EIC STEP Scale Up

"> General conditions
1. Admissibility conditions: Proposal page limit and layout
The applicable admissibility and eligibility conditions are detailed in the Work Programme Annex 2 unless otherwise stated in this call. Furthermore, in case of investment support, specific safeguards will be introduced in the investment agreement (see Introduction, section on Economic Security).
To be deemed admissible and eligible, proposals must consist of:

• a full business plan, including information on the company’s ownership and financial structure and a justification on the STEP related objectives (maximum 50 pages);

• a pitch-deck (maximum 15 pages) in pdf format (this version will be presented to the jury if invited to interview);

• an equity pre-commitment from a single qualified investor (according to the official template on the Funding and Tenders Portal and also available on the EIC website); The pre-commitment must represent at least 20% of the total target funding round, which is expected to be in the range of EUR 50 to 150 million or more, and be at least3-5 times the EIC investment;

• a financial plan (according to the template available on the EIC website).

• Results of the freedom to operate (FTO) analysis. If you do not have one, please upload a note of maximum 2 pages outlining your freedom to operate and providing as much information as possible on this issue. In cases where the FTO is not relevant (e.g. software), please upload a simple statement.

• CVs of key personnel.
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.

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.
More detailes about the Eligible countries are provided in the Work Programme Annex 2.

3. Other Eligibility Conditions
In order to apply, your innovation must be within the scope of the priority sectors defined in the STEP regulation, which includes Critical Raw Materials, and further developed in the

• Digital technologies and deep-tech innovations. This includes advanced semiconductor technologies; artificial intelligence technologies; quantum technologies; advanced connectivity, navigation and digital technologies; advanced sensing technologies; robotics and autonomous systems; Deep-tech innovations (see Glossary).

• Clean and resource efficient technologies , including net-zero technologies. This includes: solar technologies; onshore wind and offshore renewable technologies; energy storage technologies; heat pumps and geothermal technologies; hydrogen technologies; sustainable biogas and biomethane technologies; carbon capture and storage technologies; electricity grid technologies; nuclear fission technologies, sustainable alternative fuel technologies; hydropower technologies; other renewable technologies; energy system -related energy efficiency technologies; renewable fuels of nonbiological origin technologies; biotech climate and energy solutions; transformative industrial technologies for decarbonisation; CO2 transport and utilisation technologies; wind and electric propulsion technologies; other nuclear technologies; advanced materials [4] ,…