If you're building in AI, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, or deep tech - EU funding exists for you. The problem isn't availability. It's knowing where to look and what programs actually match your stage and sector.
This article covers five open grants in tech and digital right now, plus an overview of the broader EU funding landscape for technology startups.
Why EU Grants Matter for Tech Startups
EU grants are non-dilutive. (Read more about how large EU grants actually are and what they cover) Unlike venture capital, they don't require equity. Unlike loans, they don't require repayment. For early-stage and deep-tech startups, this makes them one of the most valuable funding instruments available - particularly for R&D-heavy projects that are too early for commercial revenue but too advanced for purely academic funding.
The challenge is that EU funding is fragmented. It runs across Horizon Europe, the European Innovation Council (EIC), national programs, and regional development funds. Most founders default to searching for the biggest programs - and miss the ones that actually fit.
Fit matters more than size. Applying to the wrong grant, even a large one, leads to rejection before evaluation. Applying to a smaller program that matches your stage, sector, and TRL level is a more effective use of time.
5 Open Grants in Tech & Digital Right Now
All grants below are verified open as of July 2026 on grantia.se/grants.
Advanced cryptographic schemes & high-speed implementations Up to €4M · Deadline: 15 September 2026
For cybersecurity teams building quantum-resistant cryptographic solutions. This grant targets post-quantum cryptography for secure digital wallets, entity authentication, and critical infrastructure. If your team is working on cryptographic primitives, hardware security modules, or secure identity systems, this is a direct match.
Enhanced resilience in multimodal passenger transport via AI Up to €100M · Deadline: 8 October 2026
One of the largest open grants in digital right now. Targets startups and consortia applying generative and discriminative AI to real-time disruption management across multimodal transport networks. The scale reflects the strategic importance of transport resilience to the EU - and the budget means competition is serious.
Electoral integrity in the digital context Up to €6M · Deadline: 23 September 2026
For organisations developing AI transparency tools and disinformation countermeasures. This program sits at the intersection of technology and democratic governance - a growing priority for EU institutions. Relevant for teams working on content moderation, synthetic media detection, or civic technology.
Digital and media literacy as drivers for democratic resilience Up to €6M · Deadline: 23 September 2026
For teams building scalable programmes to combat polarization and disinformation through digital and media literacy. More education and policy-adjacent than pure tech - but relevant for EdTech startups with a civic or social focus.
Apply AI: Piloting AI-based image screening in medical centres Deadline: 1 October 2026
For healthtech and AI startups developing cloud-based GenAI systems for cancer and cardiovascular screening. This sits at the intersection of digital and health - a strong fit for computer vision teams with medical imaging experience.
Browse all 42 open grants in tech & digital: grantia.se/grants
Beyond These Five: The Broader Tech Funding Landscape
The grants above represent a fraction of what's currently open. Here's how EU tech funding is structured more broadly:
Cybersecurity & Resilience The EU has made cybersecurity a strategic priority. Beyond cryptography, open programs cover AI robustness, hardware security, critical communication systems, and civil security innovation. Most programs target SMEs and research teams - not just large defense contractors.
Space & Deep Tech EU space funding focuses on strategic independence - reducing reliance on non-EU components and suppliers. Open programs cover Earth observation, satellite telecommunications, autonomous space transportation, and quantum technologies for space. If you're building in this space, the EU's priority is sovereignty, not exploration.
Energy & Sustainability For tech teams working on energy systems, open programs cover AI for grid management, data sharing in energy markets, offshore PV, and data center efficiency. The EU's energy agenda runs through both Horizon Europe and the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan.
Digital Infrastructure Grants exist for teams working on positioning and navigation systems, digital border facilitation, and secure communication infrastructure. Less visible than consumer-facing tech, but consistently funded.
How to Apply: What Actually Matters
EU grant evaluation doesn't work the way most founders assume.
Sector fit is not enough. The grant criteria define not just the topic but the expected approach, consortium structure, and technology readiness level (TRL) (read more about TRL and how it affects your eligibility). A strong project in the right sector still gets rejected if it doesn't match the specific program criteria.
Impact is evaluated separately from innovation. EU programs require a clear articulation of societal, economic, and scientific impact - not just a description of what the technology does. This is where many technically strong applications fall short.
Budget alignment matters. The requested budget needs to match the scope of work. Evaluators flag mismatches between ambition and resource allocation as a credibility issue.
Consortium requirements vary. Some programs require multi-country consortia. Others are open to single applicants, SMEs, or startups specifically. Applying as a single entity to a program requiring a consortium is an immediate disqualifier.
Want to Learn How to Actually Win These Grants?
We're running the Grantia Startup Funding Series (find out more about each session and register here) - a free workshop series this summer with hands-on guidance from our grant experts.
Three sessions left:
1.From Research to Story: Tips for Great Science Communication (Nicolas Palanca-Castan)
18 August 2026- Free. Online. Registration required: luma.com/jqk7cqel
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2.EIC Accelerator and Pre-Accelerator for Deep-Tech Startups (Dr. Ayşegül Gündüz)
25 August · Free. Online. Registration required: luma.com/oihsiqih
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3.Common Mistakes in Grant Applications and How to Avoid Them (Kathreena Dimaya)
1 September · Free. Online. Registration required: luma.com/4ikquima
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Every Tuesday at 10:30 CET. Free. Online. Each session ends with a live Q&A.
Learn more and register: Grantia Startup Funding Series
Follow our events calendar to stay updated: luma.com/calendar/cal-fv2HCduSaHi5M5A
Next Steps
If you're a tech or deep-tech startup exploring EU funding, the first step is identifying which programs match your current stage, TRL, and sector - not which ones have the largest budgets.
Browse open grants by topic: grantia.se/grants
Useful Resources
- What Is TRL? The 9-Level Scale That Decides Whether Your EU Grant Application Gets Read - Understanding TRL levels is essential before applying to any EU program. This guide breaks down what each level means and how to assess where your startup sits.
- How Big Are EU Grants Really? - A breakdown of what EU grants actually cover, how large they are, and what you can use them for.
- EU Grants for HealthTech, Diagnostics, and Life Sciences: What's Open Now - If your tech has a health application, this is the companion article to read alongside this one.
- Startup Funding Discovery: Challenges, Insights, and Lessons From Founders - What we learned from surveying founders about how they find funding - and where the system fails them.
- Why Founders Ignore Soft Loans - EU funding isn't just grants. Soft loans are another non-dilutive instrument worth understanding.
- Fundraising Gets Easier After Proof - Why your TRL and proof of concept directly affect which programs you can access.
- Grantia Startup Funding Series - Free workshops on EU funding, grant writing, and EIC Accelerator. Registration open.
Follow our grant calendar:
- Follow the Grantia events calendar on Luma - Stay up to date with new open grants, webinars, and funding workshops every week.