European Commission adopts 2027 EIC Work Programme with €1.8 billion for DeepTech startups

The European Commission has adopted the 2027 European Innovation Council (EIC) Work Programme, allocating €1.8 billion to DeepTech startups, scale-ups and researchers across Europe, EU-Startups reports. eu-startups.comEU-Startupseu-startups.comOpen source ↗ The package is intended to help technologies move from early-stage research to commercialisation. It is the final EIC funding package under Horizon Europe 2021–2027. eu-startups.comEU-Startupseu-startups.comOpen source ↗

Growth capital and EIC budget

A significant part of the programme expands access to growth capital. It completes the €1 billion commitment to the Scaleup Europe Fund, launched in 2026 and managed by the investment firm EQT. The fund aims to attract at least €4 billion from other investors and to make investments averaging more than €100 million. eu-startups.comEU-Startupseu-startups.comOpen source ↗

The EIC will also continue supporting startups through its STEP Scale Up scheme, which targets companies developing strategic technologies. The 2027 programme completes allocations of €200 million for defence investments and €25 million for the Advanced Innovation Challenges pilot, both introduced in 2026. eu-startups.comEU-Startupseu-startups.comOpen source ↗

The EIC was established under Horizon Europe in 2021 with a budget above €10 billion for 2021–2027. Since launch it has supported more than 800 companies and nearly 700 research projects. Its investment arm, the EIC Fund, has invested close to €2 billion in more than 375 deep tech startups, attracting approximately 3.5 times that amount in co-investment. eu-startups.comEU-Startupseu-startups.comOpen source ↗

Women-led startups and first customers

The programme expands support for women-led startups through a redesigned Women TechEU initiative, in which individual grants double to €150k. A new European Prize for Women Innovators in Quantum will complement the existing European Prize for Women Innovators and recognise female entrepreneurs working in quantum technologies. eu-startups.comEU-Startupseu-startups.comOpen source ↗

Another priority is helping EIC-backed startups secure their first customers. New measures will connect companies with public and private procurers, allowing them to test emerging technologies and explore commercial applications. Support for dual-use and defence technologies remains part of the EIC's activities. The Commission also intends to reduce administrative complexity and make funding more accessible at different stages of development. eu-startups.comEU-Startupseu-startups.comOpen source ↗

Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva said the programme puts the Startup and Scaleup Strategy into action by mobilising more capital, stimulating customer deals and cutting complexity. The measures are part of the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy and the Competitiveness Compass. eu-startups.comEU-Startupseu-startups.comOpen source ↗