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 …