EU-funded projects in strategic technologies: first list of STEP-labelled projects

The European Commission has published the first 130 projects to be labelled by the Strategic Technologies for Europe (STEP) platform. The label aims to raise the profile of promising projects in the fields of clean, resource-efficient and digital technologies and help them attract additional public and private funding.

Quality label for 18 projects in Germany – including seven from Bavaria

In Germany, 8 projects have been awaded the seal of approval – including seven from Bavaria. BayFOR provided application support for three of the Bavarian projects:

1. ‘Proton Smart Factory: Automated Series Production Of Unique Proton Motor Fuel Cell Stacks And Systems For Stationary And Mobile Applications’ by Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH
2. ‘Revolutionizing Energy: Scaling Manufacturing Of Innovative, Reversible, Highly Efficient, Carbon-Negative Power Plants’ by Reverion GmbH
3. ‘Boosting Implementation Of Cleantech Electric Power Steering’ by Knorr-Bremse AG

The full list is published here (‘STEP Seals Dashboard’).

Helping European industry, boosting investment in critical technologies

The Strategic Technologies for Europe (STEP) platform has been set up by the EU to support European industry and boost investment in critical technologies in Europe. STEP channels and leverages funding from 11 existing EU programmes into three target investment areas: digital technologies and deep-tech innovation; clean and resource-efficient technologies; and biotechnologies.

Examples of projects

The first 130 STEP labelled projects aim to develop cutting-edge clean technologies, with a focus on energy and industry (Innovation Fund) and digital technologies for space applications (Horizon Europe/Space).

Examples of breakthrough innovations include the development of components for offshore wind towers (Poland), a novel sea freight service using hydrogen cells (Netherlands), the production of photovoltaic panels (Italy), CO2 capture for storage technologies (Denmark) and radiation-hardened integrated circuits for space applications in several countries.

Background

The European Commission awards STEP labels to all projects that contribute to the STEP objectives. They also have to meet the quality requirements of the calls for proposals under five EU programmes financed by the EU budget: the Innovation Fund, the Digital Europe Programme, the European Defence Fund, the EU4Health programme and the Horizon Europe research programme Projects that have been awarded a STEP label are listed on the relevant portal.

The Commission will actively promote these projects to public funding bodies (e.g. the managing authorities of the Cohesion Funds and under the Recovery and Resilience Facility) and private investors.

Source: European Commission