50% grant for employee training in STEP and defence technologies
End date: 31/12/2026 (15:00)
By decision of 13 October 2026 (Ref. No. 165422 ΕΞ 2026), the action "In-company training of employees in strategic STEP technologies and the defence and security sectors" was announced. The action covers 50% of the cost of training programmes that a business organises for its own staff, in advanced technologies or in subjects related to the defence industry.
The total budget amounts to €20 million. Of this, €15.7 million is allocated to the less developed regions, which include Crete, and €4.3 million to Attica and the South Aegean. Applications are assessed in order of submission, so preparing the file before the system opens largely determines the outcome.
Key terms at a glance
Which businesses can apply
The action is open to existing businesses of any size, which must meet all of the following conditions:
- During 2025 they employed at least 100 different employees under an employment contract, full time or part time, as recorded in the ERGANI system. The count is of individuals, not annual work units.
- They hold an eligible main or secondary activity code (ΚΑΔ), mainly in manufacturing, energy, information technology, telecommunications, transport, technical services and research. Other activity codes are accepted only where their relevance is documented.
- They are already active in STEP technologies or in defence and security, or have a documented strategic orientation towards them, supported by evidence such as contracts, customers in the sector, certifications or participation in research projects.
Because every employee counts, even one employed for a short period, the threshold of 100 can also be met by businesses with significant seasonal employment, such as manufacturing units with seasonal production. Public enterprises, financial and insurance institutions, offshore companies, sports companies and franchise networks are excluded.
What is funded
The action funds training of the business's employees in four thematic groups: digital technologies (artificial intelligence, data analytics, cybersecurity, cloud, robotics, IoT), clean technologies (heat pumps, energy efficiency, batteries, photovoltaics, advanced materials), biotechnology and health technologies, and defence subjects such as cyber defence, unmanned systems, sensors and NATO or AQAP standards. For STEP technologies, the training must concern the development or production of the technology. Training in the use of off-the-shelf commercial applications is not enough.
Eligible costs are:
- trainer fees and programme costs, certification exam fees, training material and depreciation of equipment used exclusively for the training
- consulting support for design and implementation, up to 10% of the budget
- overheads at a flat rate of 7%, with no supporting documents required
The action does not fund the salary costs of trainees, the purchase of general-purpose equipment and software, training required by law (health and safety, fire safety) or programmes focused purely on soft skills. Training is delivered in person or through live distance learning, by an external provider not linked to the business.
The term that needs attention: the reference baseline
With the application, the business declares its historical annual spending on training of any kind, either for the last year or as the average of the last three years, certified by a statutory auditor. The choice is binding and cannot be changed later. During the 12 months of implementation, the business's total training spending, subsidised and not, must reach at least 90% of that amount.
If it falls further short, the approval is revoked and the entire grant must be repaid.
Example from the call: a business with historical training spending of €200,000 carries out STEP training of €300,000 and other training of €100,000. The total of €400,000 covers the baseline and the grant amounts to €150,000.
What must be done before 2 November
This note summarises the detailed call for the action (October 2026) and does not replace it. Only the text of the call and its annexes is binding.
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