Programme Category
Programme Name
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
JEWEL is a European initiative created to support manufacturing companies develop and adopt net-zero technologies, accelarating their transition toward low-carbon production. It connects industry, technology providers, and research partners to turn ambitious sustainability goals into practical, achievable actions.
Detailed Call Description
JEWEL Open Call #1 supports NZT-Demo Projects applied in a manufacturing context. The call aims to:
- Accelerate the deployment of Net-Zero Technologies in manufacturing
- Support the development of European NZT solutions
- Support trans-regional and trans-national SME collaboration
- Strengthen European industrial competitiveness.
- Contribute to industrial decarbonisation
Projects must address at least one of the following NZT categories:
- Battery and energy storage technologies: Technologies that improve energy retention, efficiency, and management (e.g., advanced battery cells, thermal storage, etc.).
- Hydrogen technologies: Specifically focusing on electrolysers (production of green hydrogen) and fuel cells (using hydrogen for power), which are critical for decarbonizing heavy industry and transport.
- Electricity grid technologies: Solutions that make the power grid smarter, more flexible, and capable of handling high loads of renewable energy.
- Wind, solar, and other green energy production technologies for decarbonation: This broad category includes renewable energy technologies applied directly to industrial processes to drastically reduce carbon footprints (e.g., electrifying heat processes, integrating wind/solar into factories).
Projects should address one or more of the following ecosystems:
- Automotive, Mobility or Transport
- Aerospace & Defence
- Energy-Intensive Industries
Projects are expected to:
- Increase Technology Readiness Level (minimum starting TRL 5-6 recommended to TRL 7- 8)
- Demonstrate technological feasibility in relevant/operational environments
- Deliver measurable environmental impact
- Present credible market deployment pathways
Actions shall focus on the deployment and demonstration of mature, near-to-market solutions in real industrial environments (TRL 7–8). The objective is to bridge the gap between applied research and market uptake by enabling scalable, operational implementation.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
The overall budget of this Call is €540.000.
Only SMEs are eligible for JEWEL direct funding. The maximum grant per project is €54.000.
The maximum funding intensity is 90%.
Private Co-financing required: minimum 10% of the project budget
- Each SME must include a minimum private contribution equivalent to 10% of the budget. Crowding-in of private resources means financial resources invested in the project, i.e. not as in-kind contributions, staff costs, subcontracting or similar.
- At application stage SMEs must indicate, in the application form, the planned amount and source of their private contribution.
- SMES will confirm this amount into the final report of their project, if selected for funding. At least 20 SMEs will be selected within 10 projects with a € 100 000 limit per project with an individual limitation of €60.000 FSTP per SME.
Subcontracting costs are allowed, but must be justified and proportionate
The financial support will be provided as a lump sum to the selected SMEs for the implementation of the approved project. The lump sum will be paid upon successful completion of the project activities and achievement of the agreed deliverables and milestones, as specified in the grant agreement.
Projects may start upon signature of the Sub-grant Agreement and no later than 1st of September 2026, for a maximum duration of 9 months.
Thematic Categories
- Education and training
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
Eligibility for Participation
- Businesses
- Educational Institutions
- Large Enterprises
- Legal Entities
- NGOs
- Other Beneficiaries
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
- State-owned Enterprises
Eligibility For Participation Notes
This Open Call supports SMEs, either as manufacturing end-users or solution providers, in implementing advanced processes and technologies that accelerate the transition towards net-zero manufacturing. Applicants to be funded are SMEs established in eligible EU Member States or countries associated to the COSME (Competitiveness of SMEs) part of the Single Market Programme (list of eligible countries).
Consortium Composition
At least 2 SMEs
- Established in 2 different eligible regions (NUTS 2)
- Independent legal entities (no capital or personal links)
The consortium gathers eight experienced cluster organisations from seven European countries (Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Latvia, Italy, France and Finland), coordinated by Pôle MecaTech (Belgium). SME’s coming from EU-13 countries and EU regions with which the Euroclusters’ partners are not present are encouraged to participate. A system of bonus point to incentivize international collaborations has been foreseen.
Each SME may act as:
- Technology/Solution Provider
- Manufacturing End-User
Additional Participants
- Subcontractors (universities, RTOs, experts, etc.)
- Partners without funding (e.g. large corporations, mid-caps)
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
EU Contact Point
For any question regarding the JEWEL project, potential applicants are invited to contact the project coordinators via email: sophie.schmitz@polemecatech.be or thibaud.vanrooden@polemecatech.be