Women TechEU Returns with €12M for Women-Led Deep Tech, as Australia Joins Horizon Europe and the EU Sets Out Its AI Labelling Rules

15 June 2026 · Strategic Funding Partners

Published 15 June 2026 · SFP Pulse · Weekly Research

> Women TechEU returns with €12M for women-led deep tech founders, Australia joins Horizon Europe from 2027, and the EU finalises its rules for labelling AI-generated content.

This week's EU funding landscape is shaped as much by who can take part as by what is on offer. A new €12 million edition of Women TechEU opens equity-free funding to 160 women-led deep tech founders, Australia concludes its association to Horizon Europe's main collaborative pillar, and the Commission sets out how AI-generated content must be labelled ahead of the AI Act's August transparency deadline. Below you will find the news that matters this week, our featured calls, the new and opening calls, and the deadlines worth planning around.

Top News

🚀 Women TechEU returns with €12M for women-led deep tech founders

Women TechEU is the EU's dedicated support scheme for women-led deep tech start-ups, pairing an equity-free grant with a structured business development programme. It sits within the European Innovation Ecosystems strand and is designed to narrow the persistent funding gap facing women founders in capital-intensive sectors.

A new edition opened for applications in June 2026, putting €12 million behind 160 women-led deep tech start-ups over 2026 to 2028. Each selected company receives a €75,000 equity-free grant alongside coaching and mentoring. The new edition introduces a two-phase application and reserves 40% of the budget for applicants based in Widening countries.

Early-stage, equity-free capital of this kind is rare, and the broad sector scope means the opportunity reaches well beyond any single theme. It is most relevant to women-led deep tech start-ups across digital and industry, climate and energy, and food and environment, along with the incubators, accelerators and ecosystem partners that support them.

> 🚀 Programme: Women TechEU (European Innovation Ecosystems) > > Budget: €12 million > > Grant: €75,000 equity-free per company > > Supported: 160 women-led deep tech start-ups (2026 to 2028) > > Reserved: 40% of budget for Widening countries > > Format: two-phase application

> Source: Open Access Government, 12 June 2026

🌏 Australia and the EU conclude Horizon Europe association negotiations

Horizon Europe association allows non-EU countries to take part in the programme broadly on the same terms as member states, giving their organisations access to collaborative consortia and funding. On 9 June 2026 the European Commission and Australia successfully concluded negotiations on Australia's association.

Australia will associate to Pillar II, the part of Horizon Europe covering the global challenges and industrial competitiveness clusters: digital, industry and space; climate, energy and mobility; and food, bioeconomy, agriculture and environment. Participation is expected from 2027, with signature and entry into force to follow.

For SFP clients this widens the pool of potential international partners across all three Pillar II domains, which matters for any consortium that benefits from Australian research strengths in areas such as space, clean energy, critical minerals and agri-food. Research organisations, universities and companies planning 2027 consortia should factor this in now.

> 🌏 Programme: Horizon Europe (Pillar II association) > > Announced: 9 June 2026 > > Scope: Pillar II (Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness) > > Participation: expected from 2027 > > Next: signature and entry into force

> Source: European Commission, 9 June 2026

🤖 Commission publishes the final Code of Practice on labelling AI-generated content

The AI Act's Article 50 sets transparency obligations for AI systems, including the marking and detection of AI-generated content and the labelling of deep fakes. To help organisations comply, the European AI Office released its final Code of Practice on the transparency of AI-generated content on 10 June 2026.

The code is voluntary, but it is the practical reference point for meeting the Article 50 obligations, which apply from 2 August 2026. Separately, the Commission's consultation on draft guidelines for classifying high-risk AI systems closes on 23 June 2026, a near-term chance to shape how those rules are applied.

This is directly relevant to any organisation building or deploying generative AI within EU-funded projects, particularly Digital and Industry clients, research teams using AI tools, and any consortium where AI outputs reach the public. Reviewing the code now will make later compliance far smoother.

> 🤖 Published: 10 June 2026 (European AI Office) > > Status: voluntary code supporting AI Act Article 50 > > Obligations apply: 2 August 2026 > > Related deadline: high-risk AI classification consultation closes 23 June 2026

> Source: European Commission, 10 June 2026

🛡️ EU adopts its Technological Sovereignty Package, including a Chips Act 2.0 and a Cloud and AI Development Act

On 3 June 2026 the Commission adopted the European Technological Sovereignty Package, a set of measures aimed at strengthening Europe's position in critical digital technologies. It includes a Chips Act 2.0, a Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA) and an Open Source Strategy.

The package signals where future Digital and Industry funding and regulation are likely to concentrate, from semiconductors and cloud infrastructure to AI capacity and open source. Alongside it, the Scaleup Europe Fund launched at the EIC Summit with EQT confirmed as fund manager, targeting €5 billion of late-stage and growth equity for European deep tech scaleups in AI, quantum, cleantech, biotech and space, with first investments expected in autumn 2026.

The package was adopted just outside this week's recency window, so we flag it as developing context rather than breaking news. It is most relevant to semiconductor, cloud, AI infrastructure and deep tech organisations weighing where European policy and capital are heading.

> 🛡️ Adopted: 3 June 2026 > > Includes: Chips Act 2.0, Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA), Open Source Strategy > > Related: Scaleup Europe Fund (€5 billion target, EQT as manager, first investments autumn 2026) > > Relevance: Digital and Industry, deep tech scaleups

> Source: European Commission, 3 June 2026

🏛️ MFF 2028 to 2034 and FP10 move to the June European Council

The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) is the EU's seven-year budget, and FP10 is the next research and innovation framework programme that will succeed Horizon Europe. Both are now moving through the Council. The General Affairs Council on 16 June 2026 holds a policy debate on a draft negotiating box for the MFF 2028 to 2034 and is invited to adopt partial general approaches on its main components, preparing the way for the European Council on 18 to 19 June 2026.

This is the track that carries the FP10 budget question forward. On the programme design itself, the Commission set out its current thinking on European Partnerships under FP10 at a 2 June stakeholder webinar, reported by ERA-LEARN on 9 June: fewer and simpler partnerships built on a portfolio and life-cycle logic, a work-programme-based model as the new default, and partnerships that are tripartite by default across the EU, member states and private or other stakeholders. Open questions remain on what counts as a tangible contribution, and whether industry will be expected to commit more cash rather than in-kind support.

Nothing here is decided, so treat it as developing context. It matters most to consortia planning multi-year partnership activity and to anyone tracking the shape and budget of the programme that will follow Horizon Europe.

> 🏛️ General Affairs Council: 16 June 2026 (MFF 2028 to 2034 negotiating box) > > European Council: 18 to 19 June 2026 > > FP10 partnerships: fewer, simpler, tripartite by default (ERA-LEARN, 9 June 2026) > > Status: developing, not decided

> Source: Council of the EU and ERA-LEARN, 9 June 2026

💻 HaDEA signs three Advanced Digital Skills grants worth €25.4M

The Digital Europe Programme's Advanced Digital Skills strand funds training and capacity building in advanced digital technologies, from AI to cybersecurity and data. On 8 June 2026 HaDEA signed three grant agreements under the call DIGITAL-2025-SKILLS-08, totalling €25.4 million in EU contribution.

The projects include the AI Skills Academy, AISHA, at €6.94 million. Coming shortly after the wider Technological Sovereignty Package, this is a useful signal that the EU is continuing to back digital skills capacity, an area that underpins much of the Digital and Industry agenda.

It is most relevant to digital skills providers, universities, training organisations and consortia active in the Digital Europe space, both as a marker of momentum and as a guide to the kind of activity the programme is funding.

> 💻 Programme: Digital Europe (Advanced Digital Skills, DIGITAL-2025-SKILLS-08) > > Signed: 8 June 2026 > > Total: €25.4 million EU contribution (three grants) > > Includes: AI Skills Academy (AISHA), €6.94 million

> Source: HaDEA, 8 June 2026

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

Featured calls for the week of 16 June 2026

These are calls we think are worth a look this week. Get in touch if you'd like to find out whether you could be a fit.

> 📡 DIGITAL-2026-BESTUSE-RSF-10-AWARENESS: Research Support Framework for Situational Awareness on information integrity > > Budget: €6 million | Deadline: 1 October 2026 > > Programme: Digital Europe Programme | Status: Open > > Thematic Areas: Information integrity, disinformation, digital situational awareness, online platforms > > Overview: This call funds a research support framework that strengthens Europe's ability to detect and understand threats to information integrity, including disinformation and manipulation across online platforms. > > Fit signal: Research organisations, fact-checking networks, digital rights bodies and public authorities building research and tools to strengthen situational awareness on information integrity.

> ⚡ LIFE-2026-CET-OSS: One-Stop-Shops for the clean energy transition in private buildings > > Budget: €9 million | Deadline: 16 September 2026 > > Programme: LIFE (Clean Energy Transition) | Status: Open > > Thematic Areas: Clean energy transition, building renovation, one-stop-shops, energy efficiency > > Overview: It supports integrated one-stop-shops that guide private building owners through the whole home energy renovation journey, from advice to financing and works. > > Fit signal: Local and regional authorities, energy agencies, housing organisations and consortia setting up integrated one-stop-shops for home energy renovation.

> 🌊 HORIZON-MISS-2026-03-OCEAN-01: Large-scale demonstration for mapping marine habitats > > Budget: €31 million (around 4 projects, €7M to €7.75M each) | Deadline: 23 September 2026 > > Programme: Horizon Europe (Mission Ocean) | Status: Open > > Thematic Areas: Marine habitat mapping, Nature Restoration Regulation, ocean and coastal ecosystems, biodiversity monitoring > > Overview: This large-scale demonstration maps the distribution and condition of Europe's marine habitats to build the evidence base needed to deliver the Nature Restoration Regulation. > > Fit signal: Research institutes, marine science organisations, environmental agencies and technology providers mapping the distribution and condition of marine habitats to support the Nature Restoration Regulation.

> 📈 HORIZON-EIC-2026-STEP: EIC STEP Scale Up > > Budget: €300 million | Deadline: 25 November 2026 > > Programme: Horizon Europe (EIC) | Status: Open > > Thematic Areas: Scaleup finance, strategic technologies, deep tech, clean tech > > Overview: It provides major growth finance to help European deep tech scaleups develop and commercialise strategic technologies in fields such as digital, clean tech and biotech. > > Fit signal: Deep tech scaleups developing strategic technologies, and the incubators, accelerators and ecosystem partners that work with them.

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

2 new calls were added since the last SFP Pulse edition. Highlights below.

ESF+:

ESF-2026-AG-TCS ⇢ Transaction Costs Support for social finance intermediaries (forthcoming, opens 18 June) Budget: €4.7 million | Deadline: 23 September 2026

ERDF-TA:

ERDFTA-2026-UAACQUIS22 ⇢ Capacity building for Ukrainian regional policy stakeholders Budget: €240,000 | Deadline: 26 August 2026

Want to browse and track these opportunities (and many more) in one place? Explore them on Discovery, our free personalised dashboard.

Calls Opening This Week

One civilian call opens this week, alongside a large batch of defence calls.

ESF-2026-AG-TCS ⇢ Transaction Costs Support for social finance intermediaries - opens Thursday 18 Jun Budget: €4.7 million | Deadline: 23 September 2026

Seven European Defence Fund calls (EDF, under EDIP) also open on Wednesday 17 June, together worth around €1.27 billion:

EDF-EDIP-P-2027-LS-IRA-PE ⇢ Platforms and end-products - opens Wednesday 17 Jun Budget: €282.15 million | Deadline: 16 February 2027

EDF-EDIP-P-2027-LS-IRA-KEC ⇢ Key electronic components - opens Wednesday 17 Jun Budget: €282.15 million | Deadline: 16 February 2027

EDF-EDIP-USI-2026-LS-IRA-MAB ⇢ Missiles, ammunition and bombs - opens Wednesday 17 Jun Budget: €180 million | Deadline: 13 October 2026

EDF-EDIP-P-2027-FNLC-CPA-GNPS ⇢ Ground and naval platforms and systems - opens Wednesday 17 Jun Budget: €150 million | Deadline: 16 February 2027

> Three more EDF/EDIP calls open this week, spanning air and missile defence systems, C5ISR and space-related products, and unmanned and counter-unmanned systems. View all defence calls on the Funding Navigator.

Stay ahead of new opportunities as they open. Sign up to Discovery for real-time alerts and curated recommendations.

Closing Soon

CREA-MEDIA-2026-FILMOVE ⇢ Films on the Move Thursday 16 July 2026

PPPA-2026-BORN-DIGITAL-HERITAGE ⇢ Safeguarding Europe's Born-digital Heritage Thursday 16 July 2026

SOCPL-2026-SOC-DIALOG ⇢ Support for social dialogue Thursday 23 July 2026

HORIZON-EIC-2026-PRIZE-ICAPITAL-01 ⇢ European Capital of Innovation Award (iCapital) Tuesday 4 August 2026

HORIZON-EIC-2026-PRIZE-ICAPITAL-02 ⇢ European Capital of Innovation Award (Rising Innovator) Tuesday 4 August 2026

EMFAF-2026-PIA-ARCTIC ⇢ Awareness raising about Arctic communities and Indigenous People Thursday 20 August 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.

General Affairs Council: MFF 2028 to 2034 policy debate ⇢ Council policy debate on the negotiating box for the next Multiannual Financial Framework, the track that carries the FP10 research programme budget forward

Date: Tuesday 16 June 2026 | Location: Brussels

European Council: MFF 2028 to 2034 and FP10 budget ⇢ Heads of state and government meet to advance MFF negotiations, with direct implications for the FP10 R&I programme budget

Date: Thursday 18 – Friday 19 June 2026 | Location: Brussels

Innovation Fund IF26 Stakeholder Consultation Event ⇢ Hybrid stakeholder event shaping the scope of the upcoming Innovation Fund 2026 Call for Proposals, hosted by DG CLIMA

Date: Friday 19 June 2026 | Location: Brussels and Online

MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 Call Information Webinar ⇢ UKRO webinar for organisations and researchers preparing applications to the €593M MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call, including Industrial and Joint Doctorates

Date: Thursday 18 June 2026, 10:00–12:00 BST | Location: Online

EIC Info Session: From Lab to Market – Strengthening the Role of Technology Transfer Offices ⇢ Online info session on the HORIZON-EIE-2026-03-CONNECT-01 call, which backs TTOs in bringing EU-funded knowledge to market

Date: Thursday 18 June 2026 | Location: Online

European Startup and Scaleup Hubs Pilot Call Info Session ⇢ Online information session presenting the Horizon Europe pilot call to strengthen innovation ecosystems and connect startups and scaleups across Europe

Date: Tuesday 23 June 2026 | Location: Online

Apply AI Webinar: AI for Cultural, Creative and Media Sectors ⇢ European Commission webinar on AI use cases and sector needs in cultural, creative and media industries, under the Apply AI Strategy

Date: Wednesday 24 June 2026, 10:30–11:30 CET | Location: Online

ERC at Copernicus Festival 2026: Science-Policy Event ⇢ Science-policy event in Brussels co-organised by the European Research Council and the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina

Date: Monday 29 June 2026 | Location: Brussels

Stay Ahead

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