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Accadueo, the landmark event for the water sector committed to supporting its community, highlights a new and important funding opportunity aimed at companies that develop or apply clean, digital, and sustainable technologies: the STEP call – Strategic Technologies for Europe, published by the Emilia-Romagna Region.
The initiative is part of the Regional ERDF Programme 2021-2027 and aims to support high-tech entrepreneurial projects by offering non-repayable grants.
Three strategic areas for industrial transformation
The call promotes the implementation of projects in three strategic sectors:
- Ecological transition: technologies for energy efficiency, emissions reduction, sustainable use of resources and materials
- Industrial digitalization: IoT solutions, automation, advanced sensor technology, and intelligent process control
- Sustainability and security: resilient and innovative projects capable of responding to environmental, energy, and climate challenges
The objective is to foster the development and production of high-impact critical technologies capable of strengthening the competitiveness and sustainability of companies in Emilia-Romagna.
Who can participate: requirements to access the STEP call
The call is aimed at:
- Companies (SMEs and large) established as capital companies (e.g., limited liability companies, joint-stock companies)
- Companies with a registered office or active operational unit in Emilia-Romagna, or that commit to activating one by December 31, 2026
Each company can submit only one application. Companies in liquidation, in difficulty, or not in compliance with legal obligations are excluded.
Project characteristics
Projects must concern clean and digital technologies, capable of:
- Bringing innovative, emerging, and cutting-edge elements;
- Contributing to the reduction of the European Union's strategic dependencies;
- Being placed on the market and generating a concrete economic impact.
Research and development activities are eligible only if strictly linked to productive investments (with the exception of deep tech projects) and must have a minimum TRL of 6.
Financial endowment and type of contribution
The total endowment of the call is 30 million euros, divided as follows:
- 25 million for productive investment projects in technologies considered strategic at the European level;
- 5 million for industrial research and experimental development projects aimed at improving sustainability, security, and technological autonomy.
The contribution will be granted in the form of a non-repayable grant with differentiated percentages based on the size of the company and the type of project:
- Up to 60% for small enterprises;
- Up to 50% for medium-sized enterprises;
- Up to 40% for large enterprises.
The maximum fundable amount can reach 1.5 million euros for productive investments and 500,000 euros for R&D projects.
Timelines and methods for submitting the application
Applications can be submitted from 1:00 PM on May 20, 2025, until 1:00 PM on June 19, 2025, exclusively through the IT platform Sfinge 2020.
ACCESS THE SFINGE 2020 PLATFORM
Specific technical attachments are required, including:
- company documentation;
- technical report of the project;
- economic-financial plan;
- materials related to the regional Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3).
Conclusions
The STEP call is a concrete opportunity for companies wishing to invest in sustainable and digital technologies capable of strengthening their competitive positioning at the European level.
In a context where efficiency, digitalization, and strategic autonomy have become fundamental pillars for industrial development, investing in this sector means building the foundations to face future challenges.
