EU programmes · European Commission
An EU platform that steers existing EU funding programmes towards critical technologies in four sectors: digital and deep tech, clean tech, biotech and, since the Defence Omnibus Regulation of December 2025, defence technologies. It awards the Sovereignty Seal to projects scoring highly in programmes such as the EDF, Horizon Europe and the Innovation Fund, unlocking easier access to other EU and national funding. Its extension to defence enabled the dedicated EIC STEP Scale Up Defence equity call in 2026.
No direct application, but a STEP Seal on a strong EDF or EIC proposal is a portable quality label that other funders and national managing authorities recognise, and STEP's defence extension is what opened EU equity instruments to defence companies.
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.