EUROPEAN CALLS

Funding opportunities in the area

FETPROACT-EIC-07-2020: FET PROACTIVE: EMERGING PARADIGMS AND COMMUNITIES

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Deadline: 02 July 2020 17:00:00 Brussels time

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RIA: Research & Innovation Action

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The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of EUR 4 to 4.50 million and with a duration of up to 4 years would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts or project duration.

To explore and consolidate a new technological direction in order to put it firmly on the map as a viable paradigm for future technology. To foster the interdisciplinary communities that are able to drive this forward, extending from the participating consortia to a wider European pool of expertise. To stimulate the emergence of a European innovation eco-system around a new technological paradigm, well beyond the world of research alone.

Proposals are sought for cutting-edge high-risk / high-reward research and innovation projects that aim to demonstrate a new technological paradigm within the scope of one of the following sub-topics:

a. Artificial Intelligence for extended social interaction.

b. Breakthrough zero-emissions energy storage and conversion technologies for carbon-neutrality. 

c. Digital twins for the life-sciences.

d. Measuring the unmeasurable –– Sub-nanoscale science for Nanometrology.

LC-SC3-RES-25-2020: INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION WITH JAPAN FOR RESEARCH AND INNOVATION ON ADVANCED BIOFUELS AND ALTERNATIVE RENEWABLE FUELS

Deadline: 01 September 2020 17:00:00 Brussels time

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RIA: Research & Innovation Action

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of between EUR 2 to 5 million would allow this challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

Proposals will aim at international cooperation with Japan involving Japanese organisations in the consortia for the development of disruptive catalytic technologies, by developing novel catalysts and linked lab-scale components/systems with significantly improved performance for conversion efficiency and specific marginal cost reduction for obtaining low-cost bioenergy carriers, non-food/feed based advanced biofuels and alternative renewable fuels (excluding hydrogen) and maximizing GHG abatement. Proposals are expected to bring technologies to TRL 3. 

LC-SC3-RES-3-2020: INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION WITH USA AND/OR CHINA ON ALTERNATIVE RENEWABLE FUELS FROM SUNLIGHT FOR ENERGY, TRANSPORT AND CHEMICAL STORAGE

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Deadline: 01 September 2020 17:00:00 Brussels time

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RIA: Research & Innovation Action

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The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of between EUR 2 to 4 million would allow this challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

Proposals will aim at international cooperation with the USA and/or China on targeted research activities for obtaining advanced biofuels and alternative renewable fuels for energy and transport through photochemical/ photobiological or electrochemical reaction. 

The proposals will develop breakthrough artificial photosynthesis technologies in terms of sunlight conversion efficiency for the production of energy carriers (other than electricity) with either de-novo synthetic biological and artificial/biochemical hybrid systems or novel photo-catalysis or photo-electro catalysis coupled with CO2 reduction.

At least one of the following technology-specific challenges has to be addressed:

• Improved light-harvesting and efficient charge separation in photocatalytic systems;

• Photoelectrochemical cells – PECs and catalyst development

• Improved light harvesting coupled with improved CO2 reduction efficiency in synthetic biological systems

Proposals are expected to bring technologies to TRL 3-4.

LC-SC3-NZE-5-2020: LOW CARBON INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION USING CCUS

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Deadline: 01 September 2020 17:00:00 Brussels time

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IA: Innovation Action

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The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU in the range of EUR 10 to 12 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

Projects will focus on integrating CO2 capture in industrial installations, whilst addressing the full CCUS chain. Projects will elaborate a detailed plan on how to use the results, i.e. the subsequent transport, utilisation and/or underground storage of the captured CO2. Important aspects to address are of technical (e.g. the optimised integration of capture plant with industrial processes; scalability; CO2 purity), safety (e.g. during transportation and storage), financial (e.g. cost of capture; cost of integration) and strategic nature (e.g. business models; operation and logistics of industrial clusters and networks).

Projects are expected to bring technologies to TRL 6-7. Technology development has to be balanced by an assessment of the societal readiness towards the proposed innovations.

In line with the strategy for EU international cooperation in research and innovation (COM(2012)497), international cooperation is encouraged, in particular with relevant Mission Innovation countries such as China.

LC-SC3-CC-1-2020: SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES (SSH) ASPECTS OF THE CLEAN-ENERGY TRANSITION

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Deadline: 01 September 2020 17:00:00 Brussels time

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RIA: Research & Innovation Action

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of between EUR 1 and 3 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

Energy citizenship: SSH research offers many insights into the conditions favouring civic engagement, active participation and interaction with institutional or corporate actors. Such “energy citizenship” is not limited to early technology adopters or environmental activists, and it goes beyond (but also encompasses) mere “consumer involvement”. Rather than using SSH research as an instrument to achieve particular outcomes (e.g., social acceptance) it can help to understand in what kind of environments collaborative goal setting and commitment can take place, how relevant decisions are made and any trade-offs between competing goals are addressed. This has important implications for EU energy policymaking. Proposals are expected to examine the factors affecting the emergence and effectiveness of energy citizenship and its potential for achieving the decarbonisation of the energy system. This should include factors such as digitalisation, social media, social group dynamics (e.g. creating trust, finding shared goals), societal factors (e.g. institutional, corporate or legal environment), demographics and social justice. It should result in practical recommendations for policy-makers.

LC-SC3-EC-5-2020: SUPPORTING PUBLIC AUTHORITIES IN DRIVING THE ENERGY TRANSITION

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Deadline: 10 September 2020 17:00:00 Brussels time

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RIA: Research & Innovation Action

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The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of between EUR 1 and 1.5 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

Support should continue and be reinforced in building capacity of public authorities and empowering them to take up their role of energy transition leaders at regional and local level, by permanently improving their skills as public entrepreneurs and supporters of market transformation towards more efficient energy systems.

At national level, the Energy Efficiency Directive[4] has triggered numerous positive developments in the Member States by setting targets to incentivise and enable investment in energy efficiency programmes across all sectors. However, Member States have yet to fully implement the Directive and additional support in building capacity and know-how is needed.

a) Support to local and regional public authorities

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b) Supporting the delivery of the Energy Efficiency Directive

Proposers should focus their proposed action on:

Actions assisting Member States to fulfil their obligations under the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) and – where relevant to the implementation of the EED – under the Energy Union Governance Regulation. 

european green deal call

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Calls to be announced soon

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The Green Deal call will mobilise research and innovation to foster a just and sustainable societal transition aiming at ‘leaving nobody behind’.

Projects are expected to deliver tangible and visible results relatively quickly and show how research and innovation can provide concrete solutions for the Green Deal main priorities.

This is why the call will support

• pilot applications, demonstration projects and innovative products

• innovation for better governance of the green and digital transition 

• social and value chain innovation

In addition to technological development and demonstration, the call encourages experimentation and social innovation for new ways to engage civil society and empower citizens.

In relation to the current pandemic, the call will contribute to the green and digital recovery and to increasing societal resilience for example in agriculture, biodiversity acceleration of renewables, clean transport and modernisation towards a clean and circular industry.