Discovery tool, not advice. Every figure is the published rule, not a decision on your case.

Equity

European Innovation Council STEP Scale Up

EIC STEP Scale Up

Status

Open continuously

No deadline — apply whenever you are ready.

Always open

Amount

€30,000,000

'offering financial support in the form of investments to startups, SMEs, and small mid-caps, between EUR 10 to 30 million'. Equity only - no grant component. 2026 budget: EUR 300 million.

Funder

European Innovation Council Fund / EISMEA, under the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP)

public · supranational

Deadline: rolling — The EIC states applicants 'can apply anytime via the Funding & Tenders Portal'; no fixed cut-off dates are published for the general STEP Scale Up call in 2026.

Your odds

Not published

This funder does not publish a success rate. We rank it using the rate observed across similar programmes and label it as an estimate rather than implying we know.

Effort

major

Major bid — written case, budget, possibly partners.

Who can apply

Up to 499 employees
Sectors: deeptech, ai, climate, health
Stage: series_a, growth
Locally registered entity required

'A single SME or small mid-cap (fewer than 500 employees)' established in EU Member States or eligible Associated Countries (excluding the UK). Target sectors: digital and deep tech, clean technologies, biotechnologies. Requires 'proof of initial market interest from a qualified investor covering at least 20% of the total target funding round'.

How to apply

Secure proof of initial market interest from a qualified investor covering at least 20% of the total target funding round. — link
Register on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and obtain a PIC. — link
Submit the application at any time; evaluation, interview and due diligence follow. — link

What you will need

Application form / business plan
Evidence of qualified investor interest covering at least 20% of the target round
Financial statements for due diligence

Apply on the funder's site

Source. https://eic.ec.europa.eu/eic-funding-opportunities/step-scale_en — checked 2026-08-14

"The EIC STEP Scale Up scheme is part of the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), offering financial support in the form of investments to startups, SMEs, and small mid-caps, between EUR 10 to 30 million."