EU Hydrogen Funding Call Open: Key Details for Technology Developers and Innovators
A new hydrogen funding call from the Clean Hydrogen Partnership is now open, supporting innovation across the hydrogen value chain. The call offers concrete opportunities for companies, startups, and research organisations developing next-generation hydrogen technologies and solutions.
NEWS
HydrogenLatvia
4/13/20262 min read
Call Overview and Scope
The Clean Hydrogen Partnership has officially opened a new funding call under Horizon Europe, targeting the advancement of hydrogen technologies and system solutions across Europe.
The call focuses on the development, validation, and demonstration of innovative technologies across the hydrogen value chain, including:
Renewable hydrogen production technologies (e.g. electrolysers)
Hydrogen storage, transport, and distribution solutions
Fuel cells and end-use applications in mobility and industry
Hydrogen-based systems for maritime and energy integration
Cross-cutting areas such as safety, digitalisation, and system optimisation
In addition to technology-focused topics, the call also includes Hydrogen Valley actions, supporting integrated projects combining production, infrastructure, and end-use applications in real operational environments.
Budget, Funding Rates, and Project Types
The total indicative budget for the call is in the range of several hundred million euros, allocated across multiple topics with defined technical scope and expected outcomes.
Key financial parameters:
Funding instrument: Horizon Europe grants
Funding rates:
Up to 100% for Research and Innovation Actions (RIA)
Around 70% for Innovation Actions (IA) (up to 100% for non-profit entities)
Project size: Typically ranges from €5 million to €20+ million+ depending on topic
Consortium requirement: Multi-partner consortia across EU Member States or associated countries
Specific topics define technology readiness level (TRL) targets, ranging from early-stage development to demonstration in operational environments.
Eligibility and Application Process
The call is open to a broad set of participants across the hydrogen innovation ecosystem, including:
Innovative companies and startups
Industrial technology providers
Research and technology organisations
Universities and academic institutions
Public and infrastructure-related entities
Applicants must form eligible consortia, typically involving at least three independent entities from different countries.
Application process:
Proposals are submitted via the European Commission Funding & Tenders Portal
Evaluation criteria include:
Excellence
Impact
Quality and efficiency of implementation
Indicative timeline:
Call opening: Already open
Submission deadline: Typically within 2–3 months from opening (exact date per topic)
Evaluation period: Approximately 3–5 months
Project start: Around 6–8 months after submission deadline
What Applicants Should Prepare
To submit a compliant and competitive proposal, applicants need to prepare:
A detailed technical project description (Part B)
Structured work plan with work packages, deliverables, and milestones
Budget allocation across consortium partners
Clear definition of expected impacts aligned with call objectives
Defined consortium roles and responsibilities
Additional required elements include exploitation and dissemination plans, as well as risk and mitigation strategies.
This call provides a structured framework for advancing hydrogen technologies and integrated solutions at European level.
For innovative companies, startups, and research organisations in Latvia and across the Baltic region, this represents a concrete opportunity to accelerate technology development, validate solutions in real environments, and strengthen positioning within the European hydrogen innovation landscape.
Source: Call for proposals 2026 – OPEN