EU | LIFE CET
The LIFE CET 2026 call supports clusters in delivering market uptake actions, skills development, and investment pipeline building for clean energy solutions.
Success Likelihood: Medium
How to increase chances
• Demonstrate strong access to SMEs with a credible training and market rollout plan
• Use HeatInvest matchmaking to pre-structure robust consortia early
LIFE Programme – CET
EU | I3 Instrument
The I3 Instrument supports clusters in scaling innovation through interregional collaboration and strengthening EU value chains.
Success Likelihood: Low-Medium
How to increase chances
•Demonstrate clear interregional complementarities
• Present a concrete and investment-ready roadmap
Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument
EU | Horizon Europe - Cluster 5
Horizon Europe Cluster 5 supports clusters in participating in collaborative R&I projects that develop and demonstrate clean energy technologies.
Success Likelihood: Low-Medium
How to increase chances
• Join strong consortia with clear roles in exploitation and dissemination
• Align with call priorities and EU policy impact
Cluster 5: Climate, Energy and Mobility
EU | LIFE CET
The LIFE CET 2026 call supports energy communities and NGOs in enabling clean energy uptake through citizen engagement, local market activation, and capacity building.
Success Likelihood: Medium
How to increase chances
• Partner with municipalities, utilities, or clusters as coordinators
• Focus on replication, citizen engagement, and measurable impact
LIFE Programme – CET
EU | LIFE CET
The LIFE CET 2026 call supports EU-level initiatives and associations in delivering skills, policy implementation, and market development actions across Member States.
Success Likelihood: Medium
How to increase chances
• Ensure EU-level relevance and replicability
• Build multi-country consortia with strong dissemination capacity
LIFE Programme – CET
EU | Horizon Europe – CSA
Horizon Europe CSA supports EU initiatives and associations in coordinating networks, developing roadmaps, and strengthening policy and knowledge exchange.
Success Likelihood: Low-Medium
How to increase chances
•Focus on policy relevance and EU added value
• Include strong stakeholder engagement and outreach
Coordination of European Smart Network actions (CSA)
EU | InvestEU
InvestEU supports financial institutions in financing sustainable infrastructure and clean energy projects by mobilising public and private capital.
Success Likelihood: Medium
How to increase chances
• Position as a pipeline enabler (aggregation, due diligence, standardisation)
• Combine with grants to improve risk profile and bankability
InvestEU
EU | LIFE CET – PRIVAFIN
LIFE CET – PRIVAFIN supports financial institutions in developing financing schemes that mobilise private capital for clean energy investments.
Success Likelihood: Medium
How to increase chances
• Develop scalable financial products (e.g. green loans)
• Demonstrate leverage of private investment
LIFE CET – PRIVAFIN
EU | ELENA
ELENA supports financial institutions in preparing large-scale energy investment pipelines and improving project bankability.
Success Likelihood: Medium
How to increase chances
•Present a strong and realistic investment pipeline
•Show clear transition from concept to bankable projects
ELENA – European Local ENergy Assistance
EU | Innovation Fund
The Innovation Fund supports investors in financing large-scale low-carbon projects by providing grants linked to emissions reduction performance.
Success Likelihood: Low-Medium
How to increase chances
•Present a bankable pipeline (CAPEX, permits, offtake)
•Quantify CO₂ impact and demonstrate scalability
Innovation Fund
EU | LIFE CET
The LIFE CET 2026 call supports installers in scaling deployment of clean energy solutions through training, market development, and quality assurance.
Success Likelihood: Medium
How to increase chances
• Position beyond installation (training, QA, market activation)
• Provide a pipeline of projects with measurable impact
• Partner with clusters or associations
LIFE Programme – CET
Bulgaria | Energy Efficiency & RES in Enterprises
This programme supports installers in delivering SME energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades, including heat pump deployment.
Success Likelihood: Medium-High
How to increase chances
• Demonstrate clear project pipeline and savings
• Combine technologies (e.g. heat pumps + storage)
Energy efficiency and use of energy from renewable sources in enterprises
Greece | Development Law 4887/2022 - Green Transition
This scheme supports installers in implementing projects that improve energy efficiency and integrate renewable heating solutions.
Success Likelihood: Medium-High
How to increase chances
• Integrate clean heat solutions into broader investment plans
• Demonstrate environmental performance improvements
New Development Law 4887/2022
Belgium | Economic Transition Fund for Brussels
This regional fund supports installers in deploying clean energy technologies within local energy transition projects.
Success Likelihood: Medium-High
How to increase chances
• Focus on deployable projects with clear local impact
• Partner with local stakeholders
Economic Transition Fund
Poland | SMART Path (FENG)
The SMART Path programme supports installers involved in innovation and green transition projects combining technology deployment and industrial transformation.
Success Likelihood: Medium-High
How to increase chances
• Link projects to innovation and decarbonisation outcomes
• Combine R&D with implementation
European Funds for a Modern Economy
EU | Innovation Fund
The Innovation Fund supports manufacturers in scaling up production and deployment of innovative low-carbon technologies with high emissions reduction potential.
Success Likelihood: Low-Medium
How to increase chances
• Demonstrate industrial impact (cost, scale, CO₂ savings)
• Partner with end users and utilities
Innovation Fund
EU | Horizon Europe - Cluster 5
Horizon Europe Cluster 5 supports manufacturers in developing and demonstrating innovative clean energy technologies through collaborative projects.
Success Likelihood: Low-Medium
How to increase chances
• Join strong consortia
• Focus on innovation + deployment pathway
Cluster 5: Climate, Energy and Mobility – Research and innovation
France | IBAC PME
This programme supports manufacturers in developing industrial technologies and components that contribute to decarbonisation.
Success Likelihood: Medium-High
How to increase chances
• Present strong business case and industrial relevance
IBAC PME – Industrial Decarbonisation
Spain | CDTI – LIC
This programme supports manufacturers in deploying near-market innovations that enhance industrial competitiveness.
Success Likelihood: Medium-High
How to increase chances
• Focus on implementation and market uptake
CDTI – Direct Line of Innovation (LIC)
Poland | SMART Path
The SMART Path programme supports manufacturers in combining R&D, innovation, and green transformation investments.
Success Likelihood: Medium-High
How to increase chances
• Combine R&D with deployment Show measurable impact
European Funds for a Modern Economy
Germany | EEW - Module 2 for Process Heat
This programme supports manufacturers in implementing industrial energy efficiency and renewable heat solutions, including geothermal applications.
Success Likelihood: Medium
How to increase chances
• Present bankable projects with clear CO₂ impact
Federal Funding for Energy and Resource Efficiency in the Economy
EU | LIFE CET
The LIFE CET 2026 call supports regional business associations in enabling SME engagement, capacity building, and clean energy market uptake.
Success Likelihood: Medium
How to increase chances
• Quantify SME reach and replication potential
LIFE Programme – CET
EU | Horizon Europe – Cluster 5
Horizon Europe Cluster 5 supports research organisations in developing, testing, and demonstrating innovative clean energy technologies.
Success Likelihood: Low-Medium
How to increase chances
• Combine scientific excellence with strong demo cases
• Define clear exploitation pathways
Cluster 5: Climate, Energy and Mobility
EU | LIFE CET
The LIFE CET 2026 call supports public authorities in implementing clean energy policies, developing one-stop-shops, and enabling market frameworks.
Success Likelihood: Low-Medium
How to increase chances
• Present a strong project pipeline and leverage potential
• Align with EU policies (EPBD, RED, S3)
LIFE Programme – CET
EU | ELENA
ELENA supports public authorities in preparing and structuring large-scale energy efficiency and renewable energy investment programmes.
Success Likelihood: Medium-High
How to increase chances
• Demonstrate investment readiness and scale
• Show clear pathway to implementation
ELENA – European Local ENergy Assistance
EU | I3 Instrument
The I3 Instrument supports public authorities in scaling innovation projects through interregional collaboration and investment mobilisation.
Success Likelihood: Low-Medium
How to increase chances
• Align with S3 priorities
• Build strong interregional partnerships
Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument
EU | Innovation Fund
The Innovation Fund supports utilities in deploying large-scale low-carbon energy systems, including district heating and industrial decarbonisation.
Success Likelihood: Low-Medium
How to increase chances
• Provide bankable, mature projects
• Quantify emissions reduction and system impact
Innovation Fund
EU | ELENA
ELENA supports utilities in preparing large-scale energy infrastructure projects and building investment-ready pipelines.
Success Likelihood: Medium-High
How to increase chances
• Build strong investment pipeline
• Ensure technical and financial maturity
ELENA – European Local ENergy Assistance
EU | I3 Instrument
The I3 Instrument supports utilities in scaling innovative energy solutions through interregional partnerships and market deployment.
How to increase chances
• Demonstrate scalability and cross-regional relevance
• Present mature, investment-ready solutions
Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument