In this article we present analytically the target investment areas eligible for EU Funding and some examples of projects.

EU-based companies that are planning to invest in the following plans and areas are extremely likely to receive an EU grant. 

The main funding programs and initiatives of the European Union are:

  • Green Deal Industrial Plan 
  • Digital Europe 
  • Innovation Fund
  • Digital Europe
  • Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) 

The Green Deal Industrial Plan

The Industrial Plan for the Green Deal is designed to boost the competitiveness of Europe's industry focused on achieving net-zero emissions, aiding in the swift shift towards climate neutrality.

This Plan intends to create a more conducive setting for expanding the EU's production capabilities in net-zero technologies and goods, essential for fulfilling Europe's rigorous climate goals.

The Green Deal Industrial Plan includes three initiatives:

  • Net-Zero Industry Act
  • Critical Raw Materials Act
  • Reform of electricity Market Design

The Net-Zero Industry Act supports projects related with the following technologies:

  • Solar photovoltaic and solar thermal
  • Electrolysers and fuel cells
  • Onshore wind and offshore renewables
  • Sustainable biogas/biomethane
  • Batteries and storage
  • Heat pumps and geothermal energy
  • Grid technologies

The Critical Raw Material Act supports the following aims, projects and initiatives:

  • Creation of new supply chains to reduce the dependency from China and Russia.
  • Reinforce international engagement to develop mutually beneficial partnerships with third countries
  • Strengthen domestic supply chains (Rare earth deposits found in Sweden, Finland, Greece and Spain)
  • Recycling of raw materials.

Innovation Fund

The Innovation Fund, supported by revenues from the EU Emissions Trading System, ranks among the world's most significant financial programs for demonstrating cutting-edge low-carbon technologies. It concentrates on pioneering clean technologies and major landmark projects that offer substantial European added value, aiming to achieve considerable reductions in emissions and greenhouse gases.

This Plan aims to assist the expansion of the EU's production capabilities in net-zero technologies and products.

The following areas and projects are covered under the Innovation Fund.

  • Innovative low-carbon technologies and processes
  • Advancement of products, technologies and processes that can substitute carbon-intensive ones.
  • Carbon capture technology and carbon cabture utilisation: carbon sinks, saline aquifers, giant air filters, ionic liquids
  • Next-Generation Photovoltaics
  • Solar Paints and Coatings
  • Solar Windows
  • Floating Wind Farms
  • Vertical Axis Wind Turbines
  • Kite Wind Energy Systems
  • Tidal Power Generation
  • Run-of-River Hydroelectric Systems
  • Underwater Turbines
  • Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage
  • Algae Biofuel Production
  • Waste-to-Energy Conversion
  • Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS)
  • Geothermal Heat Pumps
  • Deep Direct-Use Geothermal Systems

Digital Europe

The Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) is a new EU funding programme focused on bringing digital technology to companies, the EU citizens and public authorities and administrations.

The program finances the following sectors and projects: 

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
  • Cloud-to-edge based services
  • AI-Powered Assistants
  • Fraud Prevention
  • E-commerce - Personalized Shopping
  • Administrative Tasks Automated to Aid Educators
  • Voice Assistants projects
  • Personalized Learning
  • Autonomous Vehicles
  • Spam Filters Technologies
  • Facial Recognition Technologies
  • Recommendation Systems
  • Naviation Systems
  • AI in Robotics, Human Resources, Healthcare, Agriculture, Gaming, Automobiles, Marketing, Social Media, Chatbots, Finance, Data Security
  • Supercomputing - High Performance Computing
  • Upgrade existing super-computers
  • Investments in Quantum Computing - widening the access to the use of them.
  • Scientific applications - testing mathematical models
  • Climate projection
  • Nuclear applications and reactors
  • New chemical compounds
  • Pharmaceutical processes
  • Cryptology
  • Cybersecurity
  • Creation of cyber-security infrastructure
  • Network Security Surveillance
  • Identification And Access Control (IAM)
  • Risk Management projects
  • Blockchain Cybersecurity
  • Artificial Intelligence & Deep Learning
  • Advanced digital skills: Traineeships programs

STEP

The Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) is focused on increasing investments in innovative technologies and industries across the European Union.

The objective of STEP is to direct both new and current funding initiatives towards the investment in cutting-edge digital, environmental, and biotechnologies throughout the EU.

The program has three priority areas:

  • Deep and digital technologies
  • Clean Technologies
  • Biotechnologies

Deep and digital technologies projects that are eligible for funding are the following: 

  • Microelectronics
  • High-performance computing
  • Quantum computing
  • Cloud computing
  • Edge computing
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Cybersecurity
  • Robotics
  • 5G and advanced connectivity
  • Virtual realities
  • Actions related to deep and digital technologies for the development of defence applications.

Clean Technologies that are considered high priority by the EU are the following:

  • Renewable energy
  • Electricity and heat storage
  • Heat pumps
  • Electricity grid
  • Renewable fuels of non-biological origin
  • Sustainable alternative fuels
  • Electrolysers and fuel cells
  • Carbon capture
  • Utilisation and storage
  • Energy efficiency
  • Hydrogen
  • Water purification and desalination
  • Technologies regarding advanced materials such as nanomaterials
  • Composites and future clean construction materials
  • Technologies for the sustainable extraction and processing of critical raw materials.

Bio Technologies eligible for funding include the following:

  • Biomolecules and its applications
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Medical technologies
  • Crop biotechnology
  • Biomanufacturing in healthcare and pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and bioeconomy.

For more information regarding EU Funding opportunities you can communicate with us: [email protected]

Amazon Consulting - EU Funding Department