CET Partnership

The Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETPartnership) 2025 is a major transnational initiative co-funded by the European Union and numerous national and regional funding organizations. Its goal is to accelerate the clean energy transition and support the EU’s objective of becoming the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. The partnership enables national and regional research, development, and innovation (RDI) programme owners and managers from across Europe and beyond to align their priorities and pool resources for annual joint calls.

It offers €80 million in funding to fund disruptive startups.

Call Structure and Process

• Two-Stage Submission: The Joint Call 2025 is structured in two stages:

  - Stage 1: Submission of a pre-proposal, with project consortia selecting one specific Call Module relevant to their project.

  - Stage 2: Only consortia whose pre-proposals are selected are invited to submit a full proposal.

• Call Modules: The call is divided into thematic modules, each addressing different technological and systemic challenges in the clean energy transition. These modules are grouped under Transition Initiatives (TRIs), which include topics such as integrated net-zero emissions energy systems, storage technologies, renewable fuels, CCU/CCS, heating and cooling solutions, regional and industrial energy systems, and integration in the built environment.

• International Collaboration: Consortia must include at least three independent legal entities from at least three different countries, with at least two from EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries.

Funding and Budget

• Pooled Resources: Funding is pooled from the EU and national/regional agencies, with an overall call budget of approximately €80 million for 2025.

• National Allocations: Each country or region sets its own funding envelope and rules. For example, the Czech Republic has committed €1.2 million for this call, with a maximum grant of €250,000 per project and a maximum funding intensity of 80% of eligible costs for Czech participants.

• Project Duration: Projects typically last up to three years.

Eligibility and Requirements

• Transnational Eligibility: All consortia must meet transnational eligibility criteria, which are detailed in the call text.

• National/Regional Requirements: Each partner must comply with the eligibility criteria and requirements of their respective national or regional funding agency. Some agencies require additional submissions at the national/regional level.

• Call Module Requirements: Each module may have specific thematic or technical requirements, including Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs).

Thematic Focus & Challenges

• Seven Thematic Challenges: The call is based on seven key challenges identified by stakeholders, covering both technological and systemic aspects of the clean energy transition:

  1. Integrated net-zero emissions energy system

  2. Enhanced zero emission power technologies

  3. Enabling climate neutrality with storage technologies, renewable fuels, and CCU/CCS

  4. Efficient zero emission heating and cooling solutions

  5. Integrated regional energy systems

  6. Integrated industrial energy systems

  7. Integration in the built environment.

• Call Modules: The 2025 call features 10 Call Modules, each addressing specific aspects of these challenges.

Key Dates for Joint Call 2025

• Pre-proposal Submission Opens: 11 June 2025.

• Pre-proposal Submission Deadline: 9 October 2025, 14:00 CET.

• Full Proposal Submission Opens: 9 January 2026.

• Full Proposal Submission Deadline: 12 March 2026, 14:00 CET.

• Funding Decision Communicated: Mid-June 2026.

• Project Start: 1 September–15 December 2026.

Additional Activities

• Call Launch Event: An international information webinar to introduce the call, explain its structure, and provide tips for forming consortia and finding partners.

• Support for Applicants: The partnership provides guidance, tools, and networking opportunities to help applicants build strong consortia and develop competitive proposals.