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# European Innovation Council opens EUR 100 million call to defence start-ups
- URL: https://sovereigntymonitor.eu/news/2026-06-17-eic-opens-defence-dual-use-call/
- Published: 2026-06-17T12:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-01T10:50:19.000Z
- Description: The European Innovation Council opened its funding instruments to defence and dual-use technology for the first time, launching a EUR 100 million STEP Defence Scale Up call offering up to EUR 30 million in direct equity per project.
- Author: Reidar Balstad
- Tags: Industry, investment and R&D, Policy and law, #news, #verified

Verified [European Innovation Council press release, 17 June 2026](https://eic.ec.europa.eu/news/european-innovation-council-opens-defence-and-dual-use-technologies-2026-06-17%5Fen?ref=sovereigntymonitor.eu)

**What it does not test.** Does not commit funding to any named company, since applications for the call only open on 30 June 2026.

**How this item counts.** No movement: no answer to who owns, who operates, whose law governs or who made the parts changes. Weight 0\. EU launches EUR100M defence start-up call, EU-wide; no company funded yet, applications open 30 June.. [European Sovereignty Index](https://sovereigntymonitor.eu/sovereignty-index/)