Top 10 Grants for Deep Tech Startups Globally in 2025
As deep tech continues to reshape the world, startups in this field seek funding opportunities to advance their groundbreaking innovations. In 2025, various grants aim to support these ventures globally. Below is a comprehensive list of the Top 10 Grants for Deep Tech Startups in 2025, complete with details on funding amounts, eligibility criteria, application deadlines, and links to additional resources.
Boost Your SEO by Getting Featured in Our Blogs and get a backlink.
We publish content about startups, education, tech, funding, etc. that ranks well not only in Google but also in Perplexity, ChatGPT, Grok and other AI tools.
👉 Get featured now!
1. European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator & STEP Scale-up Scheme
Funding Amount: Grants up to €2.5 million; equity investments up to €10 million. EIC STEP Scale-up Scheme investments range from €10 million to €30 million.
Eligibility: Startups and SMEs with disruptive innovations (TRL 6-8), focusing on digital, clean, and biotechnologies for the STEP scheme.
Application Deadline: Ongoing calls throughout the year; check the EIC website for specifics.
Additional Details: The 2025 budget is €1.4 billion, with the STEP scheme budgeting €300 million for its initial phase.
2. EIT Health Deep Tech Venture Builder Programme
Funding Amount: Up to €150,000 in grant funding.
Eligibility: Academic and research teams focusing on healthcare-related deep tech solutions. Teams should be in pre-maturation or maturation stages of their innovations.
Application Deadline: Annual call; specific dates are listed on the EIT Health website.
Additional Details: This 10-month program includes support with mentorship, training, and access to healthcare experts while focusing on business idea development and market validation.
3. US Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs
Funding Amount: Generally ranges from $50,000 to over $1 million, depending on the agency and project.
Eligibility: US-based small businesses with technology-focused projects seeking research and development funds.
Application Deadline: Varies by agency and call; check the SBIR/STTR website for details.
Additional Details: Each year, SBIR provides over $200 million in funds to approximately 400 startups, supporting technologies with commercial potential.
4. EPA Grants for Green Tech Startups
Funding Amount: Varies based on the project.
Eligibility: Startups innovating in renewable energy, energy efficiency, waste management, and carbon capture technologies.
Application Deadline: Specific dates for each grant program can be found on the EPA website.
Additional Details: The EPA actively fosters innovation that addresses climate change and sustainability within startups.
Join F/MS: Startup Facilitator & Incubator and unlock your startup dreams today! Get your first customers, register you company in the Netherlands and get startup visas for the team.
5. Business Finland Deep Tech Accelerator (DTA) Funding
Funding Amount: Up to €400,000 grant (Phase 1) and an additional €1 million loan (Phase 2).
Eligibility: Finnish deep tech startups demonstrating high growth potential and significant funding requirements.
Application Deadline: Variable; consult the Business Finland website for updated open calls.
Additional Details: Initial funding in the pilot program supported 17 startups across various sectors, with future funding dependent on the pilot's success.
6. Enterprise Singapore Startup SG Founder Grant
Funding Amount: Up to S$50,000 (matched 1:1 by founders).
Eligibility: First-time entrepreneurs who are Singapore Citizens or PRs, holding at least 30% equity in their startups.
Application Deadline: Varies; check the Enterprise Singapore website for the latest updates.
Additional Details: The grant includes mentorship from a government-appointed partner to guide through the startup journey.
7. Enterprise Singapore Enterprise Development Grant (EDG)
Funding Amount: Up to 70% of qualifying costs for SMEs and up to 50% for non-SMEs.
Eligibility: Registered businesses in Singapore with minimum 30% local shareholding and stability in finances.
Application Deadline: Variable; check the Enterprise Singapore website for open calls.
Additional Details: Covers consultancy fees, technology costs, and manpower costs as part of innovation and productivity improvements.
8. UNICEF Innovation Fund
Funding Amount: Not specified; primarily focuses on seed-stage funding.
Eligibility: Startups developing tech solutions targeting global development challenges.
Application Deadline: Check the UNICEF Innovation Fund website for current calls.
Additional Details: Startups gain access to UNICEF’s Venture team for technical expertise and network connections.
9. Global Innovation Fund (GIF)
Funding Amount: Varies; tailored for different stages of innovation from proof-of-concept to scaling.
Eligibility: Private companies, NGOs, and government entities with innovations focusing on global poverty and development.
Application Deadline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Additional Details: Aims to support rigorous experimentation and scaling of innovations with social impact.
10. EIC Women TechEU Programme
Funding Amount: €75,000 in non-dilutive grants.
Eligibility: Women founders and entrepreneurs leading deep tech startups.
Application Deadline: Specific calls throughout the year; check the EIC website for details.
Additional Details: The program offers a personalized business development plan alongside mentoring, coaching, and training opportunities.
Each grant presents unique advantages and opportunities tailored to various deep tech sectors. It's crucial for startups to review the eligibility criteria and specific requirements before applying to maximize their chances of securing funding.
FAQ
Q: What is the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator & STEP Scale-up Scheme?
A: The EIC Accelerator supports startups with funding up to €2.5 million in grants and equity investments up to €10 million, while the STEP Scale-up Scheme provides larger investments between €10 million and €30 million for strategic technologies. Learn more about EIC.
Q: What does the EIT Health Deep Tech Venture Builder Programme offer?
A: This program grants up to €150,000 to academic and research teams to accelerate their healthcare deep tech solutions through mentorship and training. Read more about EIT Health.
Q: How do the US SBIR and STTR Programs support startups?
A: These programs fund small businesses engaged in federal R&D, typically between $50,000 to over $1 million, and vary by agency. Discover SBIR and STTR programs.
Q: What types of projects are supported by the EPA Grants for Green Tech Startups?
A: These grants support innovative projects in renewable energy, carbon capture, and waste management aimed at improving environmental quality. Find out more about EPA Grants.
Q: What financial support does Business Finland provide for deep tech startups?
A: Business Finland provides up to €400,000 in grants and can offer loans of up to €1 million to promote research in deep tech startups with high growth potential. Learn more about Business Finland.
Q: What is the Startup SG Founder Grant by Enterprise Singapore?
A: This grant provides first-time founders in Singapore with up to S$50,000, matched 1:1 by the founders' investment, aiming to help innovative startups get started. Explore Startup SG.
Q: How does the Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) support businesses in Singapore?
A: The EDG supports Singaporean businesses in upgrading capabilities and pursuing innovation, offering up to 70% funding for qualifying costs associated with deep tech projects. Find out more about EDG.
Q: What does the UNICEF Innovation Fund focus on?
A: The UNICEF Innovation Fund supports tech solutions that address global development challenges, providing seed funding for product development and business growth. Learn more about the UNICEF Innovation Fund.
Q: What type of innovations does the Global Innovation Fund (GIF) invest in?
A: The GIF invests in innovations aimed at benefiting people living in poverty, focusing on addressing global development challenges with a flexible funding structure. Discover the Global Innovation Fund.
Q: What does the EIC Women TechEU Programme support?
A: This program provides women founders leading deep tech startups with €75,000 in non-dilutive grants and offers personalized business development support. Learn more about EIC Women TechEU Programme.
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.
