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(BRUSSELS) – The European Commission opened the EU Innovation Fund’s 2023 call for proposals Thursday with a budget of EUR 4 billion to support the deployment of innovative decarbonisation technologies.
The call is funded by revenues from the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), underlining the importance of carbon pricing for the green transition. The Commission has increased the overall funds available, and doubled the budget allocated for cleantech manufacturing projects compared to the previous call.
1.4 billion is available to strengthen industrial manufacturing capacity, technology leadership, and supply chain resilience in Europe. Project promoters may apply for grants under five topics with distinct budget and capital expenditure (CAPEX) requirements:
- General decarbonisation (large-scale) – 1.7 billion available for projects with CAPEX above 100 million
- General decarbonisation (medium-scale) – 500 million available for projects with CAPEX between 20 million and 100 million
- General decarbonisation (small-scale) – 200 million available for projects with CAPEX between 2.5 million and 20 million
- Cleantech manufacturing – 1.4 billion available for projects with CAPEX above 2.5 million focusing on the manufacturing of components for renewable energy, energy storage, heat pumps and hydrogen production
- Pilot – 200 million available for projects with CAPEX above 2.5 million focusing on deep decarbonisation.
Projects will be assessed based on their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, their degree of innovation, maturity, replicability and cost efficiency, says the EU executive. The Innovation Fund can cover up to 60% of a project’s relevant costs.
Projects located in the EEA are eligible to apply, and following the recent revision of the EU ETS Directive the Innovation Fund calls are now also open to the maritime, road transport and buildings sectors, in addition to technologies in energy-intensive industries (including aviation), renewable energy or energy storage. Promising projects that are not sufficiently mature for a grant or not selected for funding due to budget limitations may benefit from the European Investment Bank’s Project Development Assistance (PDA).
Project promoters have until 9 April 2024, 17:00 (CET), to apply via the EU Funding and Tenders Portal.
Launch of the Innovation Fund 2023 Call for Projects - guide
Innovation Fund announces two upcoming calls for proposals
Results of previous Innovation Fund calls for proposals
