The Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) is the European reply to the need to boost investments in critical technologies in Europe. STEP seeks to reinforce, leverage and steer EU funds – existing and new – to investments in deep and digital, clean and bio technologies, and in people who can implement those technologies into the economy. In detail, the STEP priority areas cover:
- Deep and digital technologies, including microelectronics, high-performance computing, quantum computing, cloud computing, edge computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, 5G and advanced connectivity, and virtual realities
- Clean technologies, including renewable energy; electricity and heat storage; heat pumps; electricity grid; renewable fuels of non-biological origin; sustainable alternative fuels; electrolysers and fuel cells; carbon capture, utilisation and storage; energy efficiency; hydrogen; water purification and desalination; and advanced materials
- Biotechnologies, such as biomolecules and its applications, pharmaceuticals, medical technologies and crop biotechnology.