STEP FENG
Which projects qualify for funding?
STEP (Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform) is a new instrument being implemented in Poland under the FENG (European Funds for a Modern Economy) program. Its goal is to support research and development, as well as investments in the production deployment of so-called critical technologies. These include digital technologies and deep-tech innovations, clean and resource-efficient solutions, and biotechnology. The STEP European funds also provide for the financing of projects within supply chains, i.e., suppliers of machinery, components, raw materials, or services for these critical technologies. The total budget for the instrument is EUR 901 million and will consist of two schemes:
R&D for Critical Technologies
Under the R&D scheme, STEP funding will be available for research and development projects aimed at introducing an innovative, cutting-edge, and breakthrough element with significant economic potential into the EU internal market.
Investment in Manufacturing Critical Technologies
Under the investment scheme, STEP grants will be available for projects involving the deployment of critical technologies—or their components, machinery, raw materials, and services—into the EU internal market. The aim of these projects must be to combat the EU's strategic dependencies or to introduce an innovative, cutting-edge, and breakthrough element with significant economic potential.
STEP FENG Programme
Who can apply?
The STEP program is open to SMEs as well as enterprises other than SMEs (large enterprises). Additionally, under the R&D scheme, it is available to consortia consisting of enterprises and research organizations. An applicant for a STEP grant in the investment scheme must be an enterprise that has been operating in Poland for at least 36 months (3 closed financial years) and has achieved revenue in at least one of the last three financial years equal to at least 20% of the planned eligible costs of the project. An applicant for STEP FENG funding under the R&D scheme must be an enterprise that has been operating in Poland for at least 24 months.
STEP Funding
Eligible Costs for Support
STEP funding under the investment scheme provides the opportunity to co-finance costs including, among others, the purchase of fixed assets, intangible assets, and construction works. The eligible costs for STEP funding under the R&D scheme are:
remuneration of the R&D team
subcontracting of R&D work
fixed assets as part of a prototype
purchase of laboratory equipment
research materials and raw materials
depreciation or leasing of research equipment
depreciation or cost of using intangible assets
rental of laboratory space
ancillary external services
indirect costs
STEP Grant
What are the grant levels?
The STEP grant offers funding in the form of public aid for research and development projects (R&D scheme) and in the form of Regional Investment Aid (investment scheme). The latter will be additionally increased by 5–20%, depending on the size of the enterprise and the location of the investment. A STEP grant in the R&D scheme can reach up to PLN 140 million, with a minimum eligible cost value of PLN 7 million. Funding in the investment scheme can reach up to PLN 150 million, with a minimum eligible cost value of PLN 10 million. Below, we present the support intensity ranges for selected types of investments.
Funding in the R&D scheme:
-
micro and small enterprises: 60%–80%
-
medium-sized enterprises: 50%–75%
-
large enterprises: 40%–65%
-
research organizations: 100%
Funding in the investment scheme – base rates excluding STEP bonuses (according to the map below):
Choose the province whose level of funding you are interested in
Woj. dolnośląskie w wyjątkiem Wrocławia:
- 45% dla małych przedsiębiorstw
- 35% dla średnich przedsiębiorstw
- 25% dla dużych przedsiębiorstw
Wrocław:
- 40% dla małych przedsiębiorstw
- 30% dla średnich przedsiębiorstw
- 20% dla dużych przedsiębiorstw
Kujawsko-pomorskie
- 60% dla małych przedsiębiorstw
- 50% dla średnich przedsiębiorstw
- 40% dla dużych przedsiębiorstw
Lubelskie
- 70% dla małych przedsiębiorstw
- 60% dla średnich przedsiębiorstw
- 50% dla dużych przedsiębiorstw
Lubuskie
- 60% dla małych przedsiębiorstw
- 50% dla średnich przedsiębiorstw
- 40% dla dużych przedsiębiorstw
Łódzkie
- 60% dla małych przedsiębiorstw
- 50% dla średnich przedsiębiorstw
- 40% dla dużych przedsiębiorstw
Małopolskie
- 60% dla małych przedsiębiorstw
- 50% dla średnich przedsiębiorstw
- 40% dla dużych przedsiębiorstw
0% dla MŚP i dużych przedsiębiorstw w: M.St. Warszawa, gminach: Izabelin, Łomianki, Ożarów Mazowiecki, Stare Babice, Milanówek i Podkowa Leśna; części powiatów: legionowski, miński, otwocki, wołomiński, nowodworski, piaseczyński, pruszkowski (bez gmin wskazanych poniżej)
45% dla małych przedsiębiorstw w gminach: Błonie, Góra Kalwaria, Kampinos, Leoncin, Leszno, Nasielsk, Prażmów, Tarczyn, Zakroczym, Jaktorów, Grodzisk Mazowiecki, Żabia Wola, Baranów.
55% dla małych przedsiębiorstw w gminach: Dąbrówka, Dobre, Jadów, Kałuszyn, Kołbiel, Latowicz, Mrozy, Osieck, Serock, Siennica, Sobienice-Jeziory, Strachówka i Tłuszcz.
60% dla małych przedsiębiorstw na pozostałym obszarze województwa
70% dla małych przedsiębiorstw w powiatach: garwoliński, łosicki, sokołowski, węgrowski, siedlecki, m. Siedlce
Poziom dofinansowania dla średnich przedsiębiorstw jest niższy o 10% od wskazanego powyżej, a dla dużych przedsiębiorstw niższy o 20%
Opolskie
- 60% dla małych przedsiębiorstw
- 50% dla średnich przedsiębiorstw
- 40% dla dużych przedsiębiorstw
Podkarpackie
- 70% dla małych przedsiębiorstw
- 60% dla średnich przedsiębiorstw
- 50% dla dużych przedsiębiorstw
Podlaskie
- 70% dla małych przedsiębiorstw
- 60% dla średnich przedsiębiorstw
- 50% dla dużych przedsiębiorstw
Pomorskie
- 50% dla małych przedsiębiorstw
- 40% dla średnich przedsiębiorstw
- 30% dla dużych przedsiębiorstw
Śląskie
- 50% dla małych przedsiębiorstw
- 40% dla średnich przedsiębiorstw
- 30% dla dużych przedsiębiorstw
Świętorzyskie
- 70% dla małych przedsiębiorstw
- 60% dla średnich przedsiębiorstw
- 50% dla dużych przedsiębiorstw
Warmińsko-mazurskie
- 70% dla małych przedsiębiorstw
- 60% dla średnich przedsiębiorstw
- 50% dla dużych przedsiębiorstw
Wielkopolskie
z wyjątkiem Poznania
- 45% dla małych przedsiębiorstw
- 35% dla średnich przedsiębiorstw
- 25% dla dużych przedsiębiorstw
Poznań
- 40% dla małych przedsiębiorstw
- 30% dla średnich przedsiębiorstw
- 20% dla dużych przedsiębiorstw
Zachodnio-pomorskie
- 60% dla małych przedsiębiorstw
- 50% dla średnich przedsiębiorstw
- 40% dla dużych przedsiębiorstw
Securing STEP Grants
Current Calls for Proposals in 2026
Current competition schedules for STEP funding can be followed on the PARP (SMEs) and NCBR (large enterprises and consortia) websites, as well as on our blog and in the news section.
Case studies
Consultancy in drafting a STEP application
Read 
FAQ.
What costs qualify in the STEP R&D scheme?
Eligible costs include: salaries of the R&D team, subcontracting, purchase of small laboratory equipment, materials and raw materials, depreciation of apparatus and intangible assets, rental of laboratory space, project promotion and indirect costs.
What costs qualify in the STEP investment scheme?
In the investment scheme, the following are eligible for funding: Fixed assets: machinery, equipment, production lines, Intangible assets, Construction works: necessary for the implementation of the critical technology.
What is the funding level in the STEP R&D scheme?
The intensity of support depends on the size of the company and the type of work: Micro and small companies: 60–80% Medium-sized companies: 50–75% Large companies: 40–65% Research institutions: 100%
What is the funding level in the STEP investment scheme?
The scheme applies Regional Investment Aid dependent on location (e.g. 30–70%). The key advantage of STEP is a special bonus in the amount of 5% to 20% added to the standard regional rates, depending on the size of the company and the region.
What is the maximum grant in STEP?
Funding amounts depend on the chosen scheme: R&D scheme: grant up to PLN 140 million (min. costs: PLN 7 million). Investment scheme: grant up to PLN 150 million (min. costs: PLN 10 million).
How does the R&D scheme differ from the investment scheme in STEP?
The R&D scheme finances research and development works, the result of which is an innovative solution with high market potential. The investment scheme finances the implementation on the EU market of critical technologies — purchase of fixed assets, intangible assets and construction works.
Who accepts applications in the STEP program?
Intermediate institutions are: PARP: applications in the investment scheme. NCBR: applications in the R&D scheme.
What is the STEP Instrument?
STEP (Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform) is an instrument implemented in Poland under the FENG program, financing research, development and investments in critical technologies for the EU: digital and deep-tech, clean and resource-efficient, biotechnologies. The total budget of the instrument is EUR 901 million.
Who can apply for a STEP grant?
SMEs and large enterprises can apply for funding (in both schemes), and additionally in the R&D scheme consortia of enterprises with research institutions. Tenure requirements: Investment scheme: min. 36 months of operation and revenues of min. 20% of project costs. R&D scheme: min. 24 months of operation.
What technologies does STEP finance?
STEP finances projects in so-called EU critical technologies: digital technologies and innovations based on deep-tech, clean and resource-efficient solutions (cleantech, circular economy), biotechnologies. Projects from the supply chains for these technologies are also financed — suppliers of machinery, components, raw materials and services.
Why
innology?
The R&D application process requires a rare combination of technical expertise, formal regulatory knowledge, and an understanding of evaluation logic. Errors often lead to rejection—rejection rates in the STEP exceed 80%.
PLN 800+ million
We have obtained more than PLN 800 million in non-refundable grants for R&D projects for our clients.
13+ years
For over 13 years, we have gained deep expertise in R&D&I instruments.
Ranked #1
Recognized as a leader in efficiency for R&D grant acquisition by Fundusze Europejskie magazine.
We are available
Wondering if your company has a chance for funding? Looking for more information? Contact us
Szymon Łokaj
szymon.l@innology.pro 
501014779 
Szymon Łokaj