The European Commission has released the first 130 projects being awarded the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) Seal, the EU quality label awarded to the high-quality projects contributing to the STEP objectives.

The STEP Seal is granted to projects that fulfill all the quality criteria set out in the calls for proposals across five EU funding programmes: the Digital Europe Programme, the European Defence Fund, EU4Health, Horizon Europe, and the Innovation Fund.  

In October 2024, the European Commission allocated grants to 85 net-zero projects under the Innovation Fund Call 2023. These funded projects, along with an additional 39 high-quality but unfunded initiatives, were recognized with the STEP Seal. 

Out of the €4.8 billion in funding awarded under the IF call 2023, €1.6 billion was specifically allocated to hydrogen-related projects. This represents 33.3% of the total funding, closely aligning with the approximately 30% of awarded projects focused on hydrogen. 

Hydrogen-related projects were strongly represented as recipients of the STEP seal. In total, 39 hydrogen-related projects received the STEP seal (30% of total recipients). Out of these, more than two-thirds of projects with the STEP Seal secured funding, with only 12 projects not awarded EU grants. Among the 12 unfunded projects, the breakdown of focus areas is as follows: 

• 3 projects aimed at ammonia production. 

• 3 projects proposed e-methanol production. 

• 1 project focused on SMR + CCUS. 

• 1 project targeted renewable hydrogen production. 

• 1 project targeted renewable hydrogen and ammonia production. 

• 1 project focused on the manufacturing of a hydrogen-power loader for industrial use. 

In total, hydrogen projects that received the STEP seal requested €2.98 billion in funding. Of this amount, €1.28 billion is still being raised by the above mentioned 12 projects, which the STEP seal is expected to help secure. 

Of all projects achieving the STEP seal, 19 (48%) include a Hydrogen Europe member either as participant or coordinator, highlighting the organization’s strong presence in this funding round. 

This label aims to attract both public and private funding, providing projects with enhanced visibility, access to advisory services, and facilitating funding from EU budget instruments, thereby fostering innovation in sustainable and digital technologies. 

For more information: First list of STEP Seals