Funding call · EIC · EU
EIC STEP Scale Up — Defence: €100m equity call (€10–30m tickets), deadline 28 Oct 2026
European Innovation Council (Horizon Europe / STEP) · published 17 Jun 2026 · ✓ analyst reviewed · Source ↗
Deadline28 Oct 2026 72 days left
Budget / value€100.0m
€100m; equity investments of €10–30m per company
Statusopen
Funding rateEquity (EIC Fund / STEP), not grant
Consortiumnot required
Why it matters
First Horizon Europe money explicitly for defence scale-ups and it is equity, not a grant — the obvious complement to a Series A/B for drone, autonomy, space and AI companies that were previously excluded from EIC.
Summary
Following the June 2026 EIC work-programme amendment opening the Accelerator to dual-use, the EIC launched a dedicated STEP Scale Up Defence call: €100m of equity in tickets of €10–30m for defence and dual-use scale-ups from the EU, associated countries and Ukraine. Deadline 28 October 2026.
Eligibility
Scale-ups from EU Member States, Horizon Europe associated countries and Ukraine; defence and dual-use technologies; single applicants.
Related
Funding call
EDIP
· EU
· deadline 13 Oct 2026 (57d)
· €10.0m
This is operational-overhead funding for the new SEAP legal vehicles rather than technology R&D, and it is only usable by entities that have already been established as SEAPs. Relevant mainly to consortium managers and consultancies advising multi-state armament programmes on setting up readiness pools. Do: If you are involved in an established or forming SEAP, watch for the call document to publish on the Funding & Tenders Portal and prepare the operating-plan and financial-capacity annexes before 13 October 2026.
Context
CH federal
· Switzerland
· €25.20bn
This names the exact Swiss demand priorities for the next decade — C-UAS, counter-stand-off/air defence, cyber and critical-infrastructure protection — plus a second GBAD system alongside Patriot, which is a large future competition. Relevant to C-UAS, air-defence, cyber and infrastructure-protection suppliers able to deliver Swiss/European industrial content under the 60%-domestic policy. Do: Track armasuisse notices on simap.ch and pre-position with armasuisse/Gruppe Verteidigung on C-UAS, counter-stand-off and critical-infrastructure protection, and with Patriot/second-GBAD primes for offset subcontracting.
Context
DG DEFIS
· EU
· €2.30bn
Cash is now physically in Estonian hands, so Estonian MoD/ECDI procurement of ammunition, air defence and ground systems should accelerate in the coming months. Relevant to munitions, air-defence and ground-platform suppliers able to route via an Estonian entity or partner. Do: Monitor Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI) tender pipeline and line up an Estonian partner or local entity now to bid on SAFE-funded ammunition, air-defence and ground systems procurements.
Context
SAFE
· EU
· €150.00bn
✓ reviewed
SAFE-financed contracts are appearing at national procurement agencies, not on the EU portal: Poland's Agencja Uzbrojenia has already signed >PLN 60bn — the buyers to watch this autumn are PL, LT, EE, HR, EL, CY (cash in hand) and RO/FR/BE (large allocations, agreements pending).
Tender
· Norway
· deadline 14 Sep 2026 (28d)
The Contracting Authority shall enter into this agreement on behalf of The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (FMA). FMA is a part of the defence sector, directly under the Ministry of Defence (FD). FMA shall ensure that …
Tender
· Norway
· deadline 14 Sep 2026 (28d)
The Contracting Authority shall enter into this agreement on behalf of The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (FMA). FMA is a part of the defence sector, directly under the Ministry of Defence (FD). FMA shall ensure that …
Source: https://eic.ec.europa.eu/eic-funding-opportunities/eic-step-scale-defence_en — summarised by Rearm Radar; verify details at source before bidding. Enrichment: analyst (confidence 95%).