IF26 NZT Call
Objective
The Innovation Fund 2026 Net-Zero Technologies Call (IF26 NZT) aims to accelerate Europe’s transition to climate neutrality by supporting innovative decarbonisation and clean technology projects. The call also seeks to bridge investment gaps and strengthen Europe’s leadership in clean technology manufacturing and deployment, and support critical raw material (CRM) projects as part of the implementation of the RESourceEU Action Plan.
In line with key EU policy priorities, including the Clean Industrial Deal, the Net Zero Industry Act, the REPowerEU Plan, the Critical Raw Materials Act and the RESourceEU Action Plan, it supports mature and highly innovative projects with strong greenhouse gas reduction potential.
Design
With a budget raised from the auctioning of EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) allowances, the IF26 NZT call will cover 4 topics:
- General decarbonisation (large-scale) - available for projects with CAPEX above €100 million
- General decarbonisation (small and medium-scale) - available for projects with CAPEX between €2.5 million and €100 million
- Clean-tech manufacturing and critical raw materials - available for projects with CAPEX above €2.5 million focusing on the manufacturing of components for renewable energy, energy storage, heat pumps and hydrogen production, as well as projects that contribute to ensuring European CRM supply security and reducing relevant economic dependencies.
- Pilots - available for projects with CAPEX above €2.5 million focusing on deep decarbonisation
It is noted that projects eligible for the new maritime or SME calls will not be eligible under the NZT call unless they are Pilots.
Eligible countries may contribute to the call though the Grants-as-a-Service (GaaS) feature, using the Innovation Fund’s evaluation process and benefiting from a streamlined State aid approval process. For more information, please see the Grants-as-a-Service concept note.
Timeline
- June 2026 – IF26 Calls for Proposals - Stakeholder consultation event
A general Innovation Fund stakeholder consultation event was held on 19 June 2026, during which feedback on the IF26 NZT Call was gathered.
- Webpage
- Recording
- December 2026 – IF26 Call for Proposals - Planned opening
- April 2027 – IF26 Call for Proposals - Planned closure