PowerUp NetZero Open Call for Innovation Projects [NEW]

PowerUp NetZero supports European small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups that want to adopt, develop or improve net-zero technologies. The scheme targets innovation projects in solar energy, batteries and energy storage, hydrogen technologies, sustainable biogas and biomethane, carbon capture and storage, and related digital solutions.

Summary

PowerUp NetZero is a direct funding opportunity for small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups that are ready to move beyond ideas and test practical net-zero solutions. The call supports collaborative innovation projects that develop and test proofs of concept, implement innovative net-zero solutions or carry out pilot and demonstration activities. For entrepreneurs, the opportunity is substantial but not light: a consortium can receive between EUR 80,000 and EUR 120,000 for an innovation project, with each participating small or medium-sized enterprise receiving no more than EUR 60,000 overall from the PowerUp NetZero project.

The grant may cover up to 80 percent of eligible costs; at least 20 percent must be co-financed through private financial resources and cannot be covered by other European Union, national, regional or local public funding. The financial support is aimed at companies working on solar energy, battery and energy storage, hydrogen technologies, sustainable biogas and biomethane, carbon capture and storage, or related digital solutions.

Projects should demonstrate an innovative net-zero technology or solution in an operational or virtual and industrially relevant environment, typically at Technology Readiness Level 6 to 7. Applicants must apply as a consortium of at least two and no more than three companies, and each small or medium-sized enterprise may participate in only one consortium under this call.

Companies from both Germany and the Netherlands may participate, because the call is open to organisations established in European Union Member States and countries participating in the Single Market Programme. Collaboration is mandatory: a single company cannot apply for this Innovation Projects call.

The call is especially relevant for Dutch-German business consortia in the Tech.Land ecosystem that want to validate hydrogen, battery, energy storage, circular resource efficiency or industrial net-zero applications.

The application must be submitted in English through the EUSurvey platform and must include the online application form, an activities timeline, budget and key performance indicators, a Declaration of Honour, and the SME Financial Viability Self-Check for each participating company.

The call is competitive rather than first-come, first-served; proposals are assessed on excellence, implementation and impact, and need an overall minimum score of 70 points to be admitted to the final selection stage.

Administrative obligations are significant: beneficiaries must sign an agreement, submit an operational report within one month after signature, provide monthly self-assessment reports, submit a mid-term report, submit a final report, participate in a final presentation meeting, and take part in the final event. At least one company from the beneficiary consortium must participate in the final event, expected around November 2027, most likely in Torino, Italy, and the related travel and accommodation costs must be included in the project budget. Payments are made as a lump sum in instalments linked to reporting and deliverables: normally 25 percent after the first report if financial viability conditions are met, 25 or 50 percent after the mid-term report, and 50 percent after approval of the final report and participation in the final event. Intellectual property remains with the participating companies, while non-sensitive information and results may be used by EISMEA and the PowerUp NetZero consortium for communication, dissemination and publicity purposes. If artificial intelligence tools are used in preparing the proposal, applicants should include a short statement and confirm that the final submission has been reviewed and validated by human experts.

Eligible costs must be necessary for implementing the approved innovation project, actually incurred during the project period, reasonable, justified, compliant with national tax, labour and social security rules, and linked to the deliverables defined in the project. Eligible cost categories may include staff effort dedicated to project activities, capped at a maximum of 80 percent of the budget per participating small or medium-sized enterprise; technical consultancy and subcontracting for specific justified and necessary tasks; equipment, consumables, goods and services needed for implementation; travel, accommodation, promotion and communication costs; travel and accommodation for the mandatory final event; and other costs necessary to achieve the project objectives. The budget is defined as a lump sum during grant preparation, with at least 20 percent private co-financing at project level; double funding is not allowed and refundable value added tax or other deductible taxes are ineligible.

Companies with an interest in the program can get more support via the TECH.LAND partners. For more information, please contact:

Vincent Bökkerink
Project Developer and funding TECH.LAND
X-Border Cooperation North Westphalia & East Netherlands
https://techland.org/
bokkerink@techland.org
+31 6 51 98 75 07