Launch of the Innovation Fund call for proposals

On 03 December, the 2024 Innovation Fund call for proposals has been launched, with a total of € 4.6 billion to boost amongst other net-zero technologies and renewable hydrogen. € 2.4 billion of this amount is dedicated to accelerating the deployment of innovative decarbonisation technologies in Europe.

The European Commission has also opened the second European Hydrogen Bank Auction via the Innovation Fund, with a budget of € 1.2 billion from EU funds, plus € 700 million in national funds from Spain, Lithuania and Austria. 

In the maritime sector, support can be provided to, for example, breakthrough innovative technologies and infrastructure, including energy efficiency, sustainable alternative fuels, electrification and zero-emission propulsion technologies such as wind technologies, innovative infrastructure in the maritime sector. For the inland waterway transport sector, the use of renewable energy will be the key hook to apply in the context of the fund.

In addition, there are some novelties as to define the scope of activities in terms of geography:

• Production and installation of new or retrofitted innovative technology (e.g. energy system, engine or equipment) into a ship is eligible for funding provided that the manufacturing and/or installation is done in EU/EEA;
• When the projects concern investments on ships, those ships must carry a flag of an EU Member States or an EEA country and call ports under the jurisdiction of an EU Member State or EEA country  on a regular basis (at least 15% of their calls on ports over two years); or must call ports under the jurisdiction of an EU Member State or EEA country on a regular basis (at least 30% of their calls on ports over two years); or perform service or support activities in ports under the jurisdiction of an EU Member State or EEA country. 
• When the projects concern investments in ports infrastructure (e.g. renewable alternative fuel bunkering infrastructures in ports, including container transhipment ports), the ports must be under the jurisdiction of an EU Member States or an EEA country.

Project promoters for the net-zero technologies call have until 24 April 2025, 17:00 (CET), to apply to via the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend the Info Day which will take place online from 17-18 December 2024. Successful applicants are expected to sign grant agreements by first quarter of 2026.

As regards the renewable hydrogen auction, bidders have until 20 February 2025 to apply via the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. Successful bidders will sign Grant Agreements within nine months after the call closure.

More information is available here.