BUILD UP Skills - National Platforms on energy efficiency skills for the clean energy transition

LIFE-2026 (LIFE Clean Energy Transition) funds establishment or update of national BUILD UP Skills platforms and roadmaps to address workforce and skills gaps in energy efficiency and renewable energy for specified EU Member States and LIFE-associated countries. The topic budget is €3,000,000 with a recommended EU contribution per project of €1–€1.5 millionand a funding rate of 95% for Other Action Grants; single-stage proposals must be submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by 16 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Eligible applicants are legal entities established in the targeted countries and proposals must demonstrate substantial stakeholder support, institutionalise a permanent national platform, deliver comprehensive skills intelligence and an endorsed national roadmap, and run a large-scale national communication campaign (indicatively ≥30% of resources). Projects must quantify expected impacts at project end and five years after using the topic-specific and LIFE CET indicators and follow the LIFE application templates and evaluation criteria.

BUILD UP Skills - National Platforms on energy efficiency skills for the clean energy transition

LIFE Clean Energy Transition — Call for Proposals (LIFE-2026-CET-BUILDSKILLS)

What it funds:national projects to (re)establish or update a national BUILD UP Skills platform and deliver a national skills roadmap and action plan to address energy efficiency and clean energy skills gaps in the construction and renovation value chain. Activities must include skills intelligence, stakeholder platform institutionalisation, roadmap design and endorsement, and a large-scale national communication and awareness campaign (indicatively at least 30% of resources).

Who can apply:Single applicant or applicants from a single eligible country (Member States or LIFE-associated countries that have not yet updated their national platform). Projects must show substantial preliminary interest from national stakeholders and may cover several eligible countries but only one platform per country will be supported ¹.

1. 1Focus: national coordination platforms for upskilling/reskilling in construction, renovation and building energy professions
2. 2Key outputs: status quo skills analysis, endorsed national roadmap/action plan, stakeholder platform institutionalised, national campaign and evidence of funding mobilisation for training roll-out
3. 3Monitoring: quantify platform members, meetings, roadmap endorsements, campaign reach, funds mobilised; report impacts at project end and 5 years after

Eligibility & scope highlights:target countries are those that have not yet updated a national BUILD UP Skills platform/roadmap (list indicated in call). Proposals may be single-applicant or national-only consortia; a proposal may address several eligible countries but only one platform per country will be financed. Projects must include letters of support from national stakeholders and explain the starting point and previous national activities.

Key administrative notes:Apply through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using the LIFE Project Grants model (LIFE-PJG / LIFE-AG). Follow call document, templates and page limits; deliverables, KPI reporting and financial rules follow the LIFE MGA and call annexes.

1. 1Deadline and submission via Funding & Tenders Portal
2. 2Mandatory demonstration of stakeholder commitment (letters of support)
3. 3Campaign must be well justified and represent a substantial part of activities (indicatively ≥30%)
4. 4One proposal per eligible country will be supported (only one platform financed per country)

Footnotes

1. 1Full topic description, eligibility rules, templates and application guidance available on the Funding & Tenders Portal topic page and in the call documentation.

Opportunity summary

Call:LIFE Clean Energy Transition (LIFE-2026-CET). Action type: LIFE Project Grants — Other Action Grants (LIFE-PJG, LIFE Action Grant Budget-Based [LIFE-AG]). Single-stage call. Opening: 21 April 2026. Deadline: 16 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Indicative topic budget: €3,000,000 for this topic. Expected EU contribution per selected project typically €1,000,000 to €1,500,000 (Commission considers that €1 to €1.5 millionis appropriate, other amounts can be proposed). Funding rate: 95% for OAGs. This topic supports national BUILD UP Skills platforms to develop or update national skills roadmaps, run national communication and awareness campaigns, perform skills intelligence, and institutionalise national platforms to address identified workforce gaps in energy efficiency and related building and renovation value chains. The topic focuses on eligible countries that have not yet updated their national skills platform and roadmap, as listed in the call text. Key partners: public authorities, training providers, trade unions, professional chambers, employers, energy professionals, academia and industry stakeholders. Proposals may be single-applicant or single-country multi-applicant and typically only one platform will be supported per country. Applicants must demonstrate substantial preliminary interest and include letters of support.

The action is part of the POLICY framework established by the Energy Efficiency Directive (Article 28), the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (Article 17(12)), and related EU policy measures (Renewable Energy Directive Article 18, EU Affordable Housing Plan, Energy Efficiency Roadmap). The action aims to increase the number of skilled professionals across construction, renovation chains and other energy efficiency professions, and to improve institutional coordination and attractiveness of energy efficiency careers at national level. The campaign component should represent a substantial share of the project (indicatively at least 30% of project resources). Proposals must quantify impacts at project end and 5 years after project end using the topic-specific and the LIFE Clean Energy Transition common indicators.

Who can apply and what is funded

Eligible applicants:single applicant or applicants from a single eligible country. Proposals may be submitted by public authorities, national agencies, research organisations, education and training providers, NGOs, professional associations, industry associations, or other legal persons established in eligible countries. Projects must target eligible countries that have not yet updated their BUILD UP Skills national platform and roadmap: Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden and LIFE-associated countries Iceland, Moldova, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Ukraine. Only one platform will be supported per country. The proposal may cover more than one eligible country but should focus on establishing an impactful national initiative per country covered. Proposals must demonstrate strong stakeholder interest and include letters of support from relevant national stakeholders including public authorities. A consortium is optional; applicants can submit as a single organisation or as a set of applicants from the same country. Proposals must be submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using the LIFE Project Grants LIFE-AG model (budget-based). The topic is single-stage.

Eligible Applicant Types:Examples: public authorities (national/regional energy/education ministries), research institutes, universities, vocational and higher education providers, SMEs, large enterprises active in training/skills, professional chambers, trade unions, NGOs, industry associations, training providers and public bodies. The call allows single applicants or applicants from a single eligible country; multi-member consortia are permitted but are not required.

Funding Type:Other Action Grants (OAG) — LIFE Project Grants (LIFE-PJG) under LIFE Action Grant Budget-Based [LIFE-AG]. This is a grant funding mechanism supporting coordination and support actions; funding rate 95%.

Consortium Requirement:Either single applicant or multiple applicants from a single eligible country. The topic does not require a multi-country consortium; at least one applicant from a single eligible country is required. Proposals must show national reach and engagement of national stakeholders.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):EU Member States and countries associated to the LIFE Programme. The topic specifically targets eligible countries that have not updated their national platform and roadmap: Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden; and associated countries Iceland, Moldova, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Ukraine.

Target Sector:Sector focus: Buildings, construction and renovation value chains (energy efficiency professions), integration of renewable energy in buildings, and related energy efficiency occupations listed under Article 28(1) of the Energy Efficiency Directive (e.g. providers of energy services, providers of energy audits, energy managers, independent experts, installers of building elements, providers of integrated renovation works). Cross-cutting links with education/training, employment and upskilling/reskilling.

Mentioned Countries:Explicitly listed eligible countries targeted for this topic: Belgium; Cyprus; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; Germany; Latvia; Luxembourg; Malta; Portugal; Slovenia; Sweden; Iceland; Moldova; North Macedonia; Montenegro; Ukraine.

Project Stage:Expected maturity: policy and coordination, strategy and roadmap development, capacity building, skills intelligence and market preparation; activities focus on analysis, design, awareness-raising, stakeholder coordination and initial pilot roll-out of communication and institutional mechanisms. Typical TRL-type mapping: policy/strategy and deployment readiness rather than technology R&D.

Funding Amount:Indicative topic budget: €3,000,000 across the topic. The Commission considers proposals requesting €1,000,000 to €1,500,000 to be appropriate for this topic. Other amounts may be submitted.

Application Type:Open call, single-stage submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal. Applicants must select LIFE Project Grants [LIFE-PJG] and the LIFE Action Grant Budget-Based [LIFE-AG] model in the Submission System.

Nature of Support:Monetary support in the form of an EU grant covering up to 95% of eligible costs under the action budget categories; beneficiaries receive money. Projects should include substantial funds for national communication campaigns (indicatively at least 30% of project resources).

Application Stages:Single-stage evaluation process. Applicants submit full proposals in one stage. The online submission system (Portal) handles submission, continuous reporting and deliverables. Evaluation will proceed in a single-stage competition against award criteria described in the Call document.

Success Rates:Not specified in call text. Competition is topic-limited (one platform supported per country); success probability depends on topic budget, quality, national prioritisation and selection against award criteria. Estimated selection pressure: multiple quality proposals per targeted country with limited topic budget.

Co-funding Requirement:The grant funds up to 95% of eligible costs; beneficiaries are expected to provide the remaining co-funding (typically 5% or more of eligible costs) from their own resources or complementary funding. Proposals should identify complementary funding sources and may include complementary funding plans where relevant.

Eligibility and mandatory proposal content

Mandatory components and recommended structure (reflect these fully in Part B, Annexes and Part A of the Portal forms): national platform establishment/institutionalisation; comprehensive status-quo skills intelligence (covering initial, vocational and higher education); updated national roadmap with priority measures, actors, financing and monitoring indicators; national endorsement and formal support from key stakeholders and public authorities; large-scale national communication and awareness raising campaign (at least 30% of resources); activities to secure funding to roll out training/qualification programmes; thematic working groups and permanent platform structure; digital platforms only if they support national coordination; small share of EU-wide exchange activities with other platforms as coordinated by Commission services; letters of support from national stakeholders; build upon BUILD UP Skills outputs and cooperation with BUSUnited Community of Practice.

1. 1Core activities to include in the application: (1) (re)establish national skills platform and mobilise stakeholders; (2) skills intelligence and status quo analysis across education levels; (3) design national roadmap with action plan, financing and monitoring indicators; (4) secure official endorsement of the roadmap; (5) design and deploy a large-scale national communication and awareness raising campaign — at least 30% of project resources; (6) implement institutionalisation measures and coordination mechanisms to pool resources; (7) identify and begin securing complementary funding (public/private) for rollout of training and qualifications; (8) include a small share of activities for cross-country exchange coordinated by Commission services.

Quantitative indicators required in proposals:number of key stakeholders involved in platform; number of platform meetings and thematic working groups; number of national stakeholders endorsing the roadmap; audience reached and impact measures for communication campaign (gross/net reach, recall, increased knowledge, % who took action); amount of funding secured (public/private) to roll out programmes. Also quantify LIFE CET common indicators: primary and final energy savings (GWh/year), renewables generation triggered (GWh/year), GHG reduction (tCO2-eq/year), investments in sustainable energy triggered (cumulative, million EUR). Results must be quantified for end of project and 5 years after project end.

Application forms, templates and administrative requirements

Applications must be prepared and submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Use the standard LIFE application form templates in the Portal Submission System: Part A (administrative) is filled in the Portal screens; Part B (technical) must be uploaded as PDF using the LIFE SAP/OAG template where specified. Required annexes include detailed budget table, participant information, letters of support, and any complementary funding plans/declarations if applicable. Page limits, layout, eligible countries and other admissibility conditions are set in the call document and Part B template. Proposals are evaluated against award criteria in section 9 of the Call document (see Portal reference documents).

Templates and application structure:Follow the LIFE Standard Application Form (LIFE SAP and OAG). Part B must include: project summary; relevance (background, objectives, compliance with LIFE and call topic, concept and methodology, links to previous EU projects); impact (ambition, credibility, sustainability, exploitation and replication); implementation (work plan, work packages, deliverables, milestones, timetable, stakeholder engagement, monitoring and evaluation, communication/dissemination); resources (consortium setup, management, detailed budget table, complementarity and risk management); annexes (participant information, detailed budget table, letters of support, complementary funding declarations). Use the detailed budget table Excel template provided by LIFE in the Portal Reference Documents.

Evaluation, award and legal/financial setup

Evaluation:single-stage. Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in the call document (section 9). Projects will be assessed for relevance, impact, quality of implementation and cost-effectiveness. After selection, grant signature follows the LIFE Model Grant Agreement process (LIFE MGA). Financial and operational capacity checks and exclusion grounds apply (see Call document sections 6 and 7). Reporting, payments and deliverables schedule: single-stage continuous reporting in the Portal, periodic reports and payment schedule in the Data Sheet; prefinancing and interim/final payments per Data Sheet. Legal and financial rules follow the LIFE MGA and the EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509.

1. 1Admissibility: adhere to Part B page limits and format; use Portal templates. Supporting annexes may not count towards page limit if allowed.
2. 2Eligibility: applicants must be established in eligible countries; proposals must address only this topic; only one platform per country will be funded.
3. 3Evaluation: proposal evaluated on relevance, impact, quality and efficiency; quantitative indicators and baselines required; impacts quantified for project end and five years after.
4. 4Grant agreement: LIFE Action Grant Budget-Based (LIFE-AG); standard LIFE MGA applies with topic-specific Annexes and the Data Sheet; prefinancing guarantees may apply as stipulated in Data Sheet.

Practical advice for applicants

Key strengths to demonstrate in the proposal:robust and evidence-based status quo analysis; clear causality between activities, outputs and impacts; realistic and credible national roadmap with concrete measures, timelines and financing sources; strong multi-stakeholder governance and formal commitment letters; clear institutionalisation measures; major branded and targeted national communication campaign with KPIs and methodology to measure reach and behaviour change; pipeline or commitments for securing public and/or private resources to roll out training/qualification programmes; and a detailed work plan, budget and monitoring framework aligned with LIFE KPIs.

1. 1Provide a clear starting point and lessons learnt from any previous national platforms or initiatives.
2. 2Include detailed stakeholder mapping and evidence of engagement (letters of support).
3. 3Justify campaign budget and design: target groups, channels, measurement approach and inclusion of underrepresented groups (women, youth).
4. 4Quantify results for the end of the project and for 5 years after, for both topic-specific and LIFE common indicators.
5. 5Explain co-funding sources and include complementary funding declarations where applicable.

Applicants are encouraged to cooperate with the BUILD UP Skills Community of Practice (BUSUnited), and to build on outputs from previous BUILD UP Skills projects and LIFE CET projects. Roadshows are expected as part of onsite campaign activities. Digital platforms may be used only when they meaningfully support national coordination.

Checklist before submission

1. 1Confirm eligibility of the applicant and country and that the country has not already updated its national roadmap under previous calls.
2. 2Assemble letters of support from public authorities and key stakeholders demonstrating preliminary interest and political buy-in.
3. 3Complete Part A in the Portal (administrative data), fill and upload Part B using the LIFE SAP/OAG template and include Annexes (detailed budget table, participant information, complementary funding plan if applicable).
4. 4Ensure proportional allocation of campaign resources (indicatively >=30% of project budget) and provide a clear measurement approach for campaign impact.
5. 5Confirm expected EU contribution request (€1–€1.5 millionis appropriate) and co-funding sources.

How to get help

Use the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual and LIFE call documentation. Contact your National Contact Point for LIFE (NCP). Consult the Portal helpdesk and the IT helpdesk for submission technical issues. Recordings and presentations from the LIFE info sessions may be available on the Portal and LIFE pages.

Summary — What is this opportunity about and how would you explain it?:This LIFE Clean Energy Transition topic (BUILD UP Skills - National Platforms) funds national projects to establish or update national BUILD UP Skills platforms and national skills roadmaps to close skills gaps for the clean energy transition in the building and renovation value chains. Projects must set up permanent multi-stakeholder platforms, perform comprehensive skills intelligence, design a national roadmap with measures and financing strategy, secure endorsement by national stakeholders, and run a large national communication and awareness campaign to attract and upskill the workforce. The EU contributes up to 95% of eligible costs; the Commission considers €1–€1.5 millionproposals appropriate. Eligible applicants are legal entities in targeted eligible countries listed in the call. The action is strategic, policy- and market-oriented: it supports institutional coordination, large-scale communication and preparation for roll-out of training and qualifications to accelerate the energy transition in buildings and to expand the skilled workforce needed to deliver renovation and nearly-ZEB objectives.

For official call documents, templates and submission, use the Funding & Tenders Portal topic page: LIFE-2026-CET-BUILDSKILLS Topic Page ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Call documentation, templates and Annexes referenced in this summary are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal topic page and in the call document and Portal Reference Documents sections.

Funding Opportunity Overview

This call supports the establishment or update of national skills platforms and roadmaps to address workforce and skills gaps in energy efficiency and renewable energy sectors across Europe. The initiative builds on the BUILD UP Skills programme launched in 2011, which has successfully supported over 100 projects to strengthen professional capabilities in building renovation and energy efficiency. The 2026 call targets eligible countries that have not yet updated their national skills platforms with a 2030 perspective, providing an opportunity to develop comprehensive strategies for upskilling and reskilling professionals in the construction and renovation value chains.

Call Details

Call Reference:LIFE-2026

Programme:LIFE Clean Energy Transition (LIFE-2026-CET)

Type of Action:LIFE Project Grants (LIFE-PJG), Other Action Grants (OAGs)

Opening Date:21 April 2026

Deadline:16 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time (single-stage submission)

Total Budget Available:€3,000,000

Eligible Countries

This call focuses on EU Member States and associated countries that have not yet updated their national skills platforms and roadmaps. Eligible countries include: Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden (EU Member States); and Iceland, Moldova, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Ukraine (countries associated with the LIFE Programme). Only one platform will be supported per country. Proposals may be submitted by a single applicant or by applicants from a single eligible country, though one proposal may cover several eligible countries.

Who Can Apply

Any legal entity based in an eligible EU Member State or country associated with the LIFE Programme can apply. Applicants can be public authorities, educational institutions, professional organisations, training providers, energy agencies, construction sector associations, trade unions, or other relevant stakeholders. Proposals may be submitted by a single applicant or by multiple applicants from a single eligible country. Applicants must demonstrate substantial preliminary interest from a range of relevant national stakeholders, including public authorities, through letters of support.

Funding Details

Funding Rate:95% for Other Action Grants (OAGs)

Recommended Grant Range:€1 to €1.5 millionper proposal. The Commission considers this range appropriate for addressing the specific objectives, though submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts is not precluded.

Project Duration:Not specified in the call document, but typically LIFE projects range from 2 to 5 years

Project Objectives and Scope

The overarching objective is to increase the number of skilled professionals in Europe by improving awareness and cooperation between key public and private stakeholders, rolling out needed upskilling and reskilling actions, and promoting energy efficiency professions at national level. The initiative addresses a critical bottleneck in the clean energy transition: the lack of professionals with relevant skillsets needed for energy renovations, renewable energy integration, and nearly-Zero Energy Buildings (nZEBs).

Core Activities Required

• Establish or re-establish the national skills platform and secure involvement of key stakeholders including government authorities responsible for education and energy, professional chambers, education and training providers, trade unions, and academia
• Conduct skills intelligence activities including market research, data collection, analysis of labour statistics, targeted interviews, participatory workshops, and surveys to provide comprehensive analysis of national building, energy efficiency, and education sectors
• Design a national roadmap addressing identified gaps and barriers, including priority measures, action plans with implementation timing, identification of actors and resources needed, and monitoring measures
• Promote widely the results of the status quo analysis and roadmap measures, ensuring official endorsement by relevant national stakeholders including public authorities
• Design and conduct a large-scale national communication and awareness raising campaign aimed at promoting skilled professionals' contribution to clean energy transition, making the case for upskilling, and attracting people to energy efficiency professions

The communication and awareness raising campaign is expected to represent a substantial part of proposed activities, indicatively at least 30 percent of project resources. The campaign should be deployed through both online and onsite channels, including roadshows in dedicated cities, and should target energy efficiency professionals, training providers, employment agencies, professionals from other sectors offering reskilling potential, women, youth, and vocational and higher education students.

Focus Areas for Skills Development

Proposals should focus on skills and professions relevant for the energy transition of construction and renovation value chains, integration of renewable energy sources in buildings, and other energy efficiency professions listed under Article 28(1) of the Energy Efficiency Directive when identified as priorities by the national platform. Key thematic areas include: building energy audits, heating and cooling systems design and installation, deep renovation, nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (nZEBs), Zero Emission Buildings (ZEBs), solar energy deployment and installation, heat pump deployment, digital skills for smart buildings, and integrated home renovation services.

Expected Impacts and Key Performance Indicators

Qualitative Impacts

• Increased collaboration between key stakeholders, including public authorities, towards upskilling professionals in construction and renovation value chains
• National skills roadmap with detailed measures and action plan addressing identified skills gaps, endorsed by key stakeholders
• Increased visibility and attractiveness of energy efficiency professions through communication and awareness raising campaigns

Quantitative Indicators

• Number of key stakeholders involved in the national platform
• Number of platform meetings and thematic working groups organised
• Number of relevant national stakeholders endorsing the updated national roadmap
• Number of people impacted by communication and awareness raising campaigns, measured through specific indicators such as gross reach, net reach, recall, increased knowledge, and percentage of audience who took action
• Amount of funding secured (public and/or private) to roll out training and qualification programmes
• Primary energy savings triggered by the project (GWh/year)
• Final energy savings triggered by the project (GWh/year)
• Renewable energy generation triggered by the project (GWh/year)
• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (tCO2-eq/year)
• Investments in sustainable energy triggered by the project (cumulative, million Euro)

Results and impacts should be quantified for the end of the project and for 5 years after project completion. Proposals may also provide indicators specific to their proposed activities.

Key Requirements and Conditions

• Proposals must demonstrate substantial preliminary interest from a range of relevant national stakeholders, including public authorities, through letters of support
• The national skills platform should operate as a permanent structure with formalised coordination mechanisms to align efforts and pool resources between major national stakeholders
• Digital platforms can be supported only if relevant to project activities and appropriately supporting a coordinated approach of all relevant actors at national level
• Proposals should include a small share of activities to exchange with similar platforms across Europe; these exchanges will be coordinated by Commission services
• Close cooperation with the BUILD UP Skills Community of Practice (BUSUnited project) should be maintained
• Proposals should build upon existing national initiatives in the field of training on skills for clean energy transition, including those supported by the BUILD UP Skills initiative and under the EU Pact for Skills
• Only one platform will eventually be supported in a given country

Policy Context and Legal Framework

This call supports implementation of key EU legislation including Article 28 of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EU/2023/1791), which requires Member States to set up networks ensuring appropriate competences for energy efficiency-related professions and promote certification, training, and education. Article 17(12) of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EU/2024/1275) requires Member States to put in place measures and financing to promote education and training ensuring sufficient workforce with appropriate skills. Article 18 of the Renewable Energy Directive (EU/2023/2413) places strengthened requirements on skills, qualifications, and certification. The initiative also supports the EU Pact for Skills, particularly the Large-Scale Partnership for the Construction Ecosystem aiming for 30 percent of workers participating in upskilling or reskilling actions annually by 2030, and the Renewable Energy skills Large-Scale Partnership.

Application Process and Support

Applications must be submitted through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal before the deadline of 16 September 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. This is a single-stage submission process. Applicants should consult the Call document, Model Grant Agreement, EU Grants Annotated Grant Agreement, and the Funding and Tenders Portal Online Manual for detailed guidance. National Contact Points (NCPs) are available to provide support. The standard application form (LIFE SAP and OAG) must be used, with Part A completed in the Portal Submission System and Part B uploaded as a PDF document.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on relevance to the call topic, quality of the proposed approach, credibility of expected impacts, sustainability of results, and implementation capacity. Applicants should demonstrate a solid analysis of the current situation, realistic assumptions and baselines, and clear causality links between proposed activities, results, and impacts. The evaluation will assess how well proposals address the specific objectives of the LIFE Clean Energy Transition sub-programme and contribute to EU energy and climate targets.

Historical Context and Track Record

The BUILD UP Skills initiative, launched in 2011, has supported more than 100 projects to date with nearly €70 million in EU funding. In the first phase, all EU Member States developed national platforms and roadmaps. More recently, 15 Member States had the opportunity to expand their platforms and update their national roadmaps with a 2030 perspective under LIFE Clean Energy Transition calls of 2021 and 2022. More than 6,000 organisations were consulted as part of this process. The initiative has trained over 50,000 professionals through pilot training sessions and established national platforms and roadmaps in 30 countries. This 2026 call provides an opportunity for additional eligible countries to carry out similar updates and establish their platforms.

Additional Resources and Support

Applicants are encouraged to consult the BUILD UP Skills portal at BUILD UP Skills to access outputs from previous projects, national roadmaps, and best practices. The BUSUnited project provides a Community of Practice platform for practitioners involved in sustainable energy skills development. The EU-PEERS project offers operational guidance and best practice examples for integrated home renovation services. The European Energy Efficiency Financing Coalition provides support for financing mechanisms. Applicants should also review the LIFE Multiannual Work Programme 2025-2027 and relevant EU directives for comprehensive policy context.

Footnotes

1. 1The Energy Efficiency Directive (EU/2023/1791) Article 28 requires Member States to assess skills gaps in energy efficiency-related professions and submit assessments to the Commission through the online platform established under Article 28 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999. See Policy Reporting Platform.