EIC STEP Scale Up call for investments in strategic technology companies

Less than a month after the launch of the EIC 2025 work program, the European Innovation Council (EIC) has opened applications for the EIC STEP Scale Up: a new incentive scheme focused on the STEP Platform and aimed at deep-tech companies operating at the forefront of innovation and seeking significant funding rounds.

This marks the operational start of what is undoubtedly the biggest novelty in the EIC 2025 work program: a new funding opportunity (alongside the Pathfinder, Transition, and Accelerator calls) that aims to be one of the EU's responses to the lack of venture capital investment in Europe's most promising innovative companies, which often prefer to relocate elsewhere, starting with Silicon Valley, to find funding.

Further reading: What does the Draghi Report say about EU competitiveness?

How the EIC STEP Scale Up Call Works

With a budget of €300 million for 2025 (with a prospect of increasing to €900 million for the 2025-2027 period), the EIC STEP Scale Up call aims to provide more investments to companies to bring them to market and reduce strategic dependencies.