Priority – 05

Strategic Technologies for Europe (STEP)

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Supporting Innovation and Competitiveness in Critical Technologies

Priority 5 supports investments that contribute to the objectives of STEP. It focuses on strengthening technological capacity, enhancing competitiveness, and reducing strategic dependencies in key sectors.

This priority aligns with EU policy and regional Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3), supporting innovation ecosystems and enabling the advancement of strategically important technologies.

What is STEP?

STEP (Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform) focuses on supporting technologies that are considered critical to Europe’s future.

Technologies are considered critical where they:

  • Bring innovative, emerging or cutting-edge solutions to the internal market with significant economic potential; and/or
  • Contribute to reducing or preventing strategic dependencies within the European Union
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Enhancing Innovation Capacity

Priority 5 will focus on strengthening innovation and entrepreneurial capacity in strategic technology areas, supporting the advancement of STEP-aligned technologies, enhancing collaboration between research organisations and enterprise, and increasing SME engagement in research, development and innovation.

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The objectives of Priority 5 will be delivered through two streamlined programmes in the Programme area.

These will be rolled out by an Intermediate Body – Enterprise Ireland (EI)

  • Innovators Initiative II – STEP: Develop immersive-based needs-led innovation training programmes, relevant for the development/manufacturing of critical STEP technologies.
  • STEP UP: Support for innovative SMEs awarded the EIC Accelerator Seal of Excellence for projects contributing to the STEP objectives.

Schemes Under Priority 5

Call for proposals to enhance innovation capacity in strategic technology areas.

  • Innovators Initiative II

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