This document presents the 2026 European Innovation Council (EIC) Work Programme funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. It sets out how the EIC will allocate its funding of for the year 2026 and has been prepared following the advice of the EIC Board.
Version: current version
What is the EIC STEP Scale Up Defence scheme?
The EIC STEP Scale Up Defence 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. It complements the support offered through the EIC STEP Scale Up call which addresses predominantly civilian or dual-use applications in digital and deep technologies, clean technologies and biotechnologies.
Its goal is to scale-up innovation in Europe's strategic technology sectors, particularly in critical defence technologies to strengthen Europe's defence technological and industrial base and reducing strategic dependencies.. The scheme will catalyse larger funding rounds in the range of EUR 50 to 150 million or more, leveraging at least 3-5 times the EIC investment.
- Budget
- Total 2026 budget of EUR 100 million.
- Minimum equity-only investment of EUR 10 million, maximum EUR 30 million .
- Extensive support
- Access to global partners
- Access to coaches, mentors, expertise and training
- Access to innovation ecosystem and peers
Managed by the EIC Fund, the STEP Scale Up Defence scheme aims to bridge the funding gap for high-risk innovations in critical defence technologies that cannot be fully financed by other investors.
For details see the second Guidance Note on STEP
Access Business Acceleration Services (BAS):
A STEP Seal for companies that meet the evaluation threshold, facilitating access to additional funding programs and investors.
Who can apply?
- A single SME or small mid-cap (fewer than 500 employees) established in an EU Member State, European Economic Area that are associated to Horizon Europe and in Ukraine
- An investor may submit a proposal on behalf of an eligible SME or small mid-cap as defined above,
- This call has a general exclusion rule: legal entities, established in the Union, in Ukraine or in an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe, that are directly or indirectly controlled by a third country other than Ukraine or an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe, or by legal entities of such a third country cannot participate. However, such entities may still be eligible to participate in this call provided that appropriate guarantees are made available to the Commission and approved in accordance with the national procedures of the Member State or EEA member associated to Horizon Europe in which the legal entity is established.
- Note: This scheme targets companies seeking major funding rounds, requiring proof of initial market interest from a single qualified investor covering of at least 20% of the total target funding round.
How to apply
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 or more, and be at least 3-5 times the EIC investment); Moreover, the portion of the pre-commitment corresponding to at least 20% of the funding round must be fully uninvested as of the date of the pre-commitment letter. Syndicated pre-commitments, as long as no entity’s individual contribution is equal or above the 20% threshold, will be deemed ineligible.
- a financial plan (according to the template available on the EIC website).
- Results of the freedom to operate (FTO) analysis. If you do not have one, please upload a note of maximum 2 pages outlining your freedom to operate and providing as much information as possible on this issue. In cases where the FTO is not relevant (e.g. software), please upload a simple statement.
- CVs of key personnel: Bio/ LinkedIn profile
- Self-assessment document to determine whether or not the applicant is directly or indirectly controlled by a third country other than Ukraine or an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe. In case of direct or indirect control outcome, applicant is expected to submit the guarantee.
- Letters of intent.
- EIC Jury interview
If your application meets the eligibility requirements, you will be invited to attend a jury interview.
You will be informed about the interview in 4-6 weeks from the start of the evaluation process.
At the interview, you will be assessed by a Jury of maximum six members.
You will be informed about the result of the interview in 2 weeks from the date of the interview.
Companies, irrespective of whether they are retained for funding or not, that meet all evaluation criteria will be awarded the STEP Seal and gain access to Business Acceleration Services.
Furthermore, if your proposal does not meet the criteria, you will receive feedback to help improve future applications.
Do you need help ?
- NCPs
The network of National Contact Points (NCPs) is the main structure to provide guidance, practical information and assistance on all aspects of participation in Horizon Europe.
- FAQs
Find answers to questions frequently asked by applicants about types of funding, eligibility, submission of proposals and much more
- BAS
All EIC supported projects and companies get access to coaching, mentoring, partnering and other EIC Business Acceleration Services (BAS).
News
Apply by 28 October 2026.
As from today, the European Innovation Council (EIC) will provide investments in defence and dual-use technologies, marking a strategic pivot in Europe’s innovation policy.
The European Innovation Council (EIC) today published its Impact Report 2026
The Commission announced a new group of eight companies to receive €10 and €30 million investments to support them in the crucial scale-up phase to establish a market position...
Axelera AI has been supported by the EIC since 2023, first under the EIC Accelerator, then under the EIC STEP Scale Up call.
These first investments go to IQM Computers and Zadient Technologies, two pioneering European scale-ups that exemplify the ambition and excellence of the EIC portfolio.