Status of the reprogramming process
The map below shows how each country and region is redirecting cohesion funds towards STEP, specifying:
- the relevant EU funds (European Regional Development Fund, European Social Fund Plus, Just Transition Fund or Cohesion Fund)
- the operational programmes in each country and the amounts allocated to STEP
- the indicative types of actions to be financed.
Download the slides presentation (last update: 3/2026)
Do you want to see how this reprogramming process materialise to concrete STEP calls? Check the STEP calls dashboard
Eligible- applied research
- development of technologies with demonstrated feasibility
- associated services critical for and specific to the development or manufacturing of critical technologies
- ancillary services included as an inherent part of the investment cost of a STEP project
- skills relevant to developing or manufacturing critical technologies
Ineligible- fundamental research
- technologies whose feasibility has not been demonstrated
- deployment of existing technologies
- non-essential equipment/infrastructure for critical technology development or manufacturing
- skills related to STEP sectors but not directly tied to strategic technologies projects lacking technological innovation
Unlocking the potential of the STEP Seal
The STEP Seal aims to attract alternative and cumulative funding for quality projects, and simultaneously to provide a potential project pipeline for regional and national programmes. Particularly relevant are the following options:
- Under 3 of the cohesion policy funds (ERDF, ESF+ and JTF), managing authorities can directly award support to projects that received the STEP Seal, provided these projects comply with the fund’s regulation and programme’s objectives – see Article 73(4) of the Common Provisions Regulation.
- Under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), projects awarded a STEP Seal should be considered as a priority for alternative or cumulative funding when national recovery and resilience plans are revised.
Amendment of the RRF plans- STEP Seal projects as a priority when revising RRPs
- Dedicated STEP calls may be launched under the RRF
- Revision of RRP to include STEP measures
Transfer to InvestEU Compartment- Additional 6% of the RRF allocations to the InvestEU Member State Compartment for STEP (upper limit of 10%)
STEP and State aid
Member States and Managing authorities may support STEP projects, whether they have received a STEP seal or not, provided their support is in compliance with State aid rules.
Guidance on potentially applicable State aid rules for STEP projects is available in the dedicated section of the brochure for managing authorities and includes regional investment aid for manufacturing projects in less advantaged regions and the Clean Industrial State aid Framework, presented below.
Increased regional aid intensities
Thanks to recent changes to the Guidelines on regional state aid, EU countries can now grant higher amounts of regional aid for investment projects under STEP:
- up to 10 percentage points for 'A' areas
- 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.
Clean Industrial State aid Framework (CISAF)
Clean energy, decarbonisation and clean tech manufacturing projects including those that have received a STEP Seal from the Innovation Fund may be supported by Member States under the simplified and more flexible conditions of the CISAF.
STEP implementation resources
Details on the scope of STEP, and the objectives, conditions and sectors addressed by the Regulation.
Explains the key rules in the STEP Regulation, to help authorities apply and implement it at national and regional level.
Explains the procedure for amending RRPs, including allocating RRF resources to STEP objectives.
(*) Update 23.12.25. A second Guidance Note on STEP is out. It clarifies the scope of STEP following its extension to defence technologies and other elements relevant to STEP implementation. It does not replace the first STEP Guidance Note, which remains fully valid.
The STEP Team invites Managing Authorities to reach out for any assistance in scope-related matters.
National contact points
The STEP National contact points are designated officials in EU countries responsible for overseeing and supporting the implementation of STEP at the national level. Managing authorities are encouraged to contact their STEP National Contact Points for any STEP-related matter, whether it concerns:
- assistance in planning and revising operational programmess to incorporate STEP priorities
- clarifying the functioning of STEP Seals and how they can be supported through operational programmes
