EIC STEP Defence: equity for larger investment rounds
Applications run to 28 October. Ukrainian companies are included in the programme’s geographical scope.
- Up to EUR 30m investment
- Closes 28 October 2026
Application deadline: 2026-10-28
See the call page for current conditions and closing time.
EIC STEP Scale Up Defence offers up to €30 million in direct equity financing for eligible companies. The EIC announcement includes firms in the EU, eligible associated EEA countries and Ukraine.
The EIC describes co-investment in rounds typically worth €50 million to €150 million or more, with total rounds at least three to five times its requested investment. The announced deadline is 28 October 2026.
This is a route to examine with an investor and a credible scale-up plan. Our first questions concern the round, industrial capacity and how capital changes output. A team seeking a small prototype grant should distinguish that need from the larger financing exercise described here.
Sources & context
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