EIC STEP Scale Up 2026

About This Opportunity

Large equity rounds for strategic digital/deep-tech, clean-tech and biotech companies

Eligibility Criteria

Single SME or small mid-cap with fewer than 500 employees established in an EU Member State or eligible Associated Country; investor pre-commitment covering at least 20% of target round required

Application Process

How to apply? You can apply anytime via the Funding & Tenders Portal. Submit your proposal To be deemed admissible and eligible, proposals must consist of: a full business plan , including information on the company’s ownership and financial structure and a justification on the STEP related objectives (maximum 50 pages); a pitch-deck (maximum 15 pages) in pdf format (this version will be presented to the jury if invited to interview); a pre-commitment from a single qualified investor (according to the official template on the Funding and Tenders Portal and also available on the EIC website); The pre-commitment must represent at least 20% of the total target funding round, which must range between EUR 50 to 150 million, and be at least 3-5 times the EIC investment); a financial plan and agr

Prepare to apply

Existing tools on this platform. They are not scored against this call, and the grant writer is not auto-filled from this page.

1. Step 1

   Funding requirements

   Work out how much you need to raise and how long it lasts.

2. Step 2

   Cash-flow forecast

   Show how the award would sit against income and costs.

3. Step 3

   Market size

   Estimate TAM, SAM, and SOM if the call asks for market evidence.

4. Step 4

   Business readiness

   Check gaps before you spend time on a full application.

5. Step 5

   Carbon and impact

   Capture environmental figures where the programme requires them.

6. Step 6

   Find partners

   Browse the company directory if the call needs collaborators.

7. Step 7

   AI grant writer

   Draft against your own project notes. Premium tool; not auto-filled from this call yet.