Investing in the European Industry of the Future
The Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform “STEP” is an initiative of the European Commission dedicated to boosting investment in critical technologies in Europe.
If you are an institutional, public or private investor interested in strategic technologies, we encourage you to regularly visit our website to discover innovative projects that may present compelling investment opportunities. Consider exploring the list of projects that have been awarded a STEP Seal by the European Commission, as this new label designation signifies excellence and economic potential.
STEP Seal projects
The STEP Seal aims at:
- Promoting top-rated proposals by certifying their quality and contribution to STEP objectives.
- Facilitating cumulative or combined funding from several EU budget instruments.
- Attracting additional or alternative private and public finance.
The STEP Seal is awarded to projects that meet all the quality requirements established in the relevant calls for proposals under the 5 EU funding programmes: Digital Europe Programme, European Defence Fund, EU4Health, Horizon Europe and the Innovation Fund. The careful evaluation by the European Commission and independent expert panels ensures that all projects in critical technologies are of high-quality and 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 dependencies of the Union.
These projects may vary in nature depending on the EU funding programme from which they were selected. The STEP Seal certificate indicates basic information on the proposal, the call and the legal entity behind the project. It is unique and safe and is digitally sealed against fraud, as is the project proposal and evaluation summary report.
STEP Seals dashboard
This dashboard presents a detailed list of project proposals that have been awarded the STEP Seal (Sovereignty Seal) by the European Commission. These projects have met the quality criteria of their respective programs, regardless of their current funding status. Click on a project name to view its details and access a direct contact link for the promoters.
Disclaimer and important notes: Projects with an 'EU Contribution' marked as 'zero' indicate that, despite meeting the quality criteria, they were not funded due to budget constraints; The information displayed for some projects subject to change and may be updated following final contractual arrangements with the European Commission. For reference, the ‘STEP Seal’ is officially known as the ‘Sovereignty Seal’ as defined in Regulation (EU) 2024/795 of the European Parliament and of the Council, adopted on 29 February 2024.
What is in for investors?
| EU managing authorities | Other public and private investors |
The STEP Seal offers advantages for Member States managing authorities by streamlining the selection process for preselected projects that have been awarded the Seal and meet the requirements of the Common Provision Regulation and relevant cohesion policy fund-specific rules under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) or the European Social Fund (ESF+). This means that projects which have already passed evaluations under STEP programmes : Horizon Europe, Digital Europe, EU4Health, the European Defence Fund, or the Innovation Fund, and align with STEP objectives, can receive easier access to support from ERDF or ESF+. Ultimately, this opens up more opportunities for projects to secure funding and make meaningful contributions to the objectives of the programmes. | The STEP Seal certificate is a badge of distinction, recognising projects that have successfully navigated the European Commission's rigorous evaluation process. For public and private investors, it offers a dual benefit: not only does it signal the quality and credibility of STEP projects, but also provides valuable insight into the status of cutting-edge strategic technologies in the EU, while conveying the European Commission's political support and endorsement. Ready to invest in innovative EU initiatives, such as STEP projects? Get started by registering on the InvestEU Portal, where STEP projects are prominently featured with a dedicated tag. This makes it easy for you to discover and connect with these exciting opportunities. |
Join the conversation and share your ideas
Are you an investor with questions, comments, or innovative ideas on how to make STEP a bigger success? Share your thoughts and help shape the future of STEP. Simply fill out this form to connect with us and let us work together to drive growth and innovation in Europe's critical technologies.