New EU calls for funding for energy innovation and sustainability published

21.10.2025

Source: Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic

The European Commission has published a series of new calls for proposals focusing on key future topics of the energy transition.

The focus is on the resilience of energy infrastructures, the reduction of the environmental impact of renewable energies, the development of innovative storage solutions and sustainable building concepts.

Most of the submission deadlines end in November and December 2025, some also in January and February 2026. Funding is available for research and innovation projects in various subject areas - from solar and wind energy to building efficiency, hydrogen and bioenergy technologies.

Development of innovative solutions to strengthen the security of renewable energy value chains

Short description:
Proposals are expected to provide sound assessments and lead to novel solutions to improve critical aspects of specific renewable energy technologies and their value chains - with a direct impact on the EU's energy security.

Submission deadline: 17.02.2026, 17:00
Funding rate: 100%
Funding regions / countries: EU Member States, Overseas Territories (OCT); Moldova, Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom

Commercialization of perovskite photovoltaics and development of dedicated manufacturing equipment (EUPI-PV partnership)

Brief description:
Metal halide perovskite solar cells are the focus of attention due to their cost-effective production and high efficiency. Tandem cells, especially perovskite-silicon tandems, play an important role on the way to commercialization. However, low stability remains the biggest challenge. The aim is to develop robust encapsulation techniques and suitable manufacturing processes and to demonstrate appropriate production facilities.

Submission deadline: 17.02.2026, 17:00
Funding rate: 70%
Funding regions / countries: As above

Innovative approaches for the introduction of positive energy districts

Brief description:
Although initial projects have demonstrated the feasibility of positive energy districts (PEDs), there is a need for further evidence of climate-neutral impact. Funding is available for innovative technical, economic, social and organizational approaches to overcome existing barriers.

Submission deadline: 17.02.2026, 17:00
Funding rate: 70%
Funding regions / countries: As above

Innovative approaches for a low-carbon and climate-resilient building stock (Built4People partnership)

Brief description:
The aim is to develop innovative building solutions to decarbonize and increase climate resilience. The main topics are energy efficiency, recyclability, sustainability, resource efficiency, safety, durability, adaptability and reduction of CO₂ emissions over the entire life cycle.

Submission deadline: 17.02.2026, 17:00
Funding rate: 100%
Funding regions / countries: As above

Extending the lifetime of crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules (EUPI-PV partnership)

Short description:
Photovoltaic systems are among the most cost-effective and fastest growing sources of electricity. The aim is to research and demonstrate measures to increase the reliability and lifetime of crystalline silicon PV modules.

Submission deadline: 17.02.2026, 17:00
Funding rate: 100%
Funding regions / countries: As above

Underground thermal energy storage in densely populated urban areas

Brief description:
Funding is available for new technologies, interfaces, design methods and organizational concepts for the sustainable use of the underground in cities by means of underground thermal energy storage (UTES) such as ATES, CTES or BTES.

Submission deadline: 17.02.2026, 17:00
Funding rate: 70%
Funding regions / countries: As above

Innovative solutions for a generative AI-supported EU digital energy infrastructure

Brief description:
The focus is on intelligent planning, operation and control of the electricity grid and decentralized devices - such as smart meters, bidirectional charging infrastructures and smart building platforms - supported by flexible markets and seamless data exchange.

Submission deadline: 17.02.2026, 17:00
Funding rate: 70%
Funding regions / countries: As above

Demonstration of thermal energy storage solutions for solar thermal plants and systems

Brief description:
Support is provided for the demonstration of innovative storage solutions for concentrated solar power (CSP) and solar thermal applications for heating and cooling.

Submission deadline: 17.02.2026, 17:00
Funding rate: 70%
Funding regions / countries: As above

Competitiveness, energy security and integration aspects of advanced biofuels and renewable non-biofuels

Short description:
Funding is available for analyses of energy and industrial security aspects of the value chains of advanced biofuels and renewable non-biofuels in the context of global EU competitiveness.

Submission deadline: 17.02.2026, 17:00
Funding rate: 100%
Funding regions / countries: As above

Large-scale production of advanced liquid biofuels and renewable non-biofuels

Brief description:
Demonstration of innovative, large-scale production processes for liquid biofuels and non-biofuels, in particular for aviation, shipping and energy-intensive industries - based on sustainable biomass, residues or renewable raw materials such as hydrogen and CO₂.

Submission deadline: 17.02.2026, 17:00
Funding rate: 70%
Funding regions / countries: As above

Smarter buildings as part of the energy system - social readiness pilot project

Brief description:
Buildings are among the least digitized sectors. Smart buildings can lower energy demand, reduce CO₂ emissions, integrate renewable energies and increase grid flexibility through optimized energy use.

Submission deadline: 17.02.2026, 17:00
Funding rate: 70%
Funding regions / countries: As above

Innovative tools and services to support energy communities

Brief description:
The project should benefit from the active participation of energy communities, manufacturers of smart devices, developers of energy management systems and grid operators.

Submission deadline: 17.02.2026, 17:00
Funding rate: 70%
Funding regions / countries: As above

Understanding and minimizing the environmental impact of offshore wind energy

Brief description:
The EU Offshore Strategy calls for the sustainable use of marine areas based on maritime spatial planning. There is a particular need for research on cumulative environmental impacts and coexistence with other maritime activities.

Submission deadline: 17.02.2026, 17:00
Funding rate: 100%
Funding regions / countries: As above

Improved reliability and optimized operation of wind energy systems

Brief description:
Projects should identify demonstrably crucial components and subsystems that are critical to the reliability of wind turbines, e.g. dynamic cables, moorings or connection systems in floating offshore turbines.

Submission deadline: 17.02.2026, 17:00
Funding rate: 100%
Funding regions / countries: As above

Phasing out fossil fuels in energy-intensive industries through efficient integration of renewable energies

Brief description:
Funding is available for innovative solutions for the cost-efficient and sustainable integration of renewable energy sources into industrial processes (heating, cooling, electricity) in order to drastically reduce fossil fuels.

Submission deadline: 17.02.2026, 17:00
Funding rate: 70%
Funding regions / countries: As above

Accelerated multiphysical and virtual testing for battery lifetime, reliability and safety (BATT4EU partnership)

Brief description:
The aim is to reduce the development costs and time-to-market of new battery systems through accelerated multiphysical and virtual testing procedures.

Submission deadline: 20.01.2026, 17:00
Funding rate: 70%
Funding regions / countries: As above

Next generation distribution grid stations to increase system resilience

Brief description:
Funding is available for projects for the integration of power electronics, IEDs and software solutions for real-time monitoring of grid conditions and increasing system resilience.

Submission deadline: 17.02.2026, 17:00
Funding rate: 70%
Funding regions / countries: As above

Danube Region Program - Third call for funding

Brief description:
The Danube Region Program (DRP) is launching its third call for funding and supports transnational projects for a more innovative, sustainable and social Danube region. Submission is possible in defined thematic priorities.

Submission deadline: 15.12.2025, 14:00
Funding rate: 80%
Funding regions / countries: Moldova, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine

Interreg Central Europe - Strategic Call for Capitalization

Brief description:
Call for strategic, transnational cooperation projects to exploit synergies of existing Interreg initiatives. The aim is a more competitive and resilient Central European region.

Submission deadline: 27.11.2025, 16:00
Funding rate: 80 %
Funding regions / countries: Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia

DUT Call 2025

Brief description:
Funding is available for transnational research and innovation projects that support cities in overcoming urban challenges on the way to a climate-neutral, resilient future - with a focus on 15-minute cities, circular city economies and positive energy districts.

Submission deadline: 17.11.2025, 13:00
Funding rate: Not explicitly stated
Funding regions / countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey

Interreg Germany-Denmark - Call for projects 2025

Brief description:
The Interreg Germany-Denmark program promotes cross-border cooperation in the areas of business, employment, education, tourism and culture in order to sustainably strengthen German-Danish cooperation.

Submission deadline: 10.11.2025, 17:00
Funding rate: 65%
Funding regions / countries: Germany, Denmark

Monitoring and evaluation of the "Societal Readiness" pilot project

Short description:
The European Commission is analyzing the implementation of eight Societal Readiness pilot projects. The aim is to evaluate the experiences and possibly extend the concept to other fields of application.

Submission deadline: 20.01.2026, 17:00
Funding rate: 100%
Funding regions / countries: As above

Interreg Hungary-Serbia: Second call for proposals - small projects

Short description:
The Interreg VI-A IPA program Hungary-Serbia (2021-2027) promotes cross-border cooperation for the sustainable development of the region. This call is aimed at small, non-profit projects.

Submission deadline: 15.12.2025, 15:00
Funding rate: 85%
Funding regions / countries: Hungary, Serbia

Interreg Hungary-Serbia: Second call for proposals - Regular projects

Brief description:
As for the small project call, but for regular, larger projects with a focus on sustainable and partnership-based cross-border development.

Submission deadline: 15.12.2025, 15:00
Funding rate: up to 85%
Funding regions / countries: Hungary, Serbia