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Top 20 Government Grants for Startups in Europe in 2025

Top 20 Government Grants for Startups in Europe in 2025
Starting a business in Europe can be challenging, but numerous government grants and funding programs are available to support startups and SMEs.

Below is a comprehensive list of the top 20 grants for 2025, including eligibility criteria, funding amounts, and application deadlines.

1. EIC Accelerator

  • Description: Supports startups and SMEs with innovative products or services that can create new markets or disrupt existing ones.
  • Funding: Grants up to €2.5 million and equity investments ranging from €0.5 to €10 million.
  • Eligibility: Startups and SMEs from EU Member States or associated countries.
  • Deadline: Continuous short applications; full application deadlines on 12 March 2025 and 1 October 2025.
  • Link: EIC Accelerator

2. EIC STEP Scale-Up

  • Description: Provides equity investments of €10 to €30 million for SMEs and small mid-caps in strategic technology sectors.
  • Funding: Minimum €10 million, maximum €30 million.
  • Eligibility: SMEs and small mid-caps (up to 499 employees) in EU Member States or associated countries.
  • Deadline: Applications accepted anytime via the Funding & Tenders Portal.
  • Link: EIC STEP Scale-Up

3. EIC Pathfinder

  • Description: Funds visionary, multi-disciplinary research projects with breakthrough potential.
  • Funding: Grants up to €4 million.
  • Eligibility: Research teams from EU Member States or associated countries.
  • Deadline: Check the EIC Pathfinder page for specific deadlines.
  • Link: EIC Pathfinder

4. EIC Transition

  • Description: Supports turning research results into market-ready innovations.
  • Funding: Grants up to €2.5 million.
  • Eligibility: Projects following up on EIC Pathfinder or Horizon Europe results.
  • Deadline: Check the EIC Transition page for specific deadlines.
  • Link: EIC Transition

5. EIT Urban Mobility Financial Support for Startups

  • Description: Offers funding for innovative urban mobility solutions.
  • Funding: Up to €2 million per company.
  • Eligibility: Startups from RIS countries and others.
  • Deadline: Check the EIT Urban Mobility website for deadlines.
  • Link: EIT Urban Mobility

6. Horizon Europe – Digital Europe Programme

  • Description: Accelerates Europe’s digital transformation, focusing on AI, cybersecurity, and advanced digital skills.
  • Funding: Varies by project.
  • Eligibility: SMEs and startups.
  • Deadline: Check the Digital Europe Programme page for deadlines.
  • Link: Digital Europe Programme

7. Horizon Europe – Innovation Fund

  • Description: Supports the deployment of innovative net-zero technologies.
  • Funding: Varies by project.
  • Eligibility: Startups and SMEs working on climate-neutral solutions.
  • Deadline: Check the Innovation Fund page for deadlines.
  • Link: Innovation Fund

8. EIC Challenges 2025

  • Description: Focuses on five key areas: advanced materials, low-emission food systems, generative AI, space tech, and future mobility.
  • Funding: €50 million per challenge.
  • Eligibility: Startups and SMEs in the specified fields.
  • Deadline: Check the EIC Challenges page for deadlines.
  • Link: EIC Challenges

9. EUopSTART

  • Description: Provides grants to cover 50% of the costs incurred in preparing Horizon Europe applications.
  • Funding: Up to 50% of application costs.
  • Eligibility: Danish enterprises and research institutions.
  • Deadline: Check the EUopSTART website for deadlines.
  • Link: EUopSTART

10. EIC Business Acceleration Services (BAS)

  • Description: Offers tailored support, including coaching, mentoring, and access to global partners.
  • Funding: Non-financial support.
  • Eligibility: Startups and SMEs funded under EIC programs.
  • Deadline: Continuous access for eligible companies.
  • Link: EIC BAS
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11. EIC Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP)

  • Description: Focuses on scaling up innovations in digital, clean, and biotechnologies.
  • Funding: Equity investments and acceleration services.
  • Eligibility: SMEs and startups in strategic technology sectors.
  • Deadline: Check the STEP page for deadlines.
  • Link: EIC STEP

12. EIC Seal of Excellence

  • Description: Awards recognition to high-quality projects that meet evaluation criteria but are not funded.
  • Funding: Non-financial recognition.
  • Eligibility: Projects evaluated under EIC programs.
  • Deadline: Automatic for eligible projects.
  • Link: EIC Seal of Excellence

13. EIC Accelerator Open

  • Description: Open to proposals in any field of technology.
  • Funding: Budget of €384 million in 2025.
  • Eligibility: Startups and SMEs with high-risk innovations.
  • Deadline: Continuous short applications; full application deadlines on 12 March 2025 and 1 October 2025.
  • Link: EIC Accelerator Open

14. EIC Accelerator Challenges

  • Description: Focuses on specific topics like generative AI, space tech, and future mobility.
  • Funding: Budget of €250 million in 2025.
  • Eligibility: Startups and SMEs in the specified fields.
  • Deadline: Check the EIC Accelerator Challenges page for deadlines.
  • Link: EIC Accelerator Challenges

15. EIC Fund

  • Description: Provides equity investments to startups and SMEs through the EIC Accelerator and STEP Scale-Up programs.
  • Funding: Varies by project.
  • Eligibility: Startups and SMEs funded under EIC programs.
  • Deadline: Continuous access for eligible companies.
  • Link: EIC Fund

16. EIC Scaling Club

  • Description: An exclusive community of deep tech scale-ups supported by the EIC.
  • Funding: Networking and funding opportunities.
  • Eligibility: Deep tech scale-ups.
  • Deadline: Check the EIC Scaling Club page for deadlines.
  • Link: EIC Scaling Club

17. EIC Pathfinder Challenges

  • Description: Focuses on emerging technologies like autonomous construction robots and climate-resilient crops.
  • Funding: Budget of €120 million in 2025.
  • Eligibility: Research teams in the specified fields.
  • Deadline: Check the EIC Pathfinder Challenges page for deadlines.
  • Link: EIC Pathfinder Challenges

18. EIC Transition Challenges

  • Description: Supports the transition of research results into market-ready innovations.
  • Funding: Budget of €98 million in 2025.
  • Eligibility: Projects following up on EIC Pathfinder or Horizon Europe results.
  • Deadline: Check the EIC Transition Challenges page for deadlines.
  • Link: EIC Transition Challenges

19. EIC STEP Seal

  • Description: Awards recognition to projects meeting evaluation thresholds in STEP calls.
  • Funding: Non-financial recognition.
  • Eligibility: Projects evaluated under STEP programs.
  • Deadline: Automatic for eligible projects.
  • Link: EIC STEP Seal

20. EIC BAS for Widening Countries

  • Description: Provides tailored support to startups from countries with lower research and innovation performance.
  • Funding: Non-financial support.
  • Eligibility: Startups from widening countries.
  • Deadline: Continuous access for eligible companies.
  • Link: EIC BAS for Widening Countries
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For more details on these grants and other funding opportunities, visit the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
These programs offer valuable resources to help startups grow and succeed in 2025.

Be sure to explore the links provided for more details and to start your application process today!
2025-01-09 13:29