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EU grants for healthtech companies

Open-call snapshot checked 2026-04-18

Healthtech and digital-health companies can access EU funding through Horizon Europe's health cluster (for research and innovation), the EIC Accelerator (for breakthrough products), and EU4Health (for health-system deployment and prevention).

Best-fit programmes

These are the EU programmes most relevant to healthtech companies. Each guide explains eligibility, funding rates, and the calls open now.

Horizon Europe Horizon Europe is the European Union's main research and innovation funding programme for 2021-2027, with a budget of around €93.5 billion. EIC Accelerator The EIC Accelerator is the European Innovation Council's flagship scheme for single startups and small companies. EU4Health EU4Health is the European Union's funding programme for health, with a budget of around €5.3 billion for 2021-2027.

Where healthtech funding sits

Horizon Europe's health cluster funds collaborative research and innovation — from disease understanding and clinical research to digital health tools and health-system innovation. EU4Health funds the deployment and policy side: prevention, preparedness, digital health uptake, and cancer work under Europe's Beating Cancer Plan.

A company with a breakthrough product and a route to market should also consider the EIC Accelerator, which backs a single company through grant and optional equity.

What evaluators look for

Health proposals are judged on scientific and clinical credibility, a realistic regulatory pathway, and genuine patient or health-system impact. Strong proposals are explicit about evidence — what has been validated, in what setting, and what still needs to be proven.

Digital-health projects also need a clear position on data protection, interoperability, and integration into real clinical workflows.

Choosing the right route

Research and innovation point to Horizon Europe; single-company breakthrough innovation points to the EIC; deployment, prevention, and public-health work point to EU4Health. Medical-device companies should also see the dedicated guidance for medtech, where regulatory timing strongly shapes which programme fits.

Open calls relevant to healthtech companies

These open EU calls in the current index snapshot mention themes relevant to healthtech companies. Keyword filtering is a starting point, not an eligibility check — run a free match for a proper fit assessment.

Frequently asked questions

Which EU programme funds digital health?

Digital-health research and innovation is mainly funded by Horizon Europe's health cluster, while EU4Health funds the deployment and uptake of digital health within health systems. The EIC Accelerator can fund a single company with a breakthrough digital-health product.

Can the EU fund clinical trials?

Clinical research and trial activities can be funded within Horizon Europe health projects when they are part of a wider research and innovation action. The call topic defines what trial-related work is in scope.

Is EU4Health open to companies?

Depending on the call, companies can be eligible for EU4Health, though many of its actions target public bodies, health organisations, and NGOs. Health-technology companies often find Horizon Europe or the EIC a closer fit.

Grants for other sectors

EU grants for AI companies AI companies in Europe can access EU grant funding mainly through Horizon Europe (for research and innovation), the Digital Europe Programme (for AI deployment and testing facilities), and the EIC Accelerator (for breakthrough single-company innovation). EU grants for climate & energy companies Climate and clean-energy companies can access EU funding through Horizon Europe (for research and innovation), the Innovation Fund (for first-of-a-kind clean-tech demonstration), and the LIFE Programme (for environment and climate-action projects). EU grants for deeptech companies Deeptech companies can access EU grant funding mainly through the EIC Accelerator (for single-company breakthrough innovation), Horizon Europe (for collaborative research and innovation), and Eurostars (for SME-led international R&D projects). EU grants for medtech companies Medtech and medical-device companies can access EU funding mainly through Horizon Europe's health cluster (for clinical research and innovation) and the EIC Accelerator (for breakthrough single-company innovation with a route to market). EU grants for dual-use & defence companies Dual-use and defence-technology companies can access EU funding through the European Defence Fund (for collaborative defence research and capability development) and, for civil applications of the same technology, through Horizon Europe and the Digital Europe Programme. EU grants for advanced manufacturing companies Advanced manufacturing companies can access EU funding through Horizon Europe (for industrial research and innovation), Eurostars (for SME-led international development projects), and the Innovation Fund (for clean, low-carbon industrial demonstration).