The European Commission has reported a strong response to its latest Innovation Fund calls, receiving a total of 373 project applications vying for up to EUR 3.4 billion (USD 3.81 billion) in grants aimed at accelerating the deployment of pioneering clean technologies across Europe.
The “Net-zero technologies” call garnered significant interest, attracting 359 proposals, including 67 applications focused on renewable energy solutions and 43 targeting advancements in energy storage. The total funding requested under this call amounted to EUR 21.7 billion, substantially exceeding the allocated budget of EUR 2.4 billion. The submitted projects span 28 European Economic Area (EEA) countries and collectively hold the potential to save an estimated 1.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent within their first decade of operation.
Concurrently, the Innovation Fund’s dedicated “Battery call,” designed to bolster electric vehicle battery cell manufacturing within the EU, received 14 applications requesting a total of EUR 1.6 billion in financial support. These projects are projected to contribute to the avoidance of 138 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent over a ten-year period. Submissions originated from eight EU member states, with the highest number of applications coming from Germany, France, Bulgaria, and Poland.
Both funding calls were launched on December 3, 2024, signaling a strong appetite for investment in innovative clean energy solutions across the continent. The European Commission has now commenced the evaluation process for all submitted applications, with the results expected to be announced in the second half of 2025. These funding initiatives represent a key component of the EU’s strategy to drive the energy transition and achieve its ambitious climate targets.
