WHAT IT IS STEP? 

Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) is a new EU initiative launched on 1 March 2024. It aims to strengthen the EU’s industrial competitiveness and reduce external dependencies by funding the development and manufacturing of critical technologies in the EU, reinforcing their value chains, and reducing shortages of essential labour and skills. It is estimated to boost investments by up to EUR 50 billion through existing EU instruments combined with other public and private funds. 

FUNDING

STEP will help mobilise funding across 11 existing programmes financed by the EU, namely The Digital Europe Programme, European Defence Fund, EU4Health, Horizon Europe, Innovation Fund, InvestEU, the Recovery and Resilience Facility and cohesion policy funds including the Cohesion Fund, European Regional Development Fund, European Social Fund+ and Just Transition Fund.

The sectors covered by STEP are:

• Digital and deep innovation tech, including artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and advanced connectivity.
• Clean and resource-efficient tech, including carbon capture and storage technologies and heat pumps.
• Biotech, including molecular biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and crop biotech.

STEP CONDITIONS

💎Bring an innovative, cutting-edge element with significant economic potential to the Single Market. 

💎Contribute to reduce or prevent strategic dependencies of the Union. 

STEP TOOLS

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT STEP

Is my technology in the scope of STEP? What are the next funding opportunities and their timeline? Find the right call for your project through our dashboard. Learn more by scanning the QR code or write to EC-STEP-INFO@ec.europa.eu.