Opening soon Innovation Fund IF26 — call for SMEs with small-scale decarbonisation projects
A new Innovation Fund call (IF26) for SMEs with small-scale decarbonisation projects, with CAPEX between €2.5 and €20 million. The planned budget is €200 million. It will be published in December 2026, and the indicative deadlines are at the end of March and the end of September 2027.
- Who can apply
- SMEs, as defined in the European Recommendation 2003/361/EC, which is based on the number of employees and…
- Total budget
- 200 million
- Funding amount
- Projects must have CAPEX of between 2.5 and 20 million
- Submission period
- round 1: publication in December 2026, deadline at the end of March 2027; round 2: publication in April 2027, deadline at the end of September 2027 (indicative dates)
Checked against official sources on · funder: European Commission – DG Climate Action · official source
The guide has not been published yet, but good applications are built before launch. Those who start when the call window opens usually miss out on it.
Who can apply
SMEs, as defined by the European Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC, which is based on headcount and turnover. The call is for small-scale projects, meaning those with capital expenditure (CAPEX) of between €2.5 and €20 million. The Innovation Fund covers all EU Member States, including Romania, plus Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland. No prior experience with EU grants is required.
What it covers
- Innovative small-scale decarbonisation projects (CAPEX of between €2.5 and €20 million) led by SMEs
- Low-carbon technologies in energy-intensive industries
- Renewable energy and energy storage
- Carbon capture, utilisation and storage
- Net-zero mobility, and decarbonisation of buildings and industrial heat
- Manufacture of clean technologies (electrolysers, wind components, heat pumps, batteries)
We prepare your application before the window opens
- We analyse whether you qualify and under which programme exactly.
- We build the application: business plan, budget, supporting documents.
- We submit during the call window and follow the evaluation.
- We stay with you through the reimbursement file and final payment.
Frequently asked questions
When can you apply to the Innovation Fund IF26 call for SMEs?
The call has two rounds. The dates are indicative. For the first round, the call is published in December 2026 and the deadline is at the end of March 2027. For the second round, publication is in April 2027 and the deadline is at the end of September 2027. The call is not open today.
What is the budget of the IF26 call for SMEs?
The European Commission has planned a total budget of €200 million for this call. The amount is shared among the projects selected in the two submission rounds.
Which projects are eligible under the IF26 call for SMEs?
Eligible projects are innovative small-scale decarbonisation projects by SMEs, with capital expenditure (CAPEX) of between €2.5 and €20 million. Projects below €2.5 million or above €20 million do not fall under this call.
Can Romanian companies apply to the Innovation Fund?
Yes. The Innovation Fund covers all EU Member States, plus Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland. Under the IF26 call dedicated to SMEs, your company must be an SME under Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC, which is based on headcount and turnover.
What percentage of costs does the Innovation Fund cover?
For standard grants, the Innovation Fund covers up to 60% of the relevant costs. The exact rate and the maximum grant for the IF26 call for SMEs will be set in the call documents, which are published in December 2026.
How does the call for SMEs differ from the other Innovation Fund calls?
The Commission has announced fewer documents at submission, a semi-automated tool for calculating greenhouse gas emission reductions, and simpler reporting and monitoring. The call has two rounds a year and can support projects with a higher risk than the fund's other calls.
How long does it take to prepare the application?
It depends on the complexity of the project and the documents you already have. The first step is the eligibility analysis, which tells you what needs to be prepared.
What happens if I do not qualify?
We tell you before any contract is signed, and if another suitable programme exists, we point you to it.
Next step
We prepare your application before it opens — Innovation Fund IF26 — the call for SMEs with small-scale decarbonisation projects
Fill in the form and we will tell you whether you qualify. If you do not qualify under this programme, we will tell you which other one you could apply for — or that there is none, if that is the case.
or call us directly on 0755 167 167
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