EIC's €100M Defence Scale Up Opens as the Council Backs FP10 and ERC Awards €838M
29 June 2026 · Strategic Funding Partners
<span style="color:#787774">Published 29 June 2026 · SFP Pulse · Weekly Research</span>
> The EIC's €100M Defence Scale Up call opens 30 June, the Council adopts its FP10 position, and the ERC awards €838M to 319 researchers.
This week's EU funding landscape is unusually busy at the top: the European Innovation Council's first dedicated, equity-only window for defence and dual-use innovation opens to applications on Tuesday, and the Council of the EU has adopted its first negotiating position on FP10, the next Horizon Europe (2028–2034). Across X and the wider EU funding conversation in the past fortnight, partner-finding and consortium quality have dominated, with autumn Horizon Europe deadlines now in sight and success rates still in the single digits, which is why our Proposal Builder service focuses so heavily on consortium design and senior co-authoring through to submission.
Top News
EIC Defence Scale Up Opens with €100M in Direct Equity for Dual-Use Innovators
The European Innovation Council (EIC) is the EU's flagship instrument for breakthrough innovation, supporting start-ups, SMEs and small mid-caps that are scaling deep tech and high-impact technologies. The new STEP Defence Scale Up call sits within the EIC's STEP (Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform) track and marks the EIC's first dedicated, equity-only window for defence and dual-use innovation.
The call opens to applications on Tuesday 30 June 2026 with a total budget of €100 million and a deadline of Wednesday 28 October 2026. It is structured as direct equity investment of €10 million to €30 million per company, expected to back around ten investments in critical defence and dual-use technologies, such as air and missile defence, drones and counter-drone systems, secure communications and resilient cyber-physical systems.
This is a structural shift in how the EU funds defence innovation: equity capital, not grants, channelled directly to companies through the EIC Fund. For applicants, that means proposals are assessed on a venture-investment logic as well as on strategic and technological merit. It pairs with the wider EIC defence opening to give scaleups a credible non-dilutive plus equity route to growth.
The call is most relevant for defence and dual-use start-ups, SMEs and small mid-caps with proven technology and a clear path to scale, alongside investors and consortium partners supporting those companies.
> 🛡️ Programme: Horizon Europe, European Innovation Council (EIC) > > Budget: €100 million total > > Per company: €10M to €30M direct equity > > Deadline: Wednesday 28 October 2026 > > Investments: around 10 > > Focus: defence, dual-use, deep tech
> Source: European Innovation Council
The Council Adopts Its First Negotiating Position on FP10
FP10, formally Horizon Europe 2028–2034, is the EU's next Framework Programme for research and innovation, the successor to the current Horizon Europe and one of the largest research funding programmes in the world. The Council of the EU represents the member states, and its negotiating position is the mandate it brings into trilogue talks with the European Parliament.
On Friday 26 June 2026, the Council adopted a partial negotiating position on FP10. It endorses the broad shape of the Commission's proposal of 16 July 2025 and signals where the member states want a stronger say, particularly on programme priorities and strategic autonomy. The final FP10 budget remains tied to the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) deal, which is targeted for end of 2026. From Wednesday 1 July 2026, the Irish Presidency takes over from Cyprus and will steer the Negotiating Box toward the October European Council.
For any organisation that already applies for Horizon Europe, or expects to apply from 2028, this is the first concrete sign of where FP10 is heading. The structure, priorities and rules being negotiated now will shape research, innovation and infrastructure funding for the next seven-year cycle.
Universities, research organisations, RTOs, SMEs, large industry, public bodies and innovation networks should track the FP10 negotiations closely, particularly those preparing multi-annual roadmaps or strategic positioning around EU funding.
> 📅 Programme: Horizon Europe 2028–2034 (FP10) > > Budget: to be set with the MFF 2028–2034 > > Council step: partial negotiating position adopted Friday 26 June 2026 > > Next: Irish Presidency from 1 July, trilogues with Parliament, October European Council > > Original proposal: Commission, 16 July 2025
> Source: Council of the EU
Amazon and Microsoft Face DMA Gatekeeper Designation for Their Cloud Services
The Digital Markets Act (DMA) is the EU's rulebook for large online gatekeepers, platforms whose scale gives them structural power over business users and consumers. Gatekeepers face binding obligations on interoperability, data portability, self-preferencing and fair access to their services.
On Thursday 25 June 2026, the Commission published a preliminary finding that Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure should be designated as DMA gatekeepers for their cloud services. The two companies will be given the opportunity to respond before any final decision is taken. If confirmed, AWS and Azure would join the existing list of designated gatekeepers and become subject to the DMA's full set of obligations for their cloud platforms.
For EU funding, the implication is direct. Many Digital Europe programme priorities, AI Factories, EuroHPC workloads and sectoral cloud initiatives rely heavily on hyperscaler capacity. A DMA designation would change the contractual and technical conditions under which European projects can build on AWS and Azure, including on interoperability, switching and access to data.
Public administrations procuring cloud capacity, AI and HPC projects in Digital Europe and Horizon Europe, sovereign cloud and AI Factories initiatives, and SMEs building on hyperscaler infrastructure should follow the next steps closely.
> ☁️ Regulation: Digital Markets Act (DMA) > > Step: preliminary gatekeeper finding for AWS and Azure cloud services > > Date: Thursday 25 June 2026 > > Next: companies can respond before final designation > > Implications: Digital Europe cloud, AI Factories, EuroHPC, sovereign cloud strategies
> Source: European Commission, Digital Markets Act
The ERC Awards €838M to 319 Senior Researchers in Its 2025 Advanced Grants Round
The European Research Council (ERC) funds frontier research across all disciplines on the basis of scientific excellence alone. Advanced Grants are its flagship funding line for established research leaders with a track record of significant achievement, providing five-year grants of typically up to €2.5 million.
On Tuesday 23 June 2026, the ERC announced the results of its 2025 Advanced Grants call. 319 senior researchers were selected from 3,329 applicants, with €838 million awarded under Horizon Europe to support frontier research projects across the full range of scientific fields. The active ERC 2026 Advanced Grants call remains open with a deadline of Thursday 27 August 2026.
For the wider EU funding audience, the importance is twofold. First, it confirms the ERC's continuing scale and competitiveness under Horizon Europe (a roughly 10% success rate at this elite level). Second, it underlines that frontier research remains a structural pillar of the FP10 negotiations, at a moment when the Council has just set its position on the next programme.
Established research leaders preparing 2026 ERC Advanced submissions, host universities and research organisations, and consortia exploring high-risk frontier research projects should pay close attention.
> 🎓 Programme: Horizon Europe, European Research Council (ERC) > > Results: ERC 2025 Advanced Grants, announced Tuesday 23 June 2026 > > Awarded: €838 million to 319 researchers (from 3,329 applicants) > > Active call: ERC 2026 Advanced Grants, deadline Thursday 27 August 2026
> Source: European Research Council
Innovation Fund 2026 Takes Shape with Five Call Windows Including SME and Maritime Tracks
The Innovation Fund is one of the world's largest funding programmes for the demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies, financed largely through revenues from the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). To date it has been dominated by large-scale net-zero technology projects and competitive bidding mechanisms such as the hydrogen and heat auctions.
Reporting following the IF26 stakeholder consultation on Friday 19 June 2026 indicates that the Commission may be preparing five Innovation Fund 2026 call windows: net-zero technologies, the hydrogen auction, the industrial heat auction, a new SME-focused track and a new maritime transport track. The formal IF26 call package, budget and timing have not yet been published, so this should be treated as a planning signal rather than a confirmed final structure.
The significance lies in the two new tracks. An SME window would broaden access to organisations that have historically struggled to compete in large-scale demonstrator calls. A maritime transport window would extend the Innovation Fund into one of the harder-to-decarbonise sectors and complement existing CEF Transport, EMFAF and Horizon Europe Cluster 5 instruments.
SMEs working on industrial decarbonisation, maritime and shipping innovators, large-scale demonstrator projects in clean tech, and consortia preparing future hydrogen or heat auction bids should monitor the IF26 calendar closely.
> 🌍 Programme: Innovation Fund (IF26) > > Funding source: EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) revenues > > Expected windows: net-zero, hydrogen auction, heat auction, SME track, maritime track > > Status: planning signal following the 19 June IF26 consultation, formal call package pending > > Next: IF26 Heat Auction workshop, Tuesday 7 July 2026
> Source: Zabala Innovation, Innovation Fund 2026/2027
If you want a focused, strategically aligned shortlist of the most relevant calls for your organisation, SFP Analysis maps the EU funding landscape against your business strategy.
Featured Calls
These are the most popular calls on Discovery this week. Get in touch if you'd like to find out whether you could be a fit.
> 🛡️ HORIZON-EIC-2026-DEFENCE-01: EIC STEP Defence Scale Up > > Budget: €100M | Deadline: Wednesday 28 October 2026 > > Programme: Horizon Europe / EIC | Status: Forthcoming (opens Tuesday 30 June 2026) > > Thematic Areas: Defence / Security, Deep Tech, Dual-Use Innovation > > Fit signal: Defence and dual-use start-ups, SMEs and small mid-caps scaling critical technologies such as air and missile defence, drones and counter-drone systems, secure communications and resilient cyber-physical systems. Equity-only structure of €10M to €30M per company through the EIC Fund.
> ⚡ RENEWFM-2026-INVEST-TECH-SPEC: Renewable Energy Financing Mechanism (Technology Specific) > > Budget: €54.9M | Deadline: Tuesday 1 September 2026 > > Programme: RENEWFM | Status: Open > > Thematic Areas: Energy, Environment / Climate > > Fit signal: Renewable energy project developers and investors seeking EU co-financing of cross-border renewable generation projects, particularly those focused on specific renewable technologies.
> 🌊 HORIZON-MISS-2026-03-OCEAN-01: Large-Scale Demonstration for Mapping Marine Habitats to Implement the Nature Restoration Regulation > > Budget: €31M total (€7M to €7.75M per project, around 4 grants) | Deadline: Wednesday 23 September 2026 > > Programme: Horizon Europe, Mission Ocean | Status: Open > > Thematic Areas: Environment / Climate, marine, biodiversity, nature restoration > > Fit signal: Marine research institutes, Earth-observation and remote-sensing firms, conservation bodies and government agencies implementing the Nature Restoration Regulation.
> 🌱 LIFE-2026-SAP-NAT-NATURE: LIFE Nature and Biodiversity > > Budget: €166M total (€2M to €13M per project, around 30 grants) | Deadline: Tuesday 22 September 2026 > > Programme: LIFE | Status: Open > > Thematic Areas: Environment / Climate, Agriculture / Agrifood > > Fit signal: Conservation NGOs, public authorities, landowners, nature-based-solution providers and biodiversity-restoration partnerships.
Interested in pursuing any of these calls? Request a free concept note to find out how your organisation fits and what a winning proposal could look like.
New Calls This Week
11 new calls were added since the last SFP Pulse Edition. Highlights below.
EIC STEP (Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform):
HORIZON-EIC-2026-DEFENCE-01 ⇢ EIC STEP Defence Scale Up<br/>Budget: €100M | Deadline: Wednesday 28 October 2026
CEF Digital, Submarine Cable Repair:
CEF-DIG-2026-CABLE-REPAIR-CAPACITIES-WORKS ⇢ Submarine Cable Repair Capacities (Works)<br/>Budget: €40M | Deadline: Thursday 8 October 2026
EIC Pathfinder Challenges:
HORIZON-EIC-2026-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01-02 ⇢ Biotechnology for Healthy Ageing<br/>Budget: €96M (8 grants, €0.5M to €4M each) | Deadline: Wednesday 28 October 2026
PPPA, Regional Cable Hubs:
PPPA-2026-REGIONAL-SUBMARINE-ISM-CABLE-HUBS ⇢ Integrated Surveillance Mechanism, Regional Cable Hubs<br/>Budget: €3.94M | Deadline: Thursday 8 October 2026
Justice Programme 2027 (highlights, all closing 15 October):
JUST-2027-JACC-EJUSTICE-DIGITAL ⇢ e-Justice (Digital)<br/>Budget: €9.4M | Deadline: Thursday 15 October 2026
JUST-2027-JACC-EJUSTICE-RIGHTS ⇢ e-Justice (Victims' and Procedural Rights)<br/>Budget: €9.4M | Deadline: Thursday 15 October 2026
Erasmus+ #BeActive EU Sport Awards (5 prizes, all opening 30 June and closing 17 September):
Five prize calls covering Inclusion, Physical Activity, Volunteering, Across Generations and Peace, open on Tuesday 30 June 2026.<br/>Budget: €25K each | Deadline: Thursday 17 September 2026
Seeing something worth pursuing? Request a free concept note to find out how your organisation fits and what a winning proposal could look like.
Calls Opening This Week
HORIZON-EIC-2026-DEFENCE-01 ⇢ EIC STEP Defence Scale Up, opens Tuesday 30 Jun<br/>Budget: €100M | Deadline: Wednesday 28 October 2026
#BeActive EU Sport Awards (5 prizes) ⇢ #BeActive EU Sport Awards (5 prizes), open Tuesday 30 Jun<br/>Budget: €25K each | Deadline: Thursday 17 September 2026
Seeing a call worth pursuing? Proposal Builder gives you senior co-authoring and expert EU funding support through to submission.
Closing Soon
ERC-2026-ADG ⇢ ERC Advanced Grants<br/>Thursday 27 August 2026
ERC-2026-PLUS ⇢ ERC Plus Grants (any career stage, up to €7M)<br/>Wednesday 2 September 2026
LIFE-2026-STRAT-NAT-SNAP-TWO-STAGE ⇢ Strategic Nature Projects<br/>Thursday 3 September 2026
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-PEX-COVE ⇢ Centres of Vocational Excellence<br/>Thursday 3 September 2026
LIFE-2026-STRAT-ENV-SIP-TWO-STAGE ⇢ Strategic Integrated Projects (Environment)<br/>Thursday 3 September 2026
RENEWFM-2026-INVEST-TECH-SPEC ⇢ Renewable Energy Financing Mechanism (Technology Specific)<br/>Tuesday 1 September 2026
These deadlines are approaching, but there's still enough runway to prepare a competitive proposal. Proposal Builder gives you senior co-authoring and expert EU funding support through to submission.
Upcoming Events
Upcoming events relevant to EU funding and innovation.
Digital Skills EU Days 2026 ⇢ Three-day event launching the AI, Quantum and Virtual Worlds Digital Skills Academies<br/>Date: Monday 29 June to Wednesday 1 July 2026 | Location: Brussels and Online
Mission Soil Investment Forum 2026 ⇢ Soil health investment forum bringing together project developers, investors and Mission Soil stakeholders<br/>Date: Tuesday 30 June 2026 | Location: Brussels and Online
OSOR Workshop: Open Source AI in Public Administrations ⇢ Short workshop on adopting open-source AI in the public sector, 10:00 CEST<br/>Date: Tuesday 30 June 2026 | Location: Online
CEF Digital Info Day on Emergency Submarine Cable Repair Modules ⇢ Info day for the new €40M submarine cable repair call<br/>Date: Thursday 2 July 2026 | Location: Online
Innovation Fund Heat Auction Public Consultation and Stakeholder Workshop ⇢ Public consultation and stakeholder workshop on the upcoming IF26 Heat Auction<br/>Date: Tuesday 7 July 2026 | Location: Brussels and Online
Implementation Dialogue: Attracting and Retaining Research Talent ⇢ Policy dialogue on the EU's strategy for research talent attraction and retention<br/>Date: Friday 10 July 2026 | Location: Brussels
AI Act Workshop on External Evaluators of GPAI Models with Systemic Risk ⇢ Workshop on external evaluators for general-purpose AI models with systemic risk under the AI Act<br/>Date: Wednesday 15 July 2026 | Location: Online
Stay Ahead
🔍 SFP Discovery – Browse open calls and track deadlines in one place: strategicfundingpartners.eu/discovery
🎯 SFP Analysis – Get a tailored shortlist of the most relevant calls for your strategy: strategicfundingpartners.eu/sfp-analysis
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