STEP into your last chance to secure substantial funding – the new programme offers billions for development and investment

This summer, two key subsidy programmes will open, offering a final opportunity to obtain support for research, development, and investment in production. The EU is now investing in the development and manufacturing of critical technologies, as well as safeguarding and strengthening respective value chains. In line with this, the Czech Republic is now launching two new calls focused on:

  • Research and development of advanced technologies
  • Investment in production capacities and strategic technologies

The primary objective of the new STEP calls is to foster innovative, cutting-edge products with significant economic potential for the single market, thereby reducing or preventing the Union’s strategic dependencies.

STEP sectors

Support will focus on four strategic areas:

  • Digital technologies and deep tech innovation
  • Clean and resource-efficient technologies
  • Biotechnologies
  • Defence technologies

Both programmes mainly support companies and business entities, either in cooperation with research organisations or independently. Support is intended for projects focused on achieving technological breakthroughs and refining technology to meet market needs, including enhancing efficiency and reliability, as well as developing industry standards. The technology must reach at least TRL 4, i.e., technologies that have already been proven to be feasible and are moving towards production or commercial use.

What can we expect?

Upcoming calls will focus mainly on the following activities:

The STEP Application call:

  • industrial research and experimental development,
  • the development of new technologies and products,
  • pilot and demonstration solutions,
  • preparation of technologies for market launch.

The STEP Investment call:

  • building and expanding production capacities,
  • introducing new production lines,
  • developing “first-of-its-kind” equipment,
  • strengthening key links in the strategic technology value chain.

What can the grant be used to finance?

• purchase of technologies, machinery, and production equipment,
• investment in production and development capacities,
• personnel costs of research and development staff,
• costs of prototypes, testing, and pilot operations,
• contract research, expert services, and technical know-how,
• material and operating costs directly related to the project.

STEP conditions

There are specific conditions that must be met for a project to stand a chance of success in both calls:

  1. 1. Alignment with one of the strategic sectors
  2. TRL 4 to 9
  3. Significant innovativeness or elimination of strategic dependency

Automatically STEP relevant projects:

  • Strategic projects under the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA)
  • Strategic projects under the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA)
  • Important projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI)
  • Projects with a STEP Seal

Projects can focus either on the final product with groundbreaking potential or on:

  • key components, machinery, production technologies
  • specific services (e.g., testing, cybersecurity for smart manufacturing)
  • critical raw materials

The total allocation will reach CZK 4 billion, with support for individual projects amounting to hundreds of millions of CZK.
This call will open in the second or third quarter of this year, so it is important to start preparing projects now. This will be the last opportunity to obtain substantial grant funding until 2028 at the earliest.

Are you considering a similar project, or do you have an idea for a disruptive innovation that could be part of the STEP initiative? Get in touch with us, and we can discuss it with no strings attached! MIDA will help you fit your idea into the programme and tailor your project, so that it has the best chance of success.

The early bird catches the worm – and the early proposal catches the funding! Let us help you take a STEP into a new era of grant funding!