Guidance on EU funding and the transition pathway for the chemical industry.
Date: 2025-09-17
Institutions: Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs
Subjects: EU energy policy, Just transition, activity report, chemical industry, community resilience, digital transformation, economic and social cohesion, economic growth, energy transition, fund (EU), green economy, project of common interest, research and development, sustainable development

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs 
Directorate F - Ecosystems I: Chemicals, Food, Retail 
Unit F.2 - Bioeconomy, Chemicals and Cosmetics 

Contact: Algreit Dume 

E-mail:  GROW-CHEMTP@ec.europa.eu 

European Commission 
B-1049 Brussels 

2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Guidance on EU funding and the Transition Pathway for the 

Chemical Industry 

1.  Background 

In January 2023, the European Commission published the Transition Pathway for the Chemical 
Industry (the  Transition  Pathway) 1.  This  roadmap  outlines  about  190  actions  that  are 
necessary in order to accelerate the EU chemical industry’s green and digital transitions and 
to  increase  its  resilience.  The  Transition  Pathway  is  structured  around  the  eight  building 
blocks 2 shown in the figure below.  

Figure 1 – Building blocks of the Transition Pathway 

A set of topics and corresponding actions has been identified for each building block. For each 
action, the  Transition Pathway  indicates the timeframe from completion (short,  medium or 
long-term) 3 and the actors that should carry out that action. 

The  Commission  is  now  working  with  stakeholders  on  co-implementing  the  actions  of  the 
Transition Pathway. The EU, its Member States, the chemical industry itself and all interested 
parties  are  expected  to  undertake  concrete  initiatives  linked to  those  actions.  Through  co-
implementation,  the  EU  chemical  industry  can  succeed  in  its  twin  transition,  foster  its 
competitiveness and deliver on the EU Green Deal’s net-zero ambitions.  

Several EU funding programmes can support investment to achieve the EU chemical industry’s 
digital  and  green  transitions.  This  paper  outlines  how  the  EU’s  funding  programmes  could 
contribute to the co-implementation process. In particular, the main objectives of this paper 
are to: 

1)  describe those funding programmes whose objectives and main intervention areas reflect 

the actions of the Transition Pathway; 

2)  provide  guidance  on  existing  funding  opportunities  for  chemical  companies  (especially 
SMEs) and other stakeholders to finance activities contributing to the twin transition. 

1 https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/54595. 
2 The building blocks are based on the blueprint developed by the Industrial Forum Task Force 2. The building block ‘access to 
energy and feedstock’ was suggested by stakeholders during the co-development process.  
3 ’Short-term’ refers to activities that should start as soon as possible; ‘medium-term’ refers to activities that should start by 2030; 
and ‘long-term’ refers to activities that are to be launched and completed by 2050. 

4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Table 1 summarises the funding programmes analysed in this paper. 

Table 1 – relevant funding programmes for the co-implementation of the Transition 
Pathway  4 

Funding programme 

Recovery and Resilience Facility 
Horizon Europe 
InvestEU Programme ** 
Just Transition Mechanism 6 
Regional development and cohesion funds 7 

• 
• 
• 

the European Regional Development Fund X 
the Cohesion Fund 
the European Social Fund X 

Digital Europe Programme 
Single Market Programme 
LIFE 
Erasmus+ 
Innovation Fund 
Social Climate Fund 

2021-2027 budget 
(in EUR billion) 
723.8 5 
95.5* 
26.2 
19.7  

214 
39 
95 
7.6 
4.6 
5.4 
26.5 
40 *** 8 
87 9 

* Budgets are in current prices. 
** It has a budgetary guarantee of EUR 26 billion from the multiannual financial framework and Next Generation EU. It aims to mobilise over EUR 372 billion in 2021-2027. 
*** For 2020-2030. 

2.  Relevant funding programmes for the chemical industry 

2.1  Recovery and Resilience Facility 

The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) 10 is a temporary funding instrument for mitigating 
the  socio-economic  impacts  of  the  COVID-19  pandemic  and  making  EU  economies  more 
digital,  green  and  resilient.  It  makes  EUR 723 billion  available  in  the  form  of  loans 
(EUR 385.8 billion)  and  grants  (EUR 338 billion).  The  RRF  is  also  at  the  heart  of  the 
implementation  of  the  REPowerEU  Plan,  which  is  the  Commission’s  response  to  the  socio-
economic hardships and global energy market disruption caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion 
of Ukraine.  

4 https://commission.europa.eu/funding-tenders/find-funding/eu-funding-programmes_en. 
5 RRF funding will be available until 2026. 
6 https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/funds/jtf/21-27 (EU share of the Just Transition Fund budget).  
7 https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/funds/jtf/21-27 (EU share of the three regional development and cohesion funds’ budget). 
These amounts relate to the programmed budget but might change as the calls under the different programmes are published.  
8 https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/funding-climate-action/innovation-fund/what-innovation-fund_en. 
9 https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eus-action/eu-emissions-trading-system-eu-ets_en#social-climate-fund. 
10 https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/economic-recovery/recovery-and-resilience-facility_en. 

5 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The RRF entered into force on 19 February 2021. To benefit from it, EU Member States have 
submitted  national  recovery  and  resilience  plans  (RRPs)  that  set  out  the  reforms  and 
investments they will implement by the end of 2026 with clear milestones and targets. Each 
plan  allocates  at  least  37%  of  its  budget  to  green  measures  and  20%  to  digital 
measures. RRPs are structured around six main intervention areas (known as ‘pillars’) 11: 

1)  green transition: measures to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 (including reforms and 

investment in green technologies and capacities); 

2)  digital  transformation:  digitalisation  of,  for  example,  public  administrations  and 
businesses;  development  of  digital  skills  and  digital-related  R&D;  and  deployment  of 
advanced technologies; 

3)  smart, sustainable and inclusive growth: measures to, for example, foster economic 
cohesion, jobs, productivity, competitiveness, R&D and innovation; and support SMEs; 
4)  social  and  territorial  cohesion:  reforms  and  investments  to  improve,  for  example, 
social protection and welfare systems; inclusion of disadvantaged groups; employment; 
and skills development; 

5)  health, and economic, social and institutional resilience: improve, for example, the 
resilience,  accessibility  and  quality  of  health  and  long-term  care;  and  increase  the 
effectiveness of public administration and judicial systems; 

6)  policies for the next generation: measures to improve, for example, the accessibility 

and quality of general, vocational and higher education. 

The  RRF  can  support  research  and  innovation  projects  and  the  development  of  renewable 
infrastructures  to  green  the  EU  chemical  industry.  For  instance,  the  Belgian  RRP  targets 
chemical substitution projects through the development of alternative chemicals, technologies 
and  products  to  replace  most  harmful  substances,  including  PFAS  and  EDs 12  (under  the 
Belgium Builds Back Circular call). The German RRP finances green hydrogen projects within 
the framework of Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs). The Portuguese 
RRP supports projects on hydrogen and other gases of renewable origin. 

Table 2 – Examples of calls related to the chemical industry under RRPs 

Call 

Description 

Timeline 

Links with the 
Transition Pathway 

Belgium Builds 
Back Circular 13 
(BE) 

The Belgium Builds Back Circular (BBBC) call focuses on two 
aspects of the circular economy: chemical substitution and 
ecodesign.  Substitution  includes  placing  on  the  market 
alternative  chemicals,  technologies  and/or  products  that 
eliminate  the  presence  of  the  most  harmful  substances. 
Three  priority  groups  of  most  harmful  substances  are 
identified  in  the  call:  PFAS,  EDs  and  a  group  of  priority 
substances for Belgium 14. For substitution projects, the size 
of the grant ranges from EUR 250 000 to EUR 2 million per 
project. 

The call for 
these projects 
is now closed. 

• Topic 3: safety and 

sustainability 

• Topic 22: circularity: 

recycling and reuse of 
infrastructure 

11 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02021R0241-20230301. 
12 Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and Endocrine Disruptors (EDs). 
13 https://economie.fgov.be/en/themes/enterprises/calls-projects/call-projects-belgium-builds. 
14 https://economie.fgov.be/en/themes/enterprises/calls-projects/call-projects-belgium-builds. 

6 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hydrogen 
Projects under 
IPCEI 15 
(DE) 

The ‘Hydrogen Projects within the framework of Important 
Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI)’ contributes 
to the financing of projects for the production, infrastructure 
and use of green hydrogen. To this end, it provides funding 
of EUR 1.5 billion to support 62 projects in Germany. 

The call for 
these projects 
is now closed. 

• Topic 15: large-scale 

electricity and hydrogen 
infrastructure 

Calls  
for the 
production of 
renewable 
hydrogen and 
other renewable 
gases 
(PT) 

The  Portuguese  Environmental  Fund  (Fundo  Ambiental) 
launched  two  calls  to  support  the  production  of  hydrogen 
and renewable gases of EUR 62 million 16 and EUR 83 million 
in 2021 and 2023 respectively, under the RRP 17. 

The calls for 
these projects 
are now closed 

• Topic 15: large-scale 

electricity and hydrogen 
infrastructure 

2.2  Horizon Europe 

Horizon Europe (HE) 18 is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation. It has 
a  budget  of  about  EUR 95.5 billion  for  2021-2027.  HE  is  implemented  directly  by  the 
Commission  or  via  designated  funding  bodies,  such  as  the  European  Innovation  Council 
(EIC) 19.  The  main  objectives  are  to  strengthen  science  and  technology,  promote  industrial 
competitiveness, and achieve the UN’s sustainable development goals in the EU 20. HE is based 
on three pillars 21. 

1)  excellence  science:  reinforcing  and  extending  the  EU’s  science  base  through  three 
programmes. The European Research Council (ERC) provides funding of EUR 16 billion for 
frontier  research  across all  fields.  The  Marie  Skłodowska-Curie  Actions  (EUR 6.6 billion) 
are the EU’s reference programme for doctoral education and postdoctoral training. The 
European Research Area (ERA) has a EUR 2.4 billion investment programme in research 
infrastructure.  

2)  global  challenges  and  EU 

investment  of 
EUR 53.5 billion  in  technologies  and  solutions  to  accelerate  the  EU’s  green  and  digital 
transitions. Funds under this pillar are allocated across six clusters and activities pursued 
by the Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), as outlined in Table 3:  

industrial  competitiveness: 

15 https://www.bundesfinanzministerium.de/Content/DE/Standardartikel/Themen/Europa/DARP/Leuchtturm-
Projekte/foerderung-wasserstoffprojekte.html. 
16 https://www.fundoambiental.pt/apoios-prr/c14-hidrogenio-e-renovaveis/01c14-i01-hidrogenio-e-gases-renovaveis.aspx. 
17 https://www.fundoambiental.pt/apoios-prr/c14-hidrogenio-e-renovaveis/02c14-i012023-hidrogenio-e-gases-renovaveis.aspx. 
18 https://commission.europa.eu/funding-tenders/find-funding/eu-funding-programmes/horizon-europe_en. 
19 Council  Decision (EU) 2021/764  of  10 May 2021  establishing  the  Specific  Programme  implementing  Horizon  Europe  –  the 
Framework  Programme  for  Research  and  Innovation,  and  repealing  Decision  2013/743/EU;  https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32021D0764. 
20 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2018/628297/EPRS_BRI(2018)628297_EN.pdf#:~:text=The%20main
%20aims%20are%20to%20strengthen%20science%20and,promote%20research%20results%2C%20and%20new%20forms
%20of%20partnerships. 
21 Horizon  Europe  ‘Investing  to  shape  our  future’  factsheet;  https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2022-
06/ec_rtd_he-investing-to-shape-our-future_0.pdf. 

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Table 3 – Horizon Europe – pillar II ‘global challenges and European industrial 
competitiveness’ 

Cluster 

Cluster 1 – health 

Cluster 2 – culture, creativity and inclusive Society 

Cluster 3 – civil Security for society 

Cluster 4 – digital industry and space 

Cluster 5 – climate, energy and mobility 

Cluster  6  –  food,  bioeconomy,  natural  resources,  agriculture  and 
environment 

JRC (non-nuclear direct actions) 

Budget (in EUR billions) 

8.2 

2.3 

1.6 

15.4 

15.1 

8.9 

1.9 

3) Innovative  Europe:  with  a  budget  of  EUR 13.6 billion,  this  pillar  covers  the  EIC, 
supporting  market-creating  innovations  and  the  scale-up  of  start-ups  and  SMEs.  It  also 
supports the European Innovation Ecosystems and  the European Institute of Innovation 
and Technology (EIT) and its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), which focus 
on connecting businesses, education and research.  

HE  can  finance  research  and  innovation  activities  across  a  wide  range  of  areas,  including 
chemical  risk  assessment,  circularity,  energy  efficiency  and  alternative  feedstocks.  The 
Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC), which is co-funded by the EU 
and Member States under Cluster 1 22, promotes new concepts for safety testing and chemical 
risk  assessment.  The  Processes4Planet  Partnership  under  Cluster 4 23  and  the  Circular  Bio-
based  Europe  Joint  Undertaking  (CBE JU)  can  drive  the  development  of  climate-neutral, 
circular  and  bio-based  industrial  processes.  Made  in  Europe 24,  a  public-private  partnership 
under Cluster 4, aims to reinforce the global position of the EU’s manufacturing industry in 
terms of competitiveness, productivity and technology leadership. Horizon Europe is relevant 
for initiatives, such as the IRISS project, which supports the uptake of safe and sustainable 
by design (SSbD) chemicals and products. 

22 The EUR 400 million co-funded EU Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC) under Cluster 1 is an EU-
wide research and innovation partnership programme to support EU and national chemical risk assessment and risk management 
bodies with new data, knowledge, methods, expertise and networks. It brings together ministries and national public health and 
risk assessment agencies, as well as research organisations and academia from almost all EU Member States. It is coordinated 
by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (FR). https://www.eu-parc.eu/. 
22 The Processes4Planet (P4Planet) Partnership’s aim is to transform the EU process industries in order to achieve circularity and 
overall  climate  neutrality  at  the  EU  level  by  2050  while  also  enhancing  their  global  competitiveness.  P4Planet  is  an  EU  co-
programmed public-private partnership established between A.SPIRE (as the private entity) and the Commission in the context 
of Cluster 4 (Digital, Industry and Space) of Horizon Europe. https://www.aspire2050.eu/p4planet/about-p4planet. 
23 The Processes4Planet (P4Planet) Partnership’s aim is to transform the EU process industries in order to achieve circularity and 
overall  climate  neutrality  at  the  EU  level  by  2050  while  also  enhancing  their  global  competitiveness.  P4Planet  is  an  EU  co-
programmed public-private partnership established between A.SPIRE (as the private entity) and the Commission in the context 
of Cluster 4 (Digital, Industry and Space) of the Horizon Europe funding programme. 
24 Made in Europe will run for seven years with a total budget of EUR 1.8 billion. The European Factories of the Future Research 
Association (EFFRA) represents the private side in the partnership. https://www.effra.eu/. 

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Table 4 – Examples of relevant projects for the chemical industry supported by Horizon 
Europe 

Project 

Description 

Timeline 

Links with the 
Transition Pathway 

GH2 25 

IRISS 26  

The  GH2  project  is  funded  by  the  European  Innovation 
Council. It focuses on using a full solar spectrum instead of 
UV-visible  light  as  well  as  employing  biomass-derivative 
oxidation  to  produce  green  hydrogen.  The  project  aims  to 
increase  the  efficiency  of  water  splitting  for  hydrogen 
production driven by solar energy, which is low due to limited 
light-harvesting and slow water oxidation half reaction. The 
target is to produce a 60% hydrogen yield.  

Project  coordinator:  Acondicionamiento  Tarrasense 
Associación (ES) 

The  EU-funded  IRISS  project  aims  to  help  industries 
(particularly  SMEs)  use  safe  and  sustainable  by  design 
(SSbD) chemicals and products. To achieve this, the project 
aims to create an SSbD network comprising a broad range 
of  EU  stakeholders  representing  industry,  research  and 
innovation institutes, academia and policymakers.  

Project coordinator: IVL Swedish Environmental Research 
Institute (SE) 

• Starting date: 
1 Oct 2023 

• End date: 

30 Sep 2035 

• Topic 9: developing new 

techniques and 
technological solutions 
(TRL 6 and 7) 

• Topic 17: process and 
resource efficiency 

• Starting date: 
1 Jun 2022 

• End date: 

31 May 2025 

• Topic 1: international 

competitiveness 
• Topic 3: safety and 

sustainability 

• Topic 4: innovation and 

growth of SMEs 

Plastics2Olefins 27 

The  Plastics2Olefins  project  under  the  Processes4Planet 
Partnership 28 aims to design, build and run a demonstration 
plant for recycling unsorted waste at Repsol’s industrial site 
in Spain through high-temperature pyrolysis. The project is 
expected to reduce the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions 
by 70-80% (compared with incineration and existing plastics 
recycling processes). 

Project coordinator: Repsol (ES) 

• Starting date: 
1 Jun 2022 

• End date: 

31 May 2027 

• Topic 16: feedstock 

substitution 

• Topic 17: process and 
resource efficiency 
• Topic 22: circularity: 
recycling and reuse 
infrastructure 

2.2.1 

Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU)  

The  Circular  Bio-based  Europe  Joint  Undertaking  (CBE  JU)  is  a  EUR 2 billion  public-private 
partnership between the EU and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC). It funds projects 
to advance competitive circular bio-based industries in the EU 29. The CBE JU operates under 
the rules of Horizon Europe for 2021-2031. Its role is to bring together various actors from 

25 https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101070721. 
26 https://emiri.eu/iriss-project/. 
27 https://plastics2olefins.eu/. 
28 https://www.aspire2050.eu/projects/our-spire-projects?field_tc_shortname_tid=All&field_project_type_tid=232&page=1. 
29 The  Bio-based  Industries  Consortium  (BIC)  is  a  non-profit  organisation  set  up  in  Brussels  in  2013  to  represent  the  private 
sector in a public-private partnership (PPP) with the Commission. It focuses on strengthening the bio-based industries sector in 
the  EU.  BIC’s  industry  members  cover  the  whole  value  chain,  from  primary  production  to  market.  Members  represent  many 
diverse  sectors,  such  as  agriculture  and  agri-food,  aquaculture  and  marine,  chemicals  and  materials  (including  bioplastics), 
forestry, pulp and paper, technology providers, and waste management and treatment. BIC also has associate members such as 
research organisations, academia and trade associations. https://biconsortium.eu/about. 

9 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
bio-based  industries  (ranging  from  farmers  to  scientists)  to  overcome  the  sector’s 
technological, regulatory and market challenges. Overall, the CBE JU focuses on: 

supporting research and innovation for sustainable bio-based solutions; 
• 
•  de-risking investments in innovative circular bio-based production plants; 
•  addressing the technological, regulatory and market challenges of the bioeconomy; 
•  placing sustainability at the heart of its operations; 
strengthening collaboration with all bioeconomy actors; 
• 
•  engaging with more stakeholders along the value chains. 

The CBE JU can support research and innovation initiatives and new synergies between the 
chemical industry and other sectors to promote bio-based chemicals and reduce reliance on 
fossil fuels. For instance, the AFTERBIOCHEM 30 project focuses on using the sugar industry’s 
side streams to produce biomolecules of industrial interest. Instead, the CUBIC project aims 
to improve the circularity of complex plastic multi-material composites using innovative bio-
based materials. 

Table 5 – Examples of relevant projects for the chemical industry supported by the CBE JU 

Project 

Description 

CUBIC  is  developing  sustainable  and  circular  bio-based 
materials  (including  polyamides,  pre-pregs  and  carbon 
fibres)  for  use  in  thermoplastic  and  thermoset  plastic 
intermediate products (e.g. filaments, sheets, unidirectional 
tapes,  pellets  and  powders).  These  intermediate  products 
will be assembled into complex end products. 

Project coordinator: Fundación Aitiip (ES) 

ELLIPSE will produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), which 
are natural biodegradable polyesters, using locally available 
and renewable waste streams: slaughterhouse waste, paper 
and  pulp  sludge.  This  waste  will  be  processed  with  other 
organic  waste  such  as  glycerol  from  the  biodiesel  industry 
and  sludge  from  the  dairy  industry  to  make  agricultural 
products and packaging for personal care products.  

Project coordinator: Aimplas (ES) 

Timeline 

Links with the 
Transition Pathway 

• Starting date: 
1 Sep 2023 

• End date: 

28 Feb 2027 

• Topic 8: better 

conceptualisation of new 
techniques and technical 
solutions (TRL 1 to 5) 

• Starting date: 
1 May 2023 

• End date: 

30 Apr 2027 

• Topic 5: new synergies 
• Topic 16: feedstock 

substitution 

• Topic 22: circularity: 
recycling and reuse 
infrastructure 

LUCRA will use the EU’s abundant and underutilised organic 
municipal solid waste and wood waste to produce bio-based 
succinic  acid,  which  is  a  platform  chemical.  It  will  deploy 
innovative hydrolysis methods to release carbohydrates from 
the waste and ferment them for the extraction of bio-succinic 
acid.  

• Starting date: 
1 July 2023 

• End date:  

30 Jun 2027 

Project coordinator: Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant Vzw (BE) 

• Topic 9: developing new 

techniques and 
technological solutions 
(TRL 6 to 7) 

• Topic 16: feedstock 

substitution 

• Topic 22: circularity: 
recycling and reuse 
infrastructure 

CUBIC 31 

ELLIPSE 32 

LUCRA 33 

30 https://after-biochem.eu/. 
31 https://www.cbe.europa.eu/projects/cubic. 
32 https://www.cbe.europa.eu/projects/ellipse. 
33 https://www.cbe.europa.eu/projects/lucra. 

10 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AFTERBIOCHEM 34 

The  AFTERBIOCHEM  project  is  building  the  first  all-in-one 
biorefinery  to  transform  the  sugar  industry’s  side  streams 
(mainly beet pulp and molasses as well as non-food biomass 
feedstocks)  into  bio-sourced  molecules  and  derivatives  of 
interest.  The  AFTERBIOCHEM  project  can 
industrial 
potentially reduce the current dependence on petrochemical-
based  ingredients  for  a  range  of  molecules.  It  also 
encourages  innovation  in  organic  waste  recovery  and 
recycling.  

• Starting date: 
1 May 2020 

• End date: 

30 Apr 2024 

Project coordinator: Afyren Neoxy (FR) 

• Topic 2: reduction of 

unsustainable 
dependencies and supply 
chain vulnerabilities 
• Topic 16: feedstock 

substitution 

• Topic 19: development of 

new and sustainable 
production facilities 
• Topic 22: circularity: 
recycling and reuse 
infrastructure 

2.2.2 

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) 

The  Marie  Skłodowska-Curie  Actions  (MSCA)  are  the  EU’s  flagship  funding  programme  for 
doctoral education and postdoctoral training of researchers. With a budget of EUR 6.6 billion 
under Horizon Europe, the MSCA supports the EU’s capacity for research and innovation by 
investing in the long-term careers of excellent researchers. The European Research Executive 
Agency (REA) manages the MSCA on behalf of the Commission. Specifically, the MSCA targets 
four intervention areas:  

supporting researchers in their training, skills and career development; 
fostering transnational, cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary mobility; 
funding excellent doctoral and postdoctoral programmes, and collaborative projects; 

• 
• 
• 
•  promoting public outreach. 

The  MSCA  can  offer  funding  opportunities  to  foster  research  and  training  on  technological 
solutions for the green and digital transitions of the EU’s chemical industry. For instance, the 
SeaChem project provides training in offshore seaweed aquaculture to produce chemicals.  

Table 6 – Examples of relevant projects for the chemical industry supported by the MSCA 

Project 

Description 

Timeline 

Links with the 
Transition Pathway 

The overarching aim of  the SeaChem  project  is  to provide 
high-level training in the offshore cultivation and valorisation 
of  seaweed  to  a  new  generation  of  10  high-achieving 
doctoral candidates; and to equip them with the transferable 
and  scientific  skills  necessary  for  thriving  careers  in  the 
growing area of non-land-based biomass cultivation and use. 
This  international  training  programme,  which  involves  6 
intersectoral partners  in 4 countries, focuses on innovative 
technological 
of 
interdisciplinary  fields  such  as  construction  engineering, 
materials 
(bio)chemical 
engineering,  environmental  biotechnology  and  machine 
learning.  

(micro)biology, 

developments 

science, 

across 

range 

a 

SEACHEM 35 

Project coordinator: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (BE) 

34 https://www.cbe.europa.eu/projects/afterbiochem. 
35 https://sea-chem.eu/project/. 

11 

• Starting date: 
1 Oct 2022 

• Topic 16: feedstock 

substitution 

• Topic 23: education 

• End date: 

30 Sep 2026 

(reskilling/upskilling the 
workforce) 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PHOCAT 36 

PHOCAT  will  explore  new  chemical  engineering  concepts 
related to photocatalyst design, catalysis, spectroscopy and 
engineering in order  to  enhance CO productivity from CO2 
and H2O reactants. This scientific approach will contribute to 
design-innovative  photocatalytic  processes  with  potential 
industrial applications.  

Project coordinator: Universidad del País Vasco / Euskal 
Herriko Unibertsitatea (ES) 

• Starting date: 
1 May 2024 

• Topic 8: better 

conceptualisation of new 
techniques and technical 
solutions (TRL 1 to 5) 

• End date:  

• Topic 23: education 

30 Apr 2026 

(reskilling/upskilling the 
workforce) 

2.3 

InvestEU 

The Invest EU Fund 37 aims to mobilise over EUR 372 billion of public and private investment 
in 2021-2027 and operates through the following policy windows:  

•  sustainable  infrastructure:  projects  in  sustainable  energy,  digital  connectivity, 

• 

transport, the circular economy, water, waste, and environment infrastructure; 
research,  innovation  and  digitalisation:  financing  research  and  innovation,  taking 
research results to the market, digitalisation of industry and scaling up larger innovative 
companies; 

•  SMEs:  facilitated  access to finance for small and  medium-sized companies (SMEs)  and 

small mid-cap companies, including innovative ones; 

•  social  investment  and  skills:  a  broad  set  of  projects  in  skills,  education,  training, 

microfinance, social enterprise, etc. 

The Invest EU Fund uses an EU budget guarantee of EUR 26.2 billion and is implemented by 
selected implementing partners 38, who identify and select the projects to be financed. The 
European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund are the major partners, and 
are  responsible  for  the  implementation  of  75%  of  the  EU  guarantee.  An  independent 
investment  committee  approves  the  use  of  the  EU  guarantee  for  financing  operations 
proposed by the implementing partners. Projects in the field of chemical industry (e.g. on the 
implementation of alternative feedstocks) are eligible under InvestEU.  

For instance, the Clean Energy Transition Framework  Operation 39,  which was  approved by 
the investment committee on 12 May 2023, aims to provide debt financing for a number of 
projects, including projects related to the decarbonisation of industrial processes in different 
sectors (e.g. chemicals (including fertilisers), steel and cement). It supports projects on the 
deployment of low-emissions technologies such as carbon capture, transport, storage and/or 
use. 

36 https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101107225. 
37 https://investeu.europa.eu/about-investeu_en. 
38 The European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Investment Fund (EIF), the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), 
Cassa  Depositi  e  Prestiti  Equity  (CDP  Equity),  Caisse  des  Dépôts  (CDC),  Instituto  de  Crédito  Oficial  (ICO),  Cassa  Depositi  e 
Prestiti (CDP), Bpifrance (BPI), Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK) and the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB). 
39 https://investeu.europa.eu/system/files/2023-06/INVEU-ICR-0030-2023_SIW-
RIDW%20%28NIB%29%20Conclusions_Clean%20Energy%20Transition.pdf. Implementing Member States: Denmark, Estonia, 
Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland and Sweden. Implementing partner: the Nordic Investment Bank. 

12 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.4 

The Just Transition Mechanism (JTM) 

The Just Transition Mechanism (JTM) provides resources for addressing the challenge of the 
transition process towards climate neutrality. The JTM consists of three mechanisms: 
1)  the Just Transition Fund  
2)  the Invest EU Just Transition Scheme 
3)  the new Public Sector Loan Facility (PSLF) 

The Just Transition Fund (JTF) 40 supports Member States that have identified the territories 
most affected by the transition. Its implementation is based on territorial ‘just transition’ plans 
prepared by Member States in dialogue with the Commission. Funds are allocated based on 
the  socio-economic  impacts  of  the  green  transition41.  The  JTF  has  an  overall  budget  of 
EUR 18 billion for investment in the areas outlined in Table 7.  

Table 7 – the Just Transition Fund: scope of support 

Investment areas 

Scope  

SMEs and new firms  

Research and innovation activities 

Clean energy 

Environmental rehabilitation and 
circularity 

Education and skills 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 
• 
• 
• 

investment in SMEs (including microenterprises and 
start-ups), leading to economic diversification, 
modernisation and reconversion; 
investment in the creation of new firms (including 
through business incubators and consulting services) 
leading to job creation. 

investment in research and innovation activities, 
including by universities and public research 
organisations; 
investment in digitalisation, digital innovation and 
digital connectivity. 

investment in smart and sustainable local mobility, 
including decarbonisation of the local transport 
sector and its infrastructure; 
investment in the deployment of technologies as well 
as infrastructure for affordable clean energy (e.g. 
energy storage and greenhouse gas emissions 
reduction). 

investment in regeneration and decontamination of 
brownfield sites, and land restoration; 
investment in enhancing the circular economy 
(including through waste prevention, reduction, 
resource efficiency, reuse, repair and recycling). 

upskilling and reskilling of workers and jobseekers; 
job-search assistance to jobseekers; 
active inclusion of jobseekers; 
investment in infrastructure for the purpose of 
training centres. 

Note: this table is based on Regulation (EU) 2021/1056 establishing the Just Transition Fund 42. 

40 https://commission.europa.eu/funding-tenders/find-funding/eu-funding-programmes/just-transition fund_en. 
41 Inforegio – Just Transition Fund (europa.eu) . 
42 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32021R1056#d1e571-1-1. 

13 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A  dedicated  scheme  within  InvestEU  is  part  of  the  Just  Transition  Mechanism  and  is 
implemented  through  the  InvestEU  implementing  partners.  It  is  expected  to  mobilise 
EUR 10-15 billion in investment.  
The Public Sector Loan Facility (PSLF) combines grants of up to EUR 1.5 billion from the EU 
budget with loans of up to EUR 10 billion from the European Investment Bank, and aims to 
mobilise around EUR 18.5 billion of public investment. It supports projects that address the 
challenges of the transition process in the territories and sectors identified in the territorial 
just transition plans. 

2.5  Regional development and cohesion funds 

Regional development and cohesion funds 43 that might support the co-implementation of the 
Transition Pathway include the following:  

• 

• 

• 

the  European  Regional  Development  Fund  (ERDF)  (EUR 214 billion 44)  aims  to 
strengthen economic, social and territorial cohesion in the EU  by correcting  imbalances 
between its regions; 
the Cohesion Fund (EUR 39 billion) 45 provides support to Member States with a gross 
national  income  (GNI)  per  capita  below  90%  of  the  EU-27  average 46  in  the  fields  of 
environment and transport infrastructure; 
the  European  Social  Fund  Plus  (ESF+)  (EUR 95 billion) 47  aims  to  achieve  high 
employment  levels  and  fair  social  protection,  and  to  develop  a  skilled  and  resilient 
workforce ready to transition to a green and digital economy.  

The  Common  Provisions  Regulation 48  sets  the  management  rules  and  common  policy 
objectives of the three funds, specifically:  

•  a more competitive and smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic 
technology  (ICT) 

information  and  communication 

regional 

transformation  and 
connectivity; 

•  a  greener  low-carbon  transitioning  towards  a  net-zero  carbon  economy  and 
resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy  transition, the circular economy, 
climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management; 

•  a more connected Europe by enhancing mobility; 
•  a  more  social  and  inclusive  Europe  by  implementing  the  European  Pillar  of  Social 

Rights; 

•  a Europe closer to citizens by fostering the sustainable and integrated development of 

all types of territories and local initiatives. 

43 https://commission.europa.eu/funding-tenders/find-funding/eu-funding-programmes_en. 
44 https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/funds/erdf/21-27  (EU  share  of  the  ERDF  budget)https://commission.europa.eu/funding-
tenders/find-funding/eu-funding-programmes/european regional development-fund-erdf_en. 
45 https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/funds/cf/21-27 (EU Share of the Cohesion Fund budget). 
46 For the 2021-2027 period, the Cohesion Fund concerns Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, 
Hungary,  Malta,  Poland,  Portugal,  Romania,  Slovenia  and  Slovakia.  https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/funding/cohesion-
fund_en. 
47 https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/funds/esf_plus/21-27 (EU share of the ESF + budget). 
48 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32021R1060. 

14 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
These  funds  are  implemented  under  shared  responsibility  by  the  Commission  and  national 
and regional authorities in the Member States. The latter choose which projects to finance 
and take responsibility for their day-to-day management. The Commission ensures that the 
projects are successfully concluded and that funds are properly used. 

These funds can accelerate the development of cross-regional investments projects to support 
the  chemical  value  chain.  For  instance,  the  Interregional  Innovation  Investments  (I3) 
Instrument under the ERDF (implemented by the European Innovation Council and the SMEs 
Executive  Agency  –  EISMEA)  currently  supports  several  green  hydrogen  production  and 
transportation projects.  

Table 8 – Examples of relevant projects for the chemical industry supported by the 
Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument 

Project 

Description 

Timeline 

Links with the 
Transition Pathway 

H2Value 49 

Hy2Market 50 

The  aim  of  H2Value  is  to  establish  the  first  interregional 
green hydrogen value chain in southern Estonia (the Tartu 
region) and northern Latvia (the Vidzeme region). It will pilot 
high  TRL  (9)  technologies  (including  a  small-scale  green 
hydrogen  production  plant  based  on  solar  energy  and  a 
green  hydrogen 
the 
transportation  of  green  hydrogen  by  road.  The  project, 
the  Interregional  Innovation 
which 
Investments  (I3)  Instrument  under  the  EDRF,  involves  9 
partners: 2 regional authorities, 4 companies, 2 associations 
(the  Estonian  and  Latvian  hydrogen  associations)  and  1 
mentor  from  a  top-performing  region  (the  New  Energy 
Coalition in the Netherlands). 

is  supported  by 

station)  and 

refuelling 

test 

Project coordinator: Tartu Linn (EE) 

The main objective of Hy2Market is to create a more mature 
hydrogen  value  chain  across  the  EU  through  targeted 
investment  in  green  hydrogen production, the transport of 
hydrogen via existing and new infrastructure, and the use of 
green hydrogen by industrial partners and in mobility. The 
project  is  supported  by  the  Interregional  Innovation 
Investments (I3) Instrument  under the EDRF and involves 
36 partners. The basis of Hy2Market lies in EU front-runner 
regions  like  the  Northern  Netherlands,  Upper  Austria  and 
Rhone-Alpes,  which  joined  forces  with  emerging  hydrogen 
regions  from  the  Iberian  peninsula  (e.g.  Asturias,  Aragon, 
Castilla  y  Leon  and  Medió  Tejo),  Sicily  in  Italy,  Western 
Macedonia in Greece and Constanţa in Romania. 

Project coordinator: Stichting New Energy Coalition (NL) 

• Start date:  
2 Nov 2022 

• End date:  
1 Nov 2025 

• Topic 10: deployment of 

new techniques and 
technological solutions 
(TRL 8 to 9) 

• Topic 15: large-scale 

electricity and hydrogen 
infrastructure 

• Start date:  
1 Feb 2023 

• Topic 10: deployment of 

new techniques and 
technological solutions 
(TRL 8 to 9) 

• End date:  

• Topic 15: large-scale 

31 Jan 2026 

electricity and hydrogen 
infrastructure 

49 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/projects-
details/44416173/101083881/I3. 
50 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/projects-
details/44416173/101083592/I3. 

15 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.6 

The Digital Europe Programme 

The Digital Europe Programme 51 aims to ensure a wide use of digital technology in businesses, 
public administrations and general society. It allocates a budget of EUR 7.6 billion across five 
investment areas 52:  

1)  supercomputing:  EUR 2.2 billion  for  projects  to  build  up  and  deploy  a  world-class 
supercomputer  and  data  infrastructure  with  exascale  capabilities  and  post-exascale 
facilities by 2026/2027; 

2)  artificial intelligence (AI): EUR 2.1 billion to provide public authorities and businesses 
with  access  to  AI  testing  and  experimentation  facilities  in  the  Member  States, 
complemented by investment in AI research and innovation; 

3)  cybersecurity: EUR 1.6 billion to boost cyberdefence and support the EU’s cybersecurity 

industry; 

4)  advanced  digital  skills:  EUR 580 million  to  support  advanced  digital  skills  through 

training and on-the-job traineeships; 

5)  wide  use  of  digital  technologies  across  the  economy  and  society:  EUR 1.1 billion  to 
support  the  uptake  of  digital  technologies  by  industry  (including  SMEs)  and  public 
administrations. This investment area also focuses on building up and strengthening the 
network of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs). 

The  implementation  of  the  Digital  Europe  Programme  is  based  on  several  working 
programmes that cover the five investment areas. Each working programme is managed by 
different implementing entities 53, as outlined in Table 9. 

Table 9 – The Digital Europe Programme – working programmes and implementing entities 

Working programmes 

Implementing entity 

Digital Europe Work Programme 

The Commission with the support of the European Health and 
Digital Executive Strategy (HaDEA) 54 

EDIH Work Programme 21-23 

The Commission 

Cybersecurity Work Programme  
2023-2024 

Industrial, 

Cybersecurity 
the  Technology  and  Research 
Competence Centre and the Network of National Coordination 
Centres 

High-performance computing  

EuroHPC Joint Undertaking 

Note: the Digital Europe Work Programme covers data, AI, the Cloud, quantum communication infrastructure, advanced digital 
skills and deployment activities for the best use of these technologies.  

51 https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/activities/digital-programme. 
52 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/programmes/digital. 
53 https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/activities/work-programmes-digital. 
54 There are a few exceptions (e.g. the Investment Platform for Strategic Digital Technologies, which is implemented by the 
European Investment Fund). See the Digital Europe Work Programme: 
https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/dae/redirection/document/94609. 

16 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  Digital  Europe  Programme  can  enable  the  deployment  of  digital  technologies  in  the 
chemical  industry.  For  example,  the  Polytronics  project  helps  companies  in  the  polymer 
industry to use AI in their business. Moreover, Common European Data Spaces and European 
Digital  Innovation  Hubs  (EDIHs)  funded  by  the  Digital  Europe  Programme  can  drive  the 
development of new-data-related initiatives and business models in the chemical sector. The 
Digital Europe Programme can also support the digital transformation of SMEs. 

Table 10 – Examples of relevant projects for the chemical industry supported by the Digital 
Europe Programme 

Project 

Description 

Timeline 

Links  with 
Transition Pathway 

the 

Polytronics  supports  companies  in  the  polymer  industry 
(e.g. plastics, 
rubbers,  and 
textiles,  elastomers  and 
composites)  to  use  artificial  intelligence  (AI)  in  their 
its  budget 
business.  Polytronics  dedicates  70%  of 
(EUR 3.3 million over 3 years) to the provision of services to 
SMEs. Polytronics is also developing a portal to gather data 
and  indicators  on  the  digital  maturity  evolution  of  the 
polymer sector. 

Project coordinator: Polymeris (FR) 

The EU DATA SP4CE projects aimto build a one-stop  shop 
for  comprehensive  access 
rich  portfolio  of 
manufacturing  data.  It 
further  aims  to  establish  a 
manufacturing  data  space  governance  mode  as  well  as  a 
digital platform for existing and new-data-related initiatives 
in manufacturing.  

to  a 

Project coordinator: Asociacion De Empresas 
Tecnologicas Innovalia (ES) 

The main aim of DIS4SME is to provide SMEs with the right 
skills to orient their digital transformation (DT) strategies and 
plans around data interoperability. To this end, DIS4SME will 
deliver different types of courses targeted to SMEs. Training 
providers belong both to higher education institutions and to 
the  private  sector.  They  ensure 
training 
programmes respond to the real needs of SMEs and cover 
state-of-the-art technological as well as policy trends. 

that 

the 

Polytronics 55 

EU DATA SP4CE 56 

DIS4SME 57 
(IT) 

• Starting date: 
1 Feb 2023 

• End date:  

31 Jan 2026 

• Topic 4: innovation and 

growth of SMEs 

• Topic 21: development of 

digital technologies 

• Start date:  
1 Oct 2022 

• End date:  

• Topic 4: innovation and 

growth of SMEs 

• Topic 5: new synergies 
• Topic 21: development of 

31 Dec 2023 

digital technologies 

• Start date:  
1 Jan 2023 

• End date:  

31 Dec 2025 

• Topic 4: innovation and 

growth of SMEs 

• Topic 21: development of 

digital technologies 
• Topic 23: education 

(reskilling/upskilling the 
workforce) 

Project  coordinator:  Gisig  Geographical  Information 
Systems International Group Associazione (IT) 

55 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/projects-
details/43152860/101083383/DIGITAL. 
56 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/projects-
details/43152860/101083939/DIGITAL. 
57 https://www.dis4sme.eu/. 

17 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.7 

The Single Market Programme 

The  Single  Market  Programme  (SMP) 58  is  the  EU’s  funding  programme  to  help  the  single 
market reach its full potential and ensure the EU’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. 
With a budget of EUR 4.2 billion in 2021-2027, it provides an integrated package to achieve 
the following objectives. The SMP focuses on the following priority areas 59: 

1)  Internal market: the SMP aims to implement and enforce rules, and to develop them 
further in some areas (e.g. company and contract law, anti-money laundering and the free 
movement  of  capital).  It  also  aims  to  ensure  that  financial  services  meet  the  needs  of 
consumers, civil society and end users; and enhance the Commission’s tools and expertise 
to effectively enforce competition rules in the digital economy. 

2)  Effective standards: the SMP provides financial support to organisations that develop 
EU-wide standards to ensure that products and services achieve an agreed level of quality 
and safety.  

3)  Competitiveness  (particularly  of  SMEs):  the  SMP  provides  support  to  businesses 
(particularly  SMEs)  in  order  to  foster  a  favourable  business  environment  and 
entrepreneurial  culture;  facilitate  access  to  markets;  reduce  administrative  burden; 
support the uptake of innovation; and address global and societal challenges.  

4)  Protect consumers: the SMP helps  ensure that  products  on the market are safe and 
that  consumers  know  the  rules.  It  also  helps  national  authorities  to  work  together 
efficiently and to communicate swiftly. 

5)  Food  Safety:  the  SMP  promotes  initiatives  to  prevent,  control  and  eradicate  animal 
diseases and plant pests; support sustainable food production and consumption; improve 
animal welfare; and improve the effectiveness, efficiency and reliability of official controls. 
6)  EU  statistics:  the  SMP  provides  funding  to  national  statistical  institutes  for  the 
production  and  publication  of  high-quality  statistics  in  order  to  monitor  the  economic, 
social,  environmental  and  territorial  situation  (thereby  supporting  evidence-based 
decision-making in the EU and measuring the impact of EU initiatives). 

The Single Market Programme is implemented under direct management by the Commission. 
For some priority areas, the implementation is carried out by the agencies shown in Table 11 
on behalf of the Commission:  

Table 11 – The Single Market Programme: current priority areas and implementing entities 

Priority area 

Implementing Entity 

• 

food safety 

• 
• 
• 
• 

competitiveness and support to SMEs 
consumer protection 
internal market 
effective EU standard 

the Commission, with the support of the European 
Health and Digital Executive Strategy (HaDEA) 60 

the European Innovation Council 
the SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) 61 

58 https://commission.europa.eu/funding-tenders/find-funding/eu-funding-programmes/single-market-programme/overview_en. 
59 https://social-economy-gateway.ec.europa.eu/eu-funding-programmes/european-single-market-programme-
smp_en#background-information. 
60 There are a few exceptions, such as the Investment Platform for Strategic Digital Technologies, which is managed by the 
European Investment Fund. See the Digital Europe Work Programme: 
https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/dae/redirection/document/94609. 
61 https://eismea.ec.europa.eu/about-eismea_en. 

18 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Single Market Programme can support SMEs in the chemical sector by financing projects 
to  develop  partnerships  for  innovation;  and  implement  new  business  models  and  circular 
technologies (e.g. mechanical and chemical recycling).  

Table 12 outlines relevant projects funded under the Single Market Programme, which focus 
on SMEs in the EU chemical industry. 

Table 12 – Examples of relevant projects for the chemical industry supported by the 
Single Market Programme 

Project 

Description 

Timeline 

Links with the 
Transition Pathway 

INGENIOUS 

POLREC 62 

The  INGENIOUS  Eurocluster  aims  to  provide  financial 
support  via  training,  innovation  and  internationalisation 
grants  of  EUR 1.05 million.  Moreover,  INGENIOUS  aims  to 
develop  and  maintain  long-term  cooperation  between 
companies  and  other  organisations  in  a  cross-sectoral  and 
cross-border  manner.  It  has  a  special  focus  on  SMEs  in 
energy-intensive industries.  

The INGENIOUS consortium has a close relationship with 63 
other clusters across the EU and can reach more than 11 000 
cluster members (including more than 7 000 SMEs). 

The  POLREC  project  aims  to  help  and  encourage  SMEs  to 
adopt  chemical  and  mechanical  recycling  processes  for 
plastic  waste  and  to  use  raw  materials  from  recycled 
polymers.  The  project  (coordinated  by 
the  French 
Eurocluster  for  rubber,  plastics  and  composites)  aims  to 
increase  the  use  of  raw  materials  from  recycled  polymers 
from 6% in 2018 to 15% in 2023 and to 40% by 2032 63. 

Project Coordinator: Polymeris (FR) 

• Starting date: 
1 Sep 2022 

• End date: 

31 Aug 2025 

• Topic 4: innovation and 

growth of SMEs 

• Starting date: 
1 Sep 2022 

• End date: 

31 Aug 2025 

• Topic 4: innovation and 

growth of SMEs 

• Topic 22: circularity, 

recycling and reuse of 
infrastructure 

62 The  project  involves  4  Euroclusters  and  1  technological  centre:  Polymeris  (competitiveness  cluster  for  rubber,  plastics  and 
composites,  France);  MAV  (the  advanced  materials  cluster  in  Catalonia,  Spain);  WFG  (the  regional  agency  for  the  economic 
development  of  the  Heilbronn  region,  Germany);  PCD  (the  facilitator  of  the  Danish  Materials  Network);  and  CENTIMFE  (the 
technological centre for mouldmaking, special tooling and plastic industries in Portugal). 
63 https://www.dmn-net.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Communication-release-POLREC-Launch_ENG-VF.pdf. 

19 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.8 

Erasmus+  

Erasmus+ is the EU’s programme to support education, training, youth and sport in the EU. 
With a budget of EUR 26.2 billion (2021-2027), it places a strong focus on social inclusion, 
the green and digital transitions, and on promoting young people’s participation in democratic 
life. It supports priorities and activities set out in the European Education Area 64, the Digital 
Education Action Plan 65 and the European Skills Agenda.  

Erasmus+  is  mainly  implemented  by  national  agencies 66  and  the  European  Education  and 
Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) 67. 

The Erasmus+ programme is relevant for the development of the skills required for the twin 
transition  of  the  EU’s  chemical  industry.  In  particular,  the  Erasmus+  project  ‘ChemSkills’ 
focuses on identifying and addressing skills gaps for the digital and green transitions of the 
following  six  subsectors  of  the  chemical 
industry:  plastics,  consumer  chemicals, 
fertilisers, rubber, pharmaceuticals and petrochemicals.  

Table 13 – Examples of ongoing projects for the chemical industry supported by the 
Erasmus+ programme 

Project 

Description 

Timeline 

Links with the 
Transition Pathway 

The objective of ‘ChemSkills: enabling the green and digital 
skills transformation of the chemical industry’ is to identify 
and  develop  green  and  digital  skills,  as  well  as  skills  to 
produce  safe  and  sustainable  by  design  (SSbD)  chemicals 
within  the  low-carbon  energy-intensive  ecosystem.  The 
project  will  cover  six  subsectors  of  the  chemical  industry: 
plastics, 
rubber, 
chemicals, 
pharmaceuticals and petrochemicals.  

fertilisers, 

consumer 

ChemSkills 68 

It will map the already existing skills and develop emerging 
occupational  profiles  and  related  qualifications  covering 
upper and post-secondary VET levels (EQF levels 3 to 5) and 
tertiary  levels  (EQF  levels  6  to  8).  The  project  involves  a 
such  as  business 
stakeholders, 
broad 
representations, research institutes, education and training 
providers, universities and public authorities. 

range  of 

Project  coordinator:  the  European  Chemical  Employers 
Group (BE) 

• Starting date: 
1 Sep 2023 

• Topic 23: education 

(reskilling/upskilling the 
workforce) 

• End date: 

31 Aug 2027 

• Topic 24: sufficient supply 
of jobs at technical level 

64 https://education.ec.europa.eu/. 
65 Digital Education Action Plan (2021-2027) | European Education Area (europa.eu) . 
66 https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/contacts. 
67 https://www.eacea.ec.europa.eu/about-eacea_en. 
68 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/projects-
details/43353764/101103234/ERASMUS2027. 

20 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.9 

LIFE 

The LIFE programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. 
With a budget of EUR 5.4 billion 69, it supports investments across four areas (known as ‘sub-
programmes’): 

1)  The  nature  and  biodiversity  sub-programme  aims  at  protecting  and  restoring  the 
EU’s  nature,  and  halting  and  reversing  biodiversity  loss.  It  funds  nature  conservation 
projects in the areas of biodiversity, habitats and species. 

2)  The circular economy and quality of life sub-programme focuses on projects in the 
area of the circular economy, including recovery of resources from waste, water, air, noise, 
soil and chemical management as well as environmental governance. 

3)  The sub-programme on climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation. 
As regards climate change mitigation, it supports projects on farming, land use, peatland 
management, renewable energies and energy efficiency. The climate change adaptation 
programme  involves  projects  in  the  areas  of  urban  adaptation  and  land-use  planning, 
resilience  of  infrastructure,  sustainable  management  of  water  in  drought-prone  areas, 
flood and coastal management, resilience of the agricultural, forestry and tourism sectors, 
and/or support to the EU’s outermost regions.  

4)  The LIFE Clean Energy Transition sub-programme focuses on: 

➢  building a national, regional and local policy framework to support the clean energy 

transition;  

➢  accelerating technology roll-out, digitalisation, new services and business models, 

and enhancement of the related professional skills on the market;  

➢  attracting private finance for sustainable energy;  
➢  supporting the development of local and regional investment projects; 
➢  involving and empowering citizens in the clean energy transition. 

The LIFE programme is implemented directly 70 by the Commission or an executive agency: 
the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) 71.  

LIFE promotes projects on alternative feedstocks to fossil-based fuels in the chemical industry, 
focusing on the valorisation of biomasses and waste. Moreover, LIFE supports initiatives to 
improve  knowledge  (e.g.  LIFEChembee)  and  chemical  risk  management  of  hazardous 
substances; and to assess alternatives to such substances (e.g. FFR-2). A list of projects in 
these areas is provided in Table 14.  

69 https://commission.europa.eu/funding-tenders/find-funding/eu-funding-programmes/programme-environment-and-climate-
action-life_en. 
70 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/life/wp-call/2021-2024/wp_life-2021-2024_en.pdf. 
71 https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/index_en. 

21 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 14 – Examples of relevant projects for the chemical industry supported by the LIFE 
programme 

Project 

Description 

Timeline 

Links with the 
Transition Pathway 

LIFE ChemBee 72 

The  LIFE  ChemBee  project  focuses  on  raising  consumer 
awareness  regarding  hazardous  substances  in  household 
products.  Campaigns  for  consumer  behaviour  change  and 
trainings are carried out to this end. The project aims to train 
around 2 000 volunteers (‘chemical ambassadors’) to reach 
around 43 000 households in 2 years.  

Project  coordinator:  the  Baltic  Environmental  Forum 
Deutschland Ev (DE) 

• Starting date: 
1 Oct 2022 

• End date: 

31 Mar 2026 

Topic 25: impacts on 
workers and consumers 

ZEBRA LIFE 73 

The  ZEBRA  –  LIFE  project  is  developing  technology  to 
valorise black liquor waste, a by-product of pulp and paper 
production.  It  is  a  depolymerisation  process  that  extracts 
high-value-added  bio-aromatic  compounds from lignin  that 
can be used to replace the existing fossil fuel-based additives 
in the market and in many other applications (e.g. rubber, 
fuels, lubricants, the food industry and cosmetics).  

• Starting date: 
1 Sep 2022 

• End date: 

31 Oct 2026 

Project coordinator: Fundación Cener (ES) 

• Topic 3: safety and 

sustainability 

• Topic 16: feedstock 

substitution 

• Topic 22: circularity: 

recycling and reuse of 
infrastructure 

• Topic 25: impacts on 

workers and consumers 

FFR-2 74 

The goal of FFR-2 is to improve chemicals risk management 
systems  in  companies  and  to  incentivise  and  support  a 
reduction in the use, emissions and exposures to hazardous 
substances. The main targeted group and direct beneficiaries 
are  SMEs  in  Estonia,  Latvia,  Lithuania;  and  producers  that 
operate  as  formulators  of  mixtures  and  end  users  of 
substances  and  mixtures.  FFR-2  helps  them  to  assess 
alternatives  to  hazardous  substances  and  mixtures  and  to 
regrettable  substitution.  FFR-2  also  promotes 
avoid 
cooperation  with  the  waste  sector  to  identify  hazardous 
substances in waste and how to change sorting and practices 
to obtain cleaner secondary materials.  

Project coordinator: Balti Keskkonnafoorum (EE) 

• Starting date: 
1 Oct 2023 

• End date: 

30 Sep 2027 

• Topic 3: safety and 

sustainability 

• Topic 16: feedstock 

substitution 

72 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/projects-
details/43252405/101074245/LIFE2027. 
73 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/projects-
details/43252405/101074460/LIFE2027. 
74 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/projects-

details/43252405/101113947/LIFE2027. 

22 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.10  The Innovation Fund 

The Innovation Fund 75 aims to use net-zero and innovative technologies to decarbonise EU 
industry and support its transition to climate neutrality, while fostering its competitiveness. It 
has a budget of about EUR 40 billion 76 (financed entirely by the EU Emissions Trading System 
(ETS)) from 2020 to 2030 and supports innovative projects focusing on: 

1)  innovative 

low-carbon  technologies  and  processes 

in  energy-intensive 

industries, including products that can replace carbon-intensive ones; 

2)  environmentally-safe carbon capture and utilisation (CCU); 
3)  environmentally-safe capture and geological storage of CO2 (CCS); 
4)  innovative renewable energy generation technologies;  
5)  energy-storage technologies; 
6)  net-zero mobility (maritime, aviation and road transport) and buildings, which will be 

added when the ETS Directive is amended. 

The  Commission  has  overall  management  responsibility  for  the  Innovation  Fund  but  has 
delegated specific tasks to the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive 
Agency (CINEA) 77 and the European Investment Bank (EIB). CINEA is the implementing body 
for the Innovation Fund and is in charge of managing the calls for proposals, disbursing the 
grants and monitoring the technical and financial management of projects. The EIB provides 
project development assistance (PDA) in the form of financial and technical advisory support.  

The  Innovation  Fund  can  finance  the  development  of  low-carbon  industrial  technologies 
(e.g. carbon capture and storage and utilisation (CCS/CCU)) as well as circular and bio-based 
solutions  in  the  chemicals  sector.  Table 15  provides  examples  of  relevant  CCU  and  waste 
recycling projects financed by the Innovation Fund. 

75 https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/funding-climate-action/innovation-fund/what-innovation-fund_en#governance. 
76 This depends on the carbon price. The budget estimate is based on a carbon price of EUR 75/tCO2. 
77 https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/index_en. 

23 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table 15 – Examples of relevant projects for the chemical industry financed by the 
Innovation Fund 

Project 

Description 

Project Air involves first-of-a-kind large-scale production of 
sustainable  methanol  as  a  raw  material  for  chemical 
products.  This  uses  a  combination  of  CCU  processes  to 
convert  CO2,  residue  streams,  renewable  hydrogen  and 
biomethane.  The  project,  which  is  coordinated  by  the 
Perstorp Group and its partner Uniper, is expected to lead to 
a  relative  increase  of  123%  in  greenhouse  gas  emission 
avoidance  (by  comparison  with  conventional  methanol 
synthesis). 

Project coordinator: Perstorp Oxo Ab (SE) 

Timeline 

Links with the 
Transition Pathway 

• Starting date: 
1 Jan 2023 

• Entry into 
operation: 
1 Jan 2027 

• Topic 9: developing new 

techniques and 
technological solutions 
(TRL 6 to 7) 

• Topic 10: deployment of 

new techniques and 
technological solutions 
(TRL 8 to 9) 

• Topic 16: feedstock 

• End date: 

substitution 

31 Jan 2037 

• Topic 22: circularity: 

recycling and reuse of 
infrastructure 

The ‘Pretreatment and Upgrading of Liquefied waste plastic 
to  Scale  up  circular  Economy’  (PULSE)  project,  which  is 
coordinated by Neste NYJ, focuses on chemical recycling of 
waste plastics. PULSE aims to reach a processing capacity of 
400 000  tonnes  of  liquefied  waste  plastic  per  year.  It  can 
contribute to meeting EU climate neutrality objectives by a 
total  of  10.3 Mt  of  greenhouse  gas  emission  avoidance 
during its first 10 years of operation. 

Project coordinator: Neste NYJ (FI) 

The  ECOPLANTA  project  will  revolutionise  municipal  solid 
waste  (MSW)  management  by  using  non-recyclable 
materials  that  have  been  rejected  by  sorting  centres  to 
produce  circular  chemicals  and  advanced  biofuels.  The 
project will deliver a first-of-a-kind commercial plant for the 
EU  market,  using  waste  that  would  otherwise  end  up  in 
landfills.  The  project  will  achieve  3.4 Mt CO2eq  of 
greenhouse gas emission reductions over the first 10 years 
of operation. 

Project  coordinator:  Ecoplanta  Molecular  Recycling 
Solutions S.L. (ES) 

• Starting date: 
1 Apr 2023 

• Entry into 
operation: 
1 Jan 2028 

• End date: 

31 Dec 2037 

• Topic 10: deployment of 

new techniques and 
technological solutions 
(TRL 8 to 9) 

• Topic 16: feedstock 

substitution 

• Topic 22: circularity: 

recycling and reuse of 
infrastructure 

• Starting date: 
1 Nov 2021 

• Entry into 
operation: 
Q3 2026 

• Topic 9: developing new 

techniques and 
technological solutions 
(TRL 6 to 7) 

• Topic 10: deployment of 

new techniques and 
technological solutions 
(TRL 8 to 9) 

• Topic 16: feedstock 

• End date: 

substitution 

31 Nov 2026 

• Topic 22: circularity: 

recycling and reuse of 
infrastructure 

Project Air 78 

Project PULSE 79 

ECOPLANTA 80 

78 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/projects-
details/43089234/101085939/INNOVFUND. 
79 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/projects-
details/43089234/101085128/INNOVFUND. 
80 if_pf_2022_ecoplanta_en_0.pdf (europa.eu). 

24 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.11  The Social Climate Fund 

The Social Climate Fund will start operating in 2026 and will address the social impacts arising 
from the inclusion of the buildings and road transport sectors in the reformed ETS under the 
Fit for 55 package 81.  

Specifically,  the  Social  Climate  Fund  will  provide  funding  to  Member  States  to  support 
measures  and  investment  to  increase  the  energy  efficiency  of  buildings  and  the 
decarbonisation of heating and cooling of buildings (including the integration of energy from 
renewable sources); and to improve access to zero- and low-emission mobility and transport. 
These  measures  and 
investments  should  mainly  benefit  vulnerable  households, 
microenterprises and transport users. 

2.12  Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) 

The Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) was set up by the EU to support EU 
industry and boost investment in critical technologies in the EU. In particular, STEP raises and 
steers funding across 11 EU programmes to three target investment areas: 

•  digital technologies and deep technology innovation (e.g. artificial intelligence, quantum 

technologies and advanced connectivity); 

•  clean and resource-efficient technologies (e.g. carbon capture and storage technologies, 

and heat pumps); 

•  biotechnologies (e.g. molecular and crop biotechnologies).  

STEP uses resources across 11 EU funding programmes to investments. One objective is to 
help individual projects benefit from cumulative funding under several instruments of the EU 
budget. This is particularly facilitated by the STEP Seal. To receive a STEP Seal, projects must 
contribute  to  achieving  at  least  one  the  STEP  objectives.  There  is  no  additional  specific 
procedure to apply for the STEP Seal. It can only be obtained by applying to a call under a 
relevant programme. 

81 https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/eu-emissions-trading-system-eu-ets_en#social-climate-fund 

25 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.   Funding opportunities 

Businesses  and  organisations  can  access  information  and  apply  for  funding  programmes  managed  by  the  Commission  and  other  EU  bodies 
through the EU Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal. At the time of writing, a non-exhaustive list of 29 open and forthcoming calls on the 
Portal that could finance relevant initiatives for the co-implementation of the Transition Pathway 82 has been identified. Table 16 details these 
calls (indicating the corresponding funding programme, the types of projects covered, the budget, the deadlines for applications and the types 
of organisations that can apply). 

Table 16 – Open and forthcoming calls under funding programmes managed by the Commission and other EU bodies 

Programme 

Call name 

Scope and budget 

Timeline  Who can apply? 

Horizon Europe 

EIC Accelerator 2025 - 
Short application 

Scope: The EIC Accelerator supports companies (principally SMEs, including start-
ups) to scale up high impact innovations with the potential to create new markets 
or disrupt existing ones. Proposals can be submitted under two strands in this call: 
the “Accelerator Open”, which does not have a specific investment area, and the 
“Accelerator Challenges”, entailing strategic technologies such as Biotechnologies.   

Starting date: 
29 Oct 2024 

Deadline dates: 
18 Dec 2025 

Budget: EUR 384 million 

Single company 
classified as a SME or 
small mid-cap (up to 
499 employees) 
established within a 
Member State or 
other countries as 
highlighted in the EIC 
Work Programme 
2025 

82 The different calls have been identified using key-word research. Relevant terms used include ‘chemical’, ‘green’, ‘digital’, ‘hydrogen’, ‘polymer’, ‘substance’, ‘carbon capture’, ‘electrification’, ‘energy’, 
‘industry’ and ‘SMEs’. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Horizon Europe 

EIC Transition Open 

Horizon Europe  MSCA COFUND 2025 

Scope: EIC Transition funds innovation activities that go beyond the experimental 
proof of principle in laboratory. It supports both the maturation and validation of 
novel technologies from the lab to the relevant application environments (by making 
use of prototyping, formulation, models, user testing or other validation tests) as 
well as explorations and development of a sustainable business case and business 
model  towards  commercialisation.  The  EIC  Transition  Open  has  no  predefined 
thematic priorities and is open to proposals in any field of science, technology or 
application. 

Starting date: 
22 Apr 2025 

Deadline date: 
17 Sep 2025 

Budget: EUR 98 million 

Scope:  MSCA  COFUND  co-finances  new  and  existing  doctoral  programmes  and 
postdoctoral  fellowship  schemes.  The  aim  is  to  spread  the  best  practices  of  the 
MSCA (including international, intersectoral and interdisciplinary research training, 
as well as international and cross-sectoral mobility of researchers at all stages of 
their  careers).  It  provides  complementary  funding  for  doctoral  or  postdoctoral 
programmes  managed  by  entities  established  in  EU  Member  States  or  Horizon 
Europe Associated Countries. 

Starting date: 
23 January 2025 

Deadline date: 
24 June 2025 

Budget: EUR 102 million 

Horizon Europe 

Improvements in lifetime 
and cost of low 
temperature electrolysers 
by introducing advanced 
materials and 
components in stacks 
and balance of plant 

Scope: this call focuses on addressing the lifetime, performance and cost of low 
temperature  electrolysers  at  system  level  by  developing,  designing  and  testing 
advanced functional and structural materials and/or components for the cell, stack, 
and  balance  of  plant  (BoP).  The  main  objective  is  to  develop  advanced  cell  and 
stack  materials  and  BoP  components  that  don’t  induce  degradation  or  reliability 
issues or even mitigate degradation and improve overall system durability. 

Starting date: 
23 January 2025 

Deadline date: 
24 June 2025 

Budget: EUR 4 million83 

Single applicants 
(SMEs, spin-offs, 
start-ups, research 
organisations, 
universities) or small 
consortia established 
in the EU or other 
countries as 
highlighted in the EIC 
Work Programme 
2025 

Any legal entity 
established in the EU 
and other countries 
indicated in the 
Horizon Europe Work 
programme 2023-
2025 – General 
Annexes 

Any legal entity 
established in the EU 
and other countries 
indicated in the 
Horizon Europe Work 
programme 2023-
2025 – General 
Annexes 

83 Indicative budget, link: https://www.clean-hydrogen.europa.eu/document/download/e5846471-328c-48fd-b91f-
837da07556b6_en?filename=Clean%20Hydrogen%20JU%20AWP%202025_FINAL_ADOPTED.pdf 

27 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Horizon Europe 

Innovative co-electrolysis 
systems and integration 
with downstream 
processes 

Scope:  this  call  finances  proposals  to  accelerate  the  development  of  the  co-
electrolysis technology and its integration into real chemical synthesis process by 
proving  the  concept  and  the  overall  efficiency  of  the  coupling  between  the  co-
electrolyser  and  the  downstream  process,  mainly  the  catalytic  reactor  for  the 
chemical synthesis. 

Starting date: 
30 January 2025 

Deadline date: 
23 Apr 2025 

Budget: EUR 4 million84 

Horizon Europe 

Demonstration of 
scalable ammonia 
cracking technology 

Scope: projects to develop an efficient, modular and scalable cracking technology 
to  convert  ammonia  into  high-purity  hydrogen  to  the  specifications  needed  for 
specific applications and scales. It covers different development activities from the 
design to the manufacture and demonstration in an operational environment.  

Starting date: 
30 January 2025 

Deadline date: 
23 Apr 2025 

Budget: EUR 6 million85 

Horizon Europe 

Simultaneous ionomer 
and iridium recycling 

Scope: projects on recycling iridium and ionomers after catalyst-coated membrane 
(CCM) separation from a Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyser stack at 
the  End  of  Life  and-or  from  scraps  and  waste.  An  important  objective  is  to 
understand  the  impact  of  the  separation  process  of  the  waste  stream  on  the 
ionomer and possible impurities, degradation of the polymer’s molecular structure, 
change in physical/chemical properties, performance, etc. 

Starting date: 
30 January 2025 

Deadline date: 
23 Apr 2025 

Budget: EUR 3.5 million86 

Any legal entity 
established in the EU 
and other countries 
indicated in the 
Horizon Europe Work 
programme 2023-
2025 – General 
Annexes 

Any legal entity 
established in the EU 
and other countries 
indicated in the 
Horizon Europe Work 
programme 2023-
2025 – General 
Annexes 

Any legal entity 
established in the EU 
and other countries 
indicated in the 
Horizon Europe Work 
programme 2023-
2025 – General 
Annexes 

84 Indicative budget, link: https://www.clean-hydrogen.europa.eu/document/download/e5846471-328c-48fd-b91f-
837da07556b6_en?filename=Clean%20Hydrogen%20JU%20AWP%202025_FINAL_ADOPTED.pdf 
85 Indicative budget, link: https://www.clean-hydrogen.europa.eu/document/download/e5846471-328c-48fd-b91f-
837da07556b6_en?filename=Clean%20Hydrogen%20JU%20AWP%202025_FINAL_ADOPTED.pdf 
86 Indicative budget, link: https://www.clean-hydrogen.europa.eu/document/download/e5846471-328c-48fd-b91f-
837da07556b6_en?filename=Clean%20Hydrogen%20JU%20AWP%202025_FINAL_ADOPTED.pdf 

28 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Horizon Europe 

Development of cost 
effective and high-
capacity compression 
solutions for hydrogen 

Scope: proposals to develop highly disruptive compression technologies or achieve 
breakthrough on conventional compression technologies, or a combination of both 
novel and conventional technologies.  

Budget: EUR 5 million87 

Starting date: 
30 January 2025 

Deadline date: 
23 Apr 2025 

Horizon Europe 

Knowledge transfer and 
training of civil servants, 
safety officials, and 
permitting staff to 
improve safety 
assessment and licensing 
procedures across 
Europe 

Scope: the aim is to train public officials and all other types of staff engaged in 
permit applications, project assessment and certification, and permit granting. This 
will allow streamlining project implementation and ensure effective permitting and 
licensing  procedures.  Projects  should  further  address  the  knowledge  transfer 
between  Hydrogen  Valleys  and  between  Member  States  on  permitting  and 
certification  of  hydrogen  projects,  for  example,  based  on  the  best  practice 
handbook. 

Starting date: 
30 January 2025 

Deadline date: 
23 Apr 2025 

Budget: EUR 1 million88 

Horizon Europe 

Scale-up and 
Optimisation of 
manufacturing processes 
for electrolyser materials, 
cells, or stacks 

Scope:  development  and  demonstration  of  manufacturing  processes  which  are 
suitable for scale-up and which can contribute to meeting predicted annual clean 
hydrogen  production  requirements.  Considering  manufacturing  scale-up  of  new 
materials,  the  proposal  should  provide  sufficient  information  to  show  that  these 
materials have been proven to work at an appropriate scale. 

Starting date: 
30 January 2025 

Deadline date: 
23 Apr 2025 

Budget: EUR 8 million89 

Any legal entity 
established in the EU 
and other countries 
indicated in the 
Horizon Europe Work 
programme 2023-
2025 – General 
Annexes 

Any legal entity 
established in the EU 
and other countries 
indicated in the 
Horizon Europe Work 
programme 2023-
2025 – General 
Annexes 

Any legal entity 
established in the EU 
and other countries 
indicated in the 
Horizon Europe Work 
programme 2023-
2025 – General 
Annexes 

87 Indicative budget, link: https://www.clean-hydrogen.europa.eu/document/download/e5846471-328c-48fd-b91f-
837da07556b6_en?filename=Clean%20Hydrogen%20JU%20AWP%202025_FINAL_ADOPTED.pdf 
88 Indicative budget, link: https://www.clean-hydrogen.europa.eu/document/download/e5846471-328c-48fd-b91f-
837da07556b6_en?filename=Clean%20Hydrogen%20JU%20AWP%202025_FINAL_ADOPTED.pdf 
89 Indicative budget, link: https://www.clean-hydrogen.europa.eu/document/download/e5846471-328c-48fd-b91f-
837da07556b6_en?filename=Clean%20Hydrogen%20JU%20AWP%202025_FINAL_ADOPTED.pdf 

29 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Horizon Europe 

Development of mined, 
lined rock cavern for 
gaseous hydrogen 
storage 

Scope:  proposals  to  address  the  technical  challenges  stemming  from  combining 
large strains, fatigue conditions, and hydrogen service on the liner, the surrounding 
concrete, and the encompassing rock masses. 

Budget: EUR 5 million90 

Starting date: 
30 January 2025 

Deadline date: 
23 Apr 2025 

Horizon Europe 

Innovative hydrogen and 
solid carbon production 
from renewable 
gases/biogenic waste 
processes 

Scope: alternative energy transfer methods mainly based on a) renewables (e.g., 
microwave,  thermal  and  non-thermal  plasma,  induction,  shockwave,  radiation 
heating, direct thermal heating by several methods as concentrated solar platform 
or  molecular  oxidation)  –  and  b)  reactor  designs  (e.g.,  bubble  column,  plug, 
fluidised-bed,  packed-bed,  pulse  tube,  tubular,  fluid  wall,  honeycomb  monolith, 
moving carbon-bed, rotary kiln and others).  

Starting date: 
30 January 2025 

Deadline date: 
23 Apr 2025 

Budget: EUR 8 million91 

Horizon Europe 

Efficient electrolysis 
coupling with variable 
renewable electricity 
and/or heat integration 

Scope: projects to increase the capacity of electrolysis plant operators to produce 
RFNBO respecting the EU Delegated Acts on Renewable Hydrogen requirements on 
time  correlation,  while  enhancing  their  business  model  through  the  provision  of 
higher levels of remunerated flexibility services to the electrical grid and potentially 
through heat integration. 

Starting date: 
30 January 2025 

Deadline date: 
23 Apr 2025 

Budget: EUR 6 million92 

Any legal entity 
established in the EU 
and other countries 
indicated in the 
Horizon Europe Work 
programme 2023-
2025 – General 
Annexes 

Any legal entity 
established in the EU 
and other countries 
indicated in the 
Horizon Europe Work 
programme 2023-
2025 – General 
Annexes 

Any legal entity 
established in the EU 
and other countries 
indicated in the 
Horizon Europe Work 
programme 2023-
2025 – General 
Annexes 

90 Indicative budget, link: https://www.clean-hydrogen.europa.eu/document/download/e5846471-328c-48fd-b91f-
837da07556b6_en?filename=Clean%20Hydrogen%20JU%20AWP%202025_FINAL_ADOPTED.pdf 
91 Indicative budget, link: https://www.clean-hydrogen.europa.eu/document/download/e5846471-328c-48fd-b91f-
837da07556b6_en?filename=Clean%20Hydrogen%20JU%20AWP%202025_FINAL_ADOPTED.pdf 
92 Indicative budget, link: https://www.clean-hydrogen.europa.eu/document/download/e5846471-328c-48fd-b91f-
837da07556b6_en?filename=Clean%20Hydrogen%20JU%20AWP%202025_FINAL_ADOPTED.pdf 

30 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Horizon Europe 

Demonstration of 
stationary fuel cells in 
renewable energy 
communities 

Scope: proposals to demonstrate an integrated renewable energy system applying 
stationary fuel cells, possibly in combination with other hydrogen technologies, and 
to supply reliable and efficient energy in at least one renewable energy community. 

Budget: EUR 5 million93 

Starting date: 
30 January 2025 

Deadline date: 
23 Apr 2025 

Small-scale Hydrogen 
Valley 

Horizon Europe 

and 

Scope:  to  develop  and  demonstrate  a  small  scale  and  a  large-scale  Hydrogen 
Valley. It could demonstrate a combination of technologies either in existing and/or 
new markets for clean hydrogen (including hard-to-abate sectors), especially when 
applications are used in symbiose with each other.  

Starting date: 
30 January 2025 

Deadline date: 
23 Apr 2025 

Large-scale Hydrogen 
Valley 

Budget: EUR 80 million94 

Horizon Europe 

Improved lifetime and 
cost of high-temperature 
electrolysers by 
introducing innovative 
materials and 
components in stacks 
and BoP 

Scope: projects to minimise the effects of degradation to consequently extend the 
lifetime  of  high  temperature  steam  electrolysers  (HTSE)  such  as  solid  oxide 
electrolysers  (SOEL)  and  proton-conducting  ceramic  electrolysers  (PCCEL).  HTSE 
technology has the potential to achieve a low cost of hydrogen production because 
of its higher energy efficiency due to the operation at high temperature. 

Starting date: 
30 January 2025 

Deadline date: 
23 Apr 2025 

Budget: EUR 8 million95 

Any legal entity 
established in the EU 
and other countries 
indicated in the 
Horizon Europe Work 
programme 2023-
2025 – General 
Annexes 

Any legal entity 
established in the EU 
and other countries 
indicated in the 
Horizon Europe Work 
programme 2023-
2025 – General 
Annexes 

Any legal entity 
established in the EU 
and other countries 
indicated in the 
Horizon Europe Work 
programme 2023-
2025 – General 
Annexes 

93 Indicative budget, link: https://www.clean-hydrogen.europa.eu/document/download/e5846471-328c-48fd-b91f-
837da07556b6_en?filename=Clean%20Hydrogen%20JU%20AWP%202025_FINAL_ADOPTED.pdf 
94 Indicative budget, link: https://www.clean-hydrogen.europa.eu/document/download/e5846471-328c-48fd-b91f-
837da07556b6_en?filename=Clean%20Hydrogen%20JU%20AWP%202025_FINAL_ADOPTED.pdf 
95 Indicative budget, link: https://www.clean-hydrogen.europa.eu/document/download/e5846471-328c-48fd-b91f-
837da07556b6_en?filename=Clean%20Hydrogen%20JU%20AWP%202025_FINAL_ADOPTED.pdf 

31 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Horizon Europe 

Scalable innovative 
processes for the 
production of PEMFC 
MEAs 

Scope:  projects  aiming  at  developing  and  scaling-up  innovative  manufacturing 
processes  for  Membrane  Electrode  Assemblies  (MEA)  of  Proton  Exchange 
Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC). Each step of the MEA manufacturing process should 
be addressed and achieve TRL 6 and MRL 4-5 by the end of the project, therefore 
demonstrating process technology in a relevant environment 

Starting date: 
30 January 2025 

Deadline date: 
23 Apr 2025 

Budget: EUR 5 million96 

Horizon Europe 

Per- and Poly-fluoroalkyl 
substance (PFAS) 
exposure, emissions, and 
end of life management 
in the healthcare sector 

Scope:  projects  to  replace  PFAS  in  medical  technologies  without  risking  human 
health,  input  from  supply  chain  actors,  scientists,  and  engineers  is  crucial.  This 
includes assessing material availability, feasibility, and testing. 

Budget: EUR 24 million97 

Horizon Europe 

EIC STEP Scale Up 

Scope:  this  call  provides  support  in  the  form  of  equity-only  investments.  It  is 
designed to fill the funding gap for companies to invest in the scale up of high-risk 
innovations and where the amount needed for the scale up cannot be fully financed 
by  other  investors.  Several  investment  areas  are  covered,  such  as  digital,  clean, 
resource efficient and net-zero technologies.  

Budget: EUR 300 million 

Starting date: 
16 January 2025 

Deadline dates: 
23 Apr 2025 
14 Oct 2025 

Starting date: 
26 Nov 2024 

Deadline dates: 
23 Apr 2025 

Any legal entity 
established in the EU 
and other countries 
indicated in the 
Horizon Europe Work 
programme 2023-
2025 – General 
Annexes 

Any legal entity 
established in the EU 
and other countries 
indicated in the 
Horizon Europe Work 
programme 2023-
2025 – General 
Annexes 

Single company 
classified as a SME or 
small mid-cap (up to 
499 employees) 
established within a 
Member State or 
other countries as 
highlighted in the EIC 
Work Programme 
2025 

96 Indicative budget, link: https://www.clean-hydrogen.europa.eu/document/download/e5846471-328c-48fd-b91f-
837da07556b6_en?filename=Clean%20Hydrogen%20JU%20AWP%202025_FINAL_ADOPTED.pdf 
97 https://www.ihi.europa.eu/sites/default/files/uploads/Documents/About/AWP/WorkProgramme2025.pdf 

32 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Horizon Europe  MSCA COFUND 2025 

Scope:  MSCA  COFUND  co-finances  new  and  existing  doctoral  programmes  and 
postdoctoral  fellowship  schemes.  The  aim  is  to  spread  the  best  practices  of  the 
MSCA (including international, intersectoral and interdisciplinary research training, 
as well as international and cross-sectoral mobility of researchers at all stages of 
their  careers).  It  provides  complementary  funding  for  doctoral  or  postdoctoral 
programmes  managed  by  entities  established  in  EU  Member  States  or  Horizon 
Europe Associated Countries. 

Starting date: 
23 January 2025 

Deadline date: 
24 June 2025 

Budget: EUR 102 million 

Any legal entity 
established in the EU 
and other countries 
indicated in the 
Horizon Europe Work 
programme 2023-
2025 – General 
Annexes 

Innovation Fund 

Innovation Fund 2024 
Net Zero Technologies – 
Pilot projects 

Scope:  innovative,  disruptive  or  breakthrough  technologies  that  enable  deep 
decarbonisation  needed  for  achieving  climate  neutrality,  including:  a)  Renewable 
energy installations, b) CO2 storage solution; c) innovative energy storage systems; 
projects  concerning  the  sectors  listed  in  Annex  I  and  Annex  III  to  the  EU  ETS 
Directive including environmentally safe carbon capture and utilisation (CCU). 

Starting date: 
03 Dec 2024 

Deadline date: 
24 Apr 2025 

Public or private 
bodies98 

Budget: EUR 200 million  

Innovation Fund 

Innovation Fund 2024 
Net Zero Technologies – 
General decarbonisation 
– Medium-Scale Projects 

Scope:  The  following  activities  are  covered:  a)  low-carbon  technologies  and 
processes in sectors listed in Annex I and Annex III to the EU ETS Directive 2003/87, 
including  projects focusing on  the utilization of  waste heat  and  improvements in 
electrification and energy efficiency within industrial processes and energy systems; 
b)  environmentally safe carbon  capture  and utilisation (CCU);  c) development of 
products that substitute carbon-intensive ones produced in sectors listed in Annex 
I to the EU ETS Directive; d) environmentally safe capture and geological storage 
of CO2 (CCS); e) innovative renewable energy and energy storage technologies. 

Starting date: 
03 Dec 2024 

Deadline date: 
24 Apr 2025 

Public or private 
bodies99 

Budget: EUR 200 million 

98 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/innovfund/wp-call/2024/call-fiche_innovfund-2024-nzt_en.pdf 
99 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/innovfund/wp-call/2024/call-fiche_innovfund-2024-nzt_en.pdf 

33 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Innovation Fund 

Innovation Fund 2024 
Net Zero Technologies – 
Clean-tech manufacturing 

Scope: construction and operation of manufacturing facilities to produce specific 
components for: a) renewable energy technologies; b) electrolysers and fuel cells; 
c) energy storage solutions; d) heat pumps.  

Budget: EUR 700 million 

Innovation Fund 

Innovation Fund 2024 
Net Zero Technologies – 
General decarbonisation 
– Small-Scale Projects 

Scope:  the  following  activities  are  covered:  a)  innovation  in  low-carbon 
technologies and processes in sectors listed in Annex I  and Annex III to the EU 
ETS Directive 2003/87, including projects focusing on the utilization of waste heat 
and  improvements  in  electrification  and  energy  efficiency;  b)  activities  involving 
environmentally safe carbon capture and utilisation (CCU); c) Carbon Capture and 
Storage projects; d) projects on renewable energy and energy storage technologies.  

Starting date: 
03 Dec 2024 

Deadline date: 
24 Apr 2025 

Starting date: 
03 Dec 2024 

Deadline date: 
24 Apr 2025 

Public or private 
bodies100 

Public or private 
bodies101 

Budget: EUR 100 million 

Innovation Fund 

Innovation Fund 2024 
Net Zero Technologies – 
General decarbonisation 
– Large-Scale Projects 

Scope:  the  following  activities  are  covered:  a)  innovation  in  low-carbon 
technologies and processes in sectors listed in Annex I  and Annex III to the EU 
ETS Directive 2003/87, including projects focusing on the utilization of waste heat 
and  improvements  in  electrification  and  energy  efficiency;  b)  activities  involving 
environmentally safe carbon capture and utilisation (CCU); c) Carbon Capture and 
Storage projects; d) projects on renewable energy and energy storage technologies. 

Starting date: 
03 Dec 2024 

Deadline date: 
24 Apr 2025 

Public or private 
bodies102 

Budget: EUR 1.2 billion 

Innovation Fund 

Innovation Fund 2024 - 
Batteries - Manufacturing 
of electric vehicles 
battery cells 

Scope: manufacturing of cells that can be used in electric vehicle batteries and (i.e. 
in  case  of  horizontally  integrated  projects)  and  the  production  of  the  following 
components:  cathode  precursor  material,  cathode  active  material,  anode  active 
material,  electrolyte,  separators.  Finally,  also  activities  on  battery  and  battery 
materials recycling are in scope.  

Starting date: 
03 Dec 2024 

Deadline date: 
24 Apr 2025 

Public or private 
bodies103 

Budget: EUR 1 billion 

100 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/innovfund/wp-call/2024/call-fiche_innovfund-2024-nzt_en.pdf 
101 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/innovfund/wp-call/2024/call-fiche_innovfund-2024-nzt_en.pdf 
102 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/innovfund/wp-call/2024/call-fiche_innovfund-2024-nzt_en.pdf 
103 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/innovfund/wp-call/2024/call-fiche_innovfund-2024-nzt_en.pdf 

34 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PSLF-LOAN SCHEMES 

Just Transition 
Mechanism 

and 

Scope: projects related to a wide range of investments in the area of the green 
transition  may  be  funded,  particularly  in  renewable  energy  and  including  the 
promotion of green hydrogen; digitalisation; environmental infrastructure for smart 
waste  and  water  management;  energy  efficiency;  and  upskilling,  reskilling  and 
training. 

PSLF-PROJECTS 

Budget: EUR 1.5 billion 

Single Market 
Programme 

CircInWater 

Scope: CircInWater is a European-funded project focusing on the development of 
innovative water solutions within the agrifood sector and energy-intensive industries 
such as pulp and paper, mining, steel, and chemicals. 

Budget: EUR 1.4 million  

Starting date: 
12 Jul 2022 

Deadline dates: 
15 Apr 2025 
11 Sep 2025 

Public bodies or 
private bodies 
entrusted with a 
public service mission 
established in an EU 
Member State 104 

Starting date: 
18 Sep 2024 

Deadline date: 
30 Apr 2025 

SMEs providing water 
solutions within the 
agrifood or energy-
intensive sectors and 
which are part of a 
cluster organisation 
registered on the 
European Cluster 
Collaboration 
Platform105.  

Single Market 
Programme 

INGENIOUS grants 

Scope: the INGENIOUS Eurocluster supports EU industry in the digital and green 
transitions.  INGENIOUS  serves  as  a  lever  for  companies  (particularly  SMEs  in 
energy-intensive  industries  (EIIs))  to  implement  highly  innovative  solutions, 
penetrate key markets and develop new partnerships via three financial instruments 
(innovation grants 106, training grants and internationalisation grants). 

Starting date: 
22 May 2023 

Deadline date: 
30 June 2025107 

SMEs established in  
the EU and other  
countries listed in the  
INGENIOUS grants  
guidance 

Budget: EUR 1.05 million 

104 For more details, please check the JTM: Public Sector Loan Facility call document and the JTM: Public Sector Loan Facility Projects call document. 
105 https://www.clustercollaboration.eu/ 
106 The deadline for innovation grants was 15 August 2023. 
107 Deadline for training grants 

35 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Moreover, around 98 relevant calls for co-implementation managed by the Commission and other EU bodies were closed between 2023 and early 
2025. These calls are listed in Table 17 108.  

      Table 17 – Closed calls in 2023, 2024 and 2025 under funding programmes managed by the Commission and other EU bodies 

Funding 
programme 

Call name 

Scope and budget 

Horizon 
Europe 

Development of smart concepts of 
integrated energy driven bio-refineries 
for co-production of advanced biofuels, 
bio-chemicals and biomaterials 

Scope:  Development  of  zero-waste  and  neutral  or  negative  carbon  emission  energy-
efficient  biorefinery concepts for enabling the production of  low-cost advanced biofuels 
through co-production of added value bio-based products and bioenergy. Conversion of 
biogenic  wastes  and  residues  as  well  as  algae  and  aquatic  biomass  through  chemical, 
biochemical,  electrochemical,  biological,  thermochemical  pathways  or  combinations  of 
them in highly circular processes are in scope. 

Budget: EUR 7 million  

Horizon 
Europe 

DACCS and BECCS for CO2 
removal/negative emissions 

Scope: innovative CCUS /carbon negative technologies leading to CO2 removal. Proposals 
should enable the cost-effective deployment of technologies such as DACCS and/or BECCS 
ideally linking them to industrial clusters with emphasis of these technologies to safe CO2 
underground storage and CO2 utilisation. 

Budget: EUR 15 million 

Horizon 
Europe 

CCU for the production of fuels 

Scope: development of energy-efficient and economically and environmentally viable CO2 
conversion technologies, including energy storage and/or displacement of fossil fuels that 
allow for upscaling.  

Budget: EUR 15 million 

Timeline 

Starting date: 
17 Sep 2024 

Deadline date: 
04 Feb 2025 

Starting date: 
17 Sep 2024 

Deadline date: 
04 Feb 2025 

Starting date: 
17 Sep 2024 

Deadline date: 
04 Feb 2025 

108 Non-exhaustive list 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Horizon 
Europe 

MSCA Staff Exchanges 2024 

Scope: MSCA Staff Exchanges involve organisations from the academic and non-academic 
sectors (including SMEs) from across the globe. They promote innovative international, 
intersectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration in research  and innovation through staff 
exchanges and the sharing of knowledge and ideas at all stages of the innovation chain. 
They are open to research, technical, administrative and managerial staff that support R&I 
activities. 

Budget: EUR 99.5 million 

Innovation 
Fund 

Innovation Fund 2024 Auction - Fixed 
Premium Auction for RFNBO hydrogen 
production 

Scope: production of renewable fuel of non-biological origin (RFNBO) hydrogen in Europe 
as defined in the Renewable Energy Directive 2018/2021 and its Delegated Acts. 

Budget: EUR 1.2 billion 

Digital 
Europe 
Programme 

Development and Deployment of 
Advanced Key Technologies 

Scope: activities to fortify cybersecurity capabilities using breakthrough technologies (e.g. 
AI, Big Data Analytics, Quantum, Blockchain Technology) encompassing various aspects 
of cybersecurity. This involves uptake and integration for the deployment of novel tools, 
systems  and  services  for  threat  detection,  incident  response,  malware  defence, 
vulnerability management, data protection and so forth. 

Starting date: 
19 Sep 2024 

Deadline date: 
05 Feb 2025 

Starting date: 
03 Dec 2024 

Deadline date: 
20 Feb 2025 

Starting date: 
04 Jul 2024 

Deadline dates: 
27 Mar 2025 

Single Market 
Programme 

POLREC 2nd Networking Open Call for 
Polymer Recycling Industries 

Budget: EUR 35 million109 

Scope: the call is designed for SMEs in the plastics, rubber, and composites industries, 
helping  them  to  develop  international  strategies  and  expand  into  new  markets  beyond 
their national scope through participation in business fairs, exhibitions, and matchmaking 
events. Targeted SMEs may operate in various sectors, including transport and mobility, 
construction,  renewable  energy,  digital  and  electronics,  health,  consumer  goods,  and 
industrial or food packaging. 

Starting date: 
14 Jan 2025 

Deadline date: 
14 Mar 2025 

Budget: EUR 46 000 

109 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/digital/wp-call/2024/call-fiche_digital-eccc-2024-deploy-cyber-07_en.pdf 

37 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Single Market 
Programme 

EENergy 2nd call 

Single Market 
Programme 

2nd POLREC Training Open Call on 
Polymer recycling 

Single Market 
Programme 

INGENIOUS grants 

Scope: The EENergy project aims to support at least 1800 SMEs to define an action plan 
to improve their energy efficiency performance, and to carry out this action plan for solving 
these needs. 

Budget: EUR 2.3 million 

Scope: training activities on a) testing recycling processes for chemical, biotechnological 
or mechanical recycling of plastic and rubber waste; b) digital processes that contribute 
to improved quality control and tracking of recycled materials and/or recycling processes; 
c)  technical  skills  on  polymer  recycling  methods  and  techniques  as  well  as  recycled 
polymer regulations.  

Budget: EUR 46 000 

Scope:  the  INGENIOUS  Eurocluster  supports  EU  industry  in  the  digital  and  green 
transitions.  INGENIOUS  serves  as  a  lever  for  companies  (particularly  SMEs  in  energy-
intensive  industries  (EIIs))  to  implement  highly  innovative  solutions,  penetrate  key 
markets  and  develop  new  partnerships  via  three  financial  instruments  (innovation 
grants 110, training grants and internationalisation grants). 

Budget: EUR 1.05 million 

Starting date: 
2 Dec 2024 

Deadline date: 
28 Feb 2025 

Starting date: 
25 Nov 2024 

Deadline dates: 
25 Feb 2025 

Starting date: 
22 May 2022 

Deadline dates: 
14 Feb 2025 111 

110 The deadline for innovation grants was 15 August 2023. 
111 Deadline for training grants. 

38 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Single Market 
Programme 

Enterprise Europe Network 

Scope:  The  Enterprise  Europe  Network  (EEN)  provides  business  support  and  advisory 
services – in particular for SMEs – by offering information, advisory services, feedback and 
partnering services, innovation, technology and knowledge transfer services. The Network 
provides services encouraging the participation of SMEs in the opportunities provided by 
the Single Market Programme (SMP) and Horizon Europe, as well as internationalisation 
services beyond the Single Market and informs SMEs on  access to finance and funding 
opportunities (InvestEU), including those under the European Structural and Investment 
Funds. 

Budget: EUR 182.5 million 

ERDF 

DeremCo - Second Open Call ( under the 
Interregional Innovation Investments 
Instrument “I3) 

Scope: The DeremCo project aims to establish a Circular Economy solution that will unlock 
the cost-effective reuse of  post-use composite materials and components in new high-
added value products. 

Alliances for Education and Enterprises 

Erasmus+ 

and 

Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation on 
Skills (implementing the Blueprint’)  

Budget: EUR 602 000  

Scope: Alliances for Education and Enterprises are transnational, structured and result-
driven  projects,  in  which  partners  share  common  goals  and  work  together  to  foster 
innovation,  new  skills,  a  sense  of  initiative  and  entrepreneurial  mindsets.  They  aim  to 
foster innovation in higher education, vocational education and training; enterprises; and 
the  broader  socio-economic  environment.  This  includes  addressing  challenges  such  as 
climate  change,  digitalisation  and  the  emergence  of  new  disruptive  (deep  tech) 
technologies. 

Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills on Skills seek to tackle skills gaps on the labour 
market that hamper growth, innovation and competitiveness in specific sectors or areas, 
aiming both at short term interventions and long-term strategies. These Alliances will be 
implemented in the 14 industrial ecosystems, including Energy Intensive Industries “EII” 
identified in the New Industrial Strategy for Europe112 

Budget: EUR 62 million 

Starting date: 
22 May 2022 

Deadline dates: 
14 Feb 2025 

Starting date: 
30 Dec 2024 

Deadline date: 
28 Feb 2025 

Starting date: 
5 Dec 2024 

Deadline date: 
6 Mar 2025 

112 https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-fit-digital-age/european-industrial-strategy_en 

39 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Horizon 
Europe 

MSCA Doctoral Networks 2024 

Scope: MSCA Doctoral Networks implement doctoral programmes, through partnerships 
of  universities,  research  institutions  and  research  infrastructures,  businesses  including 
SMEs, and other socio-economic actors from different countries across the EU and beyond. 
These  doctoral  programmes  will  respond  to  needs  in  various  R&I  areas,  expose  the 
researchers to the academic  and non-academic  sectors, and offer training in research-
related, as well as transferable skills. 

Budget: EUR 609 million 

Horizon 
Europe 

Solar-to-X devices for the decentralized 
prosumption of renewable fuels, 
chemicals and materials as climate 
change mitigation pathway 

Scope: devices which directly convert solar energy and abundantly available molecules 
(such as water or carbon oxides) into liquids and gases – within a single device. These so-
called  solar-to-X  technologies  avoid  the  beforehand  conversion  of  solar  energy  into 
electricity  and  reduce  the  complexity  of  the  process  by  a  complete  integration  of  the 
different steps.  

Budget: EUR 120 million113  

Horizon 
Europe 

Nature inspired alternatives for food 
packaging and films for agriculture 

Scope: proposals to utilise bio-based sources and raw materials for plastics used in the 
food system(e.g., agricultural mulch, food packaging), in particular: a) polymers extracted 
from nature (e.g., cellulose, chitin, lignin, keratin); b) natural polymers (e.g., microbial, 
fungal and plant materials), or c) synthetic polymers from biobased materials. 

Budget: EUR 120 million114  

Starting date: 
29 May 2024 

Deadline date: 
27 Nov 2024 

Starting date: 
20 Jun 2024 

Deadline date: 
16 Oct 2024 

Starting date: 
20 Jun 2024 

Deadline date: 
16 Oct 2024 

113 https://eic.ec.europa.eu/document/download/d801a0d8-492e-4510-9dd6-8d942756e7c7_en?filename=EIC-workprogramme-2024.pdf 
114 https://eic.ec.europa.eu/document/download/d801a0d8-492e-4510-9dd6-8d942756e7c7_en?filename=EIC-workprogramme-2024.pdf 

40 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Horizon 
Europe 

MSCA COFUND 2024 

Scope:  MSCA  COFUND  co-finances  new  and  existing  doctoral  programmes  and 
postdoctoral  fellowship  schemes.  The  aim  is  to  spread  the  best  practices  of  the  MSCA 
including  international,  intersectoral  and  interdisciplinary  research  training,  as  well  as 
international  and cross-sectoral mobility of  researchers  at all stages of  their careers. It 
provides complementary funding for doctoral or postdoctoral programmes managed by 
entities established in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries. 

Budget: EUR 104 million 

Horizon 
Europe 

Biodegradable polymers for sustainable 
packaging materials  

Scope: projects to develop, demonstrate and scale-up innovative advanced biodegradable 
polymer materials and innovative processes that will allow the biodegradable polymers to 
be produced on a large scale with a similar economy of scale to replace present production 
with polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). 

Budget: EUR 31 million 

Horizon 
Europe 

Bio-based dedicated platform chemicals 
via cost-effective, sustainable and 
resource-efficient conversion of biomass 

Scope: Enabling process technologies to demonstrate large scale production processes 
for  obtaining  one  or  more  bio-based  dedicated  platform  chemicals.  These  include 
chemical,  physicochemical,  biotech  or  hybrid  technologies,  as  well  as  process 
intensification and symbiosis concepts. Both upstream and downstream process aspects 
are in scope 

Budget: EUR 20 million 

Horizon 
Europe 

Circular and SSbD bio-based 
construction & building materials with 
functional properties 

Scope:  development  and  adoption  of  sustainable,  circular,  and  energy-efficient 
construction  materials  and  techniques.  Proposals  should  focus  on  bio-based  products 
tailored  for  large-scale  construction  applications,  such  as  insulation  panels,  façade 
elements,  and  interior  fittings,  with  emphasis  on  functionalities  like  durability,  fire 
retardancy, and moisture control. 

Starting date: 
23 Apr 2024 

Deadline date: 
26 Sep 2024 

Starting date: 
19 Sep 2023 

Deadline date: 
24 Sep 2024 

Starting date: 
24 Apr 2024 

Deadline date: 
18 Sep 2024 

Starting date: 
24 Apr 2024 

Deadline date: 
18 Sep 2024 

115 https://www.cbe.europa.eu/open-calls-proposals 

Budget: EUR 15 million115 

41 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
Horizon 
Europe 

Sustainable micro-algae as feedstock for 
innovative, added-value applications 

Scope: valorisation of micro-algae and cyanobacteria into bio-based products, particularly 
ingredients  and  intermediates  in  the  medium  price  range.  Proposals  shall  ensure  that 
production and conversion of the feedstock are cost-competitive, resources efficient and 
sustainable. 

Budget: EUR 15 million116 

Horizon 
Europe 

Biotech routes to obtain bio-based 
chemicals/ materials replacing animal-
derived one 

Scope: biotech routes for bio-based alternatives to a set of animal-derived products, for 
instance: hormones, amino acids/peptides, animal oils and fats, fibres, casein, collagen, 
bone, blood, feathers, leather, etc. 

Budget: EUR 7 million117 

Horizon 
Europe 

SSbD bio-based coating materials for 
applications under demanding and/or 
extreme conditions 

Scope:  SSbD  bio-based  alternatives  to  conventional  coatings  for  applications  under 
demanding  and/or  extreme  conditions  where  e.g.  high  durability;  resistance  to  fire, 
extremes  temperatures,  chemical  agents,  weather,  fouling  and  mould,  corrosion; 
hydrophobicity are needed. 

Budget: EUR 7 million118 

Horizon 
Europe 

Innovative conversion of biogenic 
gaseous carbon into bio-based 
chemicals, ingredients, materials 

Scope: focus on carbon in gaseous emissions from biomass-based systems and industrial 
biorefineries or any other bio-based operation (including emissions from primary sectors) 
as main feedstock for further conversion. Biogenic gaseous carbon emissions from plants 
dedicated to the production of bioenergy from biomass combustion and from syngas are 
not in scope. 

Budget: EUR 15 million119 

Starting date: 
24 Apr 2024 

Deadline date: 
18 Sep 2024 

Starting date: 
24 Apr 2024 

Deadline date: 
18 Sep 2024 

Starting date: 
24 Apr 2024 

Deadline date: 
18 Sep 2024 

Starting date: 
24 Apr 2024 

Deadline date: 
18 Sep 2024 

116 https://www.cbe.europa.eu/open-calls-proposals 
117 https://www.cbe.europa.eu/open-calls-proposals 
118 https://www.cbe.europa.eu/open-calls-proposals 
119 https://www.cbe.europa.eu/open-calls-proposals 

42 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Horizon 
Europe 

Enlarging the portfolio of commercially 
produced bio-based SSbD solvents 

Scope:  production  process(es)  for  obtaining  bio-based  solvents  which  can  be  then 
applicable as SSbD alternatives in one or more of the following applications: a) production 
processes and/or b) recycling, decontamination or pollution control processes; and/or c) 
formulation ingredients/additives.  

Budget: EUR 15 million120 

Horizon 
Europe 

Innovative bio-based adhesives and 
binders for circular products meeting 
market requirements 

Scope: SSbD bio-based adhesives and/or binders, as alternatives to conventional fossil-
based chemicals posing environmental and health & safety concerns. Besides the technical 
properties, e.g. shelf life, durability, load-bearing, fire resistance, resistance to chemicals 
and  temperatures  etc.  Proposals  should  also  consider  their  application  to  the  final 
product(s), targeting solutions for easy assembly/installation and debonding, as well as 
compatibility with recycling streams.  

Budget: EUR 15 million121 

Horizon 
Europe 

Selective and sustainable (co)-
production of lignin-derived aromatics 

Scope:  production  of  aromatic  bio-based  chemicals  from  lignin,  including  phenols, 
alkylphenols, BTX (Benzene, toluene and xylenes) and/or other aromatics. 

Budget: EUR 15 million122 

Starting date: 
24 Apr 2024 

Deadline date: 
18 Sep 2024 

Starting date: 
24 Apr 2024 

Deadline date: 
18 Sep 2024 

Starting date: 
24 Apr 2024 

Deadline date: 
18 Sep 2024 

120 https://www.cbe.europa.eu/open-calls-proposals 
121 https://www.cbe.europa.eu/open-calls-proposals 
122 https://www.cbe.europa.eu/open-calls-proposals 

43 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Horizon 
Europe 

Bio-based value chains for valorisation of 
sustainable oil crops 

Scope:  developing  and  deploying  climate-positive  industrial  crop  feedstock  in  Europe 
compatible  with  the  objectives  of  biodiversity  protection  for  bio-based  chemicals  and 
materials.  Specifically,  the  call  covers  the  industrial  use  of  plant  oil  crops  including 
cascading use of their side-streams/residues. Algae are out of scope of this topic, as well 
as biofuel applications. Respecting the ‘food first’ principle, multipurpose oil crops are in 
scope. 

Budget:  EUR 20 million 

Horizon 
Europe 

Valorisation of polluted/contaminated 
wood from industrial and post-consumer 
waste streams 

Scope:  This  project  focuses  on  developing  innovative,  sustainable,  and  efficient 
technologies for separating wood content from industrial and post-consumer wood waste 
streams while removing impurities, pollutants, and contaminants. Proposals should aim to 
valorise  the  decontaminated  wood  waste  into  bio-based  intermediates,  chemicals, 
materials, or products.  

Horizon 
Europe 

Innovative technologies for zero-
pollution, zero-waste biorefineries 

Budget: EUR 7 million 

Scope:  proposals  focusing  on  integrated  technical  solutions  that  reduce  exhaust  flows 
from  bio-based  processes  using  innovative  technologies  of  extraction,  recirculation, 
fractionation  and  conversion  of  such  flows.  The  aim  is  to  achieve  the  zero-pollution 
ambition, starting with emissions into the soil, water and the air. Proposals should also 
replace hazardous substances used in the processes with safe bio-based substances. Any 
processes should feature design circularity, including through symbiosis between industrial 
installations. 

Budget: EUR 8 million 

Horizon 
Europe 

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2024 

Scope: the scheme aims to enhance the creative and innovative potential of researchers 
holding a PhD and who wish to acquire new skills through advanced training, international, 
inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary mobility. MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships will be open to 
excellent researchers of any nationality.  

Budget: EUR 418 million 

44 

Starting date: 
24 Apr 2024 

Deadline date: 
18 Sep 2024 

Starting date: 
24 Apr 2024 

Deadline date: 
18 Sep 2024 

Starting date: 
17 Oct 2023 

Deadline dates: 
21 Feb 2024 
and 
17 Sep 2024 

Starting date: 
23 Apr 2024 

Deadline date: 
11 Sep 2024 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Horizon 
Europe 

Hydrogen production and integration in 
energy-intensive or specialty chemical 
industries in a circular approach to 
maximise total process efficiency and 
substance utilisation 

Scope: integration of clean hydrogen production and supply to energy intensive and/or 
specialty  chemical  industries  for  any  combined  applications  (e.g.  feedstock,  heat  and 
power  generation,  amalgamation  with  CO2,  CO  or  N2  to  generate  synthetic  fuels  or 
hydrogen carriers, etc.).as 

Budget: EUR 10 million123  

Horizon 
Europe 

MSCA Staff Exchanges 2023 

Scope: MSCA Staff Exchanges involve organisations from the academic and non-academic 
sectors (including SMEs) from across the globe. They promote innovative international, 
intersectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration in research  and innovation through staff 
exchanges and the sharing of knowledge and ideas at all stages of the innovation chain. 
They are open to research, technical, administrative and managerial staff that support R&I 
activities. 

Budget: EUR 78 million 

Starting date: 
18 Jan 2024 

Deadline date: 
17 Apr 2024 

Starting date 
10 Oct 2023 

Deadline date 
28 Feb 2024 

Horizon 
Europe 

Best available techniques to recover or 
recycle fertilising products from 
secondary raw materials 

Scope:  This  project  focuses  on  the  analysis  of  the  best  available  technologies  for 
recovering/recycling fertilising products from secondary raw materials – while limiting (a) 
nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in the soil, water and the air; and (b) any other form 
of pollution from the use of such fertilising products and from the replacement of nitrogen- 
and phosphorus-based fertilisers produced from conventional processes (including mining 
and  fossil-based  processes).  Fertilising  products  that  fall  within  scope  are:  recycled 
nutrients  from  urban  and  industrial  waste  water  and  sewage  sludge;  organic  fertilising 
products  from  bio-waste;  digestate  and  treated  manure;  and  other  fertilising  products 
from biological resources. 

Starting date: 
17 Oct 2023 

Deadline date: 
22 Feb 2024 

Budget: EUR 4 million 

123 https://www.clean-hydrogen.europa.eu/system/files/2024-01/Clean%20Hydrogen%20JU%20AWP%202024%20-%20all%20chapters_Final_For_Publication.pdf 

45 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Horizon 
Europe 

MSCA COFUND 2023 

Horizon 
Europe 

Development of safe and sustainable by 
design alternatives (IA) 

Innovation 
Fund 

Innovation Fund 2023 Net Zero 
Technologies – manufacturing 

Scope:  MSCA  COFUND  co-finances  new  and  existing  doctoral  programmes  and 
postdoctoral  fellowship  schemes.  The  aim  is  to  spread  the  best  practices  of  the  MSCA 
(including  international,  intersectoral  and  interdisciplinary  research  training,  as  well  as 
international and cross-sectoral mobility of researchers at all stages of their careers). It 
provides complementary funding for doctoral or postdoctoral programmes managed by 
entities established in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries. 

Budget: EUR 97 million 

Scope:  development  of  one  or  more  new  chemical  substances  or  materials  to  replace 
existing  substances  of  concern  with  surfactant,  flame  retardant  or  plasticising 
functionalities for a chosen application. Proposals should address at least one industrial 
application.  The  new  substances  or  materials  shall  be  aligned  with  the  Safe  and 
Sustainable  by  Design  framework,  and  demonstrate  improved  sustainability  and  a 
contribution to lower the impact on climate.  

Budget: EUR 59 million  

Starting date 
10 Oct 2023 

Deadline date 
8 Feb 2024 

Starting date: 
19 Sep 2023 

Deadline date: 
7 Feb 2024 

Scope:  construction  and  operation  of  manufacturing  facilities  to  produce  specific 
components  for:  a)  renewable  energy  installations  (e.g.  in  photovoltaics,  concentrated 
solar  power,  onshore  and  offshore  wind  power,  ocean  energy,  geothermal  and  solar 
thermal), including their connection to the electricity/heat grid; b) electrolysers and fuel 
cells; c) energy-storage solutions covering both batteries and other storage solutions for 
stationary and mobile use for intra-day and long-duration storage; and d) heat pumps. 
Only projects with a total capital expenditure above EUR 2 500 000 are eligible under this 
topic. 

Starting date: 
23 Nov 2023 

Deadline date: 
9 Apr 2024 

Budget: EUR 1.4 billion 124 

124 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/innovfund/wp-call/2023/call-fiche_innovfund-2023-nzt_en.pdf 

46 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Innovation 
Fund 

Innovation Fund 2023 Net Zero 
Technologies – pilots 

Innovation 
Fund 

Innovation Fund 2023 Net Zero 
Technologies – general decarbonisation 
– small-scale projects 

Scope: projects concerning (a) sectors listed in Annexes I and III to the EU ETS Directive 
2003/87  (including  environmentally-safe  carbon  capture  and  utilisation  (CCU)  that 
contributes substantially to mitigating climate change); (b) products that replace carbon-
intensive products produced in sectors listed in Annex I to the EU ETS Directive; and (c) 
construction and operation of innovative energy-storage solutions, CO2 storage solutions 
or  renewable  energy  installations  (including  photovoltaics,  concentrated  solar  power, 
onshore and offshore wind power, ocean energy, geothermal or solar thermal), including 
innovative systems aspects such as connection to the electricity/heat grid. These projects 
would  typically  have  a  limited  lifetime  (3  to  5  years).  If  the  project  is  successful,  the 
proposed technology should move to the next stage of large-scale demonstration or first-
of-a-kind  commercial  production.  Only  projects  with  a  total  capital  expenditure  above 
EUR 2 500 000 are eligible under this topic. 

Starting date: 
23 Nov 2023 

Deadline date: 
9 Apr 2024 

Budget: EUR 200 million 125 

Scope: a) activities that support innovation in low-carbon technologies and processes in 
sectors  listed  in  Annexes  I  and  III  to  the  EU  ETS  Directive  2003/87  (including 
environmentally-safe carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) that contributes substantially 
to mitigating climate change), in particular for unavoidable process emissions, as well as 
products that replace carbon-intensive products produced in sectors listed in Annex I to 
the EU ETS Directive; b) activities that help stimulate the construction and operation of 
projects that aim at the environmentally-safe capture and geological storage of CO2 (CCS); 
and c) activities that help the construction and operation of innovative renewable energy 
and energy-storage technologies. 

Only  projects  with  a  total  capital  expenditure  above  EUR 2 500 000  and  up  to 
EUR 20 000 000 are eligible under this topic. 

Starting date: 
23 Nov 2023 

Deadline date: 
9 Apr 2024 

Budget: EUR 200 million 126 

125 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/innovfund/wp-call/2023/call-fiche_innovfund-2023-nzt_en.pdf 
126 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/innovfund/wp-call/2023/call-fiche_innovfund-2023-nzt_en.pdf 

47 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Innovation 
Fund 

Innovation Fund 2023 Net Zero 
Technologies – general decarbonisation 
– medium-scale projects 

Innovation 
Fund 

Innovation Fund 2023 Net Zero 
Technologies – general decarbonisation 
– large-scale projects 

Scope: a) activities that support innovation in low-carbon technologies and processes in 
sectors  listed  in  Annexes  I  and  III  to  the  EU  ETS  Directive  2003/87  (including 
environmentally-safe carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) that contributes substantially 
to mitigating climate change), in particular for unavoidable process emissions, as well as 
products that replace carbon-intensive ones produced in sectors listed in Annex I to the 
EU  ETS  Directive;  b)  activities  that  help  stimulate  the  construction  and  operation  of 
projects that aim at the environmentally-safe capture and geological storage of CO2 (CCS); 
and c) activities that help the construction and operation of innovative renewable energy 
and  energy-storage  technologies.  Only  projects  with  a  total  capital  expenditure  above 
EUR 20 000 000 and up to EUR 100 000 000 are eligible under this topic. 

Starting date: 
23 Nov 2023 

Deadline date: 
9 Apr 2024 

Budget: EUR 500 million 127 

Scope: a) activities that support innovation in low-carbon technologies and processes in 
sectors  listed  in  Annexes  I  and  III  to  the  EU  ETS  Directive  2003/87  (including 
environmentally-safe carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) that contributes substantially 
to mitigating climate change), in particular for unavoidable process emissions, as well as 
products that replace carbon-intensive ones produced in sectors listed in Annex I to the 
EU  ETS  Directive;  b)  activities  that  help  stimulate  the  construction  and  operation  of 
projects that aim at the environmentally safe capture and geological storage of CO2 (CCS); 
and c) activities that help the construction and operation of innovative renewable energy 
and energy storage technologies. 

Only projects with a total capital expenditure above EUR 100 000 000 are eligible under 
this topic. 

Starting date: 
23 Nov 2023 

Deadline date: 
9 Apr 2024 

Budget: EUR 1.7 billion 128 

127 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/innovfund/wp-call/2023/call-fiche_innovfund-2023-nzt_en.pdf 
128 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/innovfund/wp-call/2023/call-fiche_innovfund-2023-nzt_en.pdf 

48 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Innovation 
Fund 

Innovation Fund 2023 Auction - RFNBO 
Hydrogen 

Single Market 
Programme 

SEE BRIDGE Open Call for SE SMEs in 
energy intensive industries 

Scope:  this  is  an  auction  call  for  renewable  fuel  of  non-biological  origin  (RFNBO) 
hydrogen, as defined in the Renewable Energy Directive 2018/2021. The bid price is the 
requested unit contribution (fixed premium) per kg of RFNBO hydrogen production which 
will  be  paid  for  a  period  of  up  to  10  years.  The  following  activities  can  be  funded: 
installation of new RFNBO hydrogen capacity (i.e. hydrogen production capacity on which 
work had not yet started at the time of the grant application) as well as the verified and 
certified  production  of  RFNBO  hydrogen  from  those  installations  (in  kg  of  produced 
volume) for a period of up to 10 years. 

Only projects with a minimum installed electrolyser capacity of at least 5 MWe are eligible 
under this topic. 

Starting date: 
23 Nov 2023 

Deadline date: 
9 Apr 2024 

Budget: EUR 800 million 

Scope:  SEE  BRIDGE  aims  to  strengthen  the  capacity  of  small  and  medium-sized 
enterprises operating in energy intensive industries, or in sectors that are part of upstream 
or downstream value chains in the energy-intensive industry ecosystem, to transition to 
more  resource  efficient  and  energy  saving  processes  and  operations  in  adaptation  to 
Carbon  Border Adjustment  Mechanism (CBAM) legislation. Activities eligible for funding 
include: business support services; consulting services for certification or labelling assets, 
including  Intellectual  Property  rights;  events  attendance  on  CBAM,  digital  and  green 
transition topics; in-company training(s) on CBAM, and digital and green transition topics. 

Starting date: 
01 Jul 2024 

Deadline date: 
01 Oct 2024 

Budget: EUR 480 000  

49 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Single Market 
Programme 

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs - 
junior call 

Single Market 
Programme 

POLREC Training on Polymer recycling 

Scope: This  initiative  aims  to  facilitate  the  transfer  of  entrepreneurial  skills  and  ideas, 
fostering  entrepreneurship  by  enriching  experiences  and  facilitating  networking 
opportunities  across  borders.  The  scheme  seeks  to  enhance  the  existing  network  of 
Intermediary  Organisations  (IOs)  by  involving  new  entities,  regardless  of  previous 
experience,  to  recruit,  match,  and  facilitate  mobility  actions  for  entrepreneurs.  Special 
attention will be given to supporting entrepreneurs with digital and sustainable business 
models, while encouraging participation from underrepresented countries through specific 
quantitative  requirements.  Additionally,  the  action  seeks  to  extend  opportunities  for 
entrepreneurs from participating countries to exchange business knowledge and expertise 
in new destinations beyond the programme’s scope. 

Budget: EUR 5 million 

Scope:  the  initiative  provides  financial  support  to  SMEs  for  having  access  to  training 
courses  on  a)  testing  recycling  processes  for chemical,  biotechnological,  or  mechanical 
recycling of rubber or plastic waste; b) digital processes on quality control and tracking of 
recycling  materials  and  processes;  c)  technical  skills  on  recycled  polymer  regulations, 
certifications as well as polymer recycling methods and techniques for quality control and 
traceability.  

Budget: EUR 4 000 

Single Market 
Programme 

EENergy open call 

Scope:  the  call  aims  to  distribute  grants  for  SMEs  in  Europe  to  engage  in  activities, 
purchases or integrations that will improve their overall energy spendings.  

Budget: EUR 9 million 

Starting date: 
10 Apr 2024 

Deadline date: 
27 Jun 2024 

Starting date: 
31 May 2024 

Deadline date: 
31 Aug 2024 

Starting date: 
10 Apr 2024 

Deadline date: 
27 Jun 2024 

50 

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Digital 
Europe 
Programme 

Specialised education programmes in 
key capacity areas - advanced digital 
skills analysis 

and 

Specialised education programmes in 
key capacity areas 

Scope: these calls address initiatives to support the development and deployment of key 
digital  skills  and  capacities  in  digital  technology  areas  (e.g.  AI,  the  Internet  of  Things, 
other trans- and multi-disciplinary areas, and their applications in strategic sectors). Higher 
education institutions in consortia with relevant competence and excellence centres and 
industry will receive funding to set up and strengthen relevant programmes and courses. 
Partners  in  these  consortia  will  be  encouraged  to  share  expertise,  facilities,  staff  and 
learning materials. Intersectoral mobility  between  higher education  institutions  and the 
private sector is also encouraged. 

Starting date: 
21 Nov 2023 

Deadline date: 
21 Mar 2024 

Budget: EUR 32 million 129 

Digital 
Europe 
Programme 

Cybersecurity Skills Academy 

Scope: the Cybersecurity Skills Academy supports training programmes for SMEs, start-
ups and the public sector. Funding will be available for the implementation of new training 
opportunities or the scaling-up of successful ones, with a special focus on the cybersecurity 
needs  of  SMEs  and  public  administration.  Training  should  take  businesses’  needs  into 
account and in particular facilitate access to cybersecurity talents for SMEs and start-ups 
across all sectors. 

Starting date: 
21 Nov 2023 

Deadline date: 
21 Mar 2024 

Budget: EUR 10 million 

129 The budget for the first call (‘specialised education programmes in key capacity areas - advanced digital skills analysis’) is EUR 2 million. The budget for the second call is EUR 30 million. 

51 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alliances for Education and Enterprises 

Erasmus+ 

and 

Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation on 
Skills 

LIFE 

Circular Economy, resources from 
Waste, Air, Water, Soil, Noise, 
Chemicals, Bauhaus 

Scope: Alliances for Education and Enterprises are transnational, structured and result-
driven  projects,  in  which  partners  share  common  goals  and  work  together  to  foster 
innovation,  new  skills,  a  sense  of  initiative  and  entrepreneurial  mindsets.  They  aim  to 
foster innovation in higher education, vocational education and training; enterprises; and 
the  broader  socio-economic  environment.  This  includes  addressing  challenges  such  as 
climate  change,  digitalisation  and  the  emergence  of  new  disruptive  (deep  tech) 
technologies. 

Alliances  for  Sectoral  Cooperation  on  Skills  aim  to  mobilise  and  incentivise  all  relevant 
stakeholders to take concrete actions for the upskilling and reskilling of the workforce, by 
pooling efforts and setting up partnerships at EU level; addressing the needs of the labour 
market; and supporting the green and digital transitions as well as national, regional and 
local skills and growth strategies. The deliverables of Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation on 
Skills cover, for example, sectoral skills intelligence, skills strategies, occupational profiles, 
training programmes and long-term planning. 

Budget: EUR 62 million 

Starting date: 
5 Dec 2023 

Deadline date: 
7 Mar 2024 

Scope:  SAPs,  or  Specific  Action  Projects,  within  the  LIFE  programme,  are  aimed  at 
developing,  demonstrating,  and  promoting  innovative  techniques,  methods,  and 
approaches. These should contribute to the knowledge base, application of best practices, 
and support the implementation of EU legislation and policies. SAPs aim to catalyse large-
scale deployment of successful solutions by replicating results, integrating objectives into 
other policies, and mobilizing investment. They are flexible tools available to entities from 
all  sectors  and  can  be  close-to-market,  focusing  on  delivering  environmental  solutions 
widely taken up by society and the economy. Typical applications for SAPs fall under sub-
programs  such  as  Circular  Economy,  Climate  Change  Mitigation,  and  Clean  Energy 
Transition. 

Starting date: 
18 Apr 2024 

Deadline date: 
19 Sep 2024 

Budget: EUR 73 million 

52 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
LIFE 

Supporting the clean energy transition of 
European businesses 

LIFE 

Project Development Assistance for 
sustainable energy investments 

LIFE 

One-Stop-Shops - Integrated services for 
clean energy transition in buildings and 
businesses 

Scope:  Scope  A  focuses  on  advancing  energy  management  systems  and  audits  for 
businesses to meet EED recast obligations. This includes developing a common approach 
for  identifying  eligible  enterprises,  proposing  measures  to  encourage  compliance,  and 
creating  templates  for  energy  audit  action  plans.  Digitalization,  eco-labelling,  and 
benchmarking may also be addressed. Scope B centers on fostering energy cooperation 
among companies to enhance energy efficiency and renewable energy uptake. Proposals 
should encourage collaborative approaches, remove barriers to cooperation, and establish 
concrete initiatives. The emphasis is on creating economically viable business models and 
engaging stakeholders to ensure replicability and scalability. Benchmarking and monitoring 
mechanisms are also suggested. 

Starting date: 
18 Apr 2024 

Deadline date: 
19 Sep 2024 

Budget: EUR 5.3 million 

Scope: The Project Development Assistance (PDA) initiative supports project promoters 
in preparing and launching sustainable energy investment pipelines. It aims to enhance 
technical,  economic,  and  legal  expertise  for  successful  project  development  and 
implementation, leading to tangible sustainable energy investments. Proposals are open 
to  public  or  private  project  promoters,  showcasing  replicable  solutions  to  accelerate 
sustainable energy investments in Europe. Projects should target ambitious energy savings 
and decarbonization goals across sectors like buildings, district heating/cooling networks, 
infrastructure, businesses, renewables, and mobility. 

Starting date: 
18 Apr 2024 

Deadline date: 
19 Sep 2024 

Budget: EUR 6 million 

Scope:  Scope  A  focuses  on  integrated  home  renovation  services,  targeting  energy-
efficient  upgrades  for  existing  single  or  multi-family  buildings  in  the  private  residential 
sector. Actions should cover the entire renovation process, offering proactive support to 
homeowners from technical design to quality assurance. Scope B emphasizes integrated 
services  for  improving  energy  performance  in  existing  buildings  owned  by  private 
professional  entities,  particularly  focusing  on  rental  housing.  Proposals  should  tailor 
solutions to the specificities of rental housing, including strategic partnerships, financial 
schemes, and governance frameworks. Each proposal must clearly specify its core focus 
and intended beneficiaries. 

Starting date: 
18 Apr 2024 

Deadline date: 
19 Sep 2024 

Budget: EUR 7 million 

53 

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
LIFE 

Climate Change Mitigation 

Horizon 
Europe 

Advanced (nano and bio-based) 
materials for sustainable agriculture 

Horizon 
Europe 

Safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) 
bio-based platform chemicals, additives, 
materials or products as alternatives 

Scope:  Projects  contributing  the  transition  towards  climate  neutrality  across  a  broad 
range of intervention areas, amongst the others: a) recovery, recycle and reclamation of 
ozone-depleting  substances  in  foams;  b)  suitability  of  alternatives  to  fluorinated 
greenhouse gases and their recovery, reclamation and recycling; c) decarbonising non-
road transport modes, fostering intramodality and modal shift; d) increase the generation 
and use of renewable energy and improvement of energy efficiency; e) reduce energy use 
and  greenhouse  gas  emissions  in  industrial  production  and  waste  management;  f) 
development  and  implementation  of  industrial  solutions  for  carbon  removal,  carbon 
capture and use and/or storage. 

Starting date: 
18 Apr 2024 

Deadline date: 
17 Sep 2024 

Budget: EUR 28.5 million 

Scope: advanced (nano) material-based delivery systems and/or bio-based materials for 
fertilisers, biocides and plant protection products for agriculture. The new agrochemicals 
should  feature  lower  greenhouse  gas  emissions,  improved  efficiency,  and  an  improved 
toxicity  and  ecotoxicity  profile  and  biodegradability  (as  compared  with  traditional 
agrochemicals). 

Budget: EUR 31 million 

Scope: proposals that involve an analysis of how bio-based chemicals and materials show 
solid potential as safer and sustainable alternatives/substitutes (particularly for substances 
of very high concern (SVHCs), substances of concern, persistent organic pollutants and 
legacy  additives  currently  in  (end)  use).  Such  proposals  should  then  proceed  with  the 
design,  development  and  testing  of  selected  bio-based  alternatives.  Proposals  should 
contribute  with  recommendations  to  the  safe  and  sustainable  by  design  (SSbD) 
framework, which should also be integrated into the proposals. 

Budget: EUR 8 million 

Opening date: 
8 Dec 2022 

Deadline dates: 
7 Mar 2023 
and 
5 Oct 2023 

Opening date: 
22 Dec 2022 

Deadline dates: 
28 Mar 2023 
and 
26 Sep 2023 

54 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Horizon 
Europe 

Non-plant biomass feedstock for 
industrial applications: technologies and 
processes to convert non-lignocellulosic 
biomass (NLBM) and waste into bio-
based chemicals, materials and 
products, improving the cascading 
valorisation of biomass 

Scope:  projects  focusing  on  the  identification  and  optimisation  of  suitable  non-
lignocellulosic biomass (NLBM) and the design and development of conversion processes 
at  pilot  scale  to  deploy  such  feedstock  (e.g.  by  applying  enzymes,  industrial  microbial 
hosts,  microbiomes  from  natural  ecosystems  and  diverse  industrial  biotech  or  other 
appropriate enabling technologies). 

Budget: EUR 8 million 

Horizon 
Europe 

Robust and optimised industrial biotech 
and chemical/industrial biotech 
processes 

Scope: development of processes using biotech and chemical approaches synergistically 
to  optimise  process  and/or  (bio)catalyst  design  for  obtaining  bio-based  products. 
Proposals related to this call should incorporate reactor design (e.g. membrane reactors, 
small-scale reactors and microfluidics), process design, process control and optimisation 
as  well  as  relevant  catalysis  optimisation  aspects  so  as  to  also  enable  tandem 
chemical/biotech processes. 

Budget: EUR 10 million 

Horizon 
Europe 

Expansion and/or retro-fitting of 
biorefineries for higher-value bio-based 
chemicals and intermediates 

Scope: new technologies to expand the production capacity of existing biorefineries to 
convert bio-based feedstock into added value products (following the cascading approach) 
and/or to produce new higher-value products. 

Budget: EUR 17 million 130 

Horizon 
Europe 

Selective sustainable production routes 
towards bio-based alternatives to fossil-
based chemical building blocks 

Scope:  projects  that  focus  on  scaling  up  the  sustainable  production  of  bio-based 
chemicals  with  a  large  market  potential  and  as  alternatives  to  fossil-based  platform 
chemicals  –  thus  going  beyond  niche  and  speciality  applications,  while  taking  both 
technical and sustainability performance into consideration. 

Budget: EUR 15 million 131 

Opening date: 
22 Dec 2022 

Deadline dates: 
28 Mar 2023 
and 
26 Sep 2023 

Opening date: 
26 Apr 2023 

Deadline date: 
20 Sep 2023 

Opening date: 
26 Apr 2023 

Deadline date: 
20 Sep 2023 

Opening date: 
26 Apr 2023 

Deadline date: 
20 Sep 2023 

130 https://www.cbe.europa.eu/system/files/2023-06/Amended_AWP_2023.pdf 
131 https://www.cbe.europa.eu/system/files/2023-06/Amended_AWP_2023.pdf 

55 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Horizon 
Europe 

Innovative methods for safety and 
sustainability assessments of chemicals 
and materials (RIA) 

to  address  a  set  of  at 

three  chemicals/groups  of 
Scope:  proposals 
chemicals/(advanced)  materials  through  new  methods  and  models  for  safety  and 
sustainability assessment during their life cycle in accordance with the safe and sustainable 
by design (SSbD) framework. 

least 

Budget: EUR 29 million 

Horizon 
Europe 

Computational models for the 
development of safe and sustainable by 
design chemicals and materials (RIA) 

Scope:  innovative  modelling  software  for  the  development  of  chemicals  and  materials 
(including advanced materials) and the development of predictive computational models 
and software to forecast their sustainability performance, and to support the assessment 
of sustainability aspects for newly designed chemicals or materials. 

Budget: EUR 29 million 

Horizon 
Europe 

Hubs for circularity for near-zero 
emissions regions applying industrial 
symbiosis and a cooperative approach to 
heavily industrialised clusters and 
surrounding ecosystems 
(Processes4Planet Partnership) (IA) 

Scope:  near-commercial-scale  demonstrator  hubs  to  integrate  infrastructures  (e.g. 
industrial waste, by-product and water management infrastructures, fluid flow networks 
and  digital  infrastructures),  energy  networks  and  grids  in  order  to  boost  resource 
efficiency, heat recovery, integration of renewable energies, the use of hydrogen as an 
energy  carrier,  and/or  support  the  implementation  of  CCU  locally  or  prepare  for  CCS 
logistics. 

Budget: EUR 40 million 

56 

Opening date: 
26 Apr 2023 

Deadline date: 
20 Sep 2023 

Opening date: 
26 Apr 2023 

Deadline date: 
20 Sep 2023 

Opening date: 
8 Dec 2022 

Deadline date: 
20 Apr 2023 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Horizon 
Europe 

Integrated approach to impact 
assessment of safe and sustainable 
chemicals and materials (RIA) 

Scope:  proposals  to  develop  integrated  approaches  to  the  assessment  of  health  and 
environmental impacts together with the social and economic sustainability aspects of a 
chemical or material, throughout their life cycle. 

Budget: EUR 15 million 

Horizon 
Europe 

Circular economy in process industries: 
upcycling large volumes of secondary 
resources (Processes4Planet 
Partnership) (RIA) 

Scope: upcycling of secondary resources that leads to the same quality and diversity of 
products  as  is  obtained  when  using  primary  resources  –  through,  if  needed,  the 
development of better separation and sorting technologies and digitalisation. 

Budget: EUR 30 million 

Horizon 
Europe 

Energy efficiency breakthroughs in the 
process industries (Processes4Planet 
Partnership) (RIA) 

Scope:  integration  of  digital  technologies  to  optimise  industrial  processes  and  reduce 
energy demand (e.g. data-driven AI-based optimisation). 

Budget: EUR 32 million 

Horizon 
Europe 

Electrification of high-temperature 
heating systems (Processes4Planet 
Partnership) (IA) 

Scope:  proposals  focusing  on  the  electrification  of  high-temperature  heating  systems. 
Examples include industrial furnaces, kilns and crackers (e.g. through technologies such 
as  induction  heating,  hybrid  operation  between  electric  heating  and  zero-carbon  fuel 
heating microwave and plasma technologies, electric resistance, and digital technologies). 

Budget: EUR 36 million 

Opening date: 
8 Dec 2022 

Deadline date: 
20 Apr 2023 

Opening date: 
8 Dec 2022 

Deadline date: 
20 Apr 2023 

Opening date: 
8 Dec 2022 

Deadline date: 
20 Apr 2023 

Opening date: 
8 Dec 2022 

Deadline date: 
20 Apr 2023 

57 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Horizon 
Europe 

Modelling industry transition to climate 
neutrality, sustainability and circularity 
(Processes4Planet Partnership) (RIA) 

Scope: projects to model scenarios of possible pathways for how industry (particularly 
energy-intensive  industries)  can  become  climate-neutral,  taking  into  account:  a)  their 
energy  demand,  use  and  energy  efficiency;  b)  emissions;  c)  use  of  raw  materials, 
chemicals and water; d) sustainability of consumer products and embedded carbon; e) 
the scope to replace fossil-based carbons with more sustainable feedstocks. 

Budget: EUR 13 million 

Horizon 
Europe 

Sustainable and efficient industrial water 
consumption through energy and solute 
recovery (Processes4Planet Partnership) 
(RIA) 

Scope: wastewater reduction by combining existing and innovative water treatment with 
process  intensification,  smart  monitoring  technologies  (including  sensors  and  AI-driven 
devices,  and  system  risk  management  models),  digital  tools  for  process  optimisation 
(e.g. digital  twins)  and  new  technologies  for  recovering  valuable  resources  present  in 
waste  water  (e.g.  metals  and  organic  compounds)  and  for  eliminating  hazardous 
substances (e.g. micro and nano particles, and toxic substances). 

Horizon 
Europe 

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) and/or 
photocatalytic (PC) production of 
hydrogen 

Horizon 
Europe 

Valorisation of by-product O2 and/or 
heat from electrolysis 

Budget: EUR 30 million 

Scope:  development  of  commercially  viable  photoelectrochemical  (with  a  solar-to-
hydrogen conversion efficiency higher than 15% as well as PEC cells with an active area 
of  at  least  500 cm2)  and  photocatalytic  systems  (with  a  solar-to-hydrogen  conversion 
efficiency higher than 5% as well as a PC reactor with an active area of at least 500 cm2). 

Budget: EUR 2.5 million 132 

Scope:  large-scale  integration  of  electrolyser  systems  into  a)  industrial  applications, 
where the use of oxygen and heat integration can improve the energy efficiency of green 
hydrogen in industrial processes; or b) coupled energy systems, where excess energy can 
be converted into hydriogen and waste heat can be used, potentially, to feed a district 
heating network. 

Budget: EUR 10 million 133 

Opening date: 
8 Dec 2022 

Deadline date: 
20 Apr 2023 

Opening date: 
8 Dec 2022 

Deadline date: 
20 Apr 2023 

Opening date: 
31 Jan 2023 

Deadline date: 
18 Apr 2023 

Opening date: 
31 Jan 2023 

Deadline date: 
18 Apr 2023 

132 https://www.clean-hydrogen.europa.eu/system/files/2023-07/CALL%20UPDATE%20-%20flash%20info%20-%20Call%20HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2023-1_0.pdf 
133 https://www.clean-hydrogen.europa.eu/system/files/2023-01/Clean%20Hydrogen%20JU%20AWP%202023_0.pdf 

58 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Horizon 
Europe 

Innovative electrolysis cells for hydrogen 
production 

Scope: development of new components and changes in the design of electrolyser cells 
to improve the efficiency and lifetime, and to reduce operational costs of electrolysers for 
hydrogen  production  compared  with  alkaline  (AEL)  and  polymer  electrolyte  membrane 
(PEM) electrolysers. 

Horizon 
Europe 

Advances in alkaline electrolysis 
technology 

Budget: EUR 6 million 134 

Scope:  innovation  to  improve  the  performance  and  reduce  the  costs  of  alkaline 
electrolysis technologies. This would focus, for instance, on: a) new electrocatalysts and 
electrode  materials  for  alkaline  water  electrolysis;  b)  innovative  concepts  of  porous 
transport electrodes free of  precious metal coatings with integrated micro-porous-layer 
and electrocatalysts; and c) new electrode production technologies for more efficient mass 
production  (e.g.  advanced  electroplating,  plasma  spraying  and  physical  vapour 
deposition). 

Budget: EUR 2.5 million 135 

Horizon 
Europe 

Innovative solid oxide electrolysis cells 
for intermediate temperature hydrogen 
production 

Scope: development of new cell and stack designs, aiming at the replacement of costly 
ceramic-based components and the reduction in the use of critical raw materials (e.g. light 
and heavy rare earth materials) and the use of lower cost steels. 

Budget: EUR 3 million 136 

Horizon 
Europe 

Waste-to-hydrogen demonstration plant 

Scope: development and demonstration of a pilot plant to process waste and convert it 
into  hydrogen.  Different  conversion  processes  potentially  fall  within  the  scope,  for 
instance: gasification, pyrolysis, plasma-supported electrochemical processes and steam 
gasification (including multistage processes and related reactors). 

Budget: EUR 10 million 137 

Opening date: 
31 Jan 2023 

Deadline date: 
18 Apr 2023 

Opening date: 
31 Jan 2023 

Deadline date: 
18 Apr 2023 

Opening date: 
31 Jan 2023 

Deadline date: 
18 Apr 2023 

Opening date: 
31 Jan 2023 

Deadline date: 
18 Apr 2023 

134 https://www.clean-hydrogen.europa.eu/system/files/2023-01/Clean%20Hydrogen%20JU%20AWP%202023_0.pdf 
135 https://www.clean-hydrogen.europa.eu/system/files/2023-01/Clean%20Hydrogen%20JU%20AWP%202023_0.pdf 
136 https://www.clean-hydrogen.europa.eu/system/files/2023-01/Clean%20Hydrogen%20JU%20AWP%202023_0.pdf 
137 https://www.clean-hydrogen.europa.eu/system/files/2023-01/Clean%20Hydrogen%20JU%20AWP%202023_0.pdf 

59 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Horizon 
Europe 

Industrial biotechnology approaches for 
improved sustainability and output of 
industrial bio-based processes 

Scope:  proposals  to  improve  the  environmental  sustainability  of  industrial  bio-based 
processes  and  of  chemical  and  material  outputs,  covering  a  wide  of  biotechnology 
techniques (e.g. targeted and specific approaches to DNA modification, including synthetic 
engineering at gene or genome level) and related technical aspects in other fields (e.g. 
synthetic biology, cell sorting, automation, robotics and IT data/digital/AI innovations). 

Opening date: 
22 Dec 2022 

Deadline date: 
28 Mar 2023 

Budget: EUR 10 million 

Horizon 
Europe 

Optimisation of thermal energy flows in 
the process industry (Processes4Planet 
Partnership) 

Scope: highly-process-integrated technologies that allow heat recovery and use of high 
temperature  installations.  Project  proposals  should:  a)  demonstrate  the  efficient 
integration and adaptation of  heat exchangers or heat pumps into/to high  temperature 
processes  and  equipment  that  take  energy  not  only  from  the  air  but  also  from  warm 
materials or liquid flows; b) use high-safety-standard technologies and fluids with a low 
environmental impact; c) consider, where necessary, the use of advanced materials; and 
d) demonstrate the decrease in the energy intensity of output. 

Starting date: 
19 Sep 2023 

Deadline date: 
7 Feb 2024 

Budget: EUR 30 million  

Horizon 
Europe 

Turning CO2 emissions from the process 
industry into feedstock 
(Processes4Planet Partnership)  

Scope:  proposals  to  develop  efficient  capture  and  utilisation  of  CO/CO2  streams  from 
point sources (e.g. large and medium industrial installations such as steel, cement, refining 
and chemical plants), converting the streams into added value chemicals and materials in 
near-to-production-size systems. The proposed technologies should support cross-sectoral 
concepts and sector integration. 

Budget: EUR 30 million  

Horizon 
Europe 

Renewable hydrogen used as feedstock 
in innovative production routes 
(Processes4Planet Partnership) 

Scope:  projects  focusing  on  the  development  of  new  processes  that  use  renewable 
hydrogen  to  replace  fossil-based  processes.  Proposals  should  make  the  best  use  of 
simulation, modelling and IT tools. They should also include energy efficiency; and techno-
economic and life-cycle assessments that consider the efficient use of the hydrogen, as 
well  as  the  value  of  the  by-products,  and  the  value  chain  from  hydrogen  production, 
storage, distribution and usage. 

Starting date: 
19 Sep 2023 

Deadline date: 
7 Feb 2024 

Starting date: 
19 Sep 2023 

Deadline date: 
7 Feb 2024 

Budget: EUR 20 million  

60 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Horizon 
Europe 

Development of safe and sustainable by 
design (SSbD) alternatives 

Horizon 
Europe 

Breakthroughs to improve process 
industry resource efficiency 
(Processes4Planet Partnership) 

Horizon 
Europe 

Bio-intelligent manufacturing industries 
(Made in Europe Partnership) 

Scope: proposals to develop one or more new chemical substances or materials to replace 
existing  substances  of  concern  with  surfactant,  flame  retardant  or  plasticising 
functionalities for a chosen application. Proposals should address at least one industrial 
application. The new substances or materials will be aligned with the safe and sustainable 
by design (SSbD) framework; and will demonstrate improved sustainability and capacity 
to reduce the impact on climate. The selected industrial application(s) should be in areas 
where  substitution  with  safer  and  more  sustainable  solutions  is  not  yet  in  place  or  in 
progress. 

Starting date: 
19 Sep 2023 

Deadline date: 
7 Feb 2024 

Budget: EUR 59 million  

Scope: disruptive process technologies to improve resource efficiency, such as those (a) 
based  on  process  intensification  (e.g.  3D-printed  processes  equipment,  coupling  of 
process  steps,  new  processes  that  integrate  multiple  reaction  steps,  activation  of 
molecules using renewable energy via alternative processes (e.g. microwave or plasma)); 
or  (b)  intended  to  prevent  and  minimise  waste  generation  by,  for  example,  using 
processes that adjust in real time to feedstock changes or that have tighter processing 
control solutions to ensure higher yields from complex and fluctuating raw material feeds. 

Starting date: 
19 Sep 2023 

Deadline date: 
7 Feb 2024 

Budget: EUR 30 million 

Scope:  technologies  that  facilitate  the  upscaled  manufacturing  of  bio-based  or  bio-
intelligent  products.  In  particular,  proposals  should  use  either  advanced  manufacturing 
techniques (e.g. additive manufacturing, extrusion and moulding) to process bio-materials 
or  bio-intelligent  components  for  upscaled  production;  or  bio-intelligent  production 
technologies; or combinations of these two approaches. 

Starting date: 
19 Sep 2023 

Deadline date: 
7 Feb 2024 

Budget: EUR 25 million  

61 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Horizon 
Europe 

Hubs for circularity for industrialised 
urban peripheral areas 
(Processes4Planet Partnership) 

Scope: proposals to demonstrate the concept of Industrial-Urban Symbiosis (I-US) on a 
semi-industrial  scale 138  by  systemically  re-integrating  the  flow  of  urban  wastes  into 
process industries and, where applicable, downstream into  manufacturing, construction 
and  other  industries.  Full  attention  should  be  paid  to  upcycling  secondary  materials  or 
products instead of downcycling. 

Horizon 
Europe 

Gaining experience and confidence in 
new approach methodologies (NAMs) for 
regulatory safety and efficacy testing – 
coordinated training and experience 
exchange for regulators 

Budget: EUR 40 million  

Scope:  alternatives  to  the  use  of  animals  for  regulatory  safety  and  efficacy  testing. 
Applicants should propose activities that bring together NAM developers and NAM users 
with EU  regulators responsible for the safe use of  chemicals (e.g. industrial chemicals, 
pesticides, biocides and cosmetics) and pharmaceuticals. The aim is to provide information 
on available NAM solutions and to support the building of a framework within which NAMs 
could be  effectively used in  different  decision-making contexts. For  NAMs  applicable to 
chemical risk assessment, collaboration is encouraged with existing initiatives such as the 
Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals (PARC) and the ASPIS cluster of 
projects  (animal-free  safety  assessment  of  chemicals:  the  project  cluster  for  the 
implementation of innovative strategies). 

Budget: EUR 2 million 

Starting date: 
19 Sep 2023 

Deadline date: 
7 Feb 2024 

Starting date: 
19 Sep 2023 

Deadline date: 
7 Feb 2024 

Innovation 
Fund 

Innovation Fund – small-scale projects 

Scope: innovation in low-carbon technologies and processes in the sectors listed in Annex 
I to the EU ETS Directive 2003/87 139, including environmentally-safe carbon capture and 
utilisation  (CCU)  that  contributes  substantially  to  mitigating  climate  change,  as  well  as 
products that replace carbon-intensive ones produced in the sectors listed in Annex I to 
the EU ETS Directive. 

Opening date: 
30 Mar 2023 

Deadline date: 
19 Sep 2023 

Budget: EUR 100 million 

138 i.e. on a scale that makes it possible to take economical and technical decisions for a first-of-a-kind (FOAK) plant. 

139 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32003L0087 

62 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Innovation 
Fund 

Innovation Fund – large-scale projects – 
innovative electrification in industry and 
hydrogen 

Scope:  projects  that  support  innovative  direct  electrification  of  industry  replacing 
conventional  fossil  fuels  use,  both  in  sector-specific  and  cross-sectoral  uses  as  well  as 
projects that support innovative hydrogen production and applications (i.e. hydrogen use 
as an energy carrier, a reducing agent or as feedstock) in industry. 

Budget: EUR 3 billion 

Innovation 
Fund 

Innovation Fund – large-scale projects – 
mid-sized pilots 

Innovation 
Fund 

Innovation Fund – large-scale projects – 
general decarbonisation 

Innovation 
Fund 

Innovation Fund – large-scale projects – 
clean-tech manufacturing 

Scope: pilot projects on decarbonisation in sectors eligible for Innovation Fund support, 
such  as  the  sectors  listed  in  Annex  I  to  the  EU  ETS  Directive  2003/87.  This  includes 
environmentally-safe carbon capture and utilisation (CCU), as well as products that replace 
carbon-intensive ones produced in the sectors listed in Annex I to the EU ETS Directive, 
the construction and operation of innovative energy or CO2 storage or construction, and 
operation-renewable  energy  installations  (photovoltaics,  onshore  and  offshore  wind 
power, ocean energy, geothermal, solar thermal, etc.), including systems aspects such as 
connection  to  the  electricity/heat  grid.  The  maximum  Innovation  Fund  grant  for  an 
individual project under this topic is EUR 40 million. 

Budget: EUR 3 billion 

Scope: innovation in low-carbon technologies and processes in the sectors listed in Annex 
I  to  the  EU  ETS  Directive  2003/87,  including  environmentally-safe  carbon  capture  and 
utilisation  (CCU)  that  contributes  substantially  to  mitigating  climate  change,  as  well  as 
products that replace carbon-intensive ones produced in the sectors listed in Annex I to 
the EU ETS Directive. 

Budget: EUR 3 billion 

Scope:  projects  for  the  construction  of  manufacturing  facilities  and  their  operation  to 
produce  specific  components  for:  a)  renewable  energy  installations  (in  photovoltaics, 
concentrated solar power, onshore and offshore wind power, ocean energy, geothermal, 
solar thermal, etc.), including their connection to the electricity/heat grid; b) electrolysers 
and fuel cells; c) energy-storage solutions for stationary and mobile use for intra-day and 
long-duration storage; and d) heat pumps. 

Budget: EUR 3 billion 

63 

Opening date: 
3 Nov 2022 

Deadline date: 
16 Mar 2023 

Opening date: 
3 Nov 2022 

Deadline date: 
16 Mar 2023 

Opening date: 
3 Nov 2022 

Deadline date: 
16 Mar 2023 

Opening date: 
3 Nov 2022 

Deadline date: 
16 Mar 2023 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LIFE 

Supporting the clean energy transition of 
EU businesses 

Digital 
Europe 
Programme 

Digital product passport 

Single Market 
Programme 

DREAM 

Scope: proposals to promote the market uptake of energy efficiency measures and the 
use of renewable  energy  by establishing collaborative  approaches  between companies. 
Proposals should facilitate the establishment of concrete cooperation initiatives, including 
by  identifying  and  validating  economically-viable  business  models.  Moreover,  the 
involvement of additional relevant stakeholders (e.g. industrial organisations, multipliers, 
financial  players,  and  public  authorities)  should  be  envisaged  in  order  to  ensure  the 
success and sustainability of the collaborative approach that is developed. 

Budget: EUR 6 million 

Scope: one pilot action to demonstrate digital product passports in a real setting and at 
scale in at least two value chains (product categories) – with a preference for those with 
a long and complex supply chain and/or challenging repair, refurbishment and recycling, 
data security and privacy. 

Budget: EUR 6 million 

Scope: DREAM focuses on providing financial support to SMEs’ projects in the integration 
and use of digital technologies into/in manufacturing environments in order to improve 
resource use efficiency. The digital technologies within the scope include: AI, big data and 
analytics,  the  Internet  of  Things,  cloud  computing,  autonomous  robotics,  immersive 
technologies (AR/VR), simulation, system integration and cybersecurity. 

Budget: EUR 1 million 

Single Market 
Programme 

Enterprise Europe Network Energy 
Efficiency Action 

Scope:  financial  support  for  SMEs  for  activities  in  the  following  areas:  specific  energy 
efficiency  audits,  adoption  of  energy-efficient  technologies  in  production  lines,  and 
contribution to investment to increase energy efficiency in order to reduce energy demand 
and consumption. 

Budget: EUR 10 million 

64 

Starting date: 
21 May 2023 

Deadline date: 
16 Nov 2023 

Opening date: 
11 May 2023 

Deadline date: 
11 Sep 2023 

Opening date: 
21 Mar 2023 

Deadline date: 
1 Jun 2023 

Opening date: 
29 Mar 2023 

Deadline date: 
31 May 2023 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Single Market 
Programme 

CircInWater 

Single Market 
Programme 

POLREC 

Scope: CircInWater is a Eurocluster project that focuses on helping EU SMEs to develop 
and  implement  water-smart  solutions  for  the  agrifood  and  energy-intensive  industries 
(mining, pulp and paper, steel and chemicals). 

Budget: EUR 160 000 

Scope:  support  for  EU  SMEs  in  the  polymers  and  elastomers  industries  on  three  sub-
topics:  a)  testing  mechanical  recycling  solutions  for  their  polymer  waste;  b)  testing 
chemical recycling solutions for polymers waste; and c) testing and/or implementing digital 
tools to ensure the traceability and quality of recycled waste. 

Budget: EUR 660 000 

Alliances for Education and Enterprises 

Erasmus+ 

and 

Scope: Alliances for Education and Enterprises focus on bringing together enterprises with 
both higher education and vocational training providers. Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation 
on Skills focus on developing sectoral or cross-sectoral skills intelligence, skills strategies, 
occupational profiles, training programmes, etc. 

Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation on 
Skills 

Budget: EUR 62 million 

ERDF 

Interregional Innovation Investments 
(I3) 
Instrument 
Strand 1 

Scope:  Strand  1  of  the  I3  Instrument  helps  mature  partnerships  to  accelerate  market 
uptake  and  the  scale-up  of  innovative  solutions  in  shared  smart-specialisation  priority 
areas; as well as to develop a portfolio of investment projects. The call prioritises thematic 
areas,  such  as  digital  transition,  green  transition  and  smart  manufacturing,  which  are 
aligned  with  the  challenges  outlined  in  the  New  European  Innovation  Agenda  (e.g. 
increasing global food security, improving healthcare and achieving circularity). 

Starting date: 
7 Jun 2023 

Deadline date: 
2 Oct 2023 

Starting date: 
1 Sep 2023 

Deadline date: 
31 Oct 2023 

Opening date: 
29 Nov 2022 

Deadline date: 
3 May 2023 

Opening date: 
17 May 2023 

Deadline date: 
17 Oct 2023 

Budget: EUR 31 million 

65 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ERDF 

Interregional Innovation Investments 
(I3) 
Instrument 
Strand 2 

Scope:  Strand  2a  of  the  I3  Instrument  focuses  on  increasing  the  capacity  of  regional 
innovation ecosystems in less developed regions to participate in global value chains; as 
well as the capacity to participate in partnerships with other regions. Many  investment 
areas  are  covered.  For  instance,  within  the  green  transition,  support  is  provided  to 
innovative sustainable solutions in value chains, green technology, industry, transport and 
mobility, food systems, agriculture, clean energy and reducing pollution. 

Opening date: 
17 May 2023 

Deadline date: 
17 Oct 2023 

Budget: EUR 31 million 

66 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Further  information  on  funding  programmes  under  shared  management  between  the 
Commission  and  competent  authorities  in  Member  States  is  available  on  relevant  national 
portals. The related links are presented in Table 18. 

Table 18 – Links to relevant national portals for the ERDF, ESF+, the Cohesion Fund and 
the Just Transition Fund 

Country 

National portals  

Belgium 

https://www.europeinbelgium.be/fr/ 

Bulgaria 

https://www.eufunds.bg/bg 

Czechia 

https://www.dotaceeu.cz/cs/uvod 

Denmark 

https://eufonde.dk/ 

Germany 

https://www.bmwk.de/Redaktion/DE/Artikel/Europa/eu-
kohaesions-und-strukturpolitik.html 

Estonia 

https://www.rtk.ee/ 

Ireland 

https://www.eufunds.ie/ 

Greece 

www.espa.gr 

Spain 

https://www.fondoseuropeos.hacienda.gob.es/sitios/dgfc/es-
ES/eaw_tb_FEDER/Paginas/eaw_tb_FEDER.aspx 

France 

https://www.europe-en-france.gouv.fr/fr 

Croatia 

http://www.strukturnifondovi.hr/ 

Italy 

https://opencoesione.gov.it/it/ 

Cyprus 

https://eufunds.com.cy/ 

Latvia 

www.esfondi.lv  

Lithuania 

https://lrv.lt/lt 

Luxembourg  

https://fonds-europeens.public.lu/fr.html 

Hungary 

https://www.palyazat.gov.hu/ 

Malta 

https://fondi.eu/ 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Netherlands 

https://www.europaomdehoek.nl/ 

Austria 

https://www.oerok.gv.at/eu-fonds-2021-2027 

Poland 

https://www.funduszeeuropejskie.gov.pl/ 

Portugal 

https://portugal2030.pt/ 

Romania 

https://www.fonduri-ue.ro/ 

Slovenia 

https://www.evropskasredstva.si/ 

Slovakia 

https://www.eurofondy.gov.sk/ 

Finland  

https://www.eurahoitusneuvonta.fi/etusivu 

Sweden 

https://eufonder.se/ 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table  19  presents  the  national  portals  for  the  Recovery  and  Resilience  Facility  and  the 
corresponding recovery and resilience plans.  

Table 19 – Links to relevant national portals for the RRF and national RRPs 

Country 

Recovery and Resilience Plan  

National portals 

Belgium 

Bulgaria 

Czechia 

Denmark 

Germany 

Estonia 

Ireland 

Greece 

Spain 

France 

Croatia 

Italy 

Cyprus 

Latvia 

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (BE)  

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (BG)  

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (CZ) 

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (DK) 

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (DE) 

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (EE) 

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (IE) 

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (GR) 

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (ES) 

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (FR) 

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (HR) 

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (IT) 

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (CY) 

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (LV) 

Lithuania 

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (LT) 

Luxembourg  

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (LU) 

Hungary 

n/a 

Malta 

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (MT) 

Netherlands 

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NL) 

Austria 

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (AT)  

National Recovery and Resilience website 
(BE)  

National Recovery and Resilience website 
(BG)  

National Recovery and Resilience website 
(CZ) 

National Recovery and Resilience website 
(DK) 

National Recovery and Resilience website 
(DE) 

National Recovery and Resilience website 
(EE) 

National Recovery and Resilience website 
(IE) 

National Recovery and Resilience website 
(GR) 

National Recovery and Resilience website 
(ES) 

National Recovery and Resilience website 
(FR) 

National Recovery and Resilience website 
(HR) 

National Recovery and Resilience website 
(IT) 

National Recovery and Resilience website 
(CY) 

National Recovery and Resilience website 
(LV) 

National Recovery and Resilience website 
(LT) 

National Recovery and Resilience website 
(LU) 

National Recovery and Resilience website 
(HU) 

National Recovery and Resilience website 
(MT) 

National Recovery and Resilience website 
(NL) 

National Recovery and Resilience website 
(AT)  

 
 
 
 
 
 
Poland 

Portugal 

Romania 

Slovenia 

Slovakia 

Finland  

Sweden 

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PL) 

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PT) 

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (RO) 

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (SI) 

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (SK) 

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (FI) 

National Recovery and Resilience Plan (SE) 

National Recovery and Resilience website 
(PL) 

National Recovery and Resilience website 
(PT) 

National Recovery and Resilience website 
(RO) 

National Recovery and Resilience website 
(SI) 

National Recovery and Resilience website 
(SK) 

National Recovery and Resilience website 
(FI) 

National Recovery and Resilience website 
(SE) 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In person 

GETTING IN TOUCH WITH THE EU 

All over the European Union there are hundreds of Europe Direct information centres. You can find the 
address of the centre nearest you at: european-union.europa.eu/contact-eu/meet-us_en  

On the phone or by email 

Europe Direct is a service that answers your questions about the European Union. You can contact 
this service: 

– by freephone: 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (certain operators may charge for these calls), 

– at the following standard number: +32 22999696, or  

– by email via: european-union.europa.eu/contact-eu/write-us_en 

Online 

FINDING INFORMATION ABOUT THE EU 

Information about the European Union in all the official languages of the EU is available on the Europa 
website at: european-union.europa.eu 

EU publications 

You can view or order EU publications from: op.europa.eu/en/publications. Multiple copies of free 
publications can be obtained by contacting Europe Direct or your local documentation centre (see 
european-union.europa.eu/contact-eu/meet-us_en). 

EU law and related documents 

For access to legal information from the EU, including all EU law since 1952 in all the official language 
versions, go to EUR-Lex at: eur-lex.europa.eu 

Open data from the EU 

The portal data.europa.eu provides access to datasets from the EU institutions, bodies and agencies. 
These can be downloaded and reused for free, for both commercial and non-commercial purposes. 
The portal also provides access to a wealth of datasets from European countries 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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