EIC defence call

General conditions

1. Admissibility conditions: Proposal page limit and layout

The EIC STEP Scale-Up call for defence technologies supports projects falling within the defence strategic technology areas as described in STEP (Second Guidance Note on STEP), namely:

 Air and missile defence: this can for example include integrated multi-layered air and missile defence systems, interceptors, detection systems (including radars);

 Artillery and precision strike: this can for example include artillery systems, long range precision strike capabilities, advanced munitions;

 Missiles and ammunition: this can for example include guided missiles and ammunition, conventional munitions, warheads, propellants;

 Drones and counter-drones: this can for example include unmanned aerial systems (all classes), swarming systems, jammers, anti-UAV systems;

 Strategic enablers: this can for example include space assets and their protection, space situational awareness, space-based services (Earth Observation, PNT, secure communications), protection of critical infrastructure and energy security;

 Cyber, AI and electronic warfare: this can for example include AI for command and control, cyber-defence, information warfare, electromagnetic spectrum operations, electronic warfare systems, digital transformation of armed forces, optronics and radiofrequency systems;

 Military mobility: this can for example include warehousing and engineering capabilities, sustainable and agile logistics, additive manufacturing for combat maintenance;

 Ground combat: this can for example include close fire support systems, soldier systems, manned and unmanned ground combat systems;

 Maritime: this can for example include maritime situational awareness, surface and underwater combat systems, manned and unmanned platforms, seabed and anti submarine warfare systems;

 Air combat: this can for example include air combat systems, airborne early warning, tactical and strategic air transport, rotorcraft, air-to-air refuelling;

 Medical and countermeasures: this can for example include military medical technologies, CBRN defence including sensors, protection, decontamination and recovery systems.

Note: To be eligible under this call, the proposed products, technologies or services must have a primary defence application. Solutions with predominantly civilian or dual-use applications should refer to the general EIC STEP Scale Up call. In order to apply under the EIC STEP Scale Up Defence call, your innovation must also be critical thereby meeting either of the following conditions:

a. it brings to the internal market an innovative, emerging and cutting-edge element with significant economic potential; or

b. it contributes to reducing or preventing strategic dependencies of the Union.

2. Eligible countries

In accordance with Article 48(2) of the Horizon Europe Regulation ,participation is limited to SMEs, including start-ups, and small mid-caps 196 established in the Union, in Ukraine, or in an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe.

This call has a general exclusion rule: legal entities, established in the Union, in Ukraine or in an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe, that are directly or indirectly controlled by a third country other than Ukraine or an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe, or by legal entities of such a third country cannot participate.

However, such entities may still be eligible to participate in this call provided that appropriate guarantees are made available to the Commission and approved in accordance with the national procedures of the Member State or EEA member associated to Horizon Europe in which the legal entity is established.

3. Other Eligibility Conditions

Pre-commitment

This call targets companies raising significant funding rounds and you must demonstrate an initial market interest such that the EIC investment acts as a catalyst for larger funding rounds. You will therefore need to demonstrate that the company already has a pre-commitment for an equity investment which meets the following elements:

 The pre-commitment comes from a single qualified investor201 subject to KYC by the EIC Fund or the EIF. The pre-committed investor may be an existing investor in the company and does not necessarily need to be the investor who intends to lead the investment round.

 The pre-commitment represents at least 20% of the total target funding round you are aiming to raise. Moreover, the portion of the pre-commitment corresponding to at least 20% of the funding round must be fully uninvested as of the date of the pre-commitment letter. Syndicated pre-commitments, as long as no entity’s individual contribution is equal or above the 20% threshold, will be deemed ineligible.

The following entities are eligible to apply:

 A single company classified as a SME or small mid-cap (up to 499 employees) established in the Union, in Ukraine or in an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe202 (see Annex 2). The company may have a holding entity for the purposes of the investment, and this holding company must also be established in a Member State, Ukraine or in an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe.

 An investor may submit a proposal on behalf of an eligible SME or small midcap as defined above, provided that a prior agreement exists with the company. The investment agreement will be signed with the selected SME or small mid-cap.

The applicable admissibility and eligibility conditions are detailed in Annex 2 unless otherwise stated in this call.

4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion

described in Annex 2(C. Financial and Operational Capacity) of the EIC Work Programme 2026.

5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds

described in section VII of the EIC Work Programme 2026.

5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes

described in section VII of the EIC Work Programme 2026.

5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement

described in section VII of the EIC Work Programme 2026.

6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants

N/A

Specific conditions

Guarantees

Should the applicant consider to be directly or indirectly controlled by a third country other than Ukraine or an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe or by legal entities of such a third country then the following steps should be taken:

 Carry out the self-assessment to determine whether they are indeed directly or indirectly controlled by a third country other than Ukraine or an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe or by legal entities of such a third country.

If applicants find this is the case, then applicants should submit guarantees at the time of application in accordance with the national procedures of the Member State or the EEA member associated to Horizon Europe in which the legal entity is established.

 If such guarantees are not submitted at application stage, applicants will be requested to provide them if invited to an interview with the EIC Jury (failure to submit guarantees within two weeks from the end of the interview session will result in applications being deemed as non-eligible). Guidelines concerning the submission of guarantees are available on the Funding & Tender Portal.

 If you did not complete a self-assessment and it is found during the investment due diligence process that your company is directly or indirectly controlled by a third country other than Ukraine or an EEA member associated to Horizon Europe or by legal entities of such a third country, then you will be requested to provide guarantees within two weeks of the date of the request (failure to submit guarantees will result in applications being deemed as non-eligible).

Such guarantees must provide assurances that the participation of the legal entity does not contravene the security and defence interests of the Union and its Member States, as established within the framework of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) pursuant to Title V of the Treaty on European Union, including respect for the principle of good neighbourly relations

Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA):

Application form templates

The application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System

Additional documents:

EIC Work Programme 2026

HE Programme Guide

EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509

Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment

Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual

Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions

Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement