Eight European startups receive the EU’s support for scale-up growth

The European Commission has announced a new wave of funding support for eight innovative startups under the European Innovation Council (EIC) STEP Scale Up scheme

The eight selected companies are set to receive investments ranging from €10 million to €30 million each, aimed at accelerating their transition from promising ventures to established market players. If all negotiations are successfully concluded, the total investment could reach €146.5 million.

The funding is designed to help create larger private investments and help companies achieve significant growth milestones.

Technologies driving Europe’s future

The eight selected startups span cutting-edge industries critical to Europe’s technological sovereignty and economic resilience.

Several companies are focused on frontier technologies. Germany-based Aignostics is applying artificial intelligence to drug development, aiming to improve both efficiency and patient outcomes.

France’s Alice & Bob and the Netherlands’ Quantware are advancing quantum computing by developing scalable architectures that could dramatically increase computing power.

Space technology also features. Bulgaria’s Endurosat is working to democratise access to space data, while Spain’s Payload Aerospace is developing transportation solutions for missions extending to the Moon and Mars.

Sustainability and resource efficiency are key themes as well. Denmark-based Luabio is rethinking chemical production by combining AI-designed biocatalysts with carbon dioxide as a raw material.

Greenland Resources is developing a significant molybdenum deposit, contributing to critical raw material supply, while Germany’s Reverion is advancing energy systems that enhance the efficiency of biogas and renewable power generation.

Competitive selection process

The funding round was highly competitive. Out of 44 applicants, 28 companies were invited to present their proposals to a panel of independent experts. Only eight met all evaluation criteria and were put forward for investment approval, which remains subject to final due diligence by the EIC Fund.

18 other high-quality applicants also received the STEP Seal. This recognition is intended to help them secure alternative funding and access business acceleration services, ensuring that promising innovations are not lost to budget constraints.

The STEP Scale Up initiative addresses a well-known challenge in the European innovation landscape. By offering investments of €10 million to €30 million, the programme aims to catalyse financing rounds of €50 million to €150 million or more.

With a total budget of €300 million for 2026, the scheme targets sectors such as digital technologies, clean and resource-efficient solutions, and biotechnology. These areas are seen as essential for Europe’s long-term competitiveness and strategic independence.

The STEP Scale Up call remains open throughout the year, with evaluation rounds scheduled periodically. Upcoming deadlines in 2026 include early May, September, and late November, offering continued opportunities for startups seeking to scale their innovations.