Europe

European aid for businesses: what funding is available for your project?

Discover European funding for businesses: grants, innovation, ecological transition, regional development, loans and guarantees. Identify the schemes suited to your project.

In brief

The European Union funds economic, scientific, environmental and territorial projects through several mechanisms. Some aid is managed directly by the Commission or its agencies; other aid goes through the State, the Regions or partner financial institutions. For a business, the right entry point depends on the project, its location, its size and the programme concerned.

Understanding European funding

European funding does not correspond to a single type of aid. It encompasses grant programmes, calls for projects, territorial funds, financial instruments and schemes implemented by intermediaries. It can support research and innovation, ecological transition, SME development, training, agriculture, tourism or investment in local areas. The rules, timelines and eligible beneficiaries vary depending on each programme and each call.

Which projects can benefit from European funding?

European programmes can support research and development projects, technological demonstration, digital transformation, decarbonization, regional development, training, agriculture or cooperation between regions and organizations. Businesses can also access certain funding through banks, investors or national and regional schemes backed by European funds. The exact scope depends on the programming period and the applicable regulation.

What are the main funding families?

Direct grants are generally awarded following a call for proposals and fund a defined project. Cohesion funds, such as FEDER, are implemented as part of national or regional programmes. Research and innovation programmes, such as Horizon Europe, operate according to their own calls and rules. Finally, EU-backed financial instruments can take the form of loans, guarantees or equity investments, often distributed by financial intermediaries.

What is the role of FEDER, FSE+ and territorial programmes?

FEDER is aimed in particular at reducing disparities between regions and can support innovation, SME competitiveness, ecological transition and territorial development. It is implemented through dedicated programmes and falls under shared management: the competent national or regional authorities publish the calls and organize the selection process. FSE+ supports in particular employment, skills and inclusion. Other programmes, such as Horizon Europe or LIFE, follow their own rules and application channels. LEADER schemes fall within rural development and should not be automatically equated with FEDER.

Who can apply?

Depending on the programme, beneficiaries can be SMEs, start-ups, industrial companies, research organizations, local authorities, associations, farmers or consortia bringing together several partners. Some calls require international collaboration or a specific technology readiness level; others are limited to a particular area, sector or type of expenditure. SME status alone is not enough to establish eligibility.

How do you apply for European funding?

Start by defining the need, the timeline, the expenditure, the expected results and the territory of the project. Then identify the relevant programme and check the eligibility criteria, funding rates, eligible expenditure, co-financing obligations and the deadline. Depending on the mechanism, the application may be submitted via the European Funding & Tenders portal, to a national or regional managing authority, or through a financial intermediary. Some projects require a consortium, an organizational identifier or specific administrative documents.

Why can a European aid scheme appear in several funder catalogues?

A scheme can involve several funders: the European Union, the State, a Region, a local authority or an operator. The detailed fact sheet should specify, after verification, the fund concerned, the managing authority, the operator, the territory, the status and the timeline.

Explore the European schemes referenced in Capital OS

The catalogue brings together the aid associated with the European Union in the Capital OS reference database, supplemented by the FSE, Horizon Europe, FEADER and FEDER/JEREMIE batches. The associations and editorial categories do not replace the official verification of each fact sheet.

Does the European Union pay out all aid directly?

No. Some programmes are managed directly by the Commission or its agencies; others are implemented by the Member States, the Regions or intermediaries. The management method of each programme must be checked.

Can a French SME obtain a European grant?

Yes, some programmes are accessible to SMEs, but the conditions vary depending on the programme and the call. The criteria may relate to the size of the business, the project, the sector, the territory, the partners and the expenditure.

What is the difference between FEDER and Horizon Europe?

FEDER falls under cohesion policy and supports in particular regional investments, business competitiveness and the transition of territories. Horizon Europe is a research and innovation programme with its own calls and criteria. The right choice depends on the nature of the project and the scheme available.

Is European aid always in the form of grants?

No. In addition to grants, European mechanisms can support loans, guarantees and equity investments, often through partner financial institutions.

Do you need to co-finance your project?

It depends on the programme. Some calls require co-financing or impose a maximum rate of European funding; the rules may also distinguish between cost categories. Check the regulation and the call guide before building the budget.

Are territorial schemes accessible everywhere in France?

No. Regional and local programmes often have a precise geographical scope. You need to check the region, the territory or the local action group covered, as well as the programming dates and the application conditions.

Where can you find official calls for projects?

The European Funding & Tenders portal allows you to search for programmes and calls managed at European level. For funds implemented under shared management, also check the competent managing authority in France, often regional, and the official European funds portal.

Can European aid be combined with national or regional aid?

Combining aid depends on the regulations, the expenditure covered, the state aid rules and the applicable ceilings. The financing plan must specify any other support sought or obtained and be checked with the managing body.

Does a fact sheet's association with the European Union confirm my eligibility?

No. It indicates an association in the Capital OS reference database. Eligibility must be verified on the fact sheet and the official programme or call documents, taking into account the territory, the applicant, the expenditure and the timeline.

Identify the right programme before building your application

European funding can be a significant lever, but accessing it requires targeting the right programme, understanding the management method and preparing an application that complies with the call's criteria.

Catalogue scope and validation

The catalogue brings together the 191 schemes initially associated with funder identifier 5 "Union européenne" and 72 additional distinct schemes associated with identifier 690 "Union Européenne-FEDER", i.e. 263 distinct aid IDs after deduplication. The associations are kept as reference database data; on their own, they do not prove that each scheme is directly managed by the European Union or falls exclusively under FEDER. The editorial categories are indicative and must be checked; do not invent URLs or present a scheme as open without official verification.

Verify programme, call, operator, timeline, status, beneficiaries and official URL.

Horizon Europe's rules vary depending on the work programme and the call.

Verify fund and programming period, managing authority, actual operator, status, territory and official URL, scheme by scheme.

FSE links are not invented; only use validated URLs from the reference database.

No invented URL for an individual fact sheet.

Written content, currently under editorial review — this is not an eligibility assessment; only your personalised report applies your company's actual criteria.

European aid for businesses: what funding is available for your project?

In brief

Understanding European funding

Which projects can benefit from European funding?

What are the main funding families?

What is the role of FEDER, FSE+ and territorial programmes?

Who can apply?

How do you apply for European funding?

Why can a European aid scheme appear in several funder catalogues?

Explore the European schemes referenced in Capital OS

Does the European Union pay out all aid directly?

Can a French SME obtain a European grant?

What is the difference between FEDER and Horizon Europe?

Is European aid always in the form of grants?

Do you need to co-finance your project?

Are territorial schemes accessible everywhere in France?

Where can you find official calls for projects?

Can European aid be combined with national or regional aid?

Does a fact sheet's association with the European Union confirm my eligibility?

Identify the right programme before building your application

Catalogue scope and validation

Verify programme, call, operator, timeline, status, beneficiaries and official URL.

Verify fund and programming period, managing authority, actual operator, status, territory and official URL, scheme by scheme.

Grants linked to Union européenne

Accélérateur Croissance Occitanie

Accélérateur DINAMIC +

Accélérateur International Occitanie

Accélérateur PME Hauts-de-France

Accompagnement CYBIAH

Aide à l'immobilier d'entreprises

Aide à la modernisation des locaux artisanaux ou commerciaux

Aide régionale à l'investissement en faveur des industries agro-alimentaires (ARIAA- FEADER)

Appel à projets 'AI gigafactory (AIGF)'

Appel à projets FEDER : 'Développer les équipements culturels, touristiques et de loisir pour tous en zone urbaine'

Appel à projets Horizon Europe - 2ème pilier : Problématiques mondiales et compétitivité industrielle européenne - cluster alimentation, bioéconomie, ressources naturelles, agriculture et environnement

Appel à projets Horizon Europe - 2ème pilier : Problématiques mondiales et compétitivité industrielle européenne - cluster climat, énergie et mobilité

Appel à projets Horizon Europe - 2ème pilier : Problématiques mondiales et compétitivité industrielle européenne - cluster culture, créativité et société inclusive

Appel à projets Horizon Europe - 2ème pilier : Problématiques mondiales et compétitivité industrielle européenne - cluster numérique, industrie et espace

Appel à projets Horizon Europe - 2ème pilier : Problématiques mondiales et compétitivité industrielle européenne - Cluster santé

Appel à projets Horizon Europe - 2ème pilier : Problématiques mondiales et compétitivité industrielle européenne - cluster sécurité

Atouts Numériques

Autoconsommation Collective multi acteurs d’électricité renouvelable

Booster TPE Artisans-Commerçants

Breizh Up - Fonds régional de Co-investissement

Chèque TIC

Dispositif 'Intégrer les fondamentaux du numérique'

Dispositif DEDIHCATED

FEADER - Aide à l'investissement des scieries

FEADER - Aide aux investissements dans les entreprises agroalimentaires

FEADER - Aide aux investissements des industries du bois

FEDER - 'Accompagner des projets innovants d’entreprises et de créateurs'

FEDER - 'Contribuer au développement des usages tant sur le plan de l’émergence de services et contenus innovants que sur celui de leur appropriation par les usagers'

FEDER - 'Investir dans les équipements et installations de production d’énergies à partir de sources renouvelables'

FEDER - 'Investir dans les installations et équipements en faveur de la production, distribution, du stockage et de l’usage de l’hydrogène renouvelable'

FEDER - 'Mieux trier et recycler les déchets'

FEDER - 'Soutenir la Production, l’acquisition, le stockage, l’agrégation, l’ouverture, le partage et les traitements de la donnée'

FEDER - 'Soutenir les entreprises en vue de leur développement, leur expansion et de l'accès à des nouveaux marchés'

FEDER - 'Soutenir les investissements dans les entreprises du tourisme pour accompagner les transformations, l’innovation'

FEDER - 'Soutenir les projets de transition vers l’économie circulaire et de prévention des déchets'

FEDER - Action 'Créer et équiper des lieux partagés par des professionnels ou par des acteurs publics privés pour favoriser l'insertion des habitants et le lien social en tout point du territoire'

FEDER - Action 'Structurer la destination touristique enfants - familles et thermale'

FEDER - Aide à l'investissement matériel dans l'économie circulaire

FEDER - Aide à la compensation des coûts de transport

FEDER - Aide à la compétitivité des entreprises

FEDER - Aide à la création d’hôtels de grande capacité, d’hôtels de charme et de nouveaux concepts d’hébergements

FEDER - Aide à la recherche et à l'innovation

FEDER - Aide à la requalification significative, l'extension et la montée en gamme des hébergements touristiques

FEDER - Aide au développement de structures hôtelières et de produits de loisir et d’animation

FEDER - Aide au fret

FEDER - Aide au numérique

FEDER - Aide aux investissements productifs dans les PME

FEDER - Aide aux recours aux compétences immatérielles

FEDER - Diversifier l’économie locale grâce à l’Economie Sociale et Solidaire

FEDER - Economie circulaire

FEDER - Energies renouvelables

FEDER - Energies renouvelables (études)

FEDER - Fonds pour une Transition Juste (FTJ) - Investissements dans les énergies renouvelables et les infrastructures vertes pour une transition juste

FEDER - Fonds pour une Transition Juste (FTJ) - Recherche et Innovation dans les entreprises pour une transition juste

FEDER - Fonds Régional Avenir Industrie

FEDER - Infrastructures de recharge de véhicules électriques par production solaire