The Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) enhances EU industrial competitiveness by focusing on developing critical technologies for a sustainable, competitive future. It tests new strategic measures and strengthens EU industrial policy.
Examples of projects within the scope of STEP include:
- Digital/deep technologies such as AI, quantum technologies and advanced connectivity.
- Net-zero technologies/innovative net-zero projects as well as other clean and resource efficient technologies.
- Pharmaceuticals, molecular, crop and other biotechnologies
STEP scope
STEP focuses on projects in the development and manufacturing stages in three sectors relevant to the green and digital transitions:
- Digital technologies and deep technology innovation
- Clean and resource efficient technologies
- Biotechnologies
Browse our non-exhaustive list of examples within the STEP scope to discover potential areas for investment and innovation.
To qualify as critical under the STEP framework, a technology must meet at least one of the two conditions below:
- Innovativeness - bring to the internal market an innovative, emerging, and cutting-edge element with significant economic potential.
- The technology should exhibit at least two of the following three characteristics: innovative, emerging, or cutting-edge.
- It must also demonstrate significant economic potential by having a substantial impact on development or manufacturing, addressing various Union markets, and generating positive spillover effects across Member States.
- Strategic dependencies - contribute to reducing or preventing the strategic dependencies of the Union. The technology should meet several of the following factors:
- Enhancing Union industrial and technological leadership,
- Supporting critical infrastructures,
- Increasing manufacturing capacity (only where a strategic dependency has been identified)
- Strengthening security of supply
- Promoting positive cross-border effects within the internal market.
Authorities in charge of the programmes falling within the scope of the STEP Regulation set specific criteria for the above conditions in their funding processes (e.g., calls for proposals) and accordingly assess compliance in the evaluation of the submitted projects.
A Guidance Note elaborates on certain provisions of the STEP Regulation to facilitate its implementation.
STEP stakeholders
The development and manufacturing of strategic technologies in Europe involve a wide range of stakeholders, including governments, regulatory bodies, industry leaders, research institutions, and the public. The STEP Task Force is the STEP one-stop-shop ensuring the coordination and cooperation among these stakeholders to address the complex funding challenges and opportunities presented by strategic technologies.
- Centralises and publishes information on open and upcoming calls across EU spending programmes contributing to STEP objective;
- Advises on the best ways to apply for EU funding and on the possibilities to combine financial support;
- Liaises with other structures such as the Net-Zero Europe Platform and exchanges information about financial needs, bottlenecks and best practices for strategic projects across the EU;
- Fosters contacts across STEP investment areas, leveraging existing industrial alliances, networks and structures;
- Promotes ‘STEP Seal’ to increase funding opportunities across programmes for a given project;
- Organises information sessions and meetings in view of creating the necessary support from the private sector towards STEP objectives (capacity building, exchange of best practices and outreach actions).
- Interface with the STEP Task Force and inform about STEP relevant national calls for proposals;
- Ensure central coordination, monitoring, and reporting on the STEP projects;
- Ensure the link between the central, governmental steer and the projects promoters/ final recipients, and play a central role in the consultation/ identification process;
- Promote investments opportunities at national level and ensures all relevant information regarding STEP reaches all stakeholders in a timely manner;
- Advise businesses about sources of finance relevant to their needs (e.g. loans, guarantees, equity), pointing to the STEP Portal;
- Connect companies with networks on European, national or regional level like business angel networks, start-up communities, etc.
- Industrial associations and advisory bodies across Europe serve as important advisors to European institutions and EU Member States. They provide expertise and insights on a wide range of industrial issues, including trade, investment, innovation, and sustainability. By engaging with policymakers at both the European and national levels, these associations play a crucial role in shaping policies and regulations that support the competitiveness and growth of European industries. Additionally, they promote collaboration and knowledge-sharing among their members, fostering partnerships and innovation within the industrial sector.
- Universities, research centres and think tanks conduct cutting-edge research, train the next generation of technology experts, and provide expertise to both public and private sectors.
- Financial institutions, including the European Investment Bank, actively participate in the STEP implementation by providing advisory services to promoters. These services assist in navigating project development complexities, offering support with project planning, feasibility studies, risk assessment, and financial structuring. The goal is to ensure that projects align with EU priorities, while promoting financially sound, environmentally sustainable, and socially responsible initiatives.
- Private investors also play a crucial role in supporting strategic technologies in Europe. In addition to providing capital, they offer expertise and valuable networks, aiding companies in overcoming challenges and accelerating growth. This private financing complements public funding, bridging the funding gap and fostering a competitive and dynamic technology ecosystem within the European Union.
STEP funding and programmes
STEP leverages and steers resources across 11 EU funding programmes to investments in strategic technologies and in people who can implement those technologies into the economy.
- One of the objectives is to help individual projects benefit from cumulative funding under several instruments of the EU budget.
- This is facilitated, particularly, by the STEP Seal. For instance, grants under the Innovation Fund could be combined with grants under cohesion funds.
Funding at EU level providing grants and STEP Seal
The European Commission (including its executive agencies) directly manages the following programmes unlocking dedicated resources to support your STEP project: the Digital Europe programme, the European Defence Fund (benefiting from a reinforcement of €1.5 in the STEP priority areas), the EU4Health programme, Horizon Europe, and the Innovation Fund.
- These resources are often offered as grants (i.e., they do not come with a repayment obligation). To receive such grants, you need to apply to the relevant calls for proposals at EU level listed in the section Get funding.
- The evaluation of submitted proposals, the signing of the grant agreement, the monitoring of project implementation, the assessment of the results and the actual payments are carried out by the responsible Commission's departments directly or through EU executive agencies.
- In addition, the European Commission awards a label of excellence to promising projects. The main goal of the STEP Seal is to help obtain alternative or additional funding from public and private sources beyond the EU programme under which the Seal was awarded.
A guidance note on how to complete an ethics self-assessment is available to help applicants and beneficiaries ensure their proposals meet ethical standards for programmes that require an ethics review to secure funding.
Pillar II - GLOBAL CHALLENGES & EUROPEAN INDUSTRIAL COMPETITIVENESS
Cluster 4: Digital, Industry and Space
Objective: Reinforce European independent capacity to access space, securing the autonomy of supply for critical technologies and equipment, and fostering the EU's space sector competitiveness.
Total budget 2023-2024: EUR 494 million
STEP sector:
- Digital tech & deep tech innovation
- Clean & resource efficient tech
Example of actions: Collaborative space research and innovation projects, in-orbit demonstration and validation, boosting entrepreneurship of space companies, etc.
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Pillar III - INNOVATIVE EUROPE
European Innovation Council (EIC)
Objective: Supporting game changing innovations throughout the lifecycle with an emphasis on EU industrial leadership and the green and digital transitions. The EIC offers initial funding to fast-growing start-ups, small mid-caps, and companies seeking capital for scaling up beyond the initial innovation stage.
Total budget 2021-2027: EUR 10.1 billion
STEP sector:
- Digital tech & deep tech innovation
- Clean & resource efficient tech
- Biotech
Example of actions: Research, innovation, pilot actions, market deployment actions, networking and coordination, training and mobility actions, dissemination and exploitation of results, etc.
Advisory services: Business Acceleration Services
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Note: EIC Accelerator follows a multi-step application procedure which begins with a short application and a pitch video, is followed by an application form and, if successful, leads to an interview invitation to a face-to-face pitch week in Brussels. |
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European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT)
Part of Horizon Europe, the EIT is Europe’s largest innovation network, offering education courses, business creation and acceleration services, and innovation-driven research projects. is also worth a visit:
Objective: Driving the EU’s digital transition
Total budget 2021-2027: Over EUR 8 billion
STEP sector: Digital tech & deep tech innovation
Example of actions: Acquisition of exa-scale machines related to high-performance computing, set-up of data spaces and testing and experimentation facilities for artificial intelligence, setting-up of cybersecurity centres, deployment of a network of European digital innovation hubs, support for interoperability
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Objective: Improve and foster health, protect people, access to medicinal products, medical devices and crisis-relevant products, strengthen health systems
Total budget 2021-2027: EUR 4.6 billion
STEP sector: Biotech
Example of actions: Crisis preparedness, disease prevention, health systems and healthcare workforce and digitalisation.
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Objective: Delivering the next generation defence systems
Total budget 2021-2027: EUR 7.3 billion including a top up of EUR 1.5 billion specifically for STEP actions
STEP sector:
- Digital tech & deep tech innovation
- Clean & resource efficient tech
- Biotech
Type of actions: Collaborative defence research projects; joint development of defence products and technologies.
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Objective: Bringing to the market solutions to decarbonise the European industry
Total budget 2020-2030: EUR 40 billion
STEP sector: Clean & resource efficient tech
Type of actions: Flagship projects that can bring significant emission reductions
Advisory services: Project development assistance
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Additional forms of funding at national level
In a collaborative effort, the European Commission and national authorities in the Member States work hand-in-hand to manage this type of funding. This partnership leverages local insights and expertise, ensuring that the implementation of funds aligns with both EU objectives and national priorities.
If the national authorities wish so they can decide to redirect part of its Cohesion policy funds including the Cohesion Fund, the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund+ and the Just Transition Fund as well as the Recovery and Resilience Facility, to actions supporting STEP objectives. Often these resources are in the form of grants (i.e., non-repayable), but could also take the form of procurements or financial instruments (e.g. equity, loans, and guarantees).
STEP offers financial incentives to direct cohesion policy funds towards investments in critical technologies. These include a 100% co-financing rate for STEP priorities during the 2021–2027 programming period, along with a one-time 30% pre-financing option for Programme Amendments submitted by 31 March 2025. Additionally, support for productive investments in large enterprises is made possible for the first time in less developed and transition regions, as well as in more developed regions in Member States with a GDP per capita below the EU-27 average. Furthermore, under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, Member States have the option to allocate up to 10% of their national envelope to STEP-relevant instruments under InvestEU.
Since EU countries manage these funds, they also manage the publication of information about available funding opportunities at national level.
- To get an overview the STEP relevant calls for proposals you can consult section Get funding on the STEP Portal which will redirect you to the National single portals for more precise information on upcoming funding opportunities at national level, namely which regions are covered by funding calls, who can apply, the amount of funding allocated to a call, programme and EU policy objectives, and the relevant timelines.
- For the repayable forms of support (financial instruments) you should liaise with the local financial institutions. The exact financing conditions – the amount, duration, interest rates and fees – are determined by these financial institutions. To find the right contact points to financial intermediaries and/or implementing partners responsible for administering EU-backed financial instruments please consult the Access to EU Finance portal
Key facts you need to know about STEP contributing programmes:
Objective: To mitigate the economic and social impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and make Member States’ economies and societies more sustainable, resilient and prepared for the green and digital transitions
Total budget 2021-2026: The RRF will disburse up to EUR 648 billion (this figure corresponds to what Member States requested under the national Recovery and Resilience Plans by end 2023)
STEP sector:
- Digital tech & deep tech innovation
- Clean & resource efficient tech
- Biotech
Type of actions: Reforms and investments that are in line with the 11 assessment criteria of the RRF Regulation (incl. two additional criteria for measures in the REPowerEU chapter), notably addressing the challenges identified in country-specific recommendations under the European Semester framework and EU priorities such as the green and digital transitions. The Recovery and Resilience Scoreboard gives an overview of how the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and the national recovery and resilience plans is progressing. A guidance explains the process for modifying the Recovery and Resilience Plans, including the allocation of resources towards STEP objectives.
| What is it for? | Projects across 6 policy pillars:
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Objective: Investing into people and building a more social and inclusive Europe
Total budget 2021-2027: EUR 142.7 billion
STEP sector:
- Digital tech & deep tech innovation
- Clean & resource efficient tech
- Biotech
Type of actions: Projects in the field of employment, education & skills, and social inclusion
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Objective: Strengthening economic, social and territorial cohesion
Total budget 2021-2027: EUR 226.05 billion
STEP sector:
- Digital tech & deep tech innovation
- Clean & resource efficient tech
- Biotech
Type of actions:
Make Europe and its regions:
- More competitive and smarter
- Greener
- More connected
- More social
- Closer to citizens
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Objective: Supporting the reconversion of territories expected to be the most negatively impacted by the transition towards climate-neutrality
Total budget 2021-2027: EUR 19.32 billion
STEP sector: Clean & resource efficient tech
Type of actions:
Support can be provided to:
- Up- and reskilling of workers
- Productive investments in SMEs
- Creation of new firms
- Environmental rehabilitation
- Investment in clean energy
- Job-search assistance
- Transformation of existing carbon-intensive installations
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Objective: Supporting Member States with a gross national income per capita below 90% of the EU27 average
Total budget 2021-2027: EUR 48.03 billion, including EUR 11.29 transferred to the Connecting Europe Facility
STEP sector: Clean & resource efficient tech
Type of actions: Modernisation and development of railway axis and junctions, modernisation water infrastructure, extension of public transport’s network...
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Other repayable forms of funding implemented by EU financial institutions
These forms include equity, loans, and guarantees that can be used for various types of investments. They are implemented in collaboration with public and private financial institutions (e.g. banks and equity funds). Such repayable forms of funding are demand-driven and based on a market logic. Before awarding funding, the financial institution in charge examines projects that fall within their geographic and activity scope. It also decides on the specific financing conditions, including the amount, duration, interest rates and fees.
The repayable support under InvestEU programme is channelled through Implementing Partners i.e. the European Investment Bank Group and other international financial institutions and national promotional banks and institutions, and the network of local financial intermediaries acting across the European Union.
InvestEU financial products deployed by implementing partners are covering different types of repayable support from debt, guarantees to equity for a very broad set of EU policy areas, technology readiness levels and stages of innovation, including investment in manufacturing and deployment of STEP technologies. Examples of financial products available goes from senior, subordinated and venture debt to intermediate and direct equity and guarantees to financial intermediaries.
The InvestEU Fund, part of the InvestEU programme, provides support to final recipients that are deemed economically and financially viable. All size of companies and projects, as well as a broad range of riskiness levels of operations, can be supported. The eligible final recipients can be natural or legal persons established in an EU country or in a third eligible country, including:
- Private entities such as special-purpose vehicles (SPV) or project companies, large corporates, midcap companies, including small midcap companies, start-ups and SMEs
- Public sector entities (territorial or not) and public-sector type entities
- Mixed entities, such as public–private partnership (PPPs) and private companies with a public purpose
- Non-for-profit organisations
How to apply for financing?
- Project promoters should apply directly to Implementing Partners to see on suitable financing solutions based on the financial products supported by the EU guarantee.
- Financial intermediaries should also consult the offering of implementing partners active in their regions proposing relevant products: it is up to them to select financial intermediaries through procedures such as calls for expressions of interest.
- Small mid-caps, SMEs, start-ups and social or micro-enterprises: should apply to their local commercial or public banks whose financial products are covered by the EU guarantee in their country or region. The local intermediary will inform them if a particular financing programme is covered by the InvestEU Fund.
Find your local intermediary on our Access to EU Finance website, which already lists intermediaries under current EU programmes and will successively list InvestEU financial intermediaries.
You can also register on the InvestEU Portal, which brings together investors and project promoters on a single EU-wide platform, by providing visibility and matchmaking opportunities for investment projects within the EU, Norway and Iceland. Project promoters can publish their project on the Portal to attract the attention of potential investors. Register your project and make it visible to an investor here.
For advisory support and technical assistance offered under InvestEU advisory hub you can apply through the Central Entry Point.
Key facts you need to know about STEP contributing programme:
Objective: Financing Europe’s future by supporting sustainable investment, innovation and job creation
Total budget 2021-2027: EUR 26.2 billion (i.e. size of the EU Guarantee made available to implementing partners)
STEP sector:
- Digital tech & deep tech innovation
- Clean & resource efficient tech
- Biotech
Type of actions: Investment in economically viable projects in areas where there are market failures or investment gaps
Advisory services: InvestEU Advisory Hub
| What is it for? | Leverage private and public funds in support of Europe’s sustainable recovery, by increasing the risk-bearing capacity of financial partners in 4 policy windows:
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Related policy areas
Strengthening the competitiveness of the European economy through the green and digital transformations has been the EU compass over the last years. To achieve this, the EU has already put forward several initiatives to support industry and strengthen EU competitiveness. Below is an overview.
Documents
This practical brochure is a must-read for National Contact Points and Managing Authorities, providing essential guidance on implementing STEP at the national level. From the STEP Seal to cohesion policy funds, Recovery and Resilience Facility, and State aid rules, this brochure breaks down the key provisions of the STEP Regulation to help navigate its implementation.
Discover the key features and benefits of the Strategic Technology for Europe Platform (STEP), an EU initiative driving investment in critical technologies.
This non-binding Guidance Note aims to provide practical support in implementing the STEP Regulation, making it easier to navigate its key provisions. While some legislation provisions were rephrased for clarity, the Note does not alter the rights and obligations outlined in the STEP Regulation. To determine if a project is eligible for a specific funding opportunity under the Regulation, project promoters shall refer to the rules of the relevant programme which continue to apply, since STEP is not a new funding instrument but works through existing programmes.
- STEP Guidance Noteбългарски
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- STEP Guidance NoteDeutsch
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- STEP Guidance NoteNederlands
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Regulation (EU) 2024/795 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 February 2024 establishing the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), and amending Directive 2003/87/EC and Regulations (EU) 2021/1058, (EU) 2021/1056, (EU) 2021/1057, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) 2021/1060, (EU) 2021/523, (EU) 2021/695, (EU) 2021/697 and (EU) 2021/241