EU Managing Authorities are responsible for managing and implementing the EU funding (e.g. cohesion funds and Resilience and Recovery Facility) at national level. They act as interface between the European Commission and the participating states and regions and ensures compliance of the programme with EU regulations and policies.
STEP implementation resources
Resources are available for those implementing the STEP regulation at national level.
This Guidance Note provides details to implement the STEP Regulation
This must-read for National Contact Points and Managing Authorities provides 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.
This European Commission Notice aims to explain the process for modifying Recovery and Resilience Plans, including the allocation of Recovery and Resilience Facility resources towards STEP objectives.
STEP Seal
One of the objectives of Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) is to help projects attract investors or benefit from cumulative funding under some instruments of the EU budget. This is facilitated, particularly, by the STEP Seal, award to projects meeting minimum quality requirements. View the list of projects that have received a STEP Seal, and could for example be granted support from Cohesion policy funds with any additional selection process.
Support to skills development
Developing and manufacturing critical technologies in the EU will not be possible without a sizeable skilled workforce. The objective is to mobilise Member States authorities, including at regional and local levels, education and training providers, and the industry to identify skills needs, and quickly develop and deploy education and training programmes at large scale.
In this respect, STEP is complementary to the broader European Skills Agenda and other skills-specific sector initiatives such as those developed by the EU Pact for Skills, or by the European Skills Agenda Centres of Vocational Excellence.
STEP targets particularly the skillsets relevant to the development and manufacturing of critical technologies. To give some concrete examples:
- For digital tech, STEP targets developing cybersecurity and data analytics skills;
- In the realm of clean and resource efficient technology, STEP seeks to support skills' projects in advanced battery technology and renewable energy system maintenance, in addition to other relevant engineering skills.
Skills development under STEP initiatives also complements the European Net-Zero Industry Academies, established under the NZIA, and aiming to equip our workforce with the skills needed to ensure a net-zero future for Europe.
State aid
The European Commission may approve State aid considered ‘regional aid’ if it:
- Supports economic development in areas with low living standards or high unemployment, as well as in regions referred to in Article 349 of the Treaty.
- Facilitates economic development in specific areas of the European Union.
The primary goal of State aid control in regional aid is to ensure that aid for regional development and territorial cohesion does not unfairly distort trade between Member States. This includes preventing subsidy races and minimizing the impact on trade and competition.
Regional aid is distinct from other forms of aid, such as aid for research, development, innovation, employment, training, energy, or environmental protection, which pursue different economic development objectives under Article 107(3) of the Treaty. In some cases, higher aid intensities may be allowed for these other types of aid when granted to businesses in assisted areas, recognizing the specific challenges they face.
The European Commission has amended the Guidelines on Regional State Aid to allow Member States to grant higher amounts of regional aid for investment projects under the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), aiming to boost critical technologies and economic resilience across Europe. This amendment permits:
- increased aid by up to 10 percentage points for 'a' areas and
- 5 percentage points for 'c' areas.
The changes help support investments in less advantaged regions by adjusting the maximum State aid allowed based on updated regional maps.
For more information,
- Read the Guidelines on regional state aid
- Consult the overview provided in the Regional Aid maps 2022-2027, that are used to assess the compatibility of all notifiable regional aid awarded or intended to be awarded.
Eligible associated services
The STEP Regulation includes specialised services that are both critical for and specific to the development and manufacturing of the final products within the STEP sectors. Such associated services, that enhance content and efficiency, are eligible to receive funding under STEP as standalone projects:
- Cleanroom services for semiconductors
- Cloud/edge computing
- High performance computing, testing and experimentation.
- Cybersecurity
- Space based loT and connectivity
- PNT services
- Real-time monitoring
- Clinical trial management
National Contact Points
The STEP National Contact Points are designated officials in EU Member States responsible for overseeing and supporting the implementation of STEP at the national level. Their role includes:
- Promoting STEP to national stakeholders, including industry representatives
- Supporting the implementation of STEP in shared management programmes
- Providing guidance to potential applicants and beneficiaries of STEP funding opportunities
- Engaging bilaterally with the Commission STEP Task Force for questions that may arise during implementation
As the National Contact Points operate primarily at the national level, and the development of strategic technology industries varies across the EU, the services they offer may differ from country to country.