Grants for Businesses in European Union

Expected Outcome: Projects under this topic will contribute to the following outcomes: Accelerate market expansion for European deep tech startups across EU regions and beyond by fostering collaboration and mutual support among European deep tech startup ecosystem actors; Interconnect top-tier tech startup and scaleup hubs embedded in research, technology and higher education ecosystems; Enable cross-border access to infrastructures, facilities, corporates, investors and talents to deep tech startups and scaleups, including those funded by the European Innovation Council (EIC); Enable more European deep tech startups, including women-led startups and scaleups, to succeed scaling into globally competitive companies; Strengthen less-connected innovation hubs by integrating them into a Europe-wide collaborative network; Boost private and public investment in deep tech ventures established within the participating innovation hubs. Scope: This action builds upon the EU’s strategic vision outlined in the EU Competitiveness Compass [1] , the EIC scaling strategy [2] , and the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy [3] . It aligns with the objectives of strengthening Europe’s deep tech…

Expected Outcome: The EIC STEP Scale Up call offers a total indicative budget of EUR 300 million for 2026, which is expected to rise to EUR 900 million for the period 2025-2027. Any unused amount from this budget will be allocated with priority to the EIC Accelerator Open call. The support will be in the form of equity-only investments managed by the EIC Fund. Applicants to this call will not receive a grant component. It provides significant financial support, and applicants should apply for an investment of a minimum of EUR 10 million and maximum of EUR 30 million, to co-invest in a funding round in the range of EUR 50 to 150 million, and at least three to five times the amount of the requested EIC contribution. The specific terms of each investment are considered and negotiated on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the EIC Fund Investment Guidelines. This ensures the investment is tailored to your company's needs while aligning with EIC's objectives. EIC STEP Scale Up is designed to fill the funding gap for companies to invest in the scale up of high-risk innovations and where the amount needed for the scale up cannot be fully financed by other investors, including…

Expected Outcome: The expected outcomes of this topic are : Functional demonstrators of working AI chip prototypes (PCB-level) designed by EU fabless companies and physically integrated with their system partners. Validation of AI chip solutions on a common EU evaluation platform (provided by the Topic X.B consortium), delivering comparative evidence on key performance indicators. A shortlist of European AI chip solutions awarded the AI Compute Excellence label and qualified to proceed to full rack development under Topic X.A2.

Expected Outcome: Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes: Increased understanding of European policy makers, research community, biotech companies, and relevant security practitioners of the threat of bioterrorism and of synthetic biology, including a thorough lawful analysis of what needs to be monitored in this context, what needs to be regulated and how; Awareness raised within the related scientific community how research in synthetic biology can be used for malicious purposes. Scope: The rising threat of bioterrorism is driven by recent scientific advancements, notably by growing accessibility of synthetic biology, genetic engineering, related commercial services and public databases, which in turn enhance their obtainability to non-state actors and individuals with malicious intentions. The proliferation of do-it-yourself biohacking and community laboratories, including gene editing and sequencing technology, dropping costs of equipment and increased simplicity of use may inadvertently facilitate knowledge and skills dissemination about biological threats and open new pathways for bioterrorism. Challenges in detection,…

Expected Outcome: Industrial jobs are transformed through AI-based human-machine interactions (and skills linked to them) which enhance flexibility, inclusion, well-being, up-skilling, career evolution and knowledge sharing; Increased competitiveness and sustainability of advanced manufacturing industries by means of knowledge formalization and adaptability of the machines to workers and markets based on different cultures. Scope: Innovative AI approaches are poised to revolutionise human-machine collaboration in factories by fostering an environment where technology and human expertise synergistically enhance each other. AI can enhance the value of the companies by capturing and formalising the knowledge which is dispersed and not explicit. This allows companies to really own the knowledge and use it to reduce the onboarding time of new employees and support personnel upskilling to adapt to the evolving technological landscape. AI has a great potential to make task simpler by reducing the complexity offering intuitive interfaces and real-time feedback allowing workforce to be more efficient and effective while facilitating access to more complex tasks including those involving…

Expected Outcome: In direct support of the upcoming European Integrated Framework for Climate Resilience, the successful project is expected to address all of the following outcomes: Climate preparedness and resilience innovative solutions, including Nature-Based solutions, advance in their investment journey and get closer to the market, strengthening the competitiveness of the companies and organisations developing them. Public authorities are mobilised to stimulate demand for climate adaptation solutions, thereby contributing to the development and maturity of the European resilience market. Structural and operational bottlenecks to the deployment of climate resilience solutions are identified, along with good practices, and policy-relevant insights are derived from lessons learned. Scope: Rationale Preparedness to current and future climate change is increasingly recognised as a driver of innovation and an emerging economic opportunity. The growing impacts of climate change are accelerating demand for technologies, services, practices and solutions that enable societies and economies to anticipate and manage climate risks. Already in 2021, the EU Adaptation Strategy…

Expected Outcome: The action is expected to mature and demonstrate (TRL 6-8) innovative technologies in one of the key areas set out under the scope of the topic: developing and advancing the technology readiness of innovative individual components and/or integrated systems that perform the key functions of fusion power plants (FPPs), in line with the key area targeted; testing the innovative components and/or systems developed in close-to-real-life conditions, demonstrating the ability to deliver fusion-grade components and/or systems; providing a credible business case, clarifying the potential and perspectives for commercialisation of the components and/or systems developed, and showing the benefits for the competitiveness and growth of EU companies from the fusion field. Scope: to ensure a successful transition to commercially viable fusion power plants, the Commission is establishing a co-programmed public-private partnership, maximising the convergence of publicly funded action and privately led initiatives. This European Partnership on Fusion Energy is being established with the support of a coordination and support action funded under the Euratom programme. It will…

Expected Impact: The prize will boost public awareness of the potential, importance and contribution of women to the EU innovation ecosystem and create strong role models, inspiring more women to become innovators themselves. Expected Outcome: The prize will boost public awareness of the potential, importance and contribution of women to the EU innovation ecosystem and create strong role models, inspiring more women to become innovators themselves. Objective: The European Prize for Women Innovators celebrates the women entrepreneurs behind Europe’s game-changing innovations, so that they may inspire other women and girls realise their full potential as the EU’s future scientists, innovators, and tech leaders. This prize supports a culture within research and innovation organisations and companies allowing women to become the innovators and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. The prize is awarded every year to women from across the EU and countries associated to Horizon Europe, who have transformed their ideas into disruptive innovations to benefit people and the planet and who are inspiring leaders. As for the previous edition, the 2027 European Prize for Women Innovators is organised in…

Expected Outcome: Enhanced valorisation of intellectual assets, including dormant patents, from universities and public research organisations to support the adoption of green and digital technologies by industry, SMEs and start-ups/spinoffs. Development of entrepreneurial skills and increased involvement of students, researchers, and innovators in the valorisation of research results. Uptake of effective models and tools to facilitate valorisation of unused IP and intellectual assets and access by startups, SMEs, and innovative companies to this untapped knowledge in public research organisations. Scope: Aligned with the European Union's policy priorities, this action will contribute to overcoming the innovation paradox by maximising the impact of public spending in R&I through improved knowledge valorisation practices, and facilitating the uptake of green and digital technologies by start-ups, spinoffs, and innovative SMEs. By unlocking the untapped potential of intellectual assets within universities and public research organisations, and leveraging the creativity of students, researchers, and innovators, the action seeks to improve value creation opportunities deriving from…

Expected Impact: The prize will boost public awareness of the potential, importance and contribution of women to the EU innovation ecosystem and create strong role models, inspiring more women to become innovators themselves. Expected Outcome: The prize will boost public awareness of the potential, importance and contribution of women to the EU innovation ecosystem and create strong role models, inspiring more women to become innovators themselves. Objective: The European Prize for Women Innovators celebrates the women entrepreneurs behind Europe’s game-changing innovations, so that they may inspire other women and girls realise their full potential as the EU’s future scientists, innovators, and tech leaders. This prize supports a culture within research and innovation organisations and companies allowing women to become the innovators and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. The prize is awarded every year to women from across the EU and countries associated to Horizon Europe, who have transformed their ideas into disruptive innovations to benefit people and the planet and who are inspiring leaders. As for the previous edition, the 2027 European Prize for Women Innovators is organised in…

Scope: The objective of the European slate development support is to foster the competitiveness of European independent production companies and to increase their economic weight on the market. The aim is also to increase the capacity of audiovisual producers to develop projects with the potential to circulate throughout Europe and beyond, and to facilitate European and international coproduction. The support will also provide an entry point for emerging talent, giving them the opportunity to direct a short film supported by the strong foundation provided by experienced companies. Expected results A stronger position on European and international markets for companies selected under European slate development. Increased quality, feasibility, cross-border potential and market value of European works supported. Description of the activities to be funded Support will be given to independent European production companies able to develop a slate of 3 to 5 audiovisual works (fiction, animation, creative documentary). This should allow production companies to reduce risks and increase their capacity to attract and retain talents. The European slate development shall provide support to…

Expected Outcome: The main objective of this call is to develop employees’ involvement in undertakings by raising awareness and contributing to the application of European Union law and policies in this area. The call aims at supporting projects which seek to help accompany through social dialogue at company level the significant changes driven by industry transitions and, in particular, the take-up and effective functioning of European Works Councils. The call shall focus on one or a limited number of topical challenges with a view to maximise both the individual and aggregated impact of the selected projects. Scope: Actions to promote European level and strengthened transnational cooperation between social partners that address the following themes would be expected: - to promote exchange and wider dissemination of knowledge and good practices and to launch actions aimed at supporting the setting up and good functioning of European Works Councils, including the promotion of gender balanced European Works Councils; - to support workers’ involvement in the anticipation and management of change and the prevention and resolution of disputes in the event of various forms of…

Expected Impact: FOR ALL THREE THEMATIC PRIORITIES: Expected impact at the closure of the project (non-exhaustive list): Innovative technologies tested and adopted by the market; Innovative solutions deployed improving businesses confidence, competences and means to digitalise and grow; Contribution to digitisation and health systems transformation, through various types of innovation and the supply of IT services; Uptake of technologically/economically reliable and viable solutions on the market; Deployment of new technologies fostering the growth of Europe’s manufacturing sector; Innovative technologies adopted by SMEs; Identification of possible sources of funding/funding mix, to cover the residual investment needs (public-private partnerships for the deployment of innovation, the collaboration with venture capitals, EIB group loans etc); Strengthening innovation diffusion channels; Reinforcing the capacity of regions to co-invest together, joining forces on common S3 investment priorities (interregional investments). Long-term impact (non-exhaustive list): Increased companies’ productivity and efficiency; Improved user-friendly, accessible and interoperable public…

Scope: The objective of the support to Video games and immersive content development is to increase the capacity of European video game producers, XR studios and audiovisual production companies to develop video games and interactive immersive experiences with the potential to reach global audiences. The support also aims to improve the competiveness of the European video games industry and other companies producing interactive immersive content in European and international markets by enabling the retention of intellectual property by European developers. Expected results Increased quality, appeal, feasibility and cross-border potential for selected projects. A stronger position on the European and international market for video games developers and companies producing interactive immersive experiences. Description of the activities to be funded Support will be given to the development of works and prototypes of interactive narrative storytelling with original content and/or quality gameplay intended for production and global commercial exploitation via PCs, consoles, mobile devices, tablets, smart phones and other technologies. The aim is to provide funds to video game…

Scope: The objective of the support to European co-development is to support the cooperation among European production companies that are developing works with a strong international audience potential. Expected results Increased collaboration at development stage between European production companies from different countries and from different markets and consequently an increased number of co-productions. Increased quality, feasibility, cross-border potential and market value of selected projects. A stronger position on European and international markets for companies selected under European co-development. Increased international cooperation, including collaborations between European and Korean professionals, in line with the audiovisual entitlement appended to the Protocol on Cultural Cooperation between the EU and Korea. Description of the activities to be funded The European co-development action shall provide support to the development of a single project for commercial exploitation intended for cinema release, television broadcasting or commercial exploitation on digital platforms or a multi-platform environment in the following categories: animation, creative documentary…

Scope: The EIC Accelerator supports companies (principally SMEs, including start-ups) to scale up high impact innovations with the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones. The EIC Accelerator provides a unique combination of grant and investment funding and Business Acceleration Services (see Section VII of EIC Work Programme 2026). The EIC Accelerator focuses in particular on innovations building on scientific discovery or technological breakthroughs (‘deep tech’) and where significant funding is needed over a long timeframe before returns can be generated (‘patient capital’). Such innovations often struggle to attract financing because the risks and time period involved are too high. Funding and support from the EIC Accelerator is designed to enable such innovators to attract the full investment amounts needed for scale up in a shorter timeframe. The EIC Accelerator supports the later stages of technology development as well as scale up. The technology component of your innovation must therefore have been tested and validated in a laboratory and other relevant environment (e.g., at least Technology Readiness Level 5 completed). The EIC Accelerator looks to…