EU Innovation Fund launches Latest Call for Proposals to accelerate Europe’s Clean-Technology Transition

The Innovation Fund, managed by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) on behalf of the European Commission, has announced a new “Regular Grants” call for proposals aimed at supporting the deployment of highly innovative, low-carbon technologies and large-scale flagship projects across Europe.

This round invites applications from projects that can credibly demonstrate transformational impact in sectors such as energy-intensive industries, renewables, energy storage, net-zero mobility, buildings and carbon capture, use & storage. The deadline is 23 April 2026.

Under this call, projects will be eligible to access grant funding covering up to 60 % of the ‘relevant costs’ for deployment of mature technologies that deliver significant greenhouse-gas (GHG) emission avoidance. Applicants must demonstrate strong technical maturity, an innovative leap from the state-of-the-art, scalability and cost-efficiency, in line with the five award criteria:

• emission avoidance potential;

• degree of innovation;

• project maturity;

• replicability;

• cost-effectiveness.

Projects may be located in EU Member States, as well as in Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein, and cover a wide variety of sectors, from industrial decarbonisation and renewable manufacturing, to novel mobility solutions and building-sector transformation.

For those proposals not yet ready to apply, there is also support via the European Investment Bank (EIB)’s Project Development Assistance (PDA) scheme, which helps improve maturity of future-ready projects,

Interested parties should note that the Call is part of the Innovation Fund’s broader pipeline of annual calls and competitive bidding mechanisms (“auctions”) aligned with the EU’s broader climate and industrial agenda, such as the Net-Zero Industry Act and the Clean Industrial Deal.

Given the very high level of competition and the increasing number of applicants, potential applicants are strongly encouraged to begin preparations now: define business models, quantify emission-avoidance potential, secure evidence of market formation and co-financing, and ensure readiness for submission.

For full details of the call, template documents, key dates and evaluation criteria, prospective applicants are invited to visit the Innovation Fund calls-page on the CINEA website and the EU Funding & Tenders portal. (cinea.ec.europa.eu)

Contact

CINEA Innovation Fund Helpdesk

https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/innovation-fund/calls-regular-grants_en

About the Innovation Fund

The Innovation Fund is one of the largest funding instruments for the demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies worldwide. Backed by revenues from the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), it supports projects that can deliver substantial climate-and-industry benefits and strengthen Europe’s competitiveness in clean technologies. (cinea.ec.europa.eu)