Scaling innovative companies requires more than early-stage funding. As European deep-tech and biotechnology companies move towards larger financing rounds and international markets, access to substantial growth capital remains an important part of the innovation ecosystem.
A new group of European companies has now been selected for potential investment through the European Innovation Council’s STEP Scale Up initiative, which aims to address this scale-up financing gap.
Following the latest evaluation round, six companies have been put forward for investment decisions by the EIC Fund, subject to due diligence and negotiations. If successfully completed, they could receive a combined €97 million in equity investment, with individual investments ranging from €10 million to €30 million.
Addressing the scale-up financing gap
The EIC STEP Scale Up scheme is designed to support companies developing strategic technologies that require larger financing rounds to reach commercial scale.
The 2026 programme has a budget of €300 million and targets digital technologies, clean and resource-efficient technologies and biotechnology. Investments of €10–30 million are intended to help leverage larger private co-investment rounds, potentially reaching €50–150 million or more.
The latest selection illustrates the broad range of technologies considered strategically important for Europe’s future competitiveness, from advanced computing and AI infrastructure to clean technologies and critical raw materials.
Beyond funding
Access to growth capital is only one element of successful scale-up.
Companies developing complex technologies also need access to specialised infrastructure, research expertise, industrial partners, talent and international markets. These connections are particularly important in sectors such as biotechnology, where development timelines, regulatory requirements and capital needs can be significant.
This is where innovation ecosystems and clusters can play an important role: bringing together companies, research organisations, investors, public authorities and other stakeholders around shared opportunities.
Supporting Europe’s innovation capacity
The European policy landscape is increasingly focused on helping innovative companies remain and grow in Europe rather than losing promising technologies and businesses before they reach commercial maturity.
Initiatives such as STEP Scale Up are one part of this wider effort. For Europe’s life sciences and innovation ecosystems, the ability to connect finance, knowledge, infrastructure and market opportunities will remain central to supporting the next generation of European companies.
The EIC STEP Scale Up call remains open throughout 2026, with further evaluation rounds scheduled during the year.
