Are you planning a research and development project? The STEP Application call under OP TAK could cover a significant share of your costs — and CZK 2 billion will go only to the most innovative projects.

This long-awaited STEP Application call represents the last major R&D grant opportunity of the current EU funding period. Designed for highly innovative projects with pan-European impact, the STEP Application call is open to enterprises of all sizes.

What activities will be supported?

The STEP Application call supports industrial research and experimental development in strategic areas that reduce the EU’s strategic dependency. The aim is to foster new knowledge needed to develop new products, materials, technologies, and services.

Projects must fall within one of the 4 strategic sectors:

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

The programme focuses primarily on highly innovative projects with significant potential and measurable impact on the pan-European market.

What can the R&D grant be used to finance?

The STEP Application call offers significant financial support. Companies can receive funding ranging from CZK 5 million to CZK 200 million.

Eligible costs include:

Personnel costs
Contract research and consultancy services
Material and components for R&D activities
Overheads

The total funding available for this call is CZK 2 billion.

Who can apply for the STEP Application grant?

The Call is open to enterprises of all sizes – SMEs, mid-caps, and large enterprises — applying individually or as part of a consortium. Research organisations may also participate as project partners.

Key conditions for the STEP Application call

To succeed in this Call, projects must meet several important criteria:

alignment with one of the four strategic sectors
TRL 4 to 9
strong innovation potential or contribution to reducing EU strategic dependency

Projects with economic potential that extend beyond the borders of a single country are most likely to succeed.

When should you start preparing your project?

The STEP Application call is one of the most popular innovation funding programmes under OP TAK, particularly for large-scale R&D projects. Previous Application DEEP TECH calls always closed ahead of the submission deadline — we expect the same for this round. Start your preparation now to maximize your chances.

Why MIDA?

We are grant experts with extensive experience and a consistently high success rate in the Application programme. Our services include:

Full application preparation – including market and competitive analysis and innovation narrative
Hassle-free implementation – we handle the entire project administration as well as communication with the grant provider
End-to-end support – from submission through to the sustainability phase, with proactive deadline management

Do you have an innovative R&D project? Contact us for a free, no-obligation eligibility assessment. We can start preparing your application immediately.