On September 18, the European Commission announced 1 billion euros distributed as part of the Green Deal calls for projects, which companies can respond to by January 26, 2021.
The Green Deal call for projects
To date, companies can apply to the various calls for projects open under the Horizon H2020 program. One billion euros are thus dedicated to respond to the climate crisis, provide more protection to Europe’s biodiversity and habitats under threat, and accelerate a sustainable recovery. This call, entitled European Green Deal Call, is the last and biggest call of the Horizon 2020 Framework program.
It will mobilise research and innovation to foster a just and sustainable societal transition aiming at leaving nobody behind. Projects are expected to deliver tangible and visible results relatively fast and show how research and innovation can provide concrete solutions for the Green Deal main priorities.
The call for projects is intended to support:
- Pilot applications, demonstration projects and innovative products
- Innovation for better governance of the green and digital transition
- Social and value chain innovation
Depending on the topic, while projects initially at the TRL 3-4 stage may be funded, most of the funding granted involves bringing the project to TRL 6-7 (or sometimes even 8).
Which projects are selected and how are they supported?
Thus, 20 call for projects matching the areas of work of the European Green Deal have been published on the 18th of September 2020. The distribution of the Call for Proposals budget by technical challenge is presented hereafter:
Successful projects are generally 70% funded for companies and require consortia of at least 3 participants of 3 different nationalities.
The deadline for submission is the 26th of January 2021, and the selected projects should start in the fall of 2021.
For each topic, a more detailed description can be found on the European Union funding and tenders portal. Companies will find value in already starting to develop their funding proposals.
In addition, as the Green Deal will have a significant impact on many EU funding instruments (e.g. the existing LIFE program and the new Innovation Fund), it is in the interest of companies to review their sustainability strategy considering the EU Green Deal.
