This funding is the start of the implementation for a new wave of technologies designed to cut emissions and scale up net-zero solutions across the continent.
With the support from the EU Emissions Trading System, the Innovation Fund continues to be a big part of Europe’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
The 54 selected projects cover 17 countries and follow a wide range of industrial sectors. These include high-emission industries such as cement, lime, and refineries, alongside emerging clean technologies in renewable energy and transport.
Projects will focus on solar and wind energy, as well as net-zero mobility solutions across maritime, aviation, and road transport. This broad mix highlights the EU’s strategy of tackling emissions across multiple sectors simultaneously rather than relying on a single solution.
Funding for individual projects ranges from €1.8 million to €216 million, enabling both smaller pilot initiatives and large-scale industrial transformations. Once operational, these projects are expected to prevent approximately 210 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions over their first decade.
In addition to the initial 54 projects, six additional proposals from the reserve list have now been invited to begin grant agreement preparation. These projects could receive up to €491 million in additional funding.
They represent key strategic areas, including the manufacturing of renewable energy components, electrolyser production, and lithium refining for electric vehicle batteries. Other sectors involved include glass manufacturing and the chemical industry.
Together, these six projects are expected to avoid around 20 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions in their first ten years. Their inclusion shows the depth of demand for funding and the strong pipeline of viable clean technology projects across Europe.
The 2024 call for net-zero technologies attracted 359 applications, exceeding the available budget.
Originally, 61 projects were selected to move forward in late 2025. Some withdrawals during the preparation phase opened the door for reserve projects to step in, ensuring that available funding remains fully utilised.
Overall, the Innovation Fund has become one of the largest global programmes supporting the deployment of clean technology. With an estimated €40 billion budget for 2020-2030, it is an important part of Europe’s climate policy.
The newly funded projects will now move into their development phase, supported by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency. This stage includes finalising financial arrangements and preparing for construction.
For the six reserve projects, grant agreements are expected to be completed by mid-2026. Meanwhile, attention is already turning to the next funding round.
Applications for the 2025 Innovation Fund call remain open until 23 April 2026, with a budget of €2.9 billion available.
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