What is STEP Seal?
The STEP Seal (EU Seal of Excellence) serves as an official mark of quality granted by the European Commission to pioneering projects in strategic technology sectors. It was introduced under the STEP Initiative (Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform) to enhance industrial competitiveness and advance EU strategic autonomy.
Who is eligible for the STEP Seal and how is it awarded?
The STEP Seal is automatically granted to projects that successfully pass the evaluation stage under designated STEP calls. Eligible funding programs include Horizon Europe, Digital Europe, the Innovation Fund, the European Defence Fund, and EU4Health.
Securing direct funding is not a prerequisite; a project can receive the seal even if it does not obtain immediate grant funding. However, it must satisfy all quality and strategic criteria set out in the call, demonstrate innovative features with economic potential, and support European self-reliance. The STEP Seal remains valid throughout the project's execution, provided the initiative remains within the EU and starts within 5 years of receiving the recognition.
The STEP Seal is neither a grant nor a direct financial instrument. Instead, this quality certificate verifies that a project has achieved an outstanding level of excellence and directly supports the EU’s strategic objectives, thereby unlocking access to alternative financing opportunities.
Key advantages of obtaining the STEP Seal
For organizations seeking financing, the STEP Seal provides three main advantages:
- Credibility and market visibility: Endorsement by the European Commission acts as a strong seal of trust for business partners, clients, and investors, proving that the project satisfies rigorous European quality criteria and holds strategic relevance.
- Streamlined path to secondary funding: Recognized projects benefit from simplified access to other EU funding schemes and blended financing structures. The seal serves as a springboard toward financial sources that might otherwise be challenging to secure.
- Enhanced investor appeal: The STEP Seal catches the attention of public and private investors both in the Czech Republic and abroad, while increasing project appeal for financial instruments such as InvestEU.
Sectors eligible for the STEP Seal
The seal targets projects operating in key strategic domains prioritized by the EU: digital technologies and deep-tech, clean technologies, defence technologies, and biotechnology. These sectors form the foundation of European efforts to achieve technological self-reliance.
