Apply for Innovation Fund
Get our assistance to secure funding from one of the world's largest grant schemes dedicated to implementing net-zero and innovative technologies.
In April 2025, we assisted numerous clients in preparing competitive proposals t — resulting in €842.6 million in funding requested and projects with the potential to avoid 42.63 megatons of CO₂e.
Innovation Fund has a record budget of €4 billion
The Innovation Fund (IF), managed by CINEA, is one of the world’s largest funding programme with a €4 billion budget. Grants are given to projects that deploy innovative low-carbon technologies that will help decarbonise Europe and support the transition to climate neutrality.
The Innovation Fund is funded by the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) – the world’s largest carbon pricing system – and it is used as the main driver for the programme.
Who can Apply
The EU Innovation Fund supports industrial decarbonisation across Europe, focusing on sectors listed in Annex I of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) regulation.
Targeted Sectors Include:
Iron and steel, cement clinker, lime and magnesite, glass and glass fibre, ceramic products, mineral wool insulation, gypsum and plasterboard production, paper and cardboard, carbon black, bulk organic chemicals, as well as hydrogen and synthesis gas.
Types of Projects
Innovation Fund projects fall into five categories across two topics: Manufacturing or General Decarbonisation and four sizes: Pilot, Small, Medium and Large-scale. All projects require a minimum CAPEX of €2.5 million.
1. Energy Intensive Industries (EII)
2. Carbon capture, transport and storage
3. Renewable energy and storage
4. Mobility (Maritime and aviation)
5. Buildings.
Projects must show high technical maturity, typically post FEL 2 (Feasibility Study) and approaching FEL 3 (Front-end Engineering Design) and a solid, credible business plan supported by suppliers, offtakers and financial institutions.
Lastly, applicants must demonstrate significant GHG emission avoidance, calculated using the IF methodology, and show strong cost-efficiency (GHG avoided per € of grant).
Each Innovation Fund project runs through three stages:
1. Up to Financial Close: Complete engineering, permitting, commercial, and financial setup
2. Construction: Project execution phase
3. Operation: Minimum of 5 years for medium/large-scale projects, 3 years for small/pilot projects.
Deadline for IF
Developing proposals for the EU Innovation Fund is highly time-consuming. Therefore, reach out now to secure our expert assistance for the upcoming deadline!
IF25 call is anticipated to launch in December 2025 with submission likely around April 2026, following the usual annual cycle for Innovation Fund.
More Details on Innovation Fund
Financial assistance
Projects can request up to 60% of the Relevant Costs (discounted CAPEX + OPEX – Revenue) for the whole project duration. There is not a minimum grant that can be requested for large- and medium-scale projects, with smaller projects having a ceiling of 40 million euros.
Eligibility criteria
At least one company based on any country in the world, aiming to deploy a project in EU member states or EEA countries (Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein). Beneficiaries must demonstrate their financial and operational capacity before signing the Grant Agreement with CINEA.
Projects of All Sizes
There are five different types of projects, depending on the topic and the total CAPEX:
1. Manufacturing: more than € 2.5M
2. Pilots: more than € 2.5M
3. Small-scale: up to € 20M
4. Medium-scale: from € 20 to 100M
5. Large-scale: more than € 100M
Selection Criteria:
1. Degree of innovation
2. GHG emission avoidance and other climate impact reduction potential (only Innovation Fund)
3. Project maturity
4. Scalability
5. Cost efficiency (only Innovation Fund)