As part of ongoing efforts to reinforce Ukraine’s innovation capacity amid Russia’s military invasion, the European Innovation Council (EIC) has announced to make €20 million of funding available for Ukrainian deep-tech start-ups and SMEs. The initiative aims to accelerate the development of transformative technologies and integrate Ukrainian innovators more deeply into European markets.
The new funding builds on the foundation laid by the Seeds of Bravery project, a dedicated support measure under EIC Work Programme 2022. Launched in the wake of Russia’s full scale military invasion, Seeds of Bravery has supported Ukrainian tech companies with financial support and business services. It also helped them integrate into EU innovation ecosystems. While the initiative has delivered valuable support, it also revealed a clear need for further targeted assistance — particularly for the most promising companies that are now ready to scale.
With this new action, the EIC addresses that gap by focusing on high-impact deep-tech innovations in sectors such as artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology, cybersecurity and other priority areas for Ukraine. Eligible companies can apply for grants of up to €500 000 to develop their technologies to move to market deployment (from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 to TRL 6–7). Around 40 projects are expected to receive funding. There will be a special emphasis on women-led enterprises to promote inclusivity in Ukraine’s tech landscape.
This initiative underscores the EU’s broader commitment to fostering innovation-led recovery and economic resilience in Ukraine. By supporting breakthrough technologies capable of entering and reshaping markets, this action aims to attract private investment and enhance commercialisation pathways for Ukrainian innovators. It will also reinforce the integration of Ukrainian start-ups into the wider European innovation ecosystem and advance its long-term economic alignment with the European Union.
The call opens on 12 August and the deadline for applications will be on 26 November 2025.
For detailed information on the call, including its conditions and requirements, please visit the dedicated EU Funding & Tenders Portal page.
