IH-MIE Open Call 2026 - Interregional Hydrogen Mobility Initiative for Europe

Up to €60,000 per enterprise to validate and scale hydrogen mobility solutions. <25.09.2026

Deadline for an application

Applications must be submitted by 25 September 2026 at 17:00 Central European Time. Funded projects must start on 1 January 2027 and end on 31 December 2027; the project duration is fixed at twelve months.

Objective

The open call accelerates deployment of hydrogen-based mobility solutions and strengthens the European hydrogen mobility value chain. It supports small and medium-sized enterprises in advancing solutions from Technology Readiness Level 6 towards pre-commercial maturity through funding, mentoring, training and technical assistance.

Summary

The IH-MIE Open Call 2026 offers small and medium-sized enterprises a practical route to validate, integrate and scale hydrogen mobility innovations under real operating conditions.

The call addresses six challenges: fuel-cell cost and durability, refuelling infrastructure, supply chains and logistics, integration with other mobility solutions, on-board hydrogen storage and hydrogen distribution.

Projects must start at Technology Readiness Level 6 and present a credible pathway towards pre-commercial maturity, potentially reaching Technology Readiness Level 9 by project completion. Only small and medium-sized enterprises established in a European Union Member State or a European Economic Area country can receive funding.

A single enterprise may apply, or a team of no more than three small and medium-sized enterprises may submit one joint proposal. Each funded enterprise can receive a lump sum of up to €60,000 at a funding rate of 100 percent, so a three-enterprise team can receive up to €180,000 in total.

German and Dutch small and medium-sized enterprises are therefore eligible. Collaboration is not mandatory, and there is no requirement for a German-Dutch partnership, although interregional cooperation is strongly encouraged and can strengthen the proposal.

Universities, research and technology organisations, public authorities and large enterprises may participate only as associated partners and cannot receive financial support.

The application must be submitted in English through the official online platform and must include organisational data, a technical project plan, a budget estimate and a summary document in Portable Document Format. Applicants must select at least one programme challenge, substantiate the starting maturity level, define measurable milestones and deliverables, explain risks, and describe economic, environmental and market impact. A verifiable mid-term milestone in month six is mandatory. Publishing a cooperative project idea on the IH-MIE digital hub is optional but can earn bonus points. Selected enterprises must sign a sub-grant agreement and provide registration, value added tax, banking and small and medium-sized enterprise documentation. During implementation, beneficiaries must use the programme platform for monitoring, evidence and reporting, cooperate with an assigned mentor, attend required programme activities and submit interim and final reports. Payments are linked to verified milestones and deliverables: 40 percent pre-financing, 25 percent after the interim review and the remaining 35 percent after approval of the final report. Actual-cost reporting and timesheets are not required, but evidence of implementation must be retained for at least five years after the final payment. Double funding is prohibited, and communication must acknowledge support from IH-MIE and the European Union.