HORIZON-CID-2027-01-02
Objective and scope
Bring innovative clean technologies to full technological maturity and close to market readiness, strengthening European manufacturing, competitiveness, circularity and climate-neutral industrial deployment.
Scope – all three main areas:
- Integrated net-zero emissions energy systems, including energy grids, networks and systems.
- Enhanced zero-emission power technologies, including renewable electricity, heat and energy technologies.
- Storage technologies, renewable fuels and carbon capture and utilisation (CCU), including batteries and other storage, renewable hydrogen, advanced biofuels and synthetic renewable fuels. Hydrogen activities should complement the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking.
Proposals should select one main area. Integrated combinations are possible. Portfolio considerations aim to support at least one proposal above all evaluation thresholds in each main area.
Projects should demonstrate industrial leadership and a manageable consortium of indicatively no more than ten participants. This is an indicative expectation, not a strict numerical eligibility cap. Demonstrations should connect technology suppliers with industrial users and address system integration.
A business plan and market-readiness strategy are required, including annual updates, commercialisation, supply-chain and scale-up considerations. Establish a credible permitting pathway and an engineering and techno-economic assessment supporting a go/no-go decision for further deployment. Plan cooperation and knowledge exchange with relevant EU initiatives and other funded projects.
Expected technology maturity: TRL 6 to TRL 8.
Eligible applicants
International consortia of companies, SMEs, start-ups, universities, research organisations, public bodies and other eligible legal entities established in EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries, subject to the General Annexes and topic conditions.
Standard consortium minimum: three independent legal entities in three different EU Member States or Associated Countries, including at least one entity established in an EU Member State.
Relevant partners: Clean-technology suppliers and manufacturers; energy users in manufacturing, energy and transport; grid, network and system integrators; renewable-power and heat providers; storage, battery, renewable-fuel, hydrogen and CCU specialists; SMEs; universities and RTOs.
Specific restrictions apply to participation by entities established in China and, where applicable, entities under Chinese control. Where satellite-based observation, positioning or navigation data and services are used, the applicable Copernicus and Galileo/EGNOS requirements must be followed.
Funding
- Action: Innovation Action (IA).
- Funding rate: up to 70% of eligible costs; up to 100% for non-profit legal entities.
- Indicative topic budget: €140 million.
- Expected EU contribution per project: €15–25 million. Proposals requesting other amounts may also be submitted and considered.
- Indicative number of projects: 8.
- Technology maturity: TRL 6 to TRL 8.
Eligible costs follow the Horizon Europe grant rules and may include personnel, subcontracting, purchases and other eligible costs needed for the project. Applicants must justify the budget and project duration in line with the proposed activities.
Deadline for submission
Status: Forthcoming.
Planned opening: 12 January 2027.
Deadline: 15 September 2027, 17:00 Brussels time (CEST).
Single-stage submission. The topic-specific Part B page limit is 60 pages. Consult the Funding & Tenders Portal and the applicable work programme and General Annexes before applying.
Official Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026–2027: Horizontal activities