Joint Cluster Initiatives (EUROCLUSTERS) for Europe’s recovery

Submission: the application form and all supporting documents must be submitted in English, before the deadline, through the EU Survey platform at this link: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/PowerUpNetZero_Call_InnovationProjects

An email confirming the receipt of the application will be sent to the main contact person (who filled the application).

In order for the application to be considered eligible, all the following supporting documents must be filled in English, signed and uploaded in the application form before the deadline:

· Activities timeline, budget and KPIs: based on an excel file provided by PowerUp NetZero.

· Declaration of Honour: template provided by PowerUp NetZero, must be signed and dated.

· Result of the SME Financial Viability Self-Check - available at the following link: https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/lfv/lfvSimulation.do

All documents are availanble at the following link: https://piemonteinnova.it/second-powerup-netzero-open-call-innovation-projects/

The evaluation process consists of:

1.Eligibility check (by 25th September 2026).

2.Evaluation process made by an Evaluation Panel which will evaluate and score the relevance, impact, and implementation sections of the application.

3.Once the evaluation process is completed, all applicants will receive an e-mail about the final results (deadline 19th October 2026).

4.Agreement signature (only for selected applications) with one of the PowerUp NetZero Open Call for Innovation Projects partner of reference (FPI or EnviPark) (deadline 13th November 2026).

Each beneficiary Consortia of this call can receive up to 120.000,00 EUR in the form of a lump-sum (thus, it is expected that at least 14 projects will receive financial support).

Beneficiaries can participate to the different PowerUp NetZero Open Calls (Business Innovation Services and Technology Adoption Activities or Innovation Projects) but a single beneficiary cannot receive more than 60.000,00 EUR overall.

Only one application per SME and Consortia will be accepted under this specific call.

If an entity submits more than one proposal, as a general rule, only the first proposal submitted will be considered eligible for evaluation.

Starting of projects: 16th November 2026, with a duration of maximum 10 months from the signature of the agreement.

The applications selected will be funded until the budget limit of the PowerUp NetZero Open Call for Innovation Projects is reached.

The PowerUp NetZero OPEN CALL FOR INNOVATION PROJECTS provides financial support for helping SMEs and start-ups adopt or improve net-zero technologies and solutions (Solar energy, Battery and energy storage, H2 technologies, Sustainable biogas and biomethane, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)) in their processes, products or services. The call for innovation projects targets companies working together to implement:

1. PoC or testing of new / improved environmentally friendly products.
2. Net-zero solutions and services.
3. Pilot /demonstration actions.

A high degree of innovation is expected in response of this call. Funded activities could address technical risks associated with the demonstration of innovative technologies and solutions, such as optimising technology processes and operational parameters and/or improving the characteristics of their products/solutions. Innovation projects should demonstrate an innovative net-zero technology or solution in an operational or in a Virtual & Industrially Relevant environment (TRL 6-7) but are not necessarily expected yet to reach large scale demonstration or commercial production.

Applicants must be Consortia of minimum two (2) and maximum three (3) SMEs (also including start-ups provided they are SMEs) established in an EU Member State or in a country participating in the Single Market Programme (SMP) at the moment of the call launching date.

Mail to: [email protected]

Guidelines and documents: https://piemonteinnova.it/second-powerup-netzero-open-call-innovation-projects/

Project ECCP profile: https://profile.clustercollaboration.eu/profile/cluster-partnership-initiative/06aeb7f7-6519-429b-a5b0-7e83caf9c3b1

Project LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/powerup-netzero/posts/