Digital technologies include core capacities and technologies supported under the Digital Europe Programme, to ensure broad uptake across businesses, public administrations and society, boosting digital transformation and EU resilience. The areas covered include:
Advanced semiconductors technologies
Artificial intelligence technologies
Quantum technologies
Advanced connectivity, navigation, and digital technologies
Deep tech innovation should be understood as innovation with the potential to deliver transformative solutions, rooted in cutting-edge science, technology, and engineering, including innovation that combines advances in the physical, biological, and digital spheres. Deep tech innovation may be cross-cutting and found at the intersection across the digital technologies, clean and resource efficient technologies, and biotechnologies.
Clean tech
Clean tech includes technologies, services or processes designed to increase resource or energy efficiency, reduce pollution or waste, and contribute to environmental protection and decarbonisation. The areas covered include:
Solar technologies
Onshore wind and offshore renewable technologies
Battery and energy storage technologies
Heat pumps and geothermal energy technologies
Hydrogen technologies
Sustainable biogas and biomethane technologies
Carbon capture and storage technologies
Electricity grid technologies
Nuclear fission technologies
Sustainable alternative fuels technologies
Hydropower technologies
Energy system-related energy efficiency technologies
Renewable fuels of nonbiological origin technologies
Biotech climate and energy solutions
Transformative industrial technologies for decarbonisation
CO2 transport and utilisation technologies
Wind and electric propulsion technologies for transportatio
For a complete list, pelase consult page 7 of the STEP Communication of the European Commission.
Bio Tech covers technologies applied in life sciences, such as biopharmaceuticals, bioeconomy, disease prevention, medical devices, and health data innovations. The areas covered include:
Defence (including space-related systems) includes the development of next generation defence systems across overlapping technology areas like digital, deep tech and biotech.
Space innovation is embedded in STEP under digital/deep tech and clean tech, and includes quantum, robotics, semiconductors and in orbit demonstrations tied to EU space programmes (Copernicus, Galileo, SSA, IRIS).
Under the EU Dual‑Use Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2021/821 of 20 May 2021), dual-use items are defined as:
Goods, software, or technology that can be used for civilian and military purposes.
This includes items that may contribute to the design, development, production, or use of nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons, or their means of delivery. This also covers non‑explosive items that can assist in the manufacture of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.
TRL 1-3
The early research phase of technology development.
TRL 1: Basic scientific principles are observed.
TRL 2: Potential applications are identified and concepts are formulated.
TRL 3: Initial proof of concept is demonstrated through lab experiments.
TRL 4
Technology validated in lab, meaning components are tested together in a lab setting.
TRL 5
Technology demonstrated in relevant environment meaning the prototype tested in a simulated operational setting.
TRL 6
Technology demonstrated in relevant environment such as a prototype tested in a simulated operational setting.
TRL 7
System prototype in operational environment meaning the full-scale prototype tested in actual conditions.
TRL 8
System complete and qualified meaning the technology is proven to work in its final form.
TRL 9
Actual system proven in operational environment meaning the technology is deployed and operational.
