The Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP): the EU's strategic autonomy in critical technologies.

At a time of profound geopolitical transformations, technological acceleration and tensions in global value chains, the European Union has decided to take a step forward to redefine its role on the global industrial and technological chessboard. The Strategic Technology Platform for Europe (STEP), formally established in February 2024 by Regulation (EU) 2024/795 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 February 2024 , represents the core of this ambitious strategy. Its objective is no less important: to ensure that Europe maintains sovereign control over the critical technologies that will define the continent's economic, social and military future.

The creation of STEP should be understood within the framework of a structural change in the European Union's economic policy. In contrast to the deregulated globalization of previous decades, the new European paradigm is articulated around the idea of open strategic autonomy, a concept introduced by the European Commission in Communication COM (2020) 456 final and further developed in the Strategic Compass for Security and Defense (2022). This framework recognizes that, while Europe must not close itself off from the world, neither can it remain dependent on third countries for essential supplies, technologies and Capabilities .

In addition, there is pressure to accelerate the dual green and digital transition, as set out in theEuropean Green Deal and the Digital Compass 2030. These roadmaps call for a massive transformation of the European production model, based on clean energy, automation, connectivity, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and new forms of mobility. However, achieving these objectives requires technological Capabilities that are currently concentrated outside the EU, especially in China, the United States, South Korea or Japan.

In this context, STEP emerges as the most ambitious financial coordination instrument ever launched by the EU in strategic matters. It is not a new stand-alone program, but a cross-cutting platform that redirects more than 50 billion euros of funding from eleven European instruments, including Horizon Europe, the Innovation Fund, InvestEU, Digital Europe, EU4Health and the European Defense Fund. All of this is aimed at accelerating the development, industrial scale-up and commercialization of critical technologies for Europe's strategic autonomy.

The launch of STEP is also consistent with a number of key laws that make up the new European industrial policy:

• Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 on the Net -Zero Industry Act, which sets the target that at least 40% of the clean technologies needed for the green transition should be manufactured on European soil.
• Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 on critical raw materials (Critical Raw Materials Act), which imposes obligations to ensure access, diversification and recycling of critical materials for digital and green industries.
• The European Chips Act (Regulation (EU) 2023/1781), which sets the target of doubling Europe's share of global semiconductor production to 20% by 2030.
• And the Digital Compass 2030, which establishes concrete goals in technological Capabilities , connectivity, data infrastructure, training and industrial digitization.

STEP, therefore, is not just an investment mechanism. It is the reflection of a structural transformation in the European development model, which revolves around an essential principle: there can be no political autonomy without technological sovereignty. In a world where algorithms, raw materials, semiconductors or digital infrastructures are weapons of geopolitical power, Europe needs to ensure that it has its own means to research, design, produce and protect its most critical industrial Capabilities .

STEP objectives and priority areas.

The strategic core of the STEP Platform is crystal clear: to reduce the European Union's technological and industrial dependencies and to build its own productive and scientific base in sectors considered critical for the security, competitiveness and resilience of the continent. This priority has been recognized by the European Commission in numerous texts, such as the Communication on the review of EU industrial policy (COM (2021) 350 final), which already underlined the need to identify "strategic bottlenecks" and to intervene where Europe's technological autonomy is at risk.

STEP's approach is comprehensive. It is not limited to financing research or subsidizing emerging companies: it is an instrument capable of acting in all phases of the innovation cycle, from the laboratory to the production plant, combining public investment, attracting private capital and stimulating demand. For this reason, its action is based on three major technological blocks: digital technologies and deep tech, clean and efficient technologies, and advanced biotechnology.

1. Digital technologies and Deep Tech.

The development of advanced digital Capabilities is one of the most critical fronts for European sovereignty. The Digital Compass 2030 sets concrete targets such as manufacturing at least 20% of global semiconductors on European soil, 75% of companies using cloud services or artificial intelligence, and all public services being digitized. STEP supports these objectives by acting along several lines:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI): Europe cannot rely on models developed in Silicon Valley or on infrastructures hosted outside its jurisdiction. Therefore, STEP funds the development of European AI models trained on proprietary supercomputing infrastructures (such as EuroHPC) and respecting EU legislation, especially the Artificial Intelligence Regulation adopted in 2024 (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689).
• Quantum computing: the ability to simulate molecular systems, predict financial behavior or break current encryption with quantum computers is geostrategic. STEP promotes the creation of European quantum processors, in connection with flagship projects such as EuroQCI or Quantum Flagship.
• Microelectronics and semiconductors: The European Chips Act (Regulation (EU) 2023/1781) establishes as a priority the construction of semiconductor production "mega-factories" in Europe. STEP contributes to financing these plants, associated infrastructures and R&D projects in advanced microelectronics, an essential element in all modern digital systems.
• 5G and 6G networks: Future mobile networks are the backbone of the digital economy. STEP prioritizes network deployment projects, but also sovereignty in components, such as base stations, communications chips or encryption protocols, in line with the Hexa-X Initiative and the Joint Undertaking on Smart Networks and Services.
• Advanced robotics and automation: STEP finances robotic solutions for manufacturing, smart logistics and personalized medicine. These technologies have a direct impact on productivity and autonomy in key industrial sectors such as automotive, electronics and agribusiness.
• Cybersecurity: in line with the EU Strategy for a Security Union (COM (2020) 605), STEP funds technologies that strengthen the resilience of critical infrastructure, including encryption systems, threat detection, autonomous firewalls and artificial intelligence applied to digital defense.

2. Clean and resource-efficient technologies.

Climate neutrality by 2050, as set out in the European Climate Act (Regulation (EU) 2021/1119), requires a radical change in the way Europe produces and consumes energy. STEP channels investments into technologies that reduce carbon emissions and ensure the continent's energy autonomy:

• Renewable energies: STEP supports the industrial deployment of technologies such as floating solar power, next-generation offshore wind, deep geothermal and tidal power. It also prioritizes energy storage, critical for the stability of renewable grids.
• Green hydrogen: considered an essential vector for decarbonizing sectors such as steel, aviation and heavy transport. STEP finances large-capacity electrolyzers, distribution and storage networks, and projects such as H2Med, included in the Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI).
• Carbon Capture, Use and Storage (CCUS): STEP funds capture technologies in CO₂ intensive industries, such as cement or fertilizers, as well as geological storage facilities, in line with the Green Pact Industrial Plan.
• Electrification of mobility: development of solid-state batteries, advanced materials for electric vehicles and fast charging networks. These technologies are included in the regulatory framework of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR, 2023/1804).
• Smart grids: financing of digital infrastructures that enable dynamic and decentralized energy management, with demand response systems, self-consumption and energy aggregators.
• Circular economy: development of technologies that enable advanced recycling, eco-design or reuse of critical materials (CRM), in line with the Strategy for a Circular Economy Action Plan (COM (2020) 98 final).

3. Biotechnology and strategic health.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need to ensure European capacity to produce vaccines, medicines and essential medical technologies. STEP therefore prioritizes investment in strategic bioproduction, with a particular focus on:

• Modular biologics production platforms: to develop flexible production systems for critical biologic drugs.
• Production of messenger RNA vaccines and new antibiotics, key in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR), in coordination with the European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA).
• Personalized medicine and advanced genetic technologies, within the framework of the European Health Data Space and the EU4Health program, which allocates more than 4.6 billion euros to strengthen European healthcare systems.

The STEP Seal of Excellence: Recognition and acceleration for strategic projects.

One of the most innovative mechanisms introduced by STEP is the STEP EU Seal of Excellence, a tool designed to increase the impact of existing European programs, improve the efficiency of public spending and, above all, give continuity to high-value technological projects that, having demonstrated their technical quality, could not be funded due to budgetary constraints.

This label is an instrument of certification of technical and strategic excellence, awarded directly by the European Commission under its direct management system, and is legally framed within the structure of the Regulation establishing the STEP Platform (Regulation (EU) 2024/795). Its function is comparable to an official quality label that distinguishes projects that have passed all evaluation thresholds but have not been beneficiaries of direct funding in highly competitive calls.

Procurement regime and technical requirements.

The STEP Seal of Excellence does not require a specific application: it is awarded automatically to projects that participate in certain European calls for proposals, exceed the minimum evaluation threshold and meet the formal and financial requirements. Specifically, this seal applies exclusively to projects evaluated in the following key European programs:

• Horizon Europe, the main pillar of European R&D.
• Digital Europe Programme, focused on Advanced Digital Capabilities .
• EU4Health, aimed at strengthening health sovereignty and the biotechnology industry.
• Innovation Fund, which finances clean and low-carbon technologies.
• European Defence Fund, linked to the development of industrial Capabilities in defense.

To be eligible, a project must demonstrate not only technical feasibility and financial solvency, but also direct alignment with STEP's strategic objectives, which are:

1. Contribute to the development or production of the key STEP technologies mentioned above:
   • Digital technologies and deep innovation (AI, semiconductors, cybersecurity, etc.).
   • Clean technologies and resource efficiency (renewables, green hydrogen, storage, etc.).
   • Advanced biotechnology (drugs, vaccines, bioengineering, medical technologies).
2. Addressing the shortage of technical talent and job Capabilities in advanced technology sectors.

In addition, projects must meet at least one of the following strategic criteria to be considered strong candidates for the Seal:

• Incorporate a high degree of innovation with potential impact on the single market.
• Contribute to reducing the EU's structural dependence on key technologies, critical raw materials or industrial Capabilities of third countries.

Advantages of the STEP Seal for project developers.

The possession of the STEP EU Seal of Excellence confers multiple benefits, both direct and indirect, which substantially improve the possibilities of financing, execution and visibility of the project:

• European institutional recognition as a strategic and high quality project.
• Increased visibility with private and institutional investors: projects can be listed on the STEP Portal, in a section specially designed for investors.
• Eligibility for Fast Track calls, acceleration instruments and specific windows that can prioritize projects with a seal.
• Preferential access to national and regional funding: several Member States are putting in place mechanisms to channel national funds to STEP projects.
• Extended validity: the seal remains valid for the entire duration of the project, provided that it begins within five years of its award and is maintained within the European Union.

This system of recognition and reuse of technical evaluation responds to a logic of optimization of public spending and strategic coherence, allowing national, regional or private resources to be aligned with EU priorities without the need to repeat selection processes.

In short, the STEP Label reinforces the effectiveness of the European innovation ecosystem, multiplies the scope of excellent projects and becomes a catalyst for public-private partnerships around critical technologies for Europe's autonomy.

Own Capabilities , PERTEs and the new industrial policy in Spain: the national adaptation of the STEP framework.

The effective implementation of STEP in the Member States requires not only institutional coordination, but also the existence of a robust national architecture capable of absorbing, channeling and scaling the opportunities offered by the European ecosystem. In this sense, Spain is at a particularly propitious moment to align its industrial strategy with the technological priorities established by the European Union through STEP.

The country already has a series of leveraged policies that are fully in line with the logic of strategic autonomy and advanced reindustrialization that inspires STEP. These include the Strategic Projects for Economic Recovery and Transformation (PERTEs), instruments aimed at channeling public-private investments in key sectors. Some of the PERTEs are directly related to STEP's technological pillars:

• The €12 billion microelectronics and semiconductor PERTE ("PERTE Chip") is aligned with the European Chips Act and seeks to strengthen National Capabilities in chip design and manufacturing, a technology recognized as critical by the Commission in its 2023 Critical Technologies Roadmap.
• The PERTE Renewable Energy, Green Hydrogen and Storage (ERHA), focused on the decarbonization of the economy through clean technologies, reflects the same objectives as STEP in terms of energy sovereignty, emissions reduction and technological autonomy.
• The Vanguard Health PERTE, aimed at promoting biotechnology, personalized medicine and the digitalization of the healthcare system, is connected to STEP's third major technological block: healthcare sovereignty and critical bioproduction.
• The PERTE for Industrial Decarbonization, in line with the European Green Deal Industrial Plan, which is also considered strategic within the field of clean technologies and circular economy.

These policies are being reinforced by mature funding instruments such as the CDTI, which acts as a national contact point for several European programs and has launched a specific call linked to STEP in 2025: INNTERCONECTA STEP. This recent line of aid is designed to promote R&D projects in consortium, with a regional approach, oriented to the development of critical technologies, and involving the collaboration of SMEs.

Conclusion.

The European Union's strategic autonomy is no longer an abstract ambition, but an operational necessity that defines its industrial policy, its digital sovereignty and its technological resilience. The STEP Platform materializes this need in a concrete instrument, articulated around a vision: Europe must control the technologies that underpin its economic and social model.

Far from being a simple financial mechanism, STEP is a tool of power. A power that is neither aggressive nor protectionist, but constructive and anticipatory, based on the idea that only with our own Capabilities can we exercise real sovereignty in a world where source codes, algorithms, chips and data are strategic assets on the same level as energy or defense.

Through STEP, Europe seeks to lead the development of critical technologies not only for economic reasons, but also to preserve its decision-making autonomy, its democratic model and its ability to act independently in an increasingly competitive and fragmented global environment. In this sense, STEP is not an end, but a means to shield Europe's future in terms of technology, industry and values.