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Home/Startup credits, grants and perks in Europe

Startup credits, grants and perks in Europe

By the CreditBase team · data updated

77 credits, grants, tax reliefs and schemes for startups in the EU, the UK and Switzerland, from the EIC Accelerator to European cloud credits, plus the global programs European founders can join.

This page collects the money and free infrastructure a startup in Europe can claim: EU-wide funding, national grants and tax reliefs, credits from European cloud providers, and the global programs that accept European companies. 77 programs on CreditBase name a European country or the EU as a location. Each listing states its own eligibility.

EU-wide funding

The European Union funds deep-tech startups directly, and its innovation communities run free accelerators. The EIC Accelerator is the largest: a grant of under EUR 2.5 million, with optional equity investment, for companies working at technology readiness levels 6 to 8. See how the EIC Accelerator works.

European cloud credits

Several European providers offer startup credits, and some build their pitch on data sovereignty and GDPR. Credits are usually quicker to get than a grant. Compare them in the guide to European cloud startup programs.

Payments and spend tools for European startups

United Kingdom

Tax reliefs do much of the work in the UK: SEIS and EIS for the investors who back you, and R&D tax relief for the work you do. Read the guides to SEIS and EIS and R&D tax relief.

Germany

France

Netherlands, Ireland, Spain and Italy

Nordics and Switzerland

Global programs open to European startups

The big clouds and AI labs accept companies from Europe. The largest tiers usually come through a partner investor or accelerator.

How to apply without losing months

  1. Start with what your country offers. National schemes (a loan, an R&D credit, a tax relief for investors) often matter more than any single credit.
  2. Claim the quick wins in parallel. Cloud and payments credits take days. Grants take months and need a plan.
  3. Check age and funding caps. Many European schemes limit company age (often 3 to 5 years) or the money already raised. Each CreditBase listing flags these.
  4. Keep your company documents consistent. Registered name, address and incorporation date should match everywhere you apply.
  5. Check whether you need a local entity. Several schemes ask for a company registered in that country or in an EU member state.

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Common questions

What free credits and grants can a European startup get?

European startups can claim EU-wide funding such as the EIC Accelerator, national grants, loans and tax reliefs, credits from European cloud providers, and the global cloud and AI programs that accept European companies. This page lists them with current values.

Are European cloud credits GDPR compliant?

Several European providers market their clouds on data sovereignty and GDPR. Compliance depends on how you build and what data you process, so read each provider's own documentation before you rely on it.

Do I need a company registered in the country to apply?

For most national grants and tax reliefs, yes: the company must be registered or taxed in that country. Cloud, payments and AI credits usually only need a registered company and a working website.

Values are “up to” amounts and terms change: confirm on the provider’s page before you rely on them.