An innovative element represents an innovative, emerging, or cutting-edge technology with substantial economic potential.
Criteria for assessing an innovative element
When evaluating subsidy applications under the STEP program, a project must meet at least two out of the three following criteria:
- Innovative element – the technology introduces a new solution and a significant improvement over the current state of the art, such as new functionalities, enhanced efficiency, or overcoming existing technological limits.
- Emerging technology – a newly developed technology showing promising growth potential in the EU market with the capacity to transform the industry.
- Cutting-edge technology – the most advanced technology available in the relevant sector within the EU, offering a competitive advantage over third-country solutions.
Economic potential within the STEP framework is assessed as the ability to generate economic value that extends beyond the borders of a single EU member state.
