Advanced manufacturing startup funding and grants

European CommissionGrant

Horizon Europe Cluster 4 – Digital, Industry and Space

Collaborative research and innovation calls for manufacturing, key digital and quantum technologies, advanced materials, AI and robotics, advanced computing, low-carbon industries and space. Swiss entities have full access to strategic-area calls in the 2026–2027 work programme, except some space calls.

Horizon Europe co-programmed partnership (A.SPIRE)Grant

Processes4Planet (P4Planet)

Horizon Europe partnership for climate neutrality and circularity in the process industries, with a €2.6 billion budget shared between the EU and industry. SMEs and large companies apply through Funding & Tenders Portal calls.

Horizon Europe co-programmed partnership (EFFRA)Grant

Made in Europe

Horizon Europe partnership for research and innovation in advanced, sustainable and digital manufacturing, with a €1.8 billion budget. Target beneficiaries include SMEs, small mid-caps, large companies and academia.

BMFTR (Projektträger VDI/VDE-IT)Grant

Leitprojekte für die Nutzung von KI in Wertschöpfungsketten

Funds industry-led consortia applying AI in specific value chains such as manufacturing, mechanical engineering and agriculture, with strong SME participation and a site in Germany. Companies typically receive up to 50% of eligible costs.

Klima- und Energiefonds (FFG / KPC)Grant

FTI-Initiative für die Transformation der Industrie 2026

Funds R&D and pilot or demonstration plants for climate-neutral industrial processes and net-zero technology manufacturing in Austria. Companies and research institutions can apply; SMEs and start-ups are invited to join consortia.

European Innovation Council (EISMEA)Grant

EIC Accelerator

Funds single start-ups and SMEs, including spin-outs, from EU Member States and Horizon Europe associated countries. It combines a grant (lump sum below €2.5 million) for innovation activities at TRL 6–8 with equity investments of up to €10 million.

European Innovation CouncilGrant

EIC Pathfinder

Grants of up to EUR 4 million for early-stage research towards breakthrough technologies. Pathfinder Open requires a consortium of at least three independent entities; Pathfinder Challenges also accept single applicants and two-partner consortia.

European Innovation CouncilGrant

EIC Transition

Grants of up to EUR 2.5 million to validate and demonstrate a technology and build market readiness. Projects must build on results of an eligible project such as EIC Pathfinder or ERC Proof of Concept; single SMEs, start-ups, spin-offs and consortia can apply.

European Innovation CouncilEquity

EIC STEP Scale Up

Equity, not a grant: investments of EUR 10 million to EUR 30 million in 2026 for single SMEs and small mid-caps with fewer than 500 employees in digital and deep tech, clean tech and biotech. A qualified investor must pre-commit to the round.

Eureka (with national funding bodies)Grant

Eurostars

International R&D projects led by an innovative SME, with partners from at least two Eurostars countries. Each partner is funded by its national body: Innosuisse in Switzerland, BMFTR in Germany (max. 500,000 € for German partners together), FFG in Austria.

European Institute of Innovation & TechnologySupport & coaching

EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities

Business creation programmes run by EIT communities such as Climate-KIC, EIT Health and InnoEnergy. Start-ups and scale-ups get access to financing opportunities, market access, training, mentoring and investor matchmaking.

European Commission (EIB Group and other implementing partners)Loan

InvestEU Fund

An EU budget guarantee that supports loans and equity through the EIB Group and other financial intermediaries. Companies do not apply to the Commission; they reach the financing through the implementing partners.