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Status: Planned · Last reviewed: 30 September 2026

IF26 NZT Call: Net-Zero Technologies Funding for Industrial Decarbonisation

The IF26 Net-Zero Technologies Call is a major grant call in the 2026 Innovation Fund programme. It funds industrial decarbonisation, clean technology manufacturing and critical raw materials projects. The call also supports implementation of the RESourceEU Action Plan.

Book an IF26 NZT Readiness Call Send us your NZT project summary

What the IF26 NZT Call Funds

The call is a competitive grant call assessed against the five standard Innovation Fund award criteria: degree of innovation, greenhouse gas emission avoidance, project maturity, replicability and cost efficiency.

It is divided into four topics, each with its own CAPEX band and scope.

The Four NZT Topics

  • General decarbonisation (large-scale) – projects with CAPEX above €100 million.
  • General decarbonisation (small and medium-scale) – projects with CAPEX between €2.5 million and €100 million.
  • Clean-tech manufacturing and critical raw materials – projects with CAPEX above €2.5 million, focused on manufacturing components for renewable energy, energy storage, heat pumps and hydrogen production, and on projects that contribute to European CRM supply security.
  • Pilots – projects with CAPEX above €2.5 million, focused on deep decarbonisation.

Note: Projects eligible for the IF26 SME or Maritime calls are not eligible under the NZT call unless submitted as Pilots.

Eligibility

TopicMinimum CAPEXMaximum CAPEX
General decarbonisation – large-scale€100 millionNo upper limit
General decarbonisation – small and medium-scale€2.5 million€100 million
Clean-tech manufacturing and critical raw materials€2.5 millionNo upper limit
Pilots€2.5 millionNo upper limit

Eligible countries may contribute to the call through the Grants-as-a-Service (GaaS) feature, which uses the Innovation Fund’s evaluation process and a streamlined State aid approval route.

Related calls: Compare with the IF26 SME Call and Compare with the IF26 Maritime Call.

What the Evaluation Process Requires

Applicants must demonstrate the characteristics required under the applicable award criteria:

  • Innovation – the project must go beyond the current state of the art.
  • GHG emission avoidance – the project must deliver measurable, verifiable emission reductions.
  • Project maturity – the project must be ready for demonstration or first-of-a-kind deployment, with a credible implementation plan.
  • Replicability – the project must be capable of replication or scaling across Europe.
  • Cost efficiency – the project must deliver emission reductions at a reasonable cost per tonne of CO₂ abated.

Timeline

ItemDetail
StatusPlanned
Planned openingDecember 2026
Planned closingApril 2027
Stakeholder consultation19 June 2026 (held)

Always verify current dates in the official call document.

Book an IF26 NZT Readiness Call

Book an IF26 NZT Readiness Call Send us your NZT project summary

Official sources

FAQ

What does the IF26 NZT Call fund?

Industrial decarbonisation, clean technology manufacturing and critical raw materials projects across four topics.

How many topics does the NZT call have?

Four: general decarbonisation (large-scale), general decarbonisation (small and medium-scale), clean-tech manufacturing and critical raw materials, and pilots.

What are the CAPEX thresholds?

Large-scale general decarbonisation above €100 million; small and medium-scale between €2.5 million and €100 million; clean-tech manufacturing, critical raw materials and pilots above €2.5 million.

Can maritime or SME projects apply to the NZT call?

Projects eligible for the IF26 SME or Maritime calls are not eligible under the NZT call unless submitted as Pilots.

When does the IF26 NZT Call open and close?

The Commission currently plans the call to open in December 2026 and close in April 2027. Verify the final dates in the official call document.

What is Grants-as-a-Service?

A mechanism allowing eligible countries to contribute to the call using the Innovation Fund’s evaluation process and a streamlined State aid approval route.

IF26 NZT scope, timelines, eligibility and funding routes depend on the official call document and European Commission decisions. This page is for general information and does not constitute legal advice or a guarantee of funding.

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Clean Energy

In 2019 the EU completed a comprehensive update of its energy policy framework to facilitate the transition away from fossil fuels towards cleaner energy and to deliver on the EU’s Paris Agreement commitments for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The agreement on this new energy rulebook – called the Clean energy for all Europeans package – marked a significant step towards the implementation of the energy union strategy, published in 2015.

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