The EIC has lined up €1.4bn for deeptech investment in 2025. Here’s how it can help you
The European Innovation Council (EIC) is stepping up its game in 2025 by dedicating €1.4bn to support deep tech startups and research—nearly €200m more than last year. This boost comes when Europe still trails behind the US in R&D and venture capital.
For deep tech founders, the EIC Work Programme offers several key schemes. The EIC Accelerator, with €634m available, provides grants (up to €2.5m) and investments (from €500k to €10m) to help startups develop and scale breakthrough innovations. In addition, the EIC STEP Scale Up scheme offers up to €300m in equity funding to promising companies, with plans to increase that budget in the coming years. There’s also extra support earmarked for emerging and earlier-stage technologies like GenAI, new space ventures, agritech, and future mobility solutions.
The EIC isn’t just focused on funding—it’s also working to make deep tech support more accessible to startups outside major hubs like London, Paris, and Berlin. The program targets central and eastern European regions with outreach events and a new pre-accelerator. It emphasizes support for women founders through initiatives like the Women TechEU scheme and a new gender innovation index.
Investors aren’t left out either. The EIC has launched the Trusted Investors Network (TIN) to connect a group of 71 European investors—spanning venture capital funds, public banks, and more—who manage over €90bn in assets together. This network aims to streamline co-investment in deep tech, making it easier for investors to tap into a steady pipeline of innovative companies.
With these efforts, the EIC is not only fueling the growth of deep tech startups but also working to narrow the gap between Europe and the US whether you’re a founder looking to scale or an investor eager to discover the next big breakthrough, 2025 looks set to be an exciting year for deep tech in Europe.
Source: https://sifted.eu/articles/european-innovation-council-invest-4bn-deep-tech-2025-brnd
