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Strategic Analysis
This EIC STEP Scale-Up Defence call exclusively finances single European SMEs and small mid-caps scaling critical technologies with primary defence applications via large equity rounds up to €30M. Winning proposals must prove significant economic potential and direct reduction of EU strategic dependencies while securing a qualified investor pre-commitment covering at least 20% of the target round.
TRL 5 → 9
Based on programme defaults
No expected impacts identified for this destination.
Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP)
highThe Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), established under Regulation (EU) 2024/795, aims to support European industrial sovereignty and competitiveness across critical technology sectors. It mobilises and directs funding towards digital technologies, deep tech, clean and resource-efficient technologies, and biotechnologies, including dual-use applications.
Evaluators expect proposals to clearly articulate how the technology addresses critical EU strategic dependencies and contributes to technological sovereignty in Europe. Applicants should demonstrate industrial scalability, potential market uptake within the Union, and alignment with the STEP objectives, including the potential to obtain or build upon the Sovereignty Seal.
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
highRegulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 establishes the revised general financial rules applicable to the general budget of the European Union. It governs the principles of budget implementation, award procedures, procurement, grants, financial instruments, and reinforced protection of EU financial and strategic interests.
Evaluators expect strict compliance with eligibility criteria, transparency, sound financial management, and conflict-of-interest requirements under the 2024 Financial Regulation. In defence-sensitive contexts, evaluators look for robust compliance with ownership and control restrictions to safeguard EU security assets against foreign control or influence.
Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)
mediumThe Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) constitutes the EU's joint foreign and defence framework aimed at preserving peace, strengthening international security, and promoting European strategic autonomy. It provides the political and operational backdrop for the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and EU defence cooperation initiatives.
Evaluators expect applicants to demonstrate how their proposed defence innovation aligns with EU strategic security objectives and capabilities priorities. Proposals should clearly address compliance with EU security standards, export control regimes, and the broader geopolitical objectives governing European defence readiness.
Title V of the Treaty on European Union
mediumTitle V of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) establishes the general provisions on the Union's external action and the specific provisions on the Common Foreign and Security Policy, including the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). It sets the constitutional legal basis for EU military and civilian missions, collective crisis management, and the progressive framing of a common EU defence policy.
Evaluators expect proposals to respect the constitutional boundaries and security mandates established under Title V TEU, specifically ensuring that defence-related activities conform to EU external action principles and EU-level governance constraints on defence R&I support.
Specific requirements
Country of establishment limitation
In accordance with Article 48(2) of the Horizon Europe Regulation, participation is limited to SMEs, including start-ups, and small mid-caps established in the Union, in Ukraine, or in an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe.
Third-country control exclusion and guarantees
Legal entities established in the Union, in Ukraine or in an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe that are directly or indirectly controlled by a third country other than Ukraine or an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe, or by legal entities of such a third country cannot participate unless appropriate guarantees approved in accordance with national procedures are made available to the Commission.
Eligible applicant entities
Eligible applicants are either a single company classified as an SME or small mid-cap (up to 499 employees) established in the Union, in Ukraine or in an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe (including an investment holding company established in those countries), or an investor submitting on behalf of such an eligible SME or small mid-cap under a prior agreement.
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The EIC STEP Scale-Up call for defence technologies supports projects falling within the defence strategic technology areas as described in STEP (Second Guidance Note on STEP), namely:
Air and missile defence: this can for example include integrated multi-layered air and missile defence systems, interceptors, detection systems (including radars);
Artillery and precision strike: this can for example include artillery systems, long range precision strike capabilities, advanced munitions;
Missiles and ammunition: this can for example include guided missiles and ammunition, conventional munitions, warheads, propellants;
Drones and counter-drones: this can for example include unmanned aerial systems (all classes), swarming systems, jammers, anti-UAV systems;
Strategic enablers: this can for example include space assets and their protection, space situational awareness, space-based services (Earth Observation, PNT, secure communications), protection of critical infrastructure and energy security;
Cyber, AI and electronic warfare: this can for example include AI for command and control, cyber-defence, information warfare, electromagnetic spectrum operations, electronic warfare systems, digital transformation of armed forces, optronics and radiofrequency systems;
Military mobility: this can for example include warehousing and engineering capabilities, sustainable and agile logistics, additive manufacturing for combat maintenance;
Ground combat: this can for example include close fire support systems, soldier systems, manned and unmanned ground combat systems;
Maritime: this can for example include maritime situational awareness, surface and underwater combat systems, manned and unmanned platforms, seabed and anti submarine warfare systems;
Air combat: this can for example include air combat systems, airborne early warning, tactical and strategic air transport, rotorcraft, air-to-air refuelling;
Medical and countermeasures: this can for example include military medical technologies, CBRN defence including sensors, protection, decontamination and recovery systems.
Note: To be eligible under this call, the proposed products, technologies or services must have a primary defence application. Solutions with predominantly civilian or dual-use applications should refer to the general EIC STEP Scale Up call. In order to apply under the EIC STEP Scale Up Defence call, your innovation must also be critical thereby meeting either of the following conditions:
a. it brings to the internal market an innovative, emerging and cutting-edge element with significant economic potential; or
b. it contributes to reducing or preventing strategic dependencies of the Union.
In accordance with Article 48(2) of the Horizon Europe Regulation ,participation is limited to SMEs, including start-ups, and small mid-caps 196 established in the Union, in Ukraine, or in an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe.
This call has a general exclusion rule: legal entities, established in the Union, in Ukraine or in an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe, that are directly or indirectly controlled by a third country other than Ukraine or an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe, or by legal entities of such a third country cannot participate.
However, such entities may still be eligible to participate in this call provided that appropriate guarantees are made available to the Commission and approved in accordance with the national procedures of the Member State or EEA member associated to Horizon Europe in which the legal entity is established.
Pre-commitment
This call targets companies raising significant funding rounds and you must demonstrate an initial market interest such that the EIC investment acts as a catalyst for larger funding rounds. You will therefore need to demonstrate that the company already has a pre-commitment for an equity investment which meets the following elements:
The pre-commitment comes from a single qualified investor201 subject to KYC by the EIC Fund or the EIF. The pre-committed investor may be an existing investor in the company and does not necessarily need to be the investor who intends to lead the investment round.
The pre-commitment represents at least 20% of the total target funding round you are aiming to raise. Moreover, the portion of the pre-commitment corresponding to at least 20% of the funding round must be fully uninvested as of the date of the pre-commitment letter. Syndicated pre-commitments, as long as no entity’s individual contribution is equal or above the 20% threshold, will be deemed ineligible.
The following entities are eligible to apply:
A single company classified as a SME or small mid-cap (up to 499 employees) established in the Union, in Ukraine or in an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe202 (see Annex 2). The company may have a holding entity for the purposes of the investment, and this holding company must also be established in a Member State, Ukraine or in an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe.
An investor may submit a proposal on behalf of an eligible SME or small midcap as defined above, provided that a prior agreement exists with the company. The investment agreement will be signed with the selected SME or small mid-cap.
The applicable admissibility and eligibility conditions are detailed in Annex 2 unless otherwise stated in this call.
described in Annex 2(C. Financial and Operational Capacity) of the EIC Work Programme 2026.
described in section VII of the EIC Work Programme 2026.
described in section VII of the EIC Work Programme 2026.
described in section VII of the EIC Work Programme 2026.
N/A
Guarantees
Should the applicant consider to be directly or indirectly controlled by a third country other than Ukraine or an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe or by legal entities of such a third country then the following steps should be taken:
Carry out the self-assessment to determine whether they are indeed directly or indirectly controlled by a third country other than Ukraine or an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe or by legal entities of such a third country.
If applicants find this is the case, then applicants should submit guarantees at the time of application in accordance with the national procedures of the Member State or the EEA member associated to Horizon Europe in which the legal entity is established.
If such guarantees are not submitted at application stage, applicants will be requested to provide them if invited to an interview with the EIC Jury (failure to submit guarantees within two weeks from the end of the interview session will result in applications being deemed as non-eligible). Guidelines concerning the submission of guarantees are available on the Funding & Tender Portal.
If you did not complete a self-assessment and it is found during the investment due diligence process that your company is directly or indirectly controlled by a third country other than Ukraine or an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe or by legal entities of such a third country, then you will be requested to provide guarantees within two weeks of the date of the request (failure to submit guarantees will result in applications being deemed as non-eligible).
Such guarantees must provide assurances that the participation of the legal entity does not contravene the security and defence interests of the Union and its Member States, as established within the framework of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) pursuant to Title V of the Treaty on European Union, including respect for the principle of good neighbourly relations
Application form templates
The application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Evaluators and the EIC Jury will prioritize three decisive hurdles: strict defence criticality aligned with STEP domains, a watertight pre-commitment from a single qualified investor for ≥20% of the uninvested funding round, and comprehensive security guarantees proving non-control by unauthorized third-country entities under CFSP provisions.
Everything the call asks for, seen from the call's point of view. Each line shows what answers it, and which partner carries it.
This matrix lists everything the call asks for: outcomes, impacts, scope, the requirements buried in the call text, and policy alignment. Sign up free and GrantForge tracks each line against the concept you build.
| Requirement | Covered by | Carried | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope activities | |||
| No scope activities in this call. | |||
| Expected outcomes | |||
| No expected outcomes in this call. | |||
| Other requirements | |||
| REQ1Guarantees against unauthorized third-country controlApplicants directly or indirectly controlled by an unauthorized third country must submit guarantees approved via national procedures confirming that participation does not contravene EU and Member State security and defence interests. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ2Self-assessment on third-country controlApplicants must carry out a self-assessment to determine whether they are directly or indirectly controlled by a third country other than Ukraine or an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe or by legal entities of such a third country. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected impacts | |||
| No expected impacts in this call. | |||
| Underlying policies | |||
| POL1strategic technologies for europe platform (step)The Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), established under Regulation (EU) 2024/795, aims to support European industrial sovereignty and competitiveness across critical technology sectors. It mobilises and directs funding towards digital technologies, deep tech, clean and resource-efficient technologies, and biotechnologies, including dual-use applications. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| POL2eu financial regulation 2024/2509Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 establishes the revised general financial rules applicable to the general budget of the European Union. It governs the principles of budget implementation, award procedures, procurement, grants, financial instruments, and reinforced protection of EU financial and strategic interests. | · | · | Sign up to track |
The binding rules of this call. Items marked auto are verified by GrantForge from the call and the template. The others are yours to confirm.
Country of establishment limitation
In accordance with Article 48(2) of the Horizon Europe Regulation, participation is limited to SMEs, including start-ups, and small mid-caps established in the Union, in Ukraine, or in an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe.
Third-country control exclusion and guarantees
Legal entities established in the Union, in Ukraine or in an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe that are directly or indirectly controlled by a third country other than Ukraine or an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe, or by legal entities of such a third country cannot participate unless appropriate guarantees approved in accordance with national procedures are made available to the Commission.
Eligible applicant entities
Eligible applicants are either a single company classified as an SME or small mid-cap (up to 499 employees) established in the Union, in Ukraine or in an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe (including an investment holding company established in those countries), or an investor submitting on behalf of such an eligible SME or small mid-cap under a prior agreement.
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A proposal will be rejected at the eligibility check if it relies on a syndicated pre-commitment where no single entity meets the 20% threshold. You must secure a watertight pre-commitment from a single qualified investor covering at least 20% of the total target funding round, and this portion must remain fully uninvested at the date of the pre-commitment letter.
Source: Eligibility rules
Do not submit predominantly civilian or dual-use technologies to this specific call. Evaluators will strictly assess whether the proposed product or service has a primary defence application aligned with STEP domains. If your innovation is primarily dual-use, you must route the application to the general EIC STEP Scale Up call instead.
Source: Eligibility rules
If your SME or small mid-cap is directly or indirectly controlled by a third country outside the EU, EEA, or Ukraine, you must submit appropriate security guarantees approved by your national authority. Failure to provide these guarantees—proving the investment does not contravene the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)—will result in the application being deemed non-eligible.
Source: Eligibility rules
Evaluators will prioritize proposals that directly address and mitigate European supply chain vulnerabilities in defence. You must explicitly articulate how the technology achieves strict defence criticality and delivers sovereign industrial capabilities, directly aligning with the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) objectives.
Source: Evaluation criteria (pre-award)
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