies; CO2 utilisation technologies
Wind propulsion technologies; electric propulsion technologies
Other nuclear technologies
Other clean and resource efficient technologies (indicative, non-exhaustive)
Technologies for nanomaterials; smart materials; advanced ceramic materials; stealth materials; safe and sustainable by design materials; additive manufacturing; digital controlled micro-precision manufacturing and small-scale laser machining/welding; technologies for extraction; processing and recycling of critical raw materials and other components (e.g. catalyst, batteries), including hydrometallurgical extraction, bioleaching, nanotechnology-based filtration, electrochemical processing and black mass
Purification and desalination technologies
Technologies for the reuse and recycling of electronics (e-waste); circular bioeconomy technologies (e.g., for converting waste to valuable bio-based materials or energy)
Genomics; pharmacogenomics; gene probes; genetic engineering; DNA/RNA sequencing/synthesis/amplification; gene expression profiling, and use of antisense technology; large-scale DNA synthesis; new genomic techniques; gene drive.
Sequencing/synthesis/engineering/manufacturing of proteins and peptides (including large molecule hormones); improved delivery methods for large molecule drugs; proteomics; protein isolation and purification; signalling; identification of cell receptors; developing polyclonal products.
Cell/tissue culture; tissue engineering (including tissue scaffolds and biomedical engineering); cellular fusion; marker assisted breeding technologies; metabolic engineering; cell therapies; bioprinting of cells/replacement organs
Fermentation using bioreactors; biorefining; bioprocessing; bioleaching; biopulping; biobleaching; biodesulphurisation; bioremediation; biosensing; biofiltration and phytoremediation; molecular aquaculture; protection and decontamination including human decontaminating agents; biocatalysis, novel test techniques suitable for high throughput screening; process improvement and delivery optimisation for biopharmaceuticals and advanced therapy medicinal products;
Gene therapy; viral vectors
Construction of databases on genomes; protein sequences; modelling complex biological processes; including systems biology; developing personalised genomics
Application of the tools and processes of nano/microfabrication to build devices for studying biosystems and applications in drug delivery, diagnostics, manufacturing.