Skip to main content
European Union flag
English
Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform

CLONE - STEP in figures

Current budget allocation

Figures are updated until 30 March 2026

EUR 29.4 billion in funding
across the 11 EU programmes covered by STEP
EUR 14.3 billion steered by the EU Commission
under 5 direct management programmes
EUR 15.1 billion reprogrammed
by EU countries and regions under cohesion policy funds

Funding in direct management

Under STEP, 5 funding programmes are directly managed by the Commission.  What proportion of each programme’s budget has been provided for STEP since 2023? 

 

 

Digital Europe Programme: 3%

 

EU4Health: 3%

 

European Defence Fund: 6%

 

Horizon Europe: 12%

 

Innovation Fund: 76%

Funding in shared management

EU countries can reassign cohesion policy funding to support projects that are aligned with the STEP initiative. So far, they have reassigned:

  • €11.6 bn under European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
  • €1.1 bn under Just Transition Fund (JTF+)
  • €2.2 bn under European Social Fund (ESF+)
  • €0 bn under the Cohesion Fund

EU countries and regions deciding to reallocate resources towards investments in the development and manufacturing of critical technologies enjoy incentives such as higher co-financing rates and pre-financing. 

STEP data story

Looking for more insights? The interactive data story on the Cohesion Data Platform combines financial, geographic, and thematic data to provide insights into where, how much, and under which specific objectives cohesion policy funds are being redirected to support STEP during the 2021-2027 period.  

The charts illustrate the support per fund, EU country and programme, the allocations per type of intervention (intervention fields) and expected results.

Explore this data story showcasing the results of cohesion policy Mid-term review, including for STEP under competitiveness.

Check the status of the reprogramming process towards STEP per EU country and region on our dedicated map

Overview of cohesion policy in EU countries

Number of STEP Seals

The STEP Seal is a quality label awarded to excellent projects that perform above evaluation thresholds under STEP calls. Explore STEP Seal projects across the EU and across STEP sectors:

Disclaimer: A country is considered to have received a STEP Seal if at least one project with an awarded Seal is partially or fully located within its borders, even in the case of multi-location projects.

STEP Annual Report

Check the STEP Annual report for insights into STEP's achievements in 2024. The next report will be published in Q2 2025 – stay tuned and register to our Newsletter.

You might be also interested in:

About
Learn about the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP): its mission to boost EU investment in critical technologies, its scope and its synergies with 11 EU funding programmes . Driving innovation and competitiveness across Europe.
Hand holding a wooden disc with a euro symbol inside a lightbulb, over a network of connected user icons.
Get funding
Use our interactive dashboard to find open calls in the 4 STEP strategic technology sectors (digital, clean, bio, defence ) and apply through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal.
Three wooden discs, two with checkmark badges and one labeled “STEP Seal,” held by a hand.
STEP Seal
Explore EU innovative projects awarded the STEP Seal. View projects’ details, funding status, and connect with promoters via the interactive dashboard.

This page was last updated on 15 April 2026