2025 is half way through but the wonderful funding opportunities for startups across Europe are still here, thanks to new EU funding calls that promise to fuel innovation, boost industrial capacity, and support sustainable growth.
This year's funding programs are diverse, spanning various sectors including digital, research, arts, business, and education. Here's a quick rundown of some notable opportunities that you simply can't afford to overlook.
This year's funding programs are diverse, spanning various sectors including digital, research, arts, business, and education. Here's a quick rundown of some notable opportunities that you simply can't afford to overlook.
1. EU’s Digital Strategy and Artificial Intelligence
The EU’s Digital Strategy aims to create a resilient Europe for the Digital Decade, promoting research and industrial capacity, with a strong focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI). The European approach to artificial intelligence supports trustworthy AI development by making €134 billion available through initiatives such as the EU Cybersecurity Strategy, the Data Act, and the Data Governance Act.
2. European Investment Fund (EIF)
As one of the largest InvestEU implementing partners, the European Investment Fund aims to generate around €145 billion in investments for businesses. These investments will support various thematic areas such as innovation, digitalisation, climate, impact, culture, and skills. The EIF provides a broad range of financial products including guarantees, equity, and capacity-building investments designed to improve access to finance for smaller companies and mid-caps.
3. Financial Sustainability for European Universities
Working Together Towards Financial Sustainability for European Universities discusses the need for sustainable funding mechanisms amid rising costs for teaching and research. Universities are encouraged to explore additional funding options while relying on public funding and maintaining necessary autonomy. This means that startups focusing on academia, research, and educational technologies will find promising opportunities within this framework.
4. Creatives Unite for Arts and Culture
The So You Need Money! initiative is a valuable resource for funding in the creative industries. Whether you are an artist, a creative professional, or an entrepreneur in the cultural sector, Creative Unite offers substantial funding opportunities by connecting you with potential investors and financial support schemes custom-designed for creative projects.
5. Diverse Grants Closing in February
For a more immediate opportunity, over 150 grant opportunities are closing this February across various sectors. Presented by Funding Aid Strategies Investments (FASI) and 150+ Opportunities Closing This February – Apply Now!, these opportunities include the “la Caixa” Foundation’s CaixaImpulse Innovation Programme, the Crossing Borders - Journalism Competition by Canal France International Media Development, and many more. These grants cater to fields such as research, arts, business, education, and community initiatives.
How to Apply
For those ready to dive into applications, the EU Funding & Tenders Portal is your go-to resource. It offers comprehensive guides on how to apply for various calls, step-by-step application procedures, and crucial deadlines for submissions.
By exploring the links and initiatives mentioned, you will be well-equipped to navigate the EU funding landscape and secure financial support for your innovative projects. Stay proactive, and make the most out of these golden opportunities in 2025!
FAQ
1. What is the EU’s Digital Strategy and what does it offer?
The EU’s Digital Strategy aims to create a resilient Europe for the Digital Decade with a focus on promoting trustworthy Artificial Intelligence (AI). The initiative makes €134 billion available through various programs such as the EU Cybersecurity Strategy, the Data Act, and the Data Governance Act. Learn more about the European approach to Artificial Intelligence.
2. What is the European Investment Fund (EIF) and how does it support businesses?
The European Investment Fund (EIF) generates around €145 billion in investments for businesses across Europe. It provides financial products like guarantees, equity, and capacity-building investments to support smaller companies and mid-caps. Find out more about the EIF.
3. How can European universities achieve financial sustainability?
European universities are encouraged to explore additional funding options while maintaining necessary autonomy and relying on public funding, as discussed in the "Working Together Towards Financial Sustainability for European Universities" initiative. Learn more about financial sustainability for European universities.
4. What funding opportunities are available for artists and creative professionals?
The "So You Need Money!" initiative by Creatives Unite connects artists and creative professionals with potential investors and funding schemes designed for creative projects. Discover funding opportunities for creatives.
5. Are there any urgent grant opportunities for February?
Yes, over 150 grant opportunities are closing this February across various sectors including research, arts, business, education, and community initiatives. Some notable ones include the CaixaImpulse Innovation Programme and the Crossing Borders–Journalism Competition. Apply now for these grant opportunities.
6. How do I apply for EU funding opportunities?
To apply for EU funding opportunities, visit the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for comprehensive guides, application procedures, and deadlines. Start your application process here.
7. What are the primary sectors targeted by the new EU funding calls in 2025?
The new EU funding calls in 2025 target various sectors including digital, research, arts, business, and education. This diverse range ensures comprehensive support for innovation and sustainable growth across Europe.
8. How does the EU support AI development?
The EU supports AI development through its Digital Strategy, which includes initiatives like the EU Cybersecurity Strategy, the Data Act, and the Data Governance Act, offering a total of €134 billion to promote trustworthy AI. Learn more about the European approach to AI.
9. How can smaller companies benefit from the European Investment Fund (EIF)?
Smaller companies can benefit from the EIF through various financial products including guarantees, equity, and capacity-building investments aimed at improving access to finance. Explore EIF’s support for smaller companies.
10. What is the goal of the "So You Need Money!" initiative?
The goal of the "So You Need Money!" initiative is to offer substantial funding opportunities and connect artists, creatives, and cultural entrepreneurs with potential investors and custom-designed financial support schemes. Discover more about the initiative.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about best hotels in Italy to work from.
