EIC STEP ScaleUp 2026 4th batch cancelled

As it was reported to the Programme Committee at the meeting on 17/09/2026, following the STEP ScaleUp 2026 third batch, due to the first-come, first-served nature of the EIC STEP call, and considering the remaining available budget for the third batch, it is very likely that the 2026 budget will be exhausted with the first three batches. 

Therefore, as foreseen by the 2026 Work Programme, in the event of budget exhaustion, the EC will cancel the fourth EIC STEP batch of 2026. Accordingly, the call’s closure date will be brought forward to the 8 October 2026 at 17:00 (Brussels time).

In light of this, potential EIC STEP applicants are encouraged to submit their proposals under the new 2027 EIC STEP call, which will be opened for submissions in November 2026.

For those applicants who have already submitted their proposal for the 4th Batch, EISMEA will send a message requesting to resubmit to the 2027 call and withdraw the 2026 proposal to avoid being in a situation of concurrent submission.

For technical and legal reasons it is not possible for the EC to automatically transfer proposals from the 2026 call to the 2027 call as these are two separate calls with different legal bases, application forms, criteria and budgets.