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EIC STEP Scale Up 2027: Funding, Eligibility and Deadlines

September 15, 2026691 words4 min

EIC STEP Scale Up 2027 is an equity-only call for an SME or small mid-cap raising a major financing round to scale a critical digital, deep-tech, clean-tech or biotechnology innovation. Version 4 of the draft, dated 17 September 2026, allocates €290 million to the general STEP call and permits EIC Fund investments from €10 million to €30 million.

Deadlines / EIC Accelerator Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) Scale Up Cut-Off Dates 2027

  • EIC STEP Scale-up Call
    • 1st cut-off 2027: January 28th 2027
    • 2nd cut-off 2027: April 29th 2027
    • 3rd cut-off 2027: September 6th 2027
    • 4th cut-off 2027: November 24th 2027
  • EIC STEP Scale Up Defence
    • 1st cut-off 2027: June 1st 2027

The call details and schedule remain provisional until the EIC Work Programme 2027 is adopted. STEP is not a larger Accelerator grant: it provides no grant component and requires substantial investor validation before application.

Eligible Technology Areas

  1. Digital and deep technologies: semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum, connectivity, navigation, sensing, robotics and autonomous systems.
  2. Clean and resource-efficient technologies: renewable energy, storage, grids, heat pumps, geothermal, hydrogen, carbon management, nuclear technologies, advanced materials, manufacturing, recycling, water and circular-economy technologies.
  3. Biotechnologies: DNA and RNA, proteins, cell and tissue engineering, process biotechnology, gene vectors, bioinformatics, nanobiotechnology and critical medicines.

The innovation must either introduce a cutting-edge element with significant economic potential in the EU market or reduce a strategic dependency. Civilian and potential dual-use applications can fall within the general STEP route; technology whose primary application is defence belongs under the separate defence call.

The 20% Single-Investor Rule

One qualified investor must pre-commit at least 20% of the complete target financing round. The qualifying amount must remain uninvested when the commitment is issued. Commitments from several investors cannot be added together when no single investor reaches the threshold.

This requirement changes the correct preparation order. The company must define its financing round and secure a qualifying lead commitment before submitting the STEP application. Proposal writing cannot substitute for investor validation.

Investment Size and Target Round

  • EIC Fund request: €10 million to €30 million.
  • Target financing round: generally €50 million to €150 million or more.
  • Required leverage: the round should equal at least three to five times the requested EIC contribution.
  • Funding form: equity or quasi-equity only.
  • Draft 2027 call budget: €290 million.

Application Documents

The application includes a business plan of up to 50 pages, a pitch deck of up to 15 pages, the official investor pre-commitment, a detailed financial plan, freedom-to-operate evidence or a justified statement, and CVs of key personnel. An investor can submit on behalf of the company only with the company's prior agreement.

Evaluation and Investment Decision

The initial review verifies company eligibility, STEP technology scope and the investor commitment. External technology due diligence can be commissioned before interview. The jury then evaluates breakthrough quality, technical feasibility, IP, market, business model, strategic impact, team, investment risk, leverage and risk management.

A jury GO starts detailed EIC Fund due diligence; it does not execute an investment. The final amount, instrument and terms can change, and the investment can still be rejected for justified due-diligence reasons.

Version 4 specifies that an existing Technology Due Diligence report must be recent; otherwise an external expert conducts the assessment. For equal numbers of interview GO criteria, women-led companies have priority, followed by the higher Impact score and then submission date. The Impact-score step is added in version 4.

The call text now says specific investment safeguards will be introduced, rather than may be introduced. Applicants should prepare for safeguard provisions in the investment agreement.

Submission Limits Across STEP and Defence

The general STEP chapter now expressly combines STEP and STEP Defence submissions in its three-unsuccessful-submissions rule and removes the same/improved-proposal qualification. It states a counting date of 1 January 2026. The Defence chapter also removes that qualification but retains its combined-call counting date of 1 April 2026. The starting-date difference remains in the draft; use the final adopted conditions when assessing resubmission eligibility.

STEP Scale Up or EIC Accelerator?

Use STEP when the company is already organising a very large financing round, has a qualifying investor commitment and needs at least €10 million from the EIC Fund. Use the EIC Accelerator 2027 when grant-funded TRL 6–8 work remains necessary or the investment requirement is below the STEP range.

For the full draft context, see the EIC Work Programme 2027 guide; for historical comparison, read the EIC STEP Scale Up 2026 guide.

Start with the EIC Accelerator

Expert review for Step 1 and Step 2, suitability assessment and grant screening.

Step 1 Review

Expert feedback on your Step 1 proposal with detailed comments and improvement suggestions.

View Step 1 Review

Step 2 Review

Expert feedback on your Step 2 full proposal with detailed comments and improvement suggestions.

View Step 2 Review

Suitability Assessment

Expert check of your EIC Accelerator fit with a written recommendation.

View Assessment

Grant Screening

Expert screening of EU grants for your company with a prioritized report.

View Screening

Eureka Network

Eureka Network offers multiple international collaborative R&D programs including Network Projects, Clusters, Eurostars, Globalstars, and Innowwide, with funding ranging from €50K to €6.75M per project depending on the specific program. The network focuses on market-driven innovation and deep-tech development across diverse technology sectors including ICT/Digital, Industrial/Manufacturing, Bio/Medical Technologies, Energy/Environment, Quantum, AI, and Circular Economy. Applicants include SMEs, large enterprises, research organizations, universities, and startups, with Eurostars specifically targeting R&D-performing SMEs.

EIC Transition

EIC Transition provides up to €2.5 million in funding to bridge the 'valley of death' between laboratory research and market deployment, focusing on technology maturation and validation. The program supports single legal entities or small consortia of 2-5 partners including SMEs, start-ups, spin-offs, and research organizations. Technology areas include Health/Medical Technologies, Green/Environmental Innovation, Digital/Microelectronics, Quantum Technologies, and AI/Robotics.

EIC STEP Scale-Up

EIC STEP Scale-Up offers substantial equity investments of €10-30 million for established deep-tech companies ready for hyper-growth and large-scale expansion. The program targets SMEs or small mid-caps with up to 499 employees who have secured pre-commitment from qualified investors. Focus areas include Digital & Deep Tech (Semiconductors, AI, Quantum), Clean Technologies for Net-Zero goals, and Biotechnologies.

EIC Pre-Accelerator

EIC Pre-Accelerator is a pilot program providing €300,000-€500,000 in funding for early-stage deep-tech development and preparation for the EIC Accelerator program. The initiative is exclusively available to single SMEs or small mid-caps from 'Widening countries' to support regional innovation development. The program covers deep-tech innovations across physical, biological, and digital domains.

EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges

EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges is a new pilot program offering €300,000 (Stage 1) and up to €2.5 million (Stage 2) for breakthrough deep-tech solutions through ARPA-style staged funding with demand-side integration. The program targets single entities or small consortia (2-3 partners) including SMEs, start-ups, and research organizations. Focus areas include Physical AI for autonomous robotics and New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for animal-free biomedical testing, requiring TRL 4 entry with end-user commitment.

EIC Pathfinder

EIC Pathfinder offers up to €3 million for Open calls and up to €4 million for Challenge-based calls to support early-stage research and development with proof-of-principle validation. The program requires research consortia with a minimum of 3 partners from 3 different countries, including universities, research organizations, and SMEs. Technology focus areas include Health/Medical, Quantum Technologies, AI, Environmental/Energy, and Advanced Materials.

EIC Accelerator

EIC Accelerator provides flexible funding options including blended finance (€2.5M grant + €0.5M-€10M equity), grant-only (up to €2.5M), or equity-only arrangements for scale-up and market deployment of breakthrough innovations. The program targets SMEs, start-ups, and small mid-caps with up to 499 employees, with MedTech/Healthcare representing 35% of funded projects. Other technology areas include Biopharma, Energy, AI, Quantum, Aerospace, Advanced Materials, and Semiconductors.

Innovation Partnership

Innovation Partnership facilitates collaborative innovation between public and private sectors with typical funding of €1-5 million per project. The program supports cross-sectoral strategic technologies through public-private partnerships and consortia. Projects focus on addressing societal challenges through collaborative innovation approaches.

Innovation Fund

The EU Innovation Fund provides substantial funding of €7.5 million to €300 million for large-scale demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies. The program targets clean energy, carbon capture, renewable energy, and energy storage technologies to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. Applicants include large companies, consortia, and public entities capable of implementing large-scale demonstration projects.

Innovate UK

Innovate UK offers various programs with funding ranging from £25K to £10M depending on the specific initiative, supporting business-led innovation, collaborative R&D, and knowledge transfer. The organization funds projects across all sectors with particular focus on emerging technologies and supports UK-based businesses, research organizations, and universities. Programs are designed to drive economic growth through innovation and technology commercialization.

Industrial Partnership

Industrial Partnership provides €2-10 million in funding for industrial research and innovation partnerships focusing on manufacturing, industrial technologies, and digital transformation. The program supports industrial consortia and research organizations in developing collaborative solutions for industrial challenges. Projects aim to strengthen European industrial competitiveness through strategic partnerships.

Eurostars

Eurostars is a joint EU-Eureka program offering €50K-€500K for international R&D collaboration specifically led by SMEs. The program takes a bottom-up approach, accepting projects from all technology fields without predefined thematic restrictions. R&D-performing SMEs must lead the consortium and demonstrate significant R&D activities.

LIFE Programme

The LIFE Programme provides €1-10 million in funding for environmental protection, climate action, and nature conservation projects across the European Union. The program supports environmental technologies, climate adaptation strategies, and biodiversity conservation initiatives. Applicants include public authorities, private companies, NGOs, and research institutions working on environmental and climate challenges.

Neotec

Neotec is a Spanish program offering €250K-€1M in funding for technology-based business creation and development, supporting the growth of innovative Spanish SMEs and start-ups. The program covers all technology sectors and aims to strengthen Spain's technology ecosystem. Funding is specifically targeted at Spanish technology-based SMEs and start-ups to enhance their competitiveness and market presence.

Thematic Priorities

EU Thematic Priorities encompass various programs aligned with EU strategic priorities including green transition, digital transformation, health, and security initiatives. Funding amounts vary based on the specific program and call requirements, with projects designed to address key European challenges. Applicant eligibility varies by specific program and call, with different requirements for different thematic areas.
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