Section 1 Food Value-chain in the Nexus 2025 – Topic 1.3.1 (IA) Transforming Mediterranean Food Systems: Empowering Consumers for Sustainable Diets

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Code: 36526 | Identifier Code: Topic 1.3.1 - 2025 | Programme name: 2933 | Start submission calls: 03/04/2025 | End submission calls: 15/07/2025

Contributing to the European Green Deal priorities, the Farm-to-Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy, and environmentally friendly food system, and the EU’s climate goals for 2030 and 2050, this approach emphasizes initiatives that introduce the Mediterranean diet and organic products in schools, aiming to instill healthy eating habits in children from a young age.The strategy should integrate innovative technologies and methods to boost consumer awareness and engagement through educational campaigns. Key components include leveraging existing initiatives and digital tools, promoting policy dialogue, and fostering partnerships between consumers and researchers. Focusing on social innovation and consumer behaviour, participatory methods such as living labs are essential for facilitating meaningful and sustainable dietary shifts.

Section 1 – Water management in the Nexus 2025 Topic 1.1.1-2025 (IA) – Upscaling Nature Based Solutions for sustainable water management to address extreme events in the Mediterranean

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Code: 36524 | Identifier Code: Topic 1.1.1-2025 | Programme name: 2933 | Start submission calls: 03/04/2025 | End submission calls: 15/07/2025

Aligned with the priorities of the European Green Deal, including the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030, as well as the EU climate adaptation and mitigation ambitions for 2030 and 2050, successful proposals will focus on scaling up Nature-based Solutions (NBS). These solutions will enhance water security and improve the management of water-related risks amidst a changing climate, emphasising principles such as green, blue, and circular approaches (e.g., Natural Water Retention Measures, NWRMs) to mitigate the impacts of extreme events and water pollution.

Interregional Innovation Investments Strand 1

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Code: 36522 | Identifier Code: I3-2025-INV1 | Programme name: 16401 | Start submission calls: 22/05/2025 | End submission calls: 13/11/2025

The objective of the I3 Instrument is to support interregional innovation investments by offering consortia of innovation actors from the quadruple helix ecosystems – (=the quadruple helix model emphasizes the importance of four key actors in innovation systems: academia, industry, government, and society) – the necessary financial and advisory support to bring their innovations to a mature level, ready for commercialisation and scale-up, while bridging and reducing the innovation divide in Europe with a strong cohesion policy focus of integrating all regions and in particular the less developed regions into European value chains.

Strand 1 seeks to increase the competitiveness and the resilience of EU value chains on the basis of interregional cooperation and shared smart specialisation areas.

CEF 2 Energy – Projects of Common Interest and Projects of Mutual Interest

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Code: 36520 | Identifier Code: CEF-E-2025-PCI-PMI | Programme name: 3569 | Sub-program: Connecting Europe Facility – Energy Infrastructure | Start submission calls: 03/04/2025 | End submission calls: 16/09/2025

Both, studies and works, topics under this call aim to enable PCIs and PMIs to be implemented within the framework of the deployment of trans-European networks in the energy sector. In particular, the call shall contribute to supporting energy infrastructure PCIs and PMIs that have significant socio-economic benefits and ensure greater solidarity among Member States, but which do not receive adequate financing from the market. The objective of studies and works is to support and contribute to the implementation of PCIs and PMIs.

This call covers the following topics:

• CEF-E-2025-PCI-PMI-WORKS
• CEF-E-2025-PCI-PMI-STUDIES

Implementing co-funded action plans for connected regional innovation valleys

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Code: 36517 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-EIE-2025-02-CONNECT-02 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE) | Start submission calls: 14/05/2025 | End submission calls: 15/10/2025

The aim of this topic is to foster the creation of efficient, open, inclusive and interconnected European innovation ecosystems in line with the New European Innovation Agenda, notably in thematic/technological areas (including deep tech) that will be critical for EU value chains.

Preparatory action for setting up joint programmes among innovation ecosystems actors

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Code: 36515 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-EIE-2025-02-CONNECT-01 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE) | Start submission calls: 14/05/2025 | End submission calls: 15/10/2025

The topic will allow national, regional and/or local authorities in charge of innovation policies and programmes from Member States, Associated Countries and/or their regions, and other research and innovation actors, to prepare joint multi-annual programmes of activities and action plans with the aim of strengthening the performance and capacity of their innovation ecosystems, their efficient interconnection and their alignment towards EU-level priorities, in line with the New European Innovation Agenda, to jointly tackle challenges at EU, national, regional, and local level.

Circular Economy and Zero Pollution

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Code: 36511 | Identifier Code: LIFE-2025-SAP-ENV-ENVIRONMENT | Programme name: 10710 | Start submission calls: 24/04/2025 | End submission calls: 23/09/2025

The aim is to facilitate the transition toward a sustainable, circular, energy-efficient and climate-resilient economy, a toxic-free environment and at protecting, restoring and improving the quality of the environment in line with the European Green Deal and recent policy developments.

Environment governance

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Code: 36509 | Identifier Code: LIFE-2025-SAP-ENV | Programme name: 10710 | Start submission calls: 24/04/2025 | End submission calls: 23/09/2025

The aim is to facilitate the transition toward a sustainable, circular, energy-efficient and climate-resilient economy, a toxic-free environment and at protecting, restoring and improving the quality of the environment in line with the European Green Deal and recent policy developments.

Technical Assistance preparation of CLIMA SIPs

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Code: 36507 | Identifier Code: LIFE-2025-TA-PP-CLIMA-SIP | Programme name: 10710 | Start submission calls: 24/04/2025 | End submission calls: 23/09/2025

The objective is the preparation of CLIMA Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs).

CLIMA SIPs projects

• aim at the implementation of:
  • national Energy and Climate Plans (NECP)24 (pursuant to EU Regulation on the governance of the energy union and climate action (EU)2018/1999);
  • national or regional adaptation strategies or action plans;
  • urban or community-based action plans pioneering the transition to a climate neutral and/or climate resilient society, including climate-neutral cities plans and actions, for instance in the context of the EU Mission ‘Climate neutral and smart cities’ and Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans;
  • national, regional or industry-/sector-specific greenhouse gas mitigation strategies or plans or economy roadmaps contributing to climate neutrality;
• at large territorial scale;
• with the involvement of all concerned stakeholders;
• and include a coordination mechanism for funding supporting complementary measures necessary for the full implementation of the targeted plan or strategy.

Therefore the main objective of the TA-PP project is the submission of a full proposal for a CLIMA SIP.

Technical Assistance preparation of ENV SIPs

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Code: 36493 | Identifier Code: LIFE-2025-TA-PP-ENV-SIP | Programme name: 10710 | Start submission calls: 24/04/2025 | End submission calls: 23/09/2025

The objective is the preparation of ENV Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs).

ENV SIPs projects

• aim at the implementation of:
  • national or Regional Circular Economy Action Plans, Strategies, Roadmaps or similar, which are officially approved, include specific and measurable actions, or targets, with a clear timeline and are in line with or complement the objectives of the EU Circular Economy Action Plan and, when relevant of the Bioeconomy Strategy;
  • national and regional Waste Management Plans pursuant to Article 28 of the EU Waste Framework Directive and/or Waste Prevention Programmes as requested by article 29 of the EU Waste Framework Directive;
  • river basin management plans pursuant to Annex VII to the EU Water Framework Directive, Flood Risk Management Plans pursuant to the EU Floods Directive, Marine Strategies pursuant to the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Drought Management Plans as suggested by Article 13 of the Water Framework Directive;
  • air quality plans pursuant to the EU Ambient Air Quality Directive, National Air Pollution Control Programmes pursuant to the EU National Emission Reduction Commitments Directive;
  • noise action plans pursuant to the EU Environmental Noise Directive.
• at large territorial scale;
• with the involvement of all concerned stakeholders;
• and include a coordination mechanism for funding supporting complementary measures necessary for the full implementation of the targeted plan or strategy.

Therefore the main objective of the TA-PP project is the submission of a full proposal for a ENV SIP.

Technical Assistance preparation of SNAPs

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Code: 36490 | Identifier Code: LIFE-2025-TA-PP-NAT-SNAP | Programme name: 10710 | Start submission calls: 24/04/2025 | End submission calls: 23/09/2025

The objective is the preparation of Strategic Nature Projects (SNAPs).

SNAPS projects

• aim at the implementation of:
  • the PAFs pursuant to Article 8 of Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (the Habitats Directive) and;
  • national restoration plans pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and the Council on nature restoration and;
  • other plans or strategies adopted at international, national, regional or multiregional level by nature and biodiversity authorities and intrinsically linked to the implementation of EU nature and/or biodiversity policy or legislation and which foresee specific and measurable actions, or targets, with a clear timeline and budget.
• at large territorial scale;
• with the involvement of all concerned stakeholders;
• and include a coordination mechanism for funding supporting complementary measures necessary for the full implementation of the targeted PAF (or other eligible strategy).

Therefore the main objective of the TA-PP project is the submission of a full proposal for a SNAP.

Alleviating household energy poverty in Europe

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Code: 36487 | Identifier Code: LIFE-2025-CET-ENERPOV | Programme name: 10710 | Start submission calls: 24/04/2025 | End submission calls: 23/09/2025

In recent years, European households have continued to spend an increasing share of income on energy, leading to higher rates of energy poverty and negatively affecting living conditions, well-being and health. Most recent estimates suggest that 10.6% of Europeans are unable to keep their homes adequately warm. Following surges in energy prices, the number of energy poor households overburdened by their energy costs is on the rise. These higher prices, combined with low incomes and poor energy efficiency of buildings and appliances, are root causes of energy poverty. Moreover, the increased occurrence of extreme summer heatwaves in recent years is further exacerbating the challenges faced by energy poor households and increasing household cooling needs. In addition to its causal multidimensionality, the phenomenon cuts across different policy sectors beyond energy, such as health, housing and social policy, requiring coordinated, holistic efforts at all governance levels, and involving different sectoral actors.

In this context, increasing the uptake of building renovation measures, including cooling solutions, can bring significant long-term benefits to energy poor households, and lead to lower energy bills and improved living conditions. Efforts should focus on offering support to overcome barriers to the uptake of renovation measures in residential multi-apartment buildings requiring coordinated action amongst homeowners and tenants, as well as supporting relevant actors, including public authorities, in designing longer-term strategies and coordination frameworks to mitigate energy poverty at different governance levels, including dedicated financing schemes specifically addressing energy performance improvements for energy poor households.

European City Facility

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Code: 36475 | Identifier Code: LIFE-2025-CET-EUCF | Programme name: 10710 | Start submission calls: 24/04/2025 | End submission calls: 23/09/2025

This facility should build on the experiences of the current European City Facility (EUCF) and envisage an appropriate follow-up and scaling up of its fundamental approach. To achieve the ambitious objectives of the EU climate and energy policy, significant investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy are needed to reach the energy transition goals established in the EU energy transition legislative framework (Energy Efficiency Directive – EED, Renewable Energy Directive – RED, Energy Performance of Buildings Directive – EPBD).
Proposals are expected to run a ‘European City Facility’ which offers financial support and related services to European cities, municipalities or their groupings to develop investment concepts for energy efficiency and integrated energy transition investments combining energy efficiency and renewables.

Project Development Assistance for sustainable energy investments

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Code: 36473 | Identifier Code: LIFE-2025-CET-PDA | Programme name: 10710 | Start submission calls: 24/04/2025 | End submission calls: 23/09/2025

Project Development Assistance (PDA) will support project promoters in preparing and launching investment pipelines of sustainable energy projects, i.e. energy efficiency and/or renewable energy projects. The call topic aims to provide and build technical, economic and legal skills and expertise for project developers needed for the successful project development and implementation. Activities can include project bundling, technical studies, energy audits, assessing financing options, legal advice, tendering procedure preparation, outreach and engagement etc.

One-Stop-Shops – Integrated services for clean energy transition in buildings

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Code: 36468 | Identifier Code: LIFE-2025-CET-OSS | Programme name: 10710 | Start submission calls: 24/04/2025 | End submission calls: 23/09/2025

As highlighted in the European Green Deal’s Renovation Wave initiative and the REPowerEU Plan, there is a pressing need to increase the number of renovated buildings across the EU and to better integrate the transition to efficient heating and cooling based on renewable energy sources as an integral part of building renovations. However, many building owners lack the skills and capacity to design, implement and finance complex and ambitious clean energy transition projects. In addition, many project developers face high implementation costs and limited access to adequate and attractive financing solutions on the market.

This topic aims to support the creation or replication of One Stop Shops (OSS), offering integrated services for the transition to clean energy in private residential buildings, in accordance with the Energy Efficiency Directive (Article 22) and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (Article 18).

Crowding in private finance

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Code: 36464 | Identifier Code: LIFE-2025-CET-PRIVAFIN | Programme name: 10710 | Start submission calls: 24/04/2025 | End submission calls: 23/09/2025

The topic aims to increase the amount of private finance allocated to energy efficiency and renewable energy sources by establishing innovative financing schemes.

There is a need to set up and roll-out private financing schemes which can be expanded and/or replicated at scale, and contribute to the national strategies to achieve the 2030 energy efficiency targets and the building renovation policy objectives. These schemes have to be adapted to the specificities of energy efficiency investment profiles, as well as those of renewables, in buildings, SMEs, district heating and other relevant sectors.

Supporting district heating and cooling networks

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Code: 36461 | Identifier Code: LIFE-2025-CET-DHC | Programme name: 10710 | Start submission calls: 24/04/2025 | End submission calls: 23/09/2025

To advance towards carbon neutrality and to phase out EU dependence on fossil fuels imports, there is an urgent need to reduce fossil fuel consumption for heating and/or cooling purposes. In that context, in particular modern and efficient district heating systems can connect local demand with renewable and waste energy sources, as well as the wider electric and gas grids, thereby contributing to the optimisation of supply and demand across energy carriers.

The REPowerEU Plan, the revised Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) and the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED) set out ambitious measures, including the increase of the share of renewable energy and waste heat in district heating systems. District heating and/or cooling operators/owners need to prepare and implement plans so that existing systems fulfil the criteria for “efficient district heating and cooling”, defined in the EED. This will require, among other aspects, the integration of renewable energy (e.g. from solar thermal, ambient energy and geothermal resources) and waste heat. Furthermore, district heating has been identified as a key option for the decarbonisation of the heating sector in countries and regions without a long tradition and experience in the technology. Guidance, recommendations and technical advisory services have already been developed and tested at the EU, national and local levels. Notwithstanding, a large share of existing district heating and cooling systems still overly rely on fossil fuels. Additionally, the switch to renewable energy and waste heat and the development of new systems in emerging markets is hampered, among other factors by limited human, technical and financial capacities. Technical support and enabling frameworks are therefore needed to support the preparation of modernisation and development projects.

BUILD UP Skills – National Platforms on energy efficiency skills for the clean energy transition

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Code: 36459 | Identifier Code: LIFE-2025-CET-BUILDSKILLS | Programme name: 10710 | Start submission calls: 24/04/2025 | End submission calls: 23/09/2025

The BUILD UP Skills initiative aims to increase the number of skilled professionals (blue- and white-collars) along the construction and renovation value chains. BUILD UP Skills has also engaged public authorities, building owners and tenants, to create awareness about the importance of a skilled workforce. BUILD UP Skills supports the objectives of the EU Pact for Skills, and especially the Large-Scale Partnership for the Construction Ecosystem, which aims to have 30% workers participating in upskilling or reskilling actions annually by 2030, as well as the Renewable Energy skills Large-Scale partnership.

The topic aims to build on the national platforms to increase the number of skilled professionals in Europe by improving awareness and cooperation between key public and private stakeholders, rolling out the needed upskilling and reskilling actions, as well as promoting and attracting more people to energy efficiency professions at national level.

Supporting the clean energy transition of European industry and businesses

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Code: 36455 | Identifier Code: LIFE-2025-CET-INDUSTRY | Programme name: 10710 | Start submission calls: 24/04/2025 | End submission calls: 23/09/2025

The overall objective of this topic is to support the clean energy transition and decarbonisation of industry by bridging the gap between the demand and supply side of net-zero energy technologies as well as by fostering collaborative approaches among companies operating in physical proximity.

Energy renovation solutions – Making buildings’ renovation faster, deeper, affordable, smarter, service – and data-driven

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Code: 36453 | Identifier Code: LIFE-2025-CET-BETTERRENO | Programme name: 10710 | Start submission calls: 24/04/2025 | End submission calls: 23/09/2025

This topic contributes to the goals of the EU Renovation Wave strategy and aims to help implement current and future building policies, notably in view of the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) but also considering aspects of the New European Bauhaus initiative.

This topic addresses several areas that are key for the achievement of the ambitious EU targets for the decarbonisation of buildings. It aims to develop and deploy approaches that bring actors, markets, frameworks and innovative solutions together to increase the attractiveness and cost effectiveness of building performance upgrades and to reduce the administrative, logistic and financial burden that still goes along with buildings’ retrofitting. The topic also aims to address the need for qualitative data to make building policy and information instruments more reliable and meaningful, to increase the public acceptance/demand and support robust verification and financing of building renovation and up-grade.