EU Grants for Startups | Open Calls | Application Tips

2026-10-13 12:54

Startup Grants in Europe: The Main Startup Grant in Each of the 27 EU Countries (2026)

TL;DR: which startup grants can I get in Europe?

Every EU country has at least one public scheme for early-stage startups, from Germany's EXIST stipend and France's Bourse French Tech to Spain's NEOTEC (up to €250,000), Sweden's Innovative Startups and Finland's new Sprint Grant. On top of national schemes, three EU grants are open in every country: the EIC Accelerator (up to €2.5 million), Women TechEU (€75,000 for women-led deep tech) and Eurostars for SME-led R&D. Several countries closed their 2026 rounds early, so timing matters. Below: the main startup grant in each of the 27 EU countries, with amounts, eligibility and October 2026 status.

👉 See every grant deadline in our 2026–2027 calendar

Startup grants are the cheapest money a founder can get: no equity, no interest and, if you deliver the project, no repayment. But every country runs its own schemes, with its own names, amounts and windows, and many sources online are out of date. This hub lists the main startup grant in each EU country, checked on official pages in October 2026.

For each country you'll find the programme, the agency, the amount, who can apply and whether it's open now. Where we have a detailed country guide, it's linked. Grants change often, so always confirm on the agency's page before applying, and see who is eligible for European grants for the general rules. For schemes that changed this year, see new grants in 2026.

EU startup grants available in every country

EIC Accelerator: a grant of up to €2.5 million for innovation at technology readiness levels 6–8, plus optional equity of €1–10 million, for startups and SMEs in the EU and associated countries. Short applications can be sent any time; the next full-proposal cut-off is 4 November 2026, according to the European Innovation Council. See our EIC Accelerator guide.
Women TechEU: a €75,000 equity-free grant for women-led deep-tech startups, with about 160 grants in the 2026–28 edition and 40% of the budget reserved for widening countries; next full-proposal deadline 14 January 2027, according to Women TechEU.
Eurostars: joint R&D projects led by an innovative SME with partners from at least two Eurostars countries, funded by each partner's national agency; Call 12 closes on 4 March 2027, according to Eureka.
EIC Pathfinder: up to €4 million for research on breakthrough technologies, usually in consortia; better suited to research teams than early startups.

Startup grants by country: the overview

Country	Main programme	Amount	Status (Oct 2026)
Austria	aws Preseed – Innovative Solutions	Up to €89,000 at 80% (€100,000 at 90% with the gender bonus)	Rolling; a jury meets about quarterly
Belgium (Flanders)	VLAIO Innovatieve starterssteun	Fixed €50,000 subsidy plus expert coaching	Continuous, with monthly pitch days through VLAIO partners
Bulgaria	National Innovation Fund (NIF)	No 2026 national session found	No national session in 2026; Eurostars co-funding only
Croatia	Proof of Concept (Dokazivanje inovativnog koncepta)	€26,500–70,000 at 50–70%	2026 call closed 15 September
Cyprus	PRE-SEED programme	Up to €119,999	2026 call closed 11 September (284 proposals)
Czechia	Technologická inkubace (Technology Incubation)	Up to CZK 5 million (CZK 4.5 million funding plus services)	Last call closed 12 January 2026
Denmark	Innobooster	DKK 200,000–5 million at up to 35%	Pool 4 closes 15 October 2026; four pools a year
Estonia	Starditoetus (Start-up grant)	Up to €20,000 at 80%	2026 budget used up in August; no new round announced
Finland	Sprint Grant	€75,000–100,000 at 75%	Continuous since 1 September 2026
France	Bourse French Tech	Up to €30,000 at 50–70%	Continuous
Germany	EXIST-Gründungsstipendium	€1,000–3,000 a month for 12 months, plus up to €30,000 for materials and €5,000 coaching	Continuous; apply through a university
Greece	Support for new SMEs (ESPA Competitiveness programme)	€30,000–400,000 investment at 45% (plus bonuses)	Closed since February 2024; no new round found
Hungary	STARTUP FACTORY	Paid to startups through technology incubators	Apply through funded incubators' own calls
Ireland	Priming Grant	Up to 50%, usually capped at €80,000	Continuous through your local LEO
Italy	Smart&Start Italia	Zero-interest loan for 80–90% of costs; 30% non-repayable in the Centre-South	Open first-come, first-served
Latvia	Support for knowledge-intensive startups	Up to €150,000 at 50%	Open while funding lasts
Lithuania	ICT startup product and prototype grant	Up to €62,046 per startup	Last round closed March 2025; no 2026 round found
Luxembourg	Fit 4 Start	Up to €150,000 equity-free, plus six months of coaching	2026 call closed in July; next call not announced
Malta	Business Start (B.Start)	Up to €10,000, in three tranches	Open until 30 October 2026
Netherlands	MIT Haalbaarheidsproject (feasibility project)	Up to €20,000 at a 35% rate	2026 window closed on 15 September; next expected around April 2027
Poland	Platformy startowe (Start-up platforms for new ideas)	Up to PLN 600,000, then up to PLN 2 million, at up to 85%	Component IIb open until 10 December 2026
Portugal	StartUP Voucher Innovate	€900 a month for 9 months, plus prizes of up to €5,000	Last call closed in January 2026
Romania	Start-Up Nation România (edition IV)	Up to 250,000 lei (about €50,000), up to 90% of costs	Session 2 course registration opened 6 October 2026; grant session date not yet set
Slovakia	Inovačné poukážky (innovation vouchers)	€2,000–30,000 at up to 85%	Several voucher calls open, including support for EIC Accelerator applications
Slovenia	P2: start-up incentives for innovative companies	€72,000 at 100%, paid over three years	2026 call closed 12 March; next expected around February 2027
Spain	NEOTEC	Up to €250,000 at 70%, or €325,000 at 85% with a PhD hire	2026 call closed 14 May; €5 million reserved for women-led projects (NEOTEC Mujeres)
Sweden	Innovativa startups	Up to SEK 500,000	Open until 12 January 2027

The main startup grant in each EU country

Austria: aws Preseed – Innovative Solutions

Operator: Austria Wirtschaftsservice (aws)
Amount: Up to €89,000 at 80% (€100,000 at 90% with the gender bonus)
Who can apply: Founders before incorporation or companies up to 6 months after registration
Status in October 2026: Rolling; a jury meets about quarterly

Deep-tech projects can get up to €267,000 (€300,000 with the gender bonus) from aws Preseed Deep Tech; the FFG Basisprogramm funds R&D at up to 70% for startups. More in our guide to startup grants in Austria.

Belgium (Flanders): VLAIO Innovatieve starterssteun

Operator: VLAIO
Amount: Fixed €50,000 subsidy plus expert coaching
Who can apply: Small Flemish companies under 2 years old with at least €5,000 equity and a €70,000 project
Status in October 2026: Continuous, with monthly pitch days through VLAIO partners

Wallonia's Startup Boost offers up to €100,000 as a convertible loan rather than a grant. More in our guide to startup grants in Belgium.

Bulgaria: National Innovation Fund (NIF)

Operator: NIF, Ministry of Innovation and Growth
Amount: No 2026 national session found
Who can apply: Registered companies (not startup-specific)
Status in October 2026: No national session in 2026; Eurostars co-funding only

Bulgaria has no pure startup grant open in 2026. A green-technologies grant for SMEs (€77,000–450,000) is open until 10 November 2026. More in our guide to grant opportunities in Eastern Europe.

Croatia: Proof of Concept (Dokazivanje inovativnog koncepta)

Operator: Ministry of Science, Education and Youth
Amount: €26,500–70,000 at 50–70%
Who can apply: Micro, small and medium firms and research organisations at early technology stages
Status in October 2026: 2026 call closed 15 September

Croatia also ran a VALID grant of €80,000–300,000 for young micro and small firms in 2026; watch for the next round.

Cyprus: PRE-SEED programme

Operator: Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF)
Amount: Up to €119,999
Who can apply: Idea or early-product-stage startups
Status in October 2026: 2026 call closed 11 September (284 proposals)

Demand is high: 284 proposals for a €1 million budget in 2026.

Czechia: Technologická inkubace (Technology Incubation)

Operator: CzechInvest
Amount: Up to CZK 5 million (CZK 4.5 million funding plus services)
Who can apply: Pre-seed tech startups in seven sectors
Status in October 2026: Last call closed 12 January 2026

TA ČR's SIGMA programme funds larger R&D projects but isn't startup-specific. More in our guide to grant opportunities in Eastern Europe.

Denmark: Innobooster

Operator: Danmarks Innovationsfond
Amount: DKK 200,000–5 million at up to 35%
Who can apply: Danish SMEs with some prior funding or gross profit
Status in October 2026: Pool 4 closes 15 October 2026; four pools a year

Innofounder pays founders DKK 27,500 a month for 12 months, plus up to DKK 100,000; no call open at the moment. More in our guide to Nordic innovation funding.

Estonia: Starditoetus (Start-up grant)

Operator: EIS
Amount: Up to €20,000 at 80%
Who can apply: Companies up to 3 years old with fewer than 10 employees and low sales
Status in October 2026: 2026 budget used up in August; no new round announced

Estonia is shifting support from grants towards loans and guarantees.

Finland: Sprint Grant

Operator: Business Finland (see Business Finland)
Amount: €75,000–100,000 at 75%
Who can apply: Small Finnish companies under 5 years old without prior Business Finland funding
Status in October 2026: Continuous since 1 September 2026

Sprint replaces the discontinued Tempo funding; applicants first meet a Business Finland expert. More in our guide to Nordic innovation funding.

France: Bourse French Tech

Operator: Bpifrance (see Bpifrance)
Amount: Up to €30,000 at 50–70%
Who can apply: Small and medium companies with an innovation project at the feasibility stage
Status in October 2026: Continuous

Deep-tech startups under one year old can get up to €90,000 from Bourse French Tech Emergence; the i-Lab contest offers up to €600,000 (2026 edition closed in February). More in our guide to startup grants in France.

Germany: EXIST-Gründungsstipendium

Operator: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs (BMWE), via universities (see the EXIST programme)
Amount: €1,000–3,000 a month for 12 months, plus up to €30,000 for materials and €5,000 coaching
Who can apply: Graduates and researchers before founding, teams of up to three
Status in October 2026: Continuous; apply through a university

EXIST-Forschungstransfer funds research-based spin-offs with larger budgets, and EXIST Women supports women at universities. More in our guide to startup grants in Germany.

Greece: Support for new SMEs (ESPA Competitiveness programme)

Operator: Ministry of National Economy and Finance
Amount: €30,000–400,000 investment at 45% (plus bonuses)
Who can apply: Companies being set up or under 12 months old
Status in October 2026: Closed since February 2024; no new round found

Greece has no open national startup grant in 2026; Elevate Greece is the national startup registry.

Hungary: STARTUP FACTORY

Operator: NKFIH (National Research, Development and Innovation Office)
Amount: Paid to startups through technology incubators
Who can apply: Early-stage innovative startups selected by incubators
Status in October 2026: Apply through funded incubators' own calls

Hungarian startups don't apply to the agency directly: incubators pass on grants with at least 20% private co-investment.

Ireland: Priming Grant

Operator: Local Enterprise Offices (LEO)
Amount: Up to 50%, usually capped at €80,000
Who can apply: Micro enterprises in their first 18 months with up to 10 employees
Status in October 2026: Continuous through your local LEO

Enterprise Ireland's New Frontiers programme adds training and a stipend; its Pre-Seed Start Fund is equity, not a grant. More in our guide to startup grants in Ireland.

Italy: Smart&Start Italia

Operator: Invitalia
Amount: Zero-interest loan for 80–90% of costs; 30% non-repayable in the Centre-South
Who can apply: Innovative startups up to 60 months old, or teams about to found one
Status in October 2026: Open first-come, first-served

Strictly a soft loan with a grant share in southern regions; teams of women or under-36s get the higher 90% rate. More in our guide to startup grants in Italy.

Latvia: Support for knowledge-intensive startups

Operator: LIAA
Amount: Up to €150,000 at 50%
Who can apply: Companies up to 5 years old with technology from a registered science institution
Status in October 2026: Open while funding lasts

LIAA also offers innovation vouchers of up to €25,000 per new product.

Lithuania: ICT startup product and prototype grant

Operator: Innovation Agency (Inovacijų agentūra)
Amount: Up to €62,046 per startup
Who can apply: Micro and small companies up to 5 years old
Status in October 2026: Last round closed March 2025; no 2026 round found

Open now: up to €3,500 for startups attending events abroad, until 11 November 2026.

Luxembourg: Fit 4 Start

Operator: Luxinnovation and the Ministry of the Economy
Amount: Up to €150,000 equity-free, plus six months of coaching
Who can apply: Startups up to 5 years old that incorporate in Luxembourg
Status in October 2026: 2026 call closed in July; next call not announced

Later on, the Young Innovative Enterprise aid co-finances up to 70% of growth funding needs.

Malta: Business Start (B.Start)

Operator: Malta Enterprise
Amount: Up to €10,000, in three tranches
Who can apply: Small enterprises up to 5 years old in manufacturing, software, life sciences and other knowledge-based activities
Status in October 2026: Open until 30 October 2026

Malta Enterprise also offers Start-up Finance (a repayable advance) and Accelerate, up to €100,000 for firms under seven years old in a recognised accelerator.

Netherlands: MIT Haalbaarheidsproject (feasibility project)

Operator: Regional operators (no longer RVO)
Amount: Up to €20,000 at a 35% rate
Who can apply: Any SME
Status in October 2026: 2026 window closed on 15 September; next expected around April 2027

For larger amounts, RVO offers loans rather than grants: Vroegefasefinanciering (up to €450,000 for innovative starters up to five years old) and the Innovatiekrediet. More in our guide to startup grants in Netherlands.

Poland: Platformy startowe (Start-up platforms for new ideas)

Operator: PARP (European Funds for Eastern Poland)
Amount: Up to PLN 600,000, then up to PLN 2 million, at up to 85%
Who can apply: Micro and small companies in Eastern Poland after an incubation programme
Status in October 2026: Component IIb open until 10 December 2026

The programme only covers six eastern regions. Nationwide, the FENG SMART path funds larger R&D projects, from PLN 3 million. More in our guide to startup grants in Poland.

Portugal: StartUP Voucher Innovate

Operator: IAPMEI
Amount: €900 a month for 9 months, plus prizes of up to €5,000
Who can apply: Idea-stage founders aged up to 29 without other income, in Norte, Centro or Alentejo
Status in October 2026: Last call closed in January 2026

It's a stipend for young founders rather than a company grant; check IAPMEI for the next call. More in our guide to startup grants in Portugal.

Romania: Start-Up Nation România (edition IV)

Operator: Ministry of Economy (MEDAT)
Amount: Up to 250,000 lei (about €50,000), up to 90% of costs
Who can apply: Founders aged 18–29 who complete a 40-hour entrepreneurship course and set up a new company
Status in October 2026: Session 2 course registration opened 6 October 2026; grant session date not yet set

The grant comes in two steps: a training course first, then a separate application session for the new companies. More in our guide to grant opportunities in Eastern Europe.

Slovakia: Inovačné poukážky (innovation vouchers)

Operator: SIEA
Amount: €2,000–30,000 at up to 85%
Who can apply: Businesses based in Slovakia
Status in October 2026: Several voucher calls open, including support for EIC Accelerator applications

Slovakia has no dedicated national startup grant open in 2026; vouchers are the closest option.

Slovenia: P2: start-up incentives for innovative companies

Operator: Slovene Enterprise Fund (SPS)
Amount: €72,000 at 100%, paid over three years
Who can apply: Micro and small companies registered in the previous year, in smart-specialisation areas
Status in October 2026: 2026 call closed 12 March; next expected around February 2027

One of the most generous early-stage grants in Europe relative to its size, with a short annual window.

Spain: NEOTEC

Operator: CDTI (see CDTI)
Amount: Up to €250,000 at 70%, or €325,000 at 85% with a PhD hire
Who can apply: Small technology companies under three years old with at least €20,000 share capital
Status in October 2026: 2026 call closed 14 May; €5 million reserved for women-led projects (NEOTEC Mujeres)

NEOTEC usually opens once a year in spring. More in our guide to startup grants in Spain.

Sweden: Innovativa startups

Operator: Vinnova (see Vinnova)
Amount: Up to SEK 500,000
Who can apply: Limited companies up to 10 years old with up to 10 employees and SEK 10 million in sales
Status in October 2026: Open until 12 January 2027

The idea must be knowledge-intensive with international potential. More in our guide to Nordic innovation funding.

How to choose the right startup grant

Check your stage. Many schemes only fund companies in their first one to five years, and some, like EXIST, only before you found the company.
Start national. National grants are smaller but usually simpler to apply for than EU programmes, and a national grant can strengthen a later EU application.
Check the window. Some grants are continuous (Germany, France, Finland, Flanders), others open once a year (Spain, Slovenia, Luxembourg) or run until the money runs out (Estonia's 2026 budget was gone by August).
Add EU grants when you're ready: Women TechEU for women-led deep tech, Eurostars for R&D with partners, the EIC Accelerator for breakthrough innovations. Check dates in our grant deadlines calendar.
Stack wisely. You can often combine grants, but never claim the same costs twice; see match funding requirements and state aid rules.

Grants are only one part of a funding stack: see how European grants fund startups and, for women founders, the 2026 funding playbook for female entrepreneurs. For equity-free options beyond grants, see equity-free funding for startups.

Get your grant application ready

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Conclusion: there's a startup grant for you, if you time it right

Every EU country funds startups, but the schemes differ enormously: a €10,000 seed grant in Malta, €72,000 at 100% in Slovenia, up to €250,000 from Spain's NEOTEC, a monthly stipend from Germany's EXIST. Several 2026 rounds closed early or have already run, so the most useful thing you can do today is note when your country's next window opens, prepare in advance and add an EU grant such as Women TechEU or the EIC Accelerator once your project is ready.

FAQ: startup grants in Europe

Which EU country has the best startup grants?

It depends on your stage. Spain's NEOTEC (up to €250,000), Latvia's knowledge-intensive startup grant and Luxembourg's Fit 4 Start (up to €150,000 each) are among the largest; Slovenia's P2 funds 100% of costs; Germany's EXIST pays founders a stipend before they start.

Can I get a startup grant without a company?

Some grants fund founders before incorporation, such as Germany's EXIST and Austria's aws Preseed; others, like Luxembourg's Fit 4 Start, require you to incorporate within months.

What EU grants are available to startups in every country?

The EIC Accelerator (up to €2.5 million), Women TechEU (€75,000 for women-led deep tech), Eurostars for SME-led R&D projects and, for research teams, EIC Pathfinder.

Do startup grants have to be repaid?

Grants don't, provided you carry out the project as agreed. Some schemes listed here, such as Italy's Smart&Start, are mostly zero-interest loans with a grant share.

How much can a startup get in grants?

National startup grants range from about €10,000 to €250,000; the EIC Accelerator grant goes up to €2.5 million.

Are there startup grants for women in Europe?

Yes: Women TechEU at EU level, NEOTEC Mujeres in Spain (€5 million reserved in 2026), Austria's gender bonus in aws Preseed and EXIST Women in Germany.

Which startup grants are open right now?

In October 2026, open or continuous options include EXIST (Germany), Bourse French Tech (France), aws Preseed (Austria), VLAIO's starter support (Flanders), the Sprint Grant (Finland), Vinnova's Innovative Startups (Sweden, until 12 January 2027), Ireland's Priming Grant and Malta's B.Start (until 30 October).

Can I combine national and EU startup grants?

Usually yes, as long as each grant pays for different costs and you stay within state aid limits.

Violetta Bonenkamp, Fe/male Switch co-founder