Demonstration of advanced FC propulsion techno-bricks for a fully electric hydrogen fuel cell powered aircraft

HORIZON-JU (Clean Aviation Call 4) funds the development and ground demonstration of critical components and sub-systems for a lightweight, compact hydrogen fuel cell engine for a fully electric hydrogen fuel cell powered aircraft. Projects must advance sub-systems to TRL5 and the integrated engine to TRL4 with ground demonstration and align with Clean Aviation SRIA objectives. Eligible applicants are legal entities in consortia (typically at least three independent entities from different EU Member States or Associated Countries) and the action is an Innovation Action under the Horizon Action Grant Budget-Based model. The call opens 31 March 2026 and closes 19 May 2026, funding rates follow Horizon Europe rules (up to 70 percent for for-profit entities and 100 percent for non-profits) from a Call 4 envelope of €329.5 million.

Demonstration of advanced FC propulsion techno-bricks for a fully electric hydrogen fuel cell powered aircraft

What the call funds

Development and ground demonstration of critical components and sub-systems of a lightweight, compact and efficient hydrogen fuel cell engine for a fully electric hydrogen fuel cell powered aircraft concept. Deliverables include component and sub-system demonstrations at TRL4 (engine) and TRL5 (components/sub-systems) to de-risk the concept and enable further aircraft integration.

Who can apply

Consortia of legal entities eligible under the Clean Aviation (HORIZON-JU) rules: industry, OEMs, suppliers, research organisations, universities and other organisations established in EU Member States, Horizon Europe associated countries and other countries listed in the Work Programme. National/sectoral eligibility and consortium composition rules in the Work Programme and topic text apply.

Key administrative facts

Call identifier:HORIZON-JU

Type of action:HORIZON-JU-IA Innovation Action (Budget-Based HORIZON Action Grant)

Opening and deadline:Planned opening: 31 March 2026. Deadline: 19 May 2026, 17:00 Brussels time.

Submission model:Single-stage submission through the Funding & Tenders Portal F&T Portal ¹.

Budget and scale

Indicative total budget for Clean Aviation CfP 04 (all topics) is €329,500,000. Topic-level funding will be allocated from that envelope; individual award sizes are not specified on the topic page and will be determined by evaluation and the work described in proposals.

1. 1Expected technical target: demonstrate fuel cell engine components/sub-systems at TRL5 on ground and fuel cell engine at TRL4.
2. 2Project scope: component R&D, system integration, ground demonstration, validation of concept readiness for subsequent aircraft integration.
3. 3Project duration and individual grant amounts: set by proposal and work plan; check topic Annex and budget templates in Portal.

All applicants must read the topic description, Clean Aviation call-specific rules and the General Annexes of the Horizon Europe Work Programme before preparing a proposal. Templates for application and financial annexes will be available on the Portal when the submission system opens.

Footnotes

1. 1Official call documents, submission system and templates are on the Funding & Tenders Portal: ec.europa.eu.

Demonstration of advanced FC propulsion techno-bricks for a fully electric hydrogen fuel cell powered aircraft (HORIZON-JU-CLEAN-AVIATION-2026-04-HPA-01)

Programme: Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking, Clean Aviation CfP 04 (HORIZON-JU-Clean-Aviation-2026-01). Type of action: HORIZON-JU-IA (Innovation Action). Deadline model: single-stage. Planned opening date: 31 March 2026. Deadline: 19 May 2026, 17:00:00 Brussels time. Submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Topic page: HORIZON-JU ¹.

Opportunity Scope and Technical Ambition

Expected Outcome: Development and on-ground demonstration of critical components and sub-systems of a hydrogen fuel cell (FC) engine for a fully electric, hydrogen fuel cell powered aircraft concept. The project should deliver lightweight, compact, and efficient FC engine sub-systems demonstrated at TRL5 on ground, and an integrated FC engine demonstrated at TRL4. The topic supports Clean Aviation’s hydrogen-powered aircraft thrust, advancing techno-bricks such as fuel cell stacks, hydrogen distribution and safety, power electronics and conversion, thermal management, control systems, and integration (weight/volume optimisation) to enable a viable, certifiable, and scalable FC propulsion solution for aviation.

Indicative TRL targets: Sub-systems at TRL5 (validated in relevant environment) on ground; integrated FC engine at TRL4 (validated in lab). Applicants must consult the Full Description of Topics (Clean Aviation Work Programme 2026-27) for detailed scope, KPIs, interfaces, safety and certification considerations, as well as expected environmental performance.

Management, Rules and Evaluation

Legal and procedural framework: Horizon Europe rules (General Annexes) apply, complemented by Clean Aviation JU-specific rules for submission, evaluation, selection, award, review and portfolio alignment. Applicable model grant agreement: HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based (HORIZON-AG). Single-stage submission and evaluation. Evaluation criteria and thresholds follow Horizon Europe: Excellence; Impact (weighted 1.5 for Innovation Actions); Quality and efficiency of the implementation. Scoring 0-5 per criterion (half-marks possible); individual criterion threshold 3/5; overall threshold 10/15. Proposals are ranked by score with Impact weighting for IAs, and ex aequo resolution per Horizon rules. Clean Aviation portfolio alignment and potential linking/cooperation between actions may be requested during Grant Agreement Preparation.

Clean Aviation-specific elements: CAJU evaluation uses an IA template for large-scale projects; single-stage calls are standard. Hearings with applicants may be organised at consensus stage. Proposals may receive recommendations for technical and financial adjustments during Grant Agreement Preparation to enhance alignment with Clean Aviation HLOs and SRIA portfolio coherence. Model Cooperation Agreement (for links across topics) and CA JU Model Consortium Agreement are provided. EASA involvement may be contracted by beneficiaries under a dedicated Clean Aviation service contract template where relevant to certification-readiness support.

Timeline and Q&A:Submission system opens by end of March 2026. Two Q&A publications are foreseen: first on 17 February 2026 and second on 17 April 2026. Applicants should monitor the Topic Updates section and Q&A document on the portal.

Budget Context:Total call budget across all topics: €329,500,000 (Budget year 2026). Indicative number of grants per topic not published. Topic-specific EU contribution ranges are not specified on the topic page; see the Full Description of Topics and Work Programme for any further detail.

Who Can Apply and How

Standard Horizon Europe eligibility and consortium rules apply unless a Clean Aviation topic-level derogation is explicitly stated. This topic page does not announce a derogation; therefore, the default applies: proposals are typically submitted by consortia of independent legal entities from at least three different eligible countries (minimum three from three different EU Member States or Associated Countries). A derogation may be possible under Article 72 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2085 for a single legal entity or consortia not meeting the standard minimum, but only if explicitly set at topic level in the Work Programme. Applicants must verify the specific topic conditions in the Clean Aviation Work Programme 2026-27.

Eligible countries: EU Member States and countries associated to Horizon Europe (Associated Countries). Entities from certain third countries may be eligible for funding per the Programme Guide, otherwise they may participate without EU funding as associated partners. Restrictions apply: entities established in China are not eligible to participate in Innovation Actions, except in duly justified cases; entities established in Russia, Belarus, or in non-government controlled territories of Ukraine are not eligible to participate in any capacity. Entities subject to EU restrictive measures are ineligible. Additional sector-specific security restrictions in the General Annexes may apply depending on proposal content.

Funding, Rates, and Costing

Type of support: Horizon Europe Innovation Action grants. Funding rates: up to 70% of eligible costs for for-profit legal entities; up to 100% for non-profit legal entities. Indirect costs are eligible via the 25% flat-rate on eligible direct costs (with standard exceptions). Standard actual-cost grant under the Horizon Action Grant Budget-Based Model Grant Agreement.

Financial and operational capacity checks apply. Proposals must include a plan for dissemination, exploitation, and communication. Gender Equality Plan is mandatory for eligible public bodies, research organisations, and higher education institutions from EU Member States/Associated Countries by grant signature. Ethics and, where applicable, security aspects must be properly addressed; proposals may undergo ethics screening/assessment.

Application Package and Templates

Applicants must use the Application Form available in the Submission System when the call opens. To facilitate early preparation, Clean Aviation and the Funding & Tenders Portal provide supporting documents and templates, including:

• Proposal Application Form for this topic (to be completed in the portal when open).
• Financial annex templates (mid-March availability noted): Estimated budget per reporting period; Work Package description (Detailed); Work Package effort (Detailed); Cost Breakdown per beneficiary; Budget summary per applicant and work package; In-kind contributions.
• CA JU Model Consortium Agreement.
• Clean Aviation contract template for services by EASA (for certification-related advisory tasks when relevant).
• Clean Aviation Rules for submission, evaluation, selection, award and review procedures (guidance document).
• Evaluation form templates: Standard HE evaluation forms for RIA/IA/CSA and others as applicable; Clean Aviation-specific evaluation template for large-scale IA projects.
• Model Grant Agreements: HE MGA, Unit MGA, Lump Sum MGA, Operating Grants MGA, FPA.
• Horizon Europe Programme Guide, General Annexes, Online Manual.

Partner Search and Support

A partner search facility is available on the topic page. National Contact Points (NCPs), the Enterprise Europe Network (for SMEs), Research Enquiry Service, the Funding & Tenders Portal IT Helpdesk, and the European IPR Helpdesk provide support. Standards bodies’ helpdesks (CEN-CENELEC, ETSI) can advise on standardisation considerations.

Categorisation and Structured Information

Eligible Applicant Types

Eligible applicants include legal entities established in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries, such as large enterprises and OEMs, SMEs, universities, research and technology organisations (RTOs), nonprofit organisations, and public bodies. Typical Clean Aviation IA consortia combine airframers/OEMs, system integrators, tier suppliers, research institutes and universities, specialist SMEs in fuel cells, hydrogen systems, power electronics, thermal management, avionics/control, certification and safety, and testing infrastructure providers. Entities from certain third countries may participate subject to the Horizon Europe rules and restrictions; funding eligibility for non-associated third countries follows the Programme Guide. Entities established in China are not eligible to participate in Innovation Actions, except in duly justified cases; entities in Russia, Belarus, and non-government-controlled areas of Ukraine are not eligible.

Funding Type

Grant under Horizon Europe (Innovation Action), managed by the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking.

Consortium Requirement

Default Horizon Europe consortium requirement applies: at least three independent legal entities, each established in a different EU Member State or Associated Country, with at least one in a Member State. The Clean Aviation Work Programme may include a topic-level derogation allowing a single applicant or other compositions (Article 72 of Regulation (EU) 2021/2085), but such a derogation must be explicitly stated in the topic conditions. This topic page does not publish such a derogation; applicants should verify the Work Programme’s specific topic text.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility)

Eligible: EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries. Entities from some non-associated third countries may participate with or without EU funding as per the Programme Guide. Restrictions include ineligibility for entities established in China to participate in Innovation Actions (exceptions possible case-by-case), and ineligibility for entities established in Russia, Belarus, and non-government controlled territories of Ukraine in any capacity. Entities subject to EU restrictive measures are ineligible. Standard rules on 5G-related restrictions are not directly applicable to this aviation topic unless relevant elements are proposed.

Target Sector

Aviation and aerospace; hydrogen-powered propulsion; fuel cell systems and balance-of-plant; hydrogen storage, distribution and safety; power electronics and electrical propulsion; thermal management; systems integration and controls; certification-readiness for novel propulsion. Broader links to climate and clean technologies, energy systems for transport, and materials/structures integration for aircraft.

Mentioned Countries

No specific countries are singled out by the topic. Geographic eligibility follows Horizon Europe: EU Member States and Associated Countries. The General Annexes note restrictions on entities established in China (for Innovation Actions), and the ineligibility of entities established in Russia, Belarus, and non-government controlled territories of Ukraine in any capacity. Deadline references use Brussels time.

Project Stage

Development, validation, and demonstration. Sub-systems at TRL5 on ground; integrated FC engine at TRL4. Emphasis on maturing critical FC propulsion techno-bricks, integrated system demonstration, and pathways to certification-readiness in subsequent phases.

Funding Amount

Topic-specific EU contribution range is not specified on the topic page. The total call budget across topics is €329,500,000 (2026). Applicants should consult the Clean Aviation Work Programme 2026-27 and the Full Description of Topics for any indicative distribution. Innovation Actions typically fund multi-partner, multi-year demonstrations with substantial budgets; applicants must propose a credible, cost-efficient budget aligned to the scope and expected outcomes.

Application Type

Open call, single-stage submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. The official application form must be used within the submission system. Proposal page limits and layout are defined in the Application Form Part B; admissibility and eligibility are per Horizon Europe General Annexes.

Nature of Support

Financial support in the form of a grant. Non-financial support includes access to guidance, Q&A, partner search, and standardisation/certification advisory pathways (e.g., potential EASA advisory services via a separate service contract between EASA and project beneficiaries if needed for certification-readiness activities).

Application Stages

Single-stage. Proposals are evaluated once against the three award criteria (Impact weighted 1.5 for IAs). Hearings with applicants may be organised during the evaluation if necessary.

Success Rates

The topic page and call documentation do not publish success rates. Clean Aviation calls are competitive; applicants should ensure excellence, strong impact with credible pathways, and robust implementation plans aligned to Clean Aviation SRIA and portfolio.

Co-funding Requirement

Innovation Action funding rates under Horizon Europe: up to 70% of eligible costs for for-profit entities; up to 100% for non-profit legal entities. Beneficiaries must cover the remaining share of costs accordingly. No-profit and no double funding rules apply.

Templates and Structure of the Application

Applicants prepare Part A (administrative data, participants, budget overview) and Part B (technical narrative) in the Submission System. The following supporting templates and references are provided for early preparation:

• Proposal Application Form for this topic (in system at call opening).
• Financial annex templates: Estimated budget per reporting period; Work Package description (Detailed); Work Package effort (Detailed); Cost Breakdown per beneficiary; Budget summary per applicant and work package; In-kind Contribution.
• Evaluation form templates (HE standard for RIA/IA/CSA; Clean Aviation IA Large-Scale template).
• Model Grant Agreements (HE MGA, Unit MGA, Lump Sum MGA, Operating Grants MGA, FPA).
• Guidance documents: Horizon Europe Programme Guide; General Annexes; HE Online Manual; Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual; Clean Aviation Rules for submission, evaluation, selection, award and review; Clean Aviation SRIA; Clean Aviation Work Programme 2026-27; Full Description of Topics.
• Call-specific additional documents: CA JU Model Consortium Agreement; Clean Aviation EASA service contract template (for certification advisory tasks).
• Where relevant: templates for Financial support to third parties; Information on clinical studies (not expected for this aviation topic).

Evaluation Details and Thresholds

Compliance and Special Conditions

• Ethics: projects must comply with EU, international and national ethical principles; ethics self-assessment is required; ethics screening/assessment may set requirements as grant obligations.
• Security: if any sensitive information arises, applicable security appraisal rules will apply; unlikely for this topic unless proposals include sensitive elements.
• Gender: Gender Equality Plan requirement for eligible organisations by grant signature; gender dimension in R&I content addressed where relevant.
• Open Science: quality of open science practices, data management, and access to results needed to validate publications should be addressed where applicable.
• IPR: Background identification and access rights must be managed; exploitation and protection strategy for results is expected.
• Standardisation and certification: engagement with EASA or standards bodies where relevant; an optional EASA advisory service contract template is available for Clean Aviation projects.

How to Prepare a Competitive Proposal (Outline Guidance)

1. 1Define a coherent FC propulsion architecture and critical sub-systems mapped to TRL targets (TRL5 for sub-systems on ground; TRL4 for integrated engine) with quantified KPIs (power density, efficiency, mass, safety-compliant design, thermal management).
2. 2Detail test plans and facilities for ground validation (relevant environment for sub-systems), including safety case, hydrogen handling, and fault management; outline interfaces and integration pathways to aircraft or testbeds.
3. 3Provide a certification-readiness roadmap (identification of applicable environmental and safety standards, MoCs, gap analysis) and plan interactions with regulators/standards bodies.
4. 4Articulate environmental impact (lifecycle emissions, non-CO2 effects where appropriate), system efficiency gains, and contribution to Clean Aviation SRIA HLOs.
5. 5Show robust consortium capabilities: OEMs/system integrators, FC/hydrogen specialists, thermal management and power electronics expertise, test infrastructure, research partners, and SME innovators.
6. 6Establish credible risk management, supply chain strategy (materials, stacks, BOP), and manufacturability/maintainability considerations for scaling.
7. 7Plan exploitation: background and results IP, freedom-to-operate, standardisation inputs, and industrialisation roadmap; include a clear dissemination and communication plan.

Key Administrative Facts

• Call: Clean Aviation CfP 04; multiple topics across SMR, HER, H2 thrusts; this topic is in the HPA area.
• Opening date: 31 March 2026. Deadline: 19 May 2026, 17:00 Brussels time.
• Single-stage evaluation; Impact criterion weighted 1.5 for Innovation Actions.
• Portal partner search available; NCPs and other support services accessible.
• All proposals must be submitted electronically; paper submissions are not accepted.
• Admissibility and eligibility are governed by General Annexes A and B; legal and financial set-up by Annex G.
• Overall call budget (all topics): €329,500,000 (2026).

Summary: What this Opportunity Is and How to Explain It

This Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking topic funds an Innovation Action to mature hydrogen fuel cell propulsion building blocks and demonstrate them on the ground, paving the way for fully electric, hydrogen fuel cell powered aircraft. The project should deliver critical FC engine sub-systems at TRL5 on ground and demonstrate an integrated FC engine at TRL4, addressing lightweighting, compactness, efficiency, safety, power electronics, thermal management, and controls. Proposals are single-stage and evaluated under Horizon Europe rules (Excellence, Impact with 1.5 weighting, and Implementation), with additional Clean Aviation portfolio alignment considerations. Eligible applicants include EU/Associated Country legal entities across industry, academia, and research, forming a consortium that can design, integrate, and test FC propulsion sub-systems and engines in relevant environments. Funding is provided as an Innovation Action grant with standard Horizon Europe funding rates (70% for for-profit, 100% for non-profit). The call opens on 31 March 2026 and closes on 19 May 2026. Applicants should use the official portal templates, ensure compliance with ethics and eligibility, and provide a robust plan for demonstration, certification-readiness pathways, exploitation, and contribution to Clean Aviation’s decarbonisation goals.

Footnotes

1. 1Official topic page: HORIZON-JU on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Topic page. Additional guidance includes the Horizon Europe General Annexes, the Clean Aviation Rules for submission/evaluation, and the Clean Aviation Work Programme 2026-27.

EU Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking Call 4: HORIZON-JU-CLEAN-AVIATION-2026-04-HPA-01

Opportunity Overview

This call funds the development and ground demonstration of critical components and sub-systems for a hydrogen fuel cell engine targeting a fully electric hydrogen fuel cell powered aircraft. The project must achieve TRL5 for components/sub-systems and TRL4 for the integrated lightweight, compact, and efficient fuel cell engine, enabling a viable hydrogen-powered aircraft concept. Full details are in the topic description document published with the call.

Programme:Clean Aviation CfP 04 (HORIZON-JU-Clean-Aviation-2026-01).

Type of Action:HORIZON-JU-IA (Horizon Europe Joint Undertaking Innovation Action).

Model Grant Agreement:HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based (HORIZON-AG).

Key Dates and Process

Single-stage submission process. Planned opening: 31 March 2026. Deadline: 19 May 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Submission system opens end of March 2026. Proposal templates and financial annexes available now on the Funding & Tenders Portal. Q&A releases: 17 February 2026 and 17 April 2026. Indicative evaluation timeline per Horizon Europe General Annex F.

1. 1Check topic page regularly for updates.
2. 2Use mock evaluation forms for self-assessment.
3. 3Partner search available on portal.

Eligibility and Who Can Apply

Legal entities forming a consortium of at least three independent entities from different EU Member States or Associated Countries (at least one from a Member State). Single entities or consortia not meeting this may be eligible if specified in the topic. Eligible countries per Horizon Europe Annex B. Non-EU entities possible under conditions. Must comply with financial/operational capacity, exclusion criteria (Annex C), and ethics requirements.

Target applicants: Industry leaders (e.g. engine manufacturers like Safran, MTU), SMEs, research organisations with expertise in fuel cells, hydrogen systems, propulsion for aviation. Strong track record in TRL advancement essential. Collaboration with EASA possible via service contracts.

Funding Details

Call 4 total budget: €329.5 million across 18 topics. Specific budget for this topic not individually specified; forms part of Hydrogen Powered Aircraft (HPA) stream (€101 million/4 projects). Typical large-scale IA awards substantial (e.g. prior calls: €15-€60 millionper project). Budget-based actual costs, funding rate up to 70% (100% for non-profits). No-profit rule applies.

Expected TRL Progression:Start: TRL4. End: TRL5 (components/sub-systems), TRL4 (integrated engine). Ground demonstration required.

Evaluation Criteria

Specific template: Evaluation Form CAJU Large Scale Projects (IA Actions). Thresholds: 3 per criterion, 10 overall. Scoring 0-5. Focus on alignment with Clean Aviation SRIA, HLOs, and TRL targets.

Key Requirements and Conditions

• Consortium must demonstrate capacity for TRL advancement and ground testing.
• Compliance with aviation safety, environmental standards; potential EASA involvement.
• Detailed work packages, budget breakdown, consortium agreement required.
• Ethics self-assessment; no human embryo stem cells unless justified.
• Open science practices; gender dimension in research.
• No Chinese entities eligible for IA actions.

Application Documents and Process

Proposal templates available now (Part B application form, financial annexes mid-March 2026). CAJU Model Consortium Agreement provided. Submit via Funding & Tenders Portal. Page limits per General Annexes. Admissibility: complete, readable, page limits.

Key Documents:Clean Aviation Work Programme 2026-27, Full Description of Topics, Q&A, SRIA, HE General Annexes, Model Grant Agreement.

Strategic Context and Impact

Supports Clean Aviation SRIA HPA thrust for zero-CO2 aircraft (EIS 2035-2040s). Targets 100% CO2 reduction via fuel cells. Complements prior projects (e.g. HEROPS, FAME). Enables market uptake via certification readiness (CRL), synergies with Clean Hydrogen JU. High impact on EU aviation competitiveness, Green Deal goals.

Applicants should align with Phase 2 goals: TRL6 demonstrations by 2028-2029, flight tests. Monitor partner search for consortia building.

Primary source: Clean Aviation Topic Page. Check for updates; Q&A process explained in release documents.

Footnotes

1. 1TRL: Technology Readiness Level (1-9 scale). Ground demonstration at TRL5 requires relevant environment validation.