Top 25 Grants for DeepTech Startups in Europe in 2025
As Europe continues to solidify its position as a hub for innovation and technology, deep tech startups are set to benefit from a variety of grants in 2025. These grants are vital for supporting research, development, and the scaling of new technologies in sectors such as biotech, robotics, and clean energy. Below is a comprehensive list of the Top 25 grants for deep tech startups in Europe for 2025, detailing funding amounts, eligibility requirements, and the focus areas of each grant.
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1. European Innovation Council (EIC) - €1.4 Billion Investment
Key Details:
- Funding Amount: €1.4 billion in total for deep tech
- Focus Areas: Digital technologies, biotech, and clean technologies
- Components: Includes STEP Scale-Up Scheme (€300 million), Accelerator (€634 million), and Pathfinder (€262 million).
- Learn more about EIC's investment
2. EIC Accelerator
Key Details:
- Funding Amount: Grants up to €2.5 million plus equity investments between €0.5 million and €10 million
- Eligibility: Startups and SMEs focused on innovation
- Focus Areas: High-potential deep tech companies
- Explore EIC Accelerator
3. EIC STEP Scale-Up Scheme
Key Details:
- Funding Amount: €300 million
- Investment Range: €10 to €30 million per company
- Focus Areas: Critical technologies in areas such as clean tech and life sciences
- Discover EIC STEP Scale-Up
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4. EIC Pathfinder
Key Details:
- Funding Amount: Up to €4 million per project
- Eligibility: Early-stage research projects
- Focus Areas: Breakthrough technologies across disciplines
- Learn about EIC Pathfinder
5. EIC Transition
Key Details:
- Funding Amount: Grants up to €2.5 million
- Eligibility: Projects transforming research results into marketable innovations
- Focus Areas: R&D to commercialization pathway
- Explore EIC Transition
6. Deep Tech Venture Builder Programme
Key Details:
- Funding Amount: Up to €150,000 per applicant
- Target Audience: Academic and research teams
- Focus Areas: Commercialization of intellectual property and overcoming barriers to market
- Discover Deep Tech Venture Builder
7. EIT InnoEnergy Grants
Key Details:
- Funding Amount: Varies per project
- Eligibility: Sustainable energy focused innovations
- Focus Areas: Clean energy, transport, and smart cities
- Learn more about EIT InnoEnergy
8. SmartCap Green Fund
Key Details:
- Funding Amount: Varies
- Target Audience: Startups in Estonia focused on green technologies
- Focus Areas: Sustainable and green tech
- Explore SmartCap Green Fund
9. Applied Research Program (Estonia)
Key Details:
- Funding Amount: Varies
- Focus Areas: Applied research relevant to market needs
- Eligibility: Projects co-funded by the EU
- Learn more about Applied Research Program
10. EIT Urban Mobility
Key Details:
- Funding Amount: Up to €2 million per company
- Focus Areas: Urban mobility solutions and innovations
- Eligibility: Startups contributing to sustainable urban transport
- Discover EIT Urban Mobility Grants
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11. Horizon Europe
Key Details:
- Funding Amount: Varied across numerous calls
- Eligibility: Projects that foster innovative solutions across research and development
- Focus Areas: Covering a wide array of sectors including energy and digital technologies
- Learn about Horizon Europe
12. European Investment Fund (EIF)
Key Details:
- Funding Amount: Almost 40% of capital allocation for deep tech funds in Europe
- Focus Areas: Supporting various deep tech initiatives
- Eligibility: Collaboration with private investors
- Explore European Investment Fund
13. EU Grants for Skills Development
Key Details:
- Funding Amount: €100,000 - €150,000 per project
- Target Audience: Educational institutions and non-profits
- Focus Areas: Upskilling in the deep tech sector
- Learn about EU Grants for Skills Development
14. Deep Tech Scale-Up Programme
Key Details:
- Funding Amount: Varies based on project requirements
- Eligibility: Must demonstrate potential for scaling in deep tech
- Focus Areas: Accelerating growth in deep tech sectors
- Discover Deep Tech Scale-Up Programme
15. Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS)
Key Details:
- Funding Amount: Varied, focused on projects integrating digital technologies
- Focus Areas: Clean energy technologies in coal and steel
- Eligibility: Research projects within coal and steel sectors
- Explore Research Fund for Coal and Steel
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16. Digital Europe Programme
Key Details:
- Funding Amount: Approximately €7.5 billion over 2021-2027
- Eligibility: Digital transformation projects
- Focus Areas: Enhancing digital skills, infrastructure, and capacities across Europe
- Learn more about Digital Europe Programme
17. Cohesion Fund
Key Details:
- Funding Amount: Varied
- Focus Areas: Projects benefiting less economically developed regions
- Eligibility: Must focus on environmental protection and energy efficiency
- Discover Cohesion Fund Grants
18. CIVITAS Initiative
Key Details:
- Funding Amount: Varies by project
- Eligibility: Must focus on urban transport and mobility projects
- Focus Areas: Sustainable urban mobility solutions
- Learn about CIVITAS Initiative
19. National Research Programs (Various EU Countries)
Key Details:
- Funding Amount: Varies
- Eligibility: Local projects at national levels
- Focus Areas: R&D grants for technology innovation
- Explore National Research Programs
20. InvestEU Programme
Key Details:
- Funding Amount: Over €300 billion allocated for various sectors
- Eligibility: Must align projects with regional or EU priorities
- Focus Areas: Support for SMEs and startups in deep tech sectors
- Discover InvestEU Programme
21. Tech Nation Growth Program
Key Details:
- Funding Amount: Varies
- Eligibility: UK-based tech startups
- Focus Areas: Support for tech companies scaling internationally
- Learn about Tech Nation Growth Program
22. Aerospace and Defense Innovation Grants
Key Details:
- Funding Amount: Varies
- Eligibility: Startups focused on aerospace technologies
- Focus Areas: R&D in defense and aerospace sectors
- Explore Aerospace and Defense Innovation Grants
23. National Climate Fund
Key Details:
- Funding Amount: Varies by country
- Eligibility: Projects focused on combating climate change
- Focus Areas: Renewable energy and sustainable technologies
- Learn about National Climate Fund
24. Creative Europe Programme
Key Details:
- Funding Amount: Approximately €1.4 billion for 2021-2027
- Eligibility: Cultural and creative sectors
- Focus Areas: Innovative projects enhancing digital skills in culture
- [Discover Creative Europe Programme](https:// dealroom.co/sectors/deep-tech/europe)
25. SMART Research and Innovation Programme (UK)
Key Details:
- Funding Amount: Up to £2.5 million
- Eligibility: Innovative technology projects
- Focus Areas: R&D initiatives, especially in deep tech
- Explore SMART Research and Innovation Programme
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FAQ
Q: What is the total investment planned by the European Innovation Council (EIC) for deep tech in 2025?
A: The EIC plans to invest €1.4 billion in deep tech startups and research in 2025. Read more about it here.
Q: What specific funding schemes does the EIC offer for startup investments?
A: The EIC offers several schemes including the EIC Accelerator, EIC STEP Scale-Up, and EIC Pathfinder, with investments ranging from €500,000 to €30 million depending on the program. Find out details on EIC investments.
Q: How does the European Investment Fund (EIF) contribute to deep tech funding?
A: The EIF plays a significant role by acting as a major limited partner, providing nearly 40% of the capital allocated to European deep tech funds. Learn more about EIF's involvement.
Q: What is the focus of the Deep Tech Venture Builder Programme Call 2025?
A: This program targets academic and research teams and offers funding of up to €150,000 to support commercialization of intellectual property. More information can be found here.
Q: What does the EIC STEP Scale-up Scheme provide for deep tech companies?
A: The EIC STEP Scale-up Scheme allocates €300 million to deep tech companies, providing investments between €10 to €30 million per company. Read more on the EIC STEP Scale-up Scheme.
Q: What are some highlights of the EIC’s funding for emerging tech?
A: The EIC allocates €120 million for emerging technologies such as robotics and climate crops, and €250 million targeted towards early-stage tech companies. Discover more about EIC's funding strategies.
Q: How much funding is available through the EIC Transition program?
A: The EIC Transition program provides grants of up to €2.5 million to help convert research results into marketable products. Learn more about EIC Transition.
Q: What is the goal of the EIT Urban Mobility funding program?
A: This program aims to support innovative solutions in urban mobility, offering funding of up to €2 million per company. Find out more about EIT Urban Mobility.
Q: How does the SmartCap Green Fund support deep tech in Estonia?
A: The SmartCap Green Fund focuses on supporting green and sustainable technologies in Estonia, funded by EU initiatives. Explore SmartCap Green Fund details.
Q: What are the grant amounts for the EIC Accelerator program?
A: The EIC Accelerator program offers grants up to €2.5 million along with equity investments ranging from €500,000 to €10 million. Check out the details.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.