How EU Business Grants Work
EU grants are non-repayable awards, but they work differently from national grants. Most EU funding is awarded through competitive calls published on the EU Funding and Tenders portal, the single place to find and apply for calls. Some programmes are managed directly by the European Commission, while others are managed jointly with national or regional authorities in each member state. Many calls require a consortium of partners from several countries, while some, such as the EIC Accelerator, accept single companies. Grants usually cover part of eligible costs, so you co-fund the rest, and every call has its own eligibility rules, deadlines, and reporting duties.
Horizon Europe
Horizon Europe is the EU flagship research and innovation programme, with a budget of 93.5 billion euros for 2021 to 2027. It funds collaborative research projects, individual researchers, and innovative companies through three pillars: excellent science, global challenges and European industrial competitiveness, and innovative Europe. For a business, the most relevant parts are collaborative research calls, where companies work with universities and research organisations, and the European Innovation Council, which sits inside the innovative Europe pillar. Calls open and close on fixed dates published on the Funding and Tenders portal.
EIC Accelerator
The EIC Accelerator is the EU flagship programme for startups and small and medium-sized businesses with a breakthrough innovation ready to scale. It offers a grant component of up to 2.5 million euros for innovation activities at technology readiness levels 6 to 8, and an investment component of 1 million to 10 million euros for scaling up. You can apply for grant only, blended finance, or investment only. Applicants must be single startups or SMEs, or individuals intending to set one up, established in an EU member state or a country associated to Horizon Europe. The application has three steps: a short proposal, a full proposal, and an interview with an EIC jury.
Other EU Programmes Worth Knowing
Beyond Horizon Europe, several EU programmes fund businesses directly. LIFE funds climate, environment, and clean energy projects. Erasmus+ funds training, skills, and youth projects, including partnerships between businesses and educators. Digital Europe funds digital capacity, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and advanced digital skills. Interreg funds cross-border cooperation between regions. The Single Market Programme supports SME competitiveness, and Creative Europe supports cultural and creative businesses. Each programme has its own portal pages and calls, so start from the Funding and Tenders portal and filter by your topic.
Who Can Apply: Member States, Associated Countries, and the UK
Eligibility depends on where your company is legally established. Companies in EU member states can apply to most programmes. Companies in countries associated to Horizon Europe, such as Norway, Iceland, and Israel, can also apply to many calls on similar terms. The United Kingdom is associated to Horizon Europe, so UK companies can apply to Horizon Europe calls and to the EIC Accelerator grant, although UK entities cannot receive the EIC equity investment. For programmes outside Horizon Europe, check the call text: some are open only to member states, while others welcome associated countries and, in some cases, third countries.
How to Apply for EU Grants
Register your organisation on the Funding and Tenders portal and get a Participant Identification Code, known as a PIC. Search open calls by topic and read the call text carefully, because eligibility, funding rates, and deadlines vary by call. For consortium calls, build your partnership early: you will need partners from different countries and a clear division of work. For single-applicant programmes such as the EIC Accelerator, prepare a short proposal first and only write the full proposal if you pass the first step. EU applications are long and competitive, so start months before the deadline and treat the call text as the final word on the rules.
Featured Europe grants
Recently verified funding opportunities in Europe
ILGA-Europe Threat & Opportunity Response Fund
ILGA-Europe
The ILGA-Europe Threat & Opportunity Response Fund provides rapid-response grants of up to €10,000 to help LGBTI organisations address urgent political, legal, or social developments affecting their communities. Funding supports activities such as advocacy campaigns, legal interventions, and strategic communications.
RFPs: Environmental Investigative Journalism Grant Programme (Europe)
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The Journalismfund Europe Environmental Investigative Journalism Grant Programme funds cross-border investigations into environmental issues across Europe. It supports professional journalists and media outlets producing in-depth, collaborative reporting on …
Horizon Europe Research Infrastructures 2027 call (HORIZON-INFRA-2027-01)
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The European Commission is inviting grant applications to strengthen the integration of Ukrainian research infrastructures with European research infrastructure networks. With an indicative budget of €8 million, the call aims to support collaboration frameworks, reconstruction …
CFAs: Professional Development for Environmental Journalism Grant Programme
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The Professional Development Grant Programme for Environmental Journalism 2026 provides funding to strengthen environmental investigative journalism across Europe through training, fellowships, and capacity-building initiatives. With a total budget of €225,000 distributed …
Expert Advisory Grant for Strengthening Jewish Collections
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The Expert Advisory Grant for Strengthening Jewish Collections provides up to £2,000 to help not-for-profit organisations in Europe access specialist expertise to improve the management, development, and strategic use of Jewish heritage materials. The grant enables …
Scoping Grants for Jewish Heritage Collections
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The Scoping Grants for Jewish Heritage Collections provide up to £5,000 to European not-for-profit organisations to survey and assess collections related to Jewish history, heritage, or culture. The grant enables organisations to commission expert analysis, produce …