Energy & cleantech startup funding and grants

European CommissionGrant

Horizon Europe Cluster 5 – Climate, Energy and Mobility

Collaborative research and innovation calls to make energy and transport more climate-friendly, efficient and competitive, covering climate solutions, energy grids, storage, clean mobility and urban sustainability.

European Commission (CINEA)Grant

Innovation Fund

Funds the demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies, financed from EU emissions-trading revenues. The IF26 round includes a new call for SMEs.

EIT InnoEnergyEquity

EIT InnoEnergy

Equity, not a grant: EIT InnoEnergy invests in early-stage clean-tech companies, mainly in Europe, that have at least a proof of concept or prototype.

Horizon Europe co-programmed partnershipGrant

2Zero Partnership

Horizon Europe partnership on zero-emission road transport. Funding goes to consortia through topics published on the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE)Grant

Pilot and Demonstration Programme (P+D)

Funds pilot and demonstration projects with high energy-saving potential or more use of renewables. SMEs, research institutions and public organisations can apply; support is capped at 50% of non-amortisable costs.

Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) with FOENGrant

SWEETER

Successor to SWEET, run by the SFOE with the FOEN, funding inter- and transdisciplinary consortia from academia, industry and the public sector. Three calls are planned for 2025–2028.

Klimastiftung Schweiz (Swiss Climate Foundation)Grant

Innovation projects

Funds technical innovations by SMEs in Switzerland or Liechtenstein with 250 employees or fewer that avoid greenhouse-gas emissions. Maximum CHF 200,000 and no more than 50% of total cost; deadlines are 1 March and 1 September.

Swiss ConfederationLoan

Technologiefonds (Technology Fund)

Loan guarantees, not grants: the Confederation guarantees bank loans of up to CHF 3 million for up to 10 years to Swiss companies whose new products or processes reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

BMWE (Projektträger Jülich)Grant

8. Energieforschungsprogramm – angewandte Energieforschung

Project funding for non-nuclear applied energy research under the 8th Energy Research Programme. Companies, SMEs, universities and research institutions apply with a sketch first; many focus areas accept sketches without a deadline.

Klima- und Energiefonds (KPC / FFG)Grant

Gemeinsame Energienutzung und Innovationen für eine optimierte Systemintegration 2026

Funds innovation in shared energy use, R&D consortia and investment in jointly used storage in Austria. Companies, research institutions, municipalities and private persons can apply.

Klima- und Energiefonds (FFG)Grant

Zero Emission Mobility

Austrian research and demonstration programme for zero-emission road transport, running until the end of 2028, with calls handled by the FFG.

European Innovation Council (EISMEA)Grant

EIC Accelerator

Funds single start-ups and SMEs, including spin-outs, from EU Member States and Horizon Europe associated countries. It combines a grant (lump sum below €2.5 million) for innovation activities at TRL 6–8 with equity investments of up to €10 million.

European Innovation CouncilGrant

EIC Pathfinder

Grants of up to EUR 4 million for early-stage research towards breakthrough technologies. Pathfinder Open requires a consortium of at least three independent entities; Pathfinder Challenges also accept single applicants and two-partner consortia.

European Innovation CouncilGrant

EIC Transition

Grants of up to EUR 2.5 million to validate and demonstrate a technology and build market readiness. Projects must build on results of an eligible project such as EIC Pathfinder or ERC Proof of Concept; single SMEs, start-ups, spin-offs and consortia can apply.

European Innovation CouncilEquity

EIC STEP Scale Up

Equity, not a grant: investments of EUR 10 million to EUR 30 million in 2026 for single SMEs and small mid-caps with fewer than 500 employees in digital and deep tech, clean tech and biotech. A qualified investor must pre-commit to the round.

Eureka (with national funding bodies)Grant

Eurostars

International R&D projects led by an innovative SME, with partners from at least two Eurostars countries. Each partner is funded by its national body: Innosuisse in Switzerland, BMFTR in Germany (max. 500,000 € for German partners together), FFG in Austria.

European Institute of Innovation & TechnologySupport & coaching

EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities

Business creation programmes run by EIT communities such as Climate-KIC, EIT Health and InnoEnergy. Start-ups and scale-ups get access to financing opportunities, market access, training, mentoring and investor matchmaking.

European Commission (EIB Group and other implementing partners)Loan

InvestEU Fund

An EU budget guarantee that supports loans and equity through the EIB Group and other financial intermediaries. Companies do not apply to the Commission; they reach the financing through the implementing partners.