Green Grid Europe (Eurocluster for Renewable Energy Growth) – Scaling Green Innovation with Industry – Growth Box Call
Programme Category
Programme Name
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
GreenGrid brings together industrial companies, cleantech innovators, and clusters to promote smart energy use, grid flexibility, and decarbonisation. GreenGrid Eurocluster supports European startups and SMEs in developing and adopting innovative solutions that make the energy system cleaner, smarter, and more resilient. The project focuses on strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy by boosting innovation across renewable integration, energy storage, grid flexibility, digitalisation, and circular technologies.
The Growth Box stream provides direct financial support to SMEs aiming to address a specific energy related challenge linked to the green and digital transition. Applicants will be able to apply for funding to tackle one of the predefined challenges identified by GreenGrid, as described in detail in Chapter 16 of this document. SMEs selected for funding will be expected to collaborate directly with the respective Challenge Owner to validate, pilot, or scale their solution in a real operational environment and to actively participate in the GreenGrid Accelerator programme.
Detailed Call Description
Under the Growth Box stream, the eligible activity is the validation, demonstration, and scaling of an innovative solution addressing one of the predefined challenges identified by GreenGrid. The objective is to test, validate, and advance the solution under real operational or market conditions, contributing to grid flexibility, renewable integration, digitalisation, or overall energy system resilience.
The proposed solution must already be developed and demonstrate sufficient maturity for real-environment testing (recommended TRL 5–8). Activities focused purely on early-stage research or concept development (TRL 1–4) are not eligible.
Eligible activities may include:
- Adaptation and technical refinement of the solution to the specific challenge context;
- Pilot implementation or demonstration in collaboration with the Challenge Owner;
- Integration, testing, and validation in an operational environment;
- Performance monitoring, impact measurement, and data analysis;
- Preparation for market uptake and scaling within the Challenge Owner’s ecosystem or sector.
The activity must demonstrate clear added value compared to the current state of practice and show potential for replication or broader market deployment. The scope of activities must be feasible within the proposed budget and the defined project duration.
The Project is implemented by six partners: Sunrise Valley Science and Technology Park (Lithuania) – the Coordinator; Estonian Business School (Estonia); Cleantech Scandinavia (Sweden); Battery Cluster Portugal (Portugal); EVBA Consulting (Ireland); European Entrepreneurs CEA-PME (Belgium); associated partner Cleantech Estonia (Estonia).
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
80%
The Growth Box financial support provides up to€50.000 per beneficiary SME.
The grant must be matched by private financial contributions amounting to at least 20% of the EU grant value by the selected SME.
At least 20 SMEs will be selected in this call.
Model: For each predefined challenge, applications scoring above the evaluation threshold will be ranked in descending order. The highest-ranking application will be assigned to the respective Challenge Owner for collaboration. The selected applicant will proceed to sign the Sub-Grant Agreement. The next three highest-ranking applications above the threshold will be placed on a reserve list and may be considered in case the top-ranked applicant does not proceed.
Beneficiaries are required to match the financial support provided through this call with a minimum of 20% of private financial sources (in form of debt or own financial resources).
Projects funded under this call shall last 6 months.
The Growth Box stream will launch up to three Open Calls between 2026 and 2028.
Thematic Categories
- Energy
- Environment and Climate Change
- Industry
- Information and Communication Technologies
- Information Technology
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
- Small-Medium Enterprises and Competitiveness
Eligibility for Participation
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
Eligibility For Participation Notes
Eligible applicants are SMEs as defined by the European Union SME definition (less than 250 employees, annual turnover ≤ EUR 50 million, or balance sheet total ≤ EUR 43 million, with these thresholds calculated on a consolidated basis including all related and linked companies), established in an EU member state or a country participating in the Single market Programme.
Applicants must:
- Be legally registered for at least 1 year on the date of application and have at least 1 financial year closed and approved (balance sheet, profit/loss account).
- Operate in sectors relevant to the green transition (e.g. cleantech, ICT, etc.).
Each applicant can apply to only one predefined challenge per Growth Box Open Call round. In the event that multiple applications are submitted by the same legal entity within the same round, only the last eligible submission will be considered for evaluation.