New EU Funding Opportunity for Net-Zero technologies opens for Latvian SMEs and Industrial Innovators
A new Euroclusters funding route is creating fresh opportunities for hydrogen and fuel cell projects with real industrial application potential. For Latvian SMEs, JEWEL stands out as a practical entry point into EU hydrogen funding, cross-border partnerships and net-zero technology deployment.
NEWS
HydrogenLatvia
4/2/20262 min read
A practical new EU funding route for hydrogen projects
A new opportunity is emerging for companies working at the intersection of hydrogen, clean manufacturing and industrial decarbonisation. JEWEL, part of the Euroclusters 2025–2027 framework, is designed to support net-zero technologies in manufacturing and help innovative SMEs move closer to implementation, collaboration and market uptake. Among its four priority technology areas, the programme explicitly includes hydrogen and fuel cells, alongside energy storage, electricity grids and broader industrial decarbonisation technologies.
That makes this funding route particularly relevant for Latvian stakeholders looking beyond early-stage discussion and toward commercially meaningful deployment. The programme is built around three industrial ecosystems — mobility and transport, energy-intensive industries, and aviation and defence — which means hydrogen projects are expected to connect with concrete industrial use cases rather than remain standalone technology concepts. Just as importantly, JEWEL is not limited to grant funding alone. It also offers access to knowledge-sharing activities, mentoring, expert guidance and consortium-building support, giving SMEs a more practical route into European collaboration.
Why this matters for Latvian market players now
For Latvian SMEs, the strongest fit is likely to come from focused hydrogen or fuel cell projects that already show technical maturity and a clear industrial application. The first Net-Zero Innovation Call is aimed at TRL 7–8, pointing to solutions that are close to implementation and ready for functional demonstration in a real market context. That creates a good opening for companies developing hydrogen-based equipment, components, system integration solutions, industrial decarbonisation applications or enabling clean-tech technologies linked to manufacturing.
The structure of the call also sends a clear strategic signal: this is as much about partnering as it is about funding. Projects must be built as interregional SME collaborations, which means Latvian applicants will need a strong value proposition, a credible application case and the right European partners. For companies prepared to position hydrogen within a broader manufacturing or industrial transition story, this can be a useful stepping stone toward larger EU project pipelines, stronger market visibility and future investment readiness.
Key call facts for applicants
Programme: JEWEL, under Euroclusters 2025–2027
Overall theme: Net-zero technologies and manufacturing
Relevant hydrogen scope: Hydrogen and fuel cells are one of the four main priority technology areas
Project duration: 36 months
Total JEWEL budget: EUR 2.7 million
Support structure includes:
Knowledge hub
Mentoring and expert access
Project factory for idea and consortium development
Open-call funding window
Target industrial ecosystems:
Automotive, mobility and transport
Energy-intensive industries
Aviation and defence
Upcoming activities:
Workshops: from February 2026 to June 2028
Focus groups: starting autumn 2026
Online information session on JEWEL open projects: 5 March 2026
Net-Zero Innovation Call (OC1):
Expected TRL: 7–8
Grant: up to EUR 54,000
Funding rate: 90% of project costs
Opening date: 30 March 2026
Closing date: 29 May 2026
Consortium: 2 SMEs
Projects to be funded: 10
Net-Zero Innovation Call (OC2):
Expected TRL: 7–8
Grant: up to EUR 54,000
Indicative timing: Spring 2027
Consortium: 2 SMEs
Projects to be funded: 10
Flagship Projects:
Expected TRL: 4–6
Grant: up to EUR 180,000
Indicative timing: Autumn 2026
Consortium: 3 SMEs
Projects to be funded: 5
OC1 eligibility and format:
Must be led by a manufacturing SME
Must involve at least 2 SMEs
Must be interregional
Large companies, mid-caps and research organisations may participate, but without direct funding
Project budget may reach EUR 60,000, with 10% own contribution
Lump-sum grant paid in two instalments
Applicants must track results and KPIs
Final call conditions may still slightly change in the official call document
Source: Project presentation