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  1. An institution, body, office or agency established by or based on the Treaty on European Union and the Treaties establishing the European Communities.

    All education and training facilities for people of different age groups.

    An intergovernmental organization having legal personality under public international law or a specialized agency established by such an international organization. An international organization, the majority of whose members are Member States or Associated Countries and whose main objective is to promote scientific and technological cooperation in Europe, is an International Organization of European Interest.

    A person with legal rights and obligations. Unlike a legal entity, a natural person does not have a legal act (e.g. association, limited liability company, etc.).

    An NPO is an institution or organization which, by virtue of its legal form, is not profit-oriented or which is required by law not to distribute profits to its shareholders or individual members. An NGO is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that does not represent business interests. Pursues a common purpose for the benefit of society.

    A partnership, corporation, person, or agency that is for-profit and not operated by the government.

    Any government or other public administration, including public advisory bodies, at the national, regional or local level.

    A research institution is a legal entity established as a non-profit organization whose main objective is to conduct research or technological development. A college/university is a legal entity recognized by its national education system as a university or college or secondary school. It may be a public or private institution.

    A microenterprise, a small or medium-sized enterprise (business) as defined in EU Recommendation 2003/361. To qualify as an SME for EU funding, an enterprise must meet certain conditions, including (a) fewer than 250 employees and (b) an annual turnover not exceeding EUR 50 million and/or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding EUR 43 million. These ceilings apply only to the figures for individual companies.

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  1. Governance, partnership: Projects aimed at increasing the application of multilevel and transnational or cross-border governance, designing and testing appropriate governance structures and mechanisms. Also cooperation between public institutions on any theme.

    Innovation capacity and awareness-raising: Actions that increase a person’s or organisation’s capacity for innovation (not innovation as such), and that establish the capacity to diffuse and apply innovation; projects that stimulate innovation in different areas and innovation capacities; strengthening and empowering of innovation networks.

    Institutional cooperation and cooperation networks: Projects working on the improvement of institutional cross-border co-operation and capacities, on renewing and simplifying administrative management through long term cooperation between institutions (e.g. Euregion), on establishing and sharing regional knowledge and intercultural understanding and cohesion. It also deals with cooperations between universities, health care facilities, schools and sports organisations, as well as with management and capacity building.

    Activities focussing on agricultural products, organic farming, horticulture, as well as forest management and wood products; furthermore the development of the food sector, food chains, organic food production, and seafood products and any topics related to animals and fishing.

    Agriculture and fisheries and forestry: Projects focussing on agricultural products (i.e. fruits, meat, olives, etc.), organic farming, horticulture, as well as forest management and wood products. Also the development of the agro-food sector, food chains, organic food production, and seafood products. Any topics related to animals (i.e. health, management) and fishing (i.e. sustainable fishery, aquaculture).

    Soil and air quality: Projects that deal with any topic against soil and air pollution, except water pollution, for example, reduction of soil and air contamination, pollution-management systems, but also prevention and eradication of soil erosion, new ways of improving air quality (also indoors) and soil/air knowledge in general.

    Climate change and biodiversity projects assisting mitigation and adaption to climate change and environmental impacts of climate change. Development of low carbon technologies and strategies, reduction of CO2 emissions from all sectors. Promotion of biodiversity, new instruments to enhance biodiversity and natural protection.

    Soil and air quality projects that deal with any topic against soil and air pollution, except water pollution, for example, reduction of soil and air contamination, pollution-management systems, but also prevention and eradication of soil erosion, new ways of improving air quality (also indoors) and soil/air knowledge in general.

    Water management projects about management and distribution of drinking water, integrated sustainable water management, monitoring systems for water supply and improving drinking water quality; also water treatment (wastewater), in particular, innovative technologies to improve wastewater, treatments in the purification of industrial and domestic wastewater and water reuse policies. Waterways, lakes and rivers: This deals with any topics on waterways, lakes and rivers, from improving water quality, protecting and developing of ecosystems or sustainable wetland management.

    Activities that protect, promote and enhance cultural and natural heritage, increase the attractiveness through preservation and valorisation of common cultural and natural heritage in a sustainable manner, and improve and develop cultural and natural heritage objects, services and products. Cultural heritage management, art and culture, (maritime) heritage routes, access to cultural and natural heritage. Also all topics on cultural services such as festivals, concerts, art workshops.

    Tourism projects dealing with the promotion of natural assets, and the protection and development of natural heritage, as well as increasing the touristic attractiveness through the better use of natural, cultural and historical heritage. Also projects about improved tourist services/products, development of ecotourism models, tourism development strategies.

    Sustainable management of natural resources projects focussing on the protection, promotion and valorization, and sustainable management and conservation of natural areas (habitats, geo parks, protected areas, etc.). Also projects focussing on preserving and enhancing cultural and natural heritage and landscape, as well as protecting the marine environment.

    Projects on waste management (innovative services and strategies), ecological waste treatment, treatment techniques/systems; waste disposal and recycling (improvement of recycling, innovative recycling technologies, recovery of organic waste, repair & re-use centres and networks); also prevention of pollution and pollution control (ecological and circular economy, marine littering, etc.).

    Labour market and employment: creating employment opportunities and/or optimising jobs, academic (un)employment and job mobility, workforce attraction and improvement of employment conditions for different groups.

    SME and entrepreneurship: strengthening SME capacities, boosting entrepreneurial activities in different sectors and for different groups, supporting social entrepreneurship, creating business support/advisory systems for start-ups/spin-offs/incubators, improving the competitiveness of SMEs, and promoting new business processes.

    Community integration and common identity projects that build identity, create a more cohesive society, promote positive relations through an increased provision of shared spaces and services.

    Demographic change and immigration is about projects tackling major societal challenges like demographic change in different areas and migration, in particular, aging society (active aging, best agers, silver economy strategies) and related new public services (adaptation of key services and infrastructure), social and spatial segregation, and brain drain. Also all topics on migration (policy tools, strategic planning, integration).

    All projects where ICT has a significant role, including tailor-made ICT solutions in different fields, as well as digital innovation hubs, open data, Internet of Things; ICT access and connecting (remote) areas with digital infrastructure and services; services and applications for citizens (e-health, e-government, e-learning, e-inclusion, etc.); services and applications for companies (e-commerce, networking, digital transformation, etc.).

    This is about the mitigation and management of risks and disasters, and the anticipation and response capacity towards the actors regarding specific risks and management of natural disasters, for example, prevention of flood and drought hazards, forest fire, strong weather conditions, etc.. It is also about risk assessment and safety.

    Education and training projects on expanding educational opportunities, reducing barriers in the field of education, improving higher education and lifelong learning, training and labour mobility, educational networks, higher vocational education, common learning programmes.

    Topics on energy management, energy-saving methods, evaluating energy efficiency measurements, energy rehabilitation/efficiency in buildings / public infrastructure, promotion of energy efficiency, cooperation among experienced energy efficiency firms, institutions and local administrations, co-generation.

    Projects focussing on wind, solar, biomass, hydroelectric, geothermal and other renewable energy, increasing the production of sustainable renewable energy and improving research capacities in biomass. Also projects focussing on storage and management of renewable energy, new technologies, sustainable regional bioenergy policies and financial Instruments for investments on renewable energy.

    Social projects concerning people with disabilities and excluded groups; enhancement of the capacity of children, young people, women and elderly; creation of infrastructure to improve access for disabled people, integration of socially vulnerable people; innovate in the care of victims of gender violence, social inclusion of women, etc.

    This deals with the development of health and social services and improved accessibility and efficiency for different groups (elderly, children, etc.). It is also about new healthcare models and medical diagnosis and treatments (dementia, cancer, diabetes, etc.), hospitals, care management, and rare diseases, as well as improving wellbeing and promoting sports.

    Projects about (organised) crime, efficient and secure borders, such as enhancing the effectiveness of the police in the prevention of drug crimes, the development of safety services, or tackling security and organised crime issues.

    Activities related to:

    • Transport and mobility covering all sorts of transport (incl. urban transport) and mobility.
    • Improving transport connections dealing with traffic and/or transport connections, rehabiliation/modernisation, better connectivity, improving accessibility/connections, but also public transport.
    • Multimodal transport and logistics and freight transport focusing on using different means of transport, developing multimodal connections, optimising intermodal transport chains; offering multimodal logistics solutions and providing access to clean, efficient and multimodal transport corridors and hubs; establishing cooperation among logistic centres and developing multimodal mobility strategies.

    Activities related to:

    • urban development, such as planning and design of cities and urban areas, urban renewal, urban-rural links (climate, sustainable mobility, water efficiency, participation, sustainable land use, smart cities, public urban areas, regeneration)
    • regional planning and development, such as the implementation of regional development policies/instruments and programmes, sustainable land use management plans, integrated regional action plans, spatial planning, and marine protected area management.
    • rural and peripheral development, referring to remote, sparsely populated areas, rural community development, and rural economics, in particular access to remote areas and policies for rural areas.
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Call key data

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

Funding Program

Innovation Fund

Call number

INNOVFUND-2024-NZT-GENERAL-LSP

deadlines

Opening
03.12.2024

Deadline
24.04.2025 17:00

Funding rate

60%

Call budget

€ 1,200,000,000.00

Estimated EU contribution per project

min. € 100,000,000.00

Link to the call

Link to the submission

Call content

short description

This call is aimed at large projects with the goal of general decarbonization.

Call objectives

The following activities can be funded under these topics:

  • Innovation in Low-Carbon Technologies and Processes: activities that support 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 within industrial processes and energy systems; activities involving environmentally safe carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) that significantly mitigate climate change, development of products that substitute carbon-intensive ones produced in sectors listed in Annex I to the EU ETS Directive.
  • Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): activities supporting the construction and operation of projects focused on the environmentally safe capture and geological storage of CO2 (CCS).
  • Innovative Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Technologies: activities supporting the construction and operation of innovative renewable energy and energy storage technologies.

Carbon capture and utilisation can be funded if the capture of CO2 occurs within one of the activities listed in Annex I of the EU ETS Directive, or if the utilisation of CO2 results in products substituting carbon-intensive ones from the sectors listed in Annex I to the EU ETS Directive, even if carbon is captured outside the activities of Annex I.

Hydrogen use in industry (i.e. hydrogen use as an energy carrier, reducing agent, or feedstock) and hydrogen production projects with a demonstrated sufficient degree of innovation can be funded under these topics. Projects installing and operating mature electrolyser technologies for production of RFNBO hydrogen, without additional relevant innovation in the use of the produced hydrogen, are strongly encouraged to apply to the Innovation Fund auction call for RFNBO Hydrogen.

In the maritime and aviation transport sector, support can be provided to, for example, breakthrough innovative technologies and infrastructure, including energy efficiency, sustainable alternative fuels, electrification, and zero-emission propulsion technologies such as wind technologies, including innovative infrastructure in the maritime sector, particularly for EU container transhipment ports. Production and installation of new or retrofitted innovative technology (e.g. energy system, engine or equipment) into a ship or plane is eligible for funding provided that the manufacturing and/or installation is done in EU/EEA. For EU ETS Annex III sectors, support can be provided to innovative low-carbon activities, including renewable energy integration, energy-efficiency, zero-emission vehicles, alternative fuels, process optimisation and waste heat recovery.

Projects should contribute to building industrial capacity, technology leadership, supply chain resilience and strategic autonomy within the EU/EEA.

read more

Eligibility Criteria

Regions / countries for funding

EU Member States, Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT)
Iceland (Ísland), Liechtenstein, Norway (Norge)

eligible entities

Education and training institution, International organization, Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) / Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Other, Private institution, incl. private company (private for profit), Public Body (national, regional and local; incl. EGTCs), Research Institution incl. University, Small and medium-sized enterprise (SME)

Mandatory partnership

No

Project Partnership

In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:

  • be legal entities (public or private bodies)

  • be established in one of the eligible countries: any country in the world.

Specific cases:

Natural persons are NOT eligible (with the exception of self- employed persons, i.e. sole traders, where the company does not have legal personality separate from that of the natural person).

International organisations are eligible. The rules on eligible countries do not apply to them.

Entities which do not have legal personality under their national law may exceptionally participate, provided that their representatives have the capacity to undertake legal obligations on their behalf, and offer guarantees
for the protection of the EU financial interests equivalent to that offered by legal persons.

EU bodies (with the exception of the European Commission Joint Research Centre) can NOT be part of the consortium.

Entities composed of members may participate as ‘sole beneficiaries’ or ‘beneficiaries without legal personality’. Please note that if the action will be implemented by the members, they should also participate (either as beneficiaries or as affiliated entities, otherwise they cannot claim part of the grant).

other eligibility criteria

  • Projects must be located in EU Member States or EEA countries (i.e. Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein).
  • Projects may also be located in Northern Ireland on the condition that they concern the generation, transmission, distribution or supply of electricity.
  • Financial support to third parties is not allowed.
  • Only projects that have not reached financial close at proposal submission date can be funded.
  • For maritime sector projects:
    • when the projects concern investments on ships, those ships must carry a flag of an EU Member States or an EEA country and call ports under the jurisdiction of an EU Member State or EEA country (see list here) on a regular basis (at least 15% of their calls on ports over two years); or must call ports under the jurisdiction of an EU Member State or EEA country (see list here) on a regular basis (at least 30% of their calls on ports over two years); or perform service or support activities in ports under the jurisdiction of an EU Member State or EEA country.
    • when the projects concern investments in ports infrastructure (e.g. renewable alternative fuel bunkering infrastructures in ports, including container transhipment ports), the ports must be under the jurisdiction of an EU Member States or an EEA country (see list here).
  • The project must:
    • reach financial close within four years after grant signature (maximum time to financial close)
    • operate at least five years after entry into operation (minimum GHG emission avoidance monitoring period):
  • Project duration (grant duration) normally ranges between 3 and 15 years, from grant signature to the final payment. Projects of longer duration may be accepted in duly justified cases. Extensions are possible, if duly justified and through an amendment.

Project budget:

Project budgets (requested grant amount) must be calculated on the basis of the relevant costs, using the provided relevant cost calculator and respecting the conditions set out in the Guidance on the relevant cost methodology. The maximum grant amount must not exceed 60 % of the relevant costs. Only projects with relevant costs higher than zero are eligible.

Only projects with a capital expenditure as indicated below will be eligible under this call: Capital expenditure above EUR 100 000 000

‘Capital expenditure’ means all project costs (as defined in the Guidance on the relevant cost methodology) for project development or construction, that are incurred or to be incurred before the project’s entry into operation and which relate exclusively to the following categories:

  • construction costs
  • site infrastructure costs
  • development costs
  • intangible assets
  • contingencies

Additional information

Topics

Air Quality, Biodiversity & Environment, Climate & Climate Change, Water quality & management, 
Circular Economy, Natural Resources, 
Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy

Relevance for EU Macro-Region

EUSAIR - EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region, EUSALP - EU Strategy for the Alpine Space, EUSBSR - EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, EUSDR - EU Strategy for the Danube Region

UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs)

project duration

between 3 and 15 years

Additional Information

Proposals must be submitted electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System (accessible via the Topic page in the Search Funding & Tenders section). Paper submissions are NOT possible.

Proposals must be complete and contain all the requested information and all required annexes and supporting documents:

  • Application Form Part A — contains administrative information about the participants (future coordinator, beneficiaries and affiliated entities) and the summarised budget for the project (to be filled in directly online)
  • Application Form Part B — contains the technical description of the project (to be downloaded from the Portal Submission System, completed and then assembled and re-uploaded)
  • Part C contains additional project data and the project’s contribution to EU programme key performance indicators (to be filled in directly online)
  • mandatory annexes (where templates are available to be downloaded from the Portal Submission System, they must be used, completed, assembled and re-uploaded, unless instructed otherwise):
    • detailed budget table/relevant cost calculator (‘financial information file’) (see template)
    • participant information (including CVs and previous projects, if any) (see template)
    • timetable/Gantt chart (see template)
    • GHG emission avoidance calculator (see template)
    • feasibility study (see template)
    • business plan (see template)
    • detailed financial model — applicant’s own financial model with detailed information on model assumptions and calculations to derive the financial projections (i.e. with use of formulas, no hard coded figures, nor macros) including as minimum requirements: detailed financial model with project assumptions; funding sources and uses; projected financial statements; calculation sheet(s); sensitivity analysis.
      • There are two options to calculate the relevant costs – see Guidance on the relevant cost methodology). If you use the ‘reference plant’ calculation methodology (Option 2 in the Guidance on the relevant cost methodology), the detailed financial model must include, in addition, all relevant data and calculations related to this reference plant.
    • extended Part C form (for statistical data collection, see template)
    • project shareholders’ financial resources — description of the financial standing of the project shareholders, including provision of cash flow, profit and loss account and balance sheet statements over the last three years (if available, consolidated or social accounts); if the financial statements of the shareholder entities are publicly available, it is sufficient to provide the website link.
  • Supporting documents: 
    • project funding support documentation (see Annex 3)
    • project contract terms documentation (see Annex 3)
    • due diligence reports (if any)
    • permits, licences, authorisations (if any)
    • other annexes - only for projects using ‘reference plant’ calculation methodology for relevant costs:
      • If you use ‘reference plant’ calculation methodology (Option 2 in the Guidance on the relevant cost methodology), you must also include documents necessary to assess the credibility of the data of the reference plant, such as proof of planning such a (reference) plant/unit as an alternative to the project, formal board documents, financial reports, internal business plans or studies. These documents should include description of assumptions underlying the costs and revenues data and calculations, where relevant supported by quotes from (potential) suppliers and customers and by external market studies if available (no template is available for those documents).

Proposals are limited to maximum 70 pages (part B). Feasibility study, business plan and knowledge sharing plan must not exceed 60 pages each.

Contact

Innovation Fund NCP
Website

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