The European Commission has identified eight high-growth technology companies for major equity support through the EIC Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) Scale Up initiative.
This flagship funding stream accelerates Europe’s most strategic innovations. The selected firms are now moving toward final investment decisions by the EIC Fund, pending due diligence.
The programme targets companies at a critical inflexion point, where scaling operations and securing market position require significant capital.
Each company could receive between €10m and €30m, with total potential investment reaching €146.5m if negotiations conclude successfully.
Out of 44 applicants, 28 were shortlisted for interviews with independent experts. Only eight met the full set of technical, commercial, and strategic criteria, underscoring the competitive nature of the EIC STEP Scale Up process and its focus on high-impact technologies.
Selected companies span Europe’s strategic sectors
The eight companies represent a cross-section of deep-tech innovation aligned with Europe’s long-term industrial priorities.
Germany’s Aignostics is applying artificial intelligence (AI) to drug development, aiming to improve clinical outcomes and reduce timelines.
France-based Alice & Bob is working toward a universal quantum computer, while the Netherlands’ Quantware focuses on scalable quantum hardware architecture.
In the space sector, Bulgaria’s Endurosat is expanding access to satellite intelligence, and Spain’s Payload Aerospace is developing transportation systems for lunar and interplanetary missions.
Sustainability and resource innovation are also central. Denmark’s Again Bio uses AI-driven biocatalysts to convert CO₂ into chemicals, while Reverion in Germany is advancing high-efficiency renewable energy systems.
Greenland Resources is developing a major molybdenum deposit with additional magnesium output, contributing to the critical raw materials supply.
Addressing Europe’s scale-up funding gap
The EIC STEP Scale Up scheme is designed to tackle a persistent structural issue in Europe: insufficient late-stage funding for deep-tech companies.
By offering investments between €10m and €30m, the programme aims to catalyse larger funding rounds ranging from €50m to €150m or more.
This approach is intended to crowd in private capital while reducing reliance on external markets. The focus areas – digital technologies, clean energy, and biotechnology – are sectors where Europe seeks greater strategic autonomy.
Beyond the selected eight, an additional 18 companies that met high evaluation standards but were not funded due to budget constraints have been awarded the STEP Seal.
This designation signals quality to investors and opens access to alternative funding channels and business acceleration services.
Strong demand and ongoing opportunities
With a €300m budget allocated for 2026, the EIC STEP Scale Up programme is already seeing strong demand. The initiative operates on a rolling basis, with evaluation cut-off dates scheduled throughout the year, including May, September, and November.
The continuous application model reflects the urgency of supporting breakthrough technologies before they relocate or lose competitive ground globally. It also aligns with broader EU efforts to strengthen industrial resilience and reduce strategic dependencies.
Strategic implications for Europe’s innovation landscape
The latest cohort highlights a deliberate shift toward funding companies capable of delivering both economic value and technological sovereignty.
By concentrating capital on fewer, high-potential firms, the EIC STEP Scale Up programme is prioritising depth over breadth.
If successful, these investments could accelerate Europe’s position in quantum computing, clean energy, and space infrastructure – sectors increasingly defined by scale, speed, and capital intensity.