Breakthrough Energy Catalyst Partnership Workshop
On 13 June 2024, the Directorate General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA), European Investment Bank, and Breakthrough Energy Catalyst held a joint hybrid workshop to explain the financing opportunities offered to innovative projects through this partnership.
Learn more on how the EU-Catalyst Partnership can provide grants, quasi-equity and equity funding to boost and scale-up investments in innovative decarbonisation technologies that are expected to enable the future net-zero economy.
Innovation Fund Stakeholder Consultation (renewable hydrogen auction)
On 12 June 2024, the Directorate General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) held a stakeholder consultation to discuss the draft Terms and Conditions (T&C’s) for the upcoming renewable hydrogen auction under the Innovation Fund.
The event gathered key learnings from the IF23 Auction, as well as feedback received from bidders through a dedicated survey. As part of a “lessons learned” exercise, such feedback will be integrated into the final T&C’s for the upcoming auction later this year.
Please find all relevant material from the 12 June stakeholder consultation on our dedicated event page.
Innovation Fund Stakeholder Consultation (regular grants)
On 11 June 2024, the Directorate General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) held a stakeholder consultation discussing the upcoming Calls for Proposals under the Innovation Fund.
This event gave stakeholders an overview of previous Innovation Fund Calls as well as related policy updates.
The stakeholder feedback gathered at the event will be integrated in future IF Calls for Proposals. Please find all relevant material from the 11 June stakeholder consultation on our dedicated event page.
Innovation Fund Stakeholder Workshop on Supporting European Battery Manufacturing
On 25 April 2024, the Directorate General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) hosted an Innovation Fund stakeholder workshop to gather perspectives and insights on best practices with the aim of boosting battery manufacturing in Europe.
This workshop followed the recent call from Executive Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič for increased support to the EU's battery manufacturing industry.
As outlined in our options paper, the Innovation Fund can contribute to the development of this sector in several ways.
For more information and materials from the Info Day, please consult the dedicated event page.
The next stakeholder consultation on IF support for battery manufacturing will take place before the summer break.
Cleantech Conference: driving sustainable innovation
On 11 April 2024, the Directorate General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) hosted this year’s Cleantech Conference together with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). The conference explored pathways to support European manufacturing of cleantech devices and their components, with a specific focus on renewable energy technologies, batteries, electrolysers, and heat pumps.
To learn more and find useful material from the Conference, please consult our dedicated event page.
IF23 Call – Info Day
On 7 December 2023, the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) and the Directorate General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) organised an Info Day for the Innovation Fund 2023 Call (IF23). For more information and materials from the Info Day, please consult the dedicated event page.
IF23 Auction – Info Day
On 30 November 2023, the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) and the Directorate General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) organised an Info Day for the Innovation Fund 2023 (IF23) Auction for renewable hydrogen. For more information and materials from the Info Day, please consult the dedicated event page.
IF23 Call – Info Day maritime sector
On 1 February 2024, the European Commission, together with ESPO, CLIA, ECSA, FEPORT, SEA Europe and WaterborneTP organised an Innovation Fund Info Day for the waterborne transport sector. The presentations and event recording are available below:
Innovation Fund: National Info Days for IF23 calls
In collaboration with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), the Directorate General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) supports Member States with the organisation of Info Days to promote the Innovation Fund locally and reach out to potential applicants. You can find more information on the past Info Days below.
- France (Paris), 27 November 2023, Les financements européens pour la décarbonation de l’industrie
- Norway, 5 and 11 December 2023, Enova er nasjonalt kontaktpunkt for EUs Innovasjonsfond
- Wallonia (Belgium), 15 December 2023, Une matinée d’information sur le Fonds pour l’Innovation
- Flanders (Belgium), 12 January 2024, EU ETS Innovation Fund on the 2023 calls
- Sweden, 16 January 2024, Informationsdag om Innovationsfonden
- Ireland, 16 January 2024, Innovation Fund Information Day 2024 and Recording
- Czechia, 16 January 2024, Evropský informační den EIC 2024
- Berlin (Germany), 19 January 2024, Nationaler Informationstag zum EU-Innovationsfonds
- Vienna (Austria), 17 January 2024, Konferenz, Nationaler Informationstag zum EU-Innovationsfonds 2024
- Copenhagen (Denmark), 18 January 2024, EU's innovationsfond
- Zagreb (Croatia), 18 January 2024, Drugi Nacionalni Info dan Inovacijskog fonda u Republici Hrvatskoj
- Rome (Italy), 23 January 2024, Innovation Fund, Info Day Nazionale and Recording
- Ljubljana (Slovenia), 25 January 2024, Slovenski info dan EU Sklada za inovacije
- Madrid (Spain), 29 February 2024, el Fondo de Innovación UE - info day
- Bucharest (Romania), 29 February 2024, Info day - Fondul de Inovare
For more information on these events, you may contact your National Contact Point.
Innovation Fund: How-to webinar and online orientation sessions for third small-scale call applicants
On 4 and 5 July 2023, the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) and the Directorate General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) organised a hands-on workshop on the small scale projects’ call for application. Potential applicants could also participate in orientation sessions where they had the opportunity to present their projects and ask questions to CINEA and DG CLIMA’s project teams. For more information and materials from the event, please consult the dedicate page
Boosting innovation and investments through carbon pricing
On 22 June 2023, the Directorate General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) organised a policy session during the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) to exchange views on how the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) can best spur investments towards a decarbonised EU economy. The event gathered policy makers, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and industry representatives, including beneficiaries from the EU ETS Innovation Fund. For more information on the session, please consult the dedicate event page.
Innovation Fund Project Development Assistance – Knowledge Sharing Event
The European Investment Bank (EIB), which implements the project development assistance under the Innovation Fund, organised a knowledge-sharing event related to this kind of support on 14 June 2023. For more information and materials from the event, please consult the dedicated page.
Innovation Fund: Stakeholder Consultation Event on the 2023 call for proposals
On 13 June 2023, the Directorate General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) hosted a hybrid consultation event for sector-specific stakeholders to gather their input on the design of the 2023 Innovation Fund call for proposals. For more information and materials from the event, please consult the dedicated page.
Innovation Fund Info Days at national level
In collaboration with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), the Directorate General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) supports Member States with the organisation of Info Days to promote the Innovation Fund locally and reach out to potential applicants. You can find more information on the past Info Days here.
- France, 4 April 2023, Les financements européens pour la décarbonation de l’industrie
- Croatia, 10 February 2023, Nacionalni Info dan za Inovacijski fond
- Ireland, 25 January 2023, Innovation Fund Information Day
- Estonia, 17 July 2020, EL Innovatsioonifondi väikeprojektide vooru infoseminar
Info Day – 3rd call for small-scale projects
On 20 April 2023, the Directorate General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA), in collaboration with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), organised an info day to present the third call for small-scale projects under the Innovation Fund. For more information and materials from the Info Day, please consult the dedicated event page.
Innovation Fund: Financing Innovative Clean Tech Conference
On 19 January 2023, the Directorate General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) organised the 2023 Cleantech Conference in collaboration with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). The event attracted policymakers, investors, industry leaders and other stakeholders who raised awareness among public and private financiers about the many business opportunities that the EU Innovation Fund introduces. Moreover, the event celebrated the 16 successful Innovation Fund Projects under the 2021 large-scale calls with a signing ceremony for their grant agreements. For more information and materials from the event, please consult the dedicated event page.
Innovation Fund Info Days: Third call for large-scale projects
On 29 and 30 November 2022, the Directorate General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA), in collaboration with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) organised dedicated Info Days for the third call for large-scale projects, to discuss lessons learned from the previous call and best practices to follow in the application process, as well as the key features of the call. For more information and materials from the Info Days, please consult the dedicated event page.
Designing a competitive bidding tool to fund hydrogen innovation: stakeholder consultation
On 21 November 2022, the Directorate General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) organised an event to consult the industry on the design of a new tool to help the hydrogen sector raise funds for innovation. The event had a specific focus on potential Contracts for Difference and Carbon Contracts for Difference. This stakeholder consultation was relevant for industries that work with hydrogen, such as steel, chemicals and synthetic fuels manufacturers, hydrogen project developers and more. For additional information and materials from the event, please consult the dedicated page.
Innovation Fund: Lessons learned from the first call for large scale projects
On 13 January 2022, the Directorate General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) and the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) organised an event to present the lessons learnt, best practices and other key takeaways from the first Innovation Fund call for large-scale projects. For more information and materials from the event, please consult the dedicated page.
Innovation Fund: Second Large-scale call for projects Info Day
On 10 November 2021, the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) together with the Directorate General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA), organised an Info Day to present the second call for large-scale projects under the Innovation Fund.
For more information and materials from the Info Day, please consult the dedicated event page.
Delivering on the European Green Deal: Financing clean technology with the Innovation Fund
On 21 October 2021, the Directorate General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) and the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) organised an event during the 2021 European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW). The aim was to discuss Europe’s clean energy future and get an overview of projects to be funded under the first Innovation Fund small-scale call, as well as highlighting their contribution to the European Green Deal. For more information and materials from the event, please consult the dedicated page.
Innovation Fund: Lessons learned from the first call for small-scale projects and state aid support
On 12 October 2021, the Directorate General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) and the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) organised an event to present key takeaways from the Innovation Fund’s call for small-scale proposals, such as the revised state aid rules applying to clean tech projects and relevant national aid schemes. For more information and materials from the event, please consult the dedicated page.
Innovation Fund: Lessons learnt from the applications to the 2020 calls
On 28 April 2021, the Directorate General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) organised an online event on the first two calls for projects launched under the Innovation Fund in 2020. The event provided an overview of both the project applications which got invited to the second stage of the large-scale call, the technological pathways derived from applications to the first call for small-scale projects, and the feedback gathered from the survey for applicants. This was also an occasion to discuss lessons learnt and best practices. For more information and materials from the event, please consult the dedicated page.
Innovation Fund: Info Day on second call for large-scale projects
On 10 November 2021, the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), together with the Directorate General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) organised an Info Day to present the second call for large-scale projects under the Innovation Fund. For more information and materials from the Info Day, please consult the dedicated event page.
15/04/2021 - Innovation Fund Webinar 3: how to submit a full application for the second stage of the first call for large-scale projects
- Full video - Full slide deck
- Second stage criteria: project maturity, relevant costs and cost efficiency - Presentation by DG CLIMA and ICF
- Second stage criteria: degree of innovation, scalability (knowledge sharing) and GHG emission avoidance - Presentation by DG CLIMA and ICF
- Second Stage Application Process and Application Forms - Presentation by CINEA
15/09/2020 - Innovation Fund webinar 2: GHG emission avoidance & FAQs
- Full video
- Introduction, evaluators, next steps and events - Presentation by DG CLIMA
- Main principles of the GHG emission calculations - Presentation by DG CLIMA
- GHG emission calculations for Energy Intensive Industries – Presentation by JRC
- GHG emission calculations for CCS/RES/Energy storage – Presentation by ICF and Fraunhofer
- FAQs from the Innovation Fund helpdesk - Presentation by INEA
Technical workshop on project maturity, scalability and innovation selection criteria
On 12 March 2020, the Directorate General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) organised a web-streamed workshop addressed the following Innovation Fund-related topics:
- project maturity
- innovation and scalability selection criteria
- due diligence
- project development assistance
- knowledge sharing
Please find more information on the workshop below:
Technical workshops on GHG emission avoidance and relevant costs
On 5-6 February 2020, a group of technical experts selected by the Innovation Fund Expert Group (IFEG) discussed potential methodologies to estimate GHG emissions avoidance and relevant costs of innovative projects eligible for funding under the Innovation Fund. This was done in preparation for the first call for proposals expected for June 2020. Please find more information on the workshop below:
- Official Agenda
- Discussion Paper – GHG emissions avoidance
- Discussion Paper – Relevant costs
- Call for experts
- Potential methodologies for quantification of GHG emissions savings
- Potential methodologies for calculation of relevant costs
- Public web-streamed session: high-level summary of the technical workshops and next steps
- Presentation by DG CLIMA