Power Up Net Zero Open Call
FOR innovation projects
The PowerUp NetZero OPEN CALL FOR INNOVATION PROJECTS provides financial support for helping SMEs and start-ups adopt or improve net-zero technologies and solutions (Solar energy, Battery and energy storage, H2 technologies, Sustainable biogas and biomethane, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)) in their processes, products or services. The call for innovation projects targets companies working together to implement:
- PoC or testing of new / improved environmentally friendly products;
- Net-zero solutions and services;
- Pilot /demonstration actions.
A high degree of innovation is expected in response of this call. Funded activities could address technical risks associated with the demonstration of innovative technologies and solutions, such as optimising technology processes and operational parameters and/or improving the characteristics of their products/solutions. Innovation projects should demonstrate an innovative net-zero technology or solution in an operational or in a Virtual & Industrially Relevant environment (TRL 6-7) but are not necessarily expected yet to reach large scale demonstration or commercial production.
Applicants must be Consortia of SMEs (also including start-ups provided they are SMEs) established in an EU Member State or in a country participating in the Single Market Programme (SMP) at the moment of the call launching date.
KEY DATES
Call opening date: 18-06-2026
Call deadline: 15-09-2026 at 17:00 (Brussels time)
The application form is available here.
Templates of the supporting documents to successfully complete an application can be downloaded here:
Supporting Documents Templates.
WHO CAN APPLY?
Applications must be presented by a Consortia composed by at least 2 SMEs or start-ups and maximum 3 SMES. All SMEs should have at least one closed and validated financial year and registered in an EU Member State or a country participating in the Single Market Programme (SMP).
Each SME may participate to only one Consortia, and each Consortia may submit only one application to this call. In the case of multiple submissions by the same applicant, only the last one received (as per timestamp of the IT system) will enter the evaluation process, the rest will not be considered, meaning, they will be declared non-eligible.
WHAT ARE THE ACTIVITIES TO BE ADDRESSED WITHIN THE PROPOSAL?
Funding will be provided to SMEs and start-ups for activities related to development, implementation, adoption, test and/or demonstration of solutions related to at least one of the NZT tackled by the project and answering to specific challenges within the following topics:
STRAND 1 Topics: 1) Waste management of solar panels and batteries; 2) Materials and critical raw materials concerns; 3) Storage alternatives to batteries; 4) Digital solutions for PowerUp NetZero NZT; 5) Value chain efficiency; 6) CO2 and hydrogen coupling; and 7) Carbon capture technologies.
STRAND 2: City of Turin Challenges
All activities must have linkages with at least one of the project’s 5 Net-Zero Technologies (Solar energy, Battery and energy storage, H2 technologies, Sustainable biogas/ biomethane, and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)).
WHAT’S THE AVAILABLE BUDGET?
PowerUp NetZero has allocated EUR 1.615.000,00 to support Innovation Projects, with financial support for at least 14 projects. The budget is managed by two consortium partners: FPI and EnviPark.
The financial contribution per project proposal ranges from a minimum of EUR 80.000,00 to a maximum of EUR 120.000,00. Projects must be submitted by consortia composed of at least two members and no more than three companies and must address at least one of the challenges described in this document.
Beneficiaries must ensure a minimum co-funding rate of 20% of the total eligible budget of the supported activity, to be covered through private financial sources. Applicants should plan budgets in line with the co-funding rate applicable to the requested grant amount.
HOW LONG SHOULD THE ACTIVITY LAST?
All activities financed by this call must have a duration of maximum 10 months starting from the signature of the contract.
WHAT DO I NEED TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION?
All needed information is available at the Call Guidelines above.
The application form is available at the EUSurvey Platform. A word template is available as a guide of the application form, but it must not be considered an application.
While all supporting documents to successfully complete an application are found here: Supporting Documents templates.
Only one application per SME will be accepted under this specific call. If an entity submits more than one proposal, as a general rule, only the first proposal submitted will be considered eligible for evaluation.
Beneficiaries can participate to the different Open Calls of the project (Business Innovation Services and Technology Adoption Activities or Innovation Projects), but a single beneficiary cannot receive more than 60.000,00 EUR overall.
Q&A
For any inquiries, reach out to punz@piemonteinnova.it
The PowerUp NetZero Project is funded under Grant Agreement no. 101236733 – SMP-COSME-2024-CLUSTER Call for proposals.
PROJECT PARTNERS
CO-FUNDED BY EUROPEAN UNION
