Innovation Fund 2023 Net Zero Technologies – Manufacturing

Closed

Programme Category

EU Competitive Programmes

Programme Name

Innovation Fund (2021-2027)

Programme Description

The Innovation Fund program that helps reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

“Large-scale” projects are projects with a capital expenditure of over € 7.5 million.

“Small scale” projects are projects with a total capital cost of less than € 7.5 million.

Programme Details

Identifier Code

INNOVFUND-2023-NZT-MANUFACTURING

Call

Innovation Fund 2023 Net Zero Technologies – Manufacturing

Summary

This topic supports projects for manufacturing innovative clean-tech components for hydrogen production/consumption, renewable energy and energy storage. The topic seeks to enhance Europe’s innovation and industrial capacity in clean tech manufacturing, including scale-up, its supply chain resilience and strategic autonomy in Europe.

Detailed Call Description

Construction and operation of manufacturing facilities to produce specific components for:

  • renewable energy installations (in photovoltaics, concentrated solar power, on shore and offshore wind power, ocean energy, geothermal, solar thermal, and others), including their connection to the electricity/heat grid
  • electrolysers and fuel cells
  • energy storage solutions covering both batteries and other storage solutions for stationary and mobile use for intra-day and long duration storage
  • heat pumps.

The topic also targets the manufacturing of components and materials (except mining activities) that are a significant factor in the final equipment’s performance and/or cost.

Activities relating to recycling or reusing critical materials to be used in the above equipment categories or components thereof may also be funded under this topic. Activities that can be funded include those where the main innovation lies in the product (e.g. achieving lower cost when fully mature, higher performance, more energy efficiency, better system integration, higher durability, flexibility, reliability and/or convenience as compared to the state-of-the-art product) as well as in the production processes (e.g. higher use of recycled materials, less or more efficient use of critical materials, lower environmental/carbon footprint, improved automation and use of digital technologies, etc.). Innovation can concern one or several steps of the manufacturing process.

Equipment, components and materials can be sold on the EU market and in third countries.

Under this topic, projects demonstrating the ability to reach financial close within two years and entry into operation within four years after grant agreement signature may receive a higher score under the project maturity criterion.

Call Total Budget

€1.400.000.000

Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan

The grant will be a lump sum grant. This means that it will reimburse a fixed amount, based on a lump sum. The amount will be fixed by the granting authority on the basis of the relevant costs of the project calculated in accordance with the Guidance on the relevant cost methodology, and a fixed funding rate of 60% (or lower requested grant amount, if any).

The project must:

  • reach financial close within four years after grant signature
  • operate at least:
    • for all topics except

Only projects with a total capital expenditure as indicated below will be eligible under this call:

  • INNOVFUND-2023-NZT- MANUFACTURING: above €2.500.000

Thematic Categories

  • Energy
  • Environment and Climate Change
  • Research, Technological Development and Innovation

Eligibility for Participation

  • International Organisations
  • Investment Funds
  • Large Enterprises
  • Legal Entities
  • NGOs
  • Non Profit Organisations
  • Other Beneficiaries
  • Private Bodies
  • Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
  • State-owned Enterprises

Eligibility For Participation Notes

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.

Geographic location (target countries)
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.

Eligible activities – The following activities are not considered as eligible for funding under this call:

  • Projects whose focus is on services, including software, mainly addressing the efficiency in Annex I products use.
  • Ship or plane building or refurbishment outside of the EU.

Projects must comply with EU policy interests and priorities (such as environment, social, security, industrial and trade policy, etc).

Financial support to third parties is not allowed.

Call Opening Date

23/11/2023

Call Closing Date

09/04/2024

National Contact Point(s)

Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment

Mrs. Maria Loizou
28th of October Avenue 20-22
2414 Engomi, Nicosia
Telephone: +357 22408955
Emailmloizou@environment.moa.gov.cy
Websitewww.moa.gov.cy

Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy
Ms. Elena Poulli
29 Vyronos Avenue
1096 Nicosia
Telephone: +357 22691921
Email: epoulli@research.org.cyepoulli@dmrid.gov.cy
Website: www.dmrid.gov.cy

EU Contact Point

European Executive Agency for Climate, Infrastructure and the Environment
https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/contact-0_en