Targeted beneficiaries
The Strategic Technology for Europe Platform (STEP) supports European companies (start-ups, SMEs, mid-caps and larger companies), universities and research organisations active in critical technologies, assisting them in identifying and accessing funding during their development and manufacturing stages (Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 4-9).
Types of Funding
| Equity, prizes | for non-bankable SMEs, including start-ups, and non-bankable small mid-caps through the European Innovation Council |
| Equity, loans | available for EU companies under InvestEU |
| Grants, procurements, prizes | in the areas of digital and deep tech, clean tech and biotech under the Horizon Europe, the Digital Europe Programme, the European Defence Fund, the EU4Health programme and the Innovation Fund. |
| Grants, procurements, prizes, equity, loans, guarantees | open to any type of undertaking active in digital and deep tech, clean tech and bio tech sectors in the 27 Member States through the cohesion policy funds and the Recovery and Resilience Facility. |
Advisory services
Advisory services offer tailored guidance and support to innovative projects. They are delivered through EU funded programmes by public and private organisations, and are designed to address the specific needs of project promoters at any stage of their company development.
The scope is empowering project promoters by providing financial and technical advice and helping them:
- mature their project
- access finance
- understand the financial EU ecosystem
- navigate the dynamic landscape of innovation.
These services not only facilitate the development of innovative ideas but also their successful deployment to market.
- InvestEU Advisory Hub partners provide project advisory support, capacity building and market development to project promoters and financial intermediaries.
- The Hub provides advisory across 4 policy windows: Sustainable Infrastructure; Research, Innovation and digitalisation; SMEs; and Social investment and Skills.
- To apply, describe your needs and submit your request at InvestEU Central Entry Point
- Supports some of the projects submitted under the calls for proposals of the Innovation Fund that are not selected for grant funding.
- Provides tailored advice to enhance projects’ technical and financial readiness for funding and operational maturity.
- For more information, please visit Project Development Assistance
- Provides tailor-made high-quality services to accelerate projects path to market and business growth.
- If a project has been awarded the STEP Seal under an EIC STEP-relevant call (regardless of whether it has received funding), it can access BAS through the open calls published on the EIC Community Platform and request BAS coaching service via its Coaching Matching Dashboard.
- For more information, please visit Business Acceleration Services
- Dedicated to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), provides a set of tools to help innovators mature, scale-up, demonstrate their use-case and successfully enter the defence market.
- If you are a SME part of a consortium selected for a grant under EDF, you are automatically eligible for up to 15 days of business coaching provided by defence and space industry experts. Register here!
- If you were not selected for a grant, you can still apply for other EUDIS initiatives, including hackathons, technological challenges, spin-in calls and much more. Find all the relevant opportunities on the Commission Funding & Tender portal.
- For more information, visit EUDIS
- The network supports SMEs in accessing new markets, understanding EU regulations and finding partners.
- You can search for business and academic partners to develop your products or services ideas by consulting Europe’s largest online database of business partnering opportunities.
- For more information, visit Enterprise Europe Network
In most cases, these advisory services are offered on a fee basis. Regardless of the payment structure, the goal remains the same: to provide valuable assistance to innovative projects and help them succeed in a competitive and ever-changing market.
The non-exhaustive list below - under construction - will be complemented on regular basis.
TechEU is the EIB Group fast-track system for start-ups and scale-ups to seek financing under TechEU Programme that offers a comprehensive suite of instruments to support high-risk projects and innovative companies throughout their investment journey, from idea to market. It ensures swift responses to financing proposals and features an Investment Readiness Checker.
Dealflow Dealflow is a private investors-oriented Hub that federates the private equity, M&A and financing ecosystems around qualified deals.
For project promoters, featuring on the platform offers significant benefits, including increased visibility among a network of potential investors, access to valuable market insights, and enhanced opportunities to secure financing via optimised matchmaking. This exposure can accelerate project development and increase the likelihood of successful outcomes.
EIT Digital is a pan-European multi-stakeholder platform, collaborating with both the public and private sectors. Co-funded by the EU, EIT Digital has a 15-year track record of operating at the highest levels and delivering European Innovation and Education. They offer services on a pay-per-service basis, with STEP Seal holders receiving a 50% discount on these services. It is necessary to indicate you are a STEP Seal holder when submitting your application. Available services include:
- Speed Master: Boost your skills with an executive course designed to fast-track the success of scaleups and startups. The course requires a commitment of 2 hours per week and features interactive online sessions, offering a certificate upon completion.
- Access to Talent: Find top STEM talent through an extensive network of highly skilled digital innovators and entrepreneurs from EIT Digital’s Master School. EIT Digital has a 15-year track record of delivering T-shaped entrepreneurial tech talent.
- Growth Services: Scale your company with hands-on guidance and access to a network of 1,000+ experts, investors, and business partners. This service focuses on business acceleration, international market entry, and securing Series A/B funding.
- EIT Digital Innovation Ecosystem: Collaborate, network and innovate within the largest European open innovation ecosystem.
EuroQuity is a public-funded and non-profit IT platform offering online matchmaking functions, helping companies to meet investors, business support organisations and other companies. Its matchmaking space counts over 3000 qualified international investors. EuroQuity is also a space for companies to learn about the best opportunities for growth through webinars, funding calls, corporate partnerships, etc. Several EuroQuity European Communities are open for STEP companies, such as:
- TechGlow EU: a new online community for women-led companies in Europe which aims at creating a strong cross-border network and fostering collaboration among women leaders in the technology sector. It offers access to executive insights, guidance for navigating the ever-changing technology landscape, and exchange of ideas with peers.
- Access2EIC Community: now in its 7th year, it offers coordination and support actions building on the foundations laid by previous EIC support networks and in line with the new Horizon Europe Framework Programme, aiming at supporting the best European companies in "transition" stage.
- EEN2EIC Community: the Enterprise Europe Network to European Innovation Council (EEN2EIC) aims to extend the breadth of supporting activities that EEN provides to women entrepreneurs, widening countries, and Seal of Excellence (SoE) holders. The goal is to support the best European companies with SoE certification in their way to find public or private funding.
- BlueInvest: a community where entrepreneurs, investors, corporates and innovation stakeholders can plug in to the Blue Economy. Content and activities promote blue growth and help SMEs and start-ups access finance and business opportunities.
Members of a community can expect business-to-investor matchmaking, networking, knowledge exchange, and links to relevant accelerators, incubators and clusters, as well as online learning and training/coaching opportunities, events and growth opportunities. Learn more on the EuroQuity website!
Tips to manage your project
Applying for EU funding is like a journey. From crafting your proposal to submitting it, going through the evaluation process and contract signature, and then managing and reporting on your project, information is available to guide you every step of the way:
- How to apply
Find out about what you need to know (eligibility check, application process…) before you apply.
- Evaluation and contract signature
- Managing your project
Find out what to expect once you are awarded a contract: reporting, deliverables, audits and communication.
