EU programmes · Poland · Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP), under the European Funds for Eastern Poland (FEPW) programme, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund
This instrument provides grant funding to innovative micro and small startups headquartered in the Eastern Poland macro-region (voivodeships of Lublin, Podkarpacie, Podlaskie, Świętokrzyskie, Warmia-Mazury, and parts of Masovia) that have successfully completed an incubation programme under Component I of the same action. Eligible projects must focus on commercialising a validated business idea, including achieving a first market sale. The instrument is delivered by PARP under Action 01.01 of the Fundusze Europejskie dla Polski Wschodniej (FEPW) 2021–2027 programme.
For early-stage deeptech and dual-use startups based in Eastern Poland, this is one of the few grant instruments specifically designed to bridge the gap between incubation and first revenues, offering up to PLN 600,000 in non-dilutive funding per company. Eligibility is tightly linked to completion of a recognised incubation programme, making it a natural next step for alumni of FEPW Platform Startowa accelerators. Recurring call cycles (multiple rounds per year) mean companies that complete incubation have a regular and predictable funding window to target.
European Commission (DG DEFIS), with EUSPA and the EIF
Space is treated as dual-use across EU funding; CASSINI gives space-defence start-ups an equity pipeline and visibility instruments that stack with EDF and EUDIS applications.
European Investment Fund with the European Commission, under InvestEU
Not a programme you apply to as a company, but it determines which European VCs have fresh defence-mandated capital; track its fund commitments to know who can actually write you a cheque.
European Investment Bank Group
Debt, not grants: the EIB now finances defence companies that banks still avoid, and venture debt from its one-stop shop can extend runway without dilution once you have revenue or strong contracts.