{"id":15415,"date":"2026-07-07T11:33:27","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T09:33:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scinnov.eu\/?p=15415"},"modified":"2026-07-28T10:17:04","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T08:17:04","slug":"step-the-platform-for-strategic-technologies-for-europe-current-situation-and-next-steps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scinnov.eu\/en\/step-the-platform-for-strategic-technologies-for-europe-current-situation-and-next-steps\/","title":{"rendered":"STEP, the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform: state of play and next steps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]

Seminar held by EARTO<\/a>,featuring Davide Lombardo, Senior Expert, formerly Deputy Head of the STEP Task Force, European Commission, and Maud Noyon, Head of Sector, “Competitiveness, Financial Instruments and STEP” Unit, European Commission.<\/p>\n

This webinar, held on 25 June 2026, aimed to provide a progress update, offer practical assistance, and prepare for the future of European funding. Representatives from the European Commission took turns presenting\u00a0<\/span>the STEP programme<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>(Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>) in its entirety.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.7″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]

1. Presentation of STEP<\/h2>\n

STEP is a European initiative that was launched in 2024 and that responds to the European Union’s desire to be more competitive against other global powers \u2014 an ambition notably affirmed in the Draghi and Letta reports. It aims to boost investment in innovation and competitiveness.<\/p>\n

STEP is not, however, a new fund, since it brings together and redirects funding from 11 existing European programs, 5 of which are directly managed by the Commission (Horizon Europe, EU4Health, the Innovation Fund, etc.) and 6 others managed indirectly, allocated by the Member States. Indeed, the Member States and the European Commission redirect the money available within these 11 programs toward shared strategic priorities.<\/p>\n

To date, this has made it possible to mobilize more than \u20ac29 billion in total, split almost equally between roughly \u20ac15 billion under direct management and \u20ac15 billion under shared management with the States (redirection of cohesion funds toward these strategic technologies by 20 Member States). However, to date, only \u20ac4 billion has actually been committed through local calls for projects. This leaves a massive budget of around \u20ac11 billion still available.<\/p>\n

To fall within the scope of the platform, a project must either aim to reduce the European Union’s strategic dependencies, address labor or skills shortages, or develop\/manufacture cutting-edge technologies in one of 4 defined sectors: digital technologies and deep tech, clean and resource-efficient technologies, biotechnologies, and \u2014 more recently added \u2014 defense.<\/p>\n

Under the STEP regulation, to be eligible, each project must meet three cumulative conditions: the type of investment, the sector of activity, and the strategic contribution. Each of these conditions is subject to well-defined criteria detailed in the STEP regulation.<\/p>\n

To roll out across Europe, STEP relies on three tools:<\/p>\n