Money you do not give equity for.

Vinnova's standing grant for very young Swedish companies to develop and verify an innovative idea. The amount is small but there is no equity and no co-financing requirement stated. Most Swedish hardtech founders apply here first.

Next deadline 12 Jan 2027

A staged ladder of grants for energy technology companies: concept development, verification with a customer, pilot and demonstration, then international launch and capital raising support. The concept and verification calls open twice a year. For a Swedish hardtech company in energy, this is the main sector specific source.

Next deadline 27 Sept 2026 (20 days)

Almi's innovation loan finances prototype building, testing and verification before a product reaches the market, with interest set individually and 3 to 5 years repayment. The verification grant pays for external services such as market analysis, novelty search or a simple MVP. Small tickets, but fast and available across Sweden.

Rolling applications

A phased path for Norwegian startups: a small grant for customer and market learning, a larger grant for technical and commercial clarification, then a startup loan for commercialisation. Innovation contracts fund development done together with a demanding pilot customer, which fits hardware well. All schemes take applications continuously.

Rolling applications

Funds R&D heavy innovation projects in companies, 12 to 48 months long, with a significant element of industrial research or experimental development. Thematic calls cover industry and services, energy and transport, oceans, food and enabling technologies. Larger than Innovation Norway's grants and suited to a hardtech company with a real research component.

Rolling applications

Innobooster co-finances knowledge based development projects in Danish SMEs, including hours, external knowledge partners and equipment. Innoexplorer funds the pre-company phase for university and hospital researchers. Together they cover a Danish hardtech idea from lab to SME development project.

Next deadline 23 Sept 2026 (16 days)

EIFO is the Danish state's financing arm. For startups it offers a Match Loan that doubles a private investment without dilution, direct loans and guarantees for companies that already sell, and equity co-investment alongside private investors. It is capital, not a grant, so it complements Innobooster.

Rolling applications

Business Finland is the main public R&D financier in Finland. Sprint is the first grant for a new startup, R&D funding covers larger development and piloting projects as grant or soft loan, and the Deep Tech Accelerator backs research spin-outs. Tempo and Young Innovative Company (NIY) are closed.

Rolling applications

Iceland's main public R&D grant for innovation in industry, with categories that follow a company's growth: seed, Sproti for new companies, Vöxtur for development and Markaður for market entry. Calls open twice a year, with company grants in the autumn round and applied research in the spring round.

Next deadline 15 Sept 2026 (8 days)

Funds the last development steps and market entry of a physical product or deep tech that is too risky for private investors alone. The grant covers TRL 6 to 8 work and the equity part covers scale-up. For a hardtech company this is the largest single EU ticket available without a consortium.

Next deadline 4 Nov 2026

Funds early research on radically new technologies before there is a product. Pathfinder Open has no topic restriction, Pathfinder Challenges fund set themes. Relevant for a hardtech startup that works with a university on the science behind a future product.

Next deadline 28 Oct 2026

Takes a lab result from a previous EU funded project to a validated technology at TRL 5 or 6 and a business case. It bridges the gap between research grants and the Accelerator. Only relevant if your technology comes out of an eligible EU project.

Next deadline 16 Sept 2026 (9 days)

Funds collaborative product development between SMEs in different countries, with a research partner allowed. Good fit for a hardtech company that has a supplier or customer abroad and wants both sides funded. Applications are assessed centrally, money comes from your national agency.

Next deadline 10 Sept 2026 (3 days)

The large collaborative EU research calls for manufacturing, materials, digital, space, batteries, energy and mobility technologies. Deadlines are fixed per call and topics are prescriptive, so a hardtech startup normally joins a consortium led by a larger company or research institute. Best used for TRL 4 to 7 work that needs several European partners.

Next deadline 15 Sept 2026 (8 days)

Nordic Innovation runs thematic calls rather than a standing startup grant. Current calls target secondary critical raw materials value chains (verification of material streams, process testing, pilots) and preparation of Horizon Europe raw materials proposals. Relevant for hardtech companies in materials, recycling and process technology that can form a 3 country Nordic team.

Next deadline 23 Sept 2026 (16 days)