Europe-Africa Research and Innovation call on Sustainable Energy 2025

The LEAP-SE (Long-Term Joint EU-AU Research and Innovation Partnership on Sustainable Energy) is a grant opportunity within the Horizon Europe framework aimed at enhancing collaboration between European and African institutions in the sustainable energy sector. This initiative is designed to support research and innovation projects addressing critical energy challenges, particularly focusing on renewable energy, smart grids, and green hydrogen.

Eligible applicants include universities, research institutions, small and medium-sized enterprises, and public-private partnerships from EU member states, African Union countries, and Horizon Europe-associated nations. Collaborative consortia that include at least one European and one African partner are mandatory for participation, as single applicants are not eligible.

The total funding available for this call is €9.855 million, with individual projects likely receiving amounts that vary based on scope, but are anticipated to be in the range of €200,000 to €1,000,000. The funding is designated as grants and is part of a co-funding action, implying that applicants must secure additional funding from national or regional programs.

The consortia formed under this call should address priority areas identified in seven multi-annual roadmaps. Key sectors targeted include:

- Assessment and integration of renewable energy sources.
- Management and minimization of environmental impacts related to renewable energy components.
- Development of smart stand-alone systems and grids, especially for off-grid applications.
- Innovations for productive uses in agriculture, industry, and clean cooking solutions.
- Green hydrogen production and utilization.

While the call does not specify particular countries, it promotes collaboration across the EU and AU regions, prioritizing projects that contribute to energy solutions in sub-Saharan Africa.

The application process involves two stages: initial submission of pre-proposals followed by detailed full proposals for selected applicants. The evaluation is conducted by an International Review Panel based on criteria of scientific excellence, impact, and implementation quality. The call has defined deadlines for submissions: the first cutoff is March 27, 2025, followed by a second on September 11, 2025.

Overall, the LEAP-SE initiative aims to strengthen transcontinental partnerships and foster innovative solutions in sustainable energy, aligned with both the AU-EU Innovation Agenda and broader climate goals of the Horizon Europe program.

The LEAP-SE (Long-Term Joint EU-AU Research and Innovation Partnership on Sustainable Energy) call falls under the topic HORIZON-CL5-2024-D3-01-09, which is an Africa-EU CO-FUND action. The grant agreement number is 101172838. The opening date for submissions was January 14, 2025. There are multiple cut-off deadlines, with the first being March 27, 2025, at 16:00 (Brussels time) and the second on September 11, 2025, at 16:00 (Brussels time). The total funding available is 9,855,000.00 €.

The scope of the call focuses on activities recommended for collaboration under LEAP-SE, targeting seven identified multi-annual roadmaps (MARs) and LEAP-RE thematic priorities. These priorities include:

Assessment of Renewable Energy Sources and integration of RES in sustainable energy scenarios. This involves evaluating the potential of various renewable energy sources and incorporating them into sustainable energy plans.

End-of-life and second-life management and environmental impact of RE components. This focuses on managing the disposal or reuse of renewable energy components and minimizing their environmental footprint.

Smart stand-alone systems. This involves developing intelligent, self-sufficient energy systems that can operate independently.

Smart grid (different scales) for off grid application. This focuses on creating smart grids for areas not connected to the main power grid, at various scales.

Processes and appliances for productive uses (agriculture, mobility and industry). This involves developing energy-efficient processes and appliances for use in agriculture, transportation, and industrial sectors.

Innovative solutions for priority domestic uses (clean cooking and cold chain). This focuses on creating new solutions for clean cooking and maintaining cold storage for domestic purposes.

Production and utilisation of Green Hydrogen. This involves the production and use of hydrogen generated from renewable energy sources.

The submission process for LEAP-SE is a two-step application. Proposals must be submitted through a dedicated submission platform. It is strongly advised to submit pre-proposals and full proposals well before the deadline to avoid technical issues. Extensions due to last-minute technical problems will not be granted.

The evaluation procedure also consists of two stages: pre-proposals (step 1) and full proposals (step 2).

Evaluation stage 1: Pre-Proposals

Each eligible pre-proposal will be reviewed by at least two, and often three, International Review Panel (IRP) experts chosen for their expertise in the pre-proposal's topic.

Pre-proposals are assessed based on three main criteria:

Scientific excellence.

Impact.

Quality and efficiency of the implementation.

Detailed evaluation sub-criteria are available in the call text. If there is a significant disagreement among IRP expert scores (a difference of 6 or more points between the lowest and highest total scores), the evaluation panel will hold a consensus meeting to agree on a score for each of the three main criteria, ranging from 0 to 5, resulting in a total score from 0 to 15.

A ranking list will be created for each multi-annual roadmap (MAR). Pre-proposals must score at or above 3 in all three evaluation criteria and have a total average or consensus score at or above 10 to be considered.

The IRP will produce seven ranked lists (one per MAR) based on the final scores. The Call Steering Committee will then decide which pre-proposals will move to stage 2 after a consensus meeting to finalize the stage 1 assessment. High-quality, eligible proposals will be invited to submit a full proposal for Stage 2.

Evaluation stage 2: Full-Proposals

Each full proposal will be evaluated by the International Review Panel based on the same three main evaluation criteria used in stage 1. The IRP will consist of at least three members, and up to four members for highly complex projects.

The IRP will meet to discuss all proposals, create an assessment report for each, and rank the proposals to be considered for funding. Seven ranking lists (one per multiannual roadmap) will be established for eligible full proposals with an overall score of 10 or above and scores of 3 or above in each of the main evaluation criteria. Proposals that do not meet these thresholds will not be recommended for funding.

All proposals will be evaluated together by the same International Review Panel, meaning the multiannual roadmaps will not be treated separately.

Three webinars presenting the call will be held in French, English, and Portuguese. The French session is scheduled for January 20th 2025, at 10:30 CET. The English session is scheduled for January 21st 2025, at 10:00 CET. The Portuguese session is scheduled for January 22nd 2025, at 10:00 CET.

In summary, the LEAP-SE call is a co-funded initiative between the EU and Africa focused on promoting research and innovation in sustainable energy. It aims to foster collaboration between European and African entities to develop solutions for renewable energy assessment, end-of-life management of RE components, smart energy systems, and green hydrogen production, among other priorities. The application process involves a two-step submission and evaluation procedure, with pre-proposals and full proposals being assessed by an International Review Panel based on scientific excellence, impact, and quality/efficiency of implementation. Successful proposals will contribute to achieving the goals outlined in the seven multi-annual roadmaps and the broader LEAP-RE thematic priorities.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, given the nature of the call as a research and innovation partnership on sustainable energy between Europe and Africa, it can be inferred that eligible applicants may include universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other organizations involved in research and innovation activities related to sustainable energy. Public-private partnerships and NGOs could also be eligible. The call is a CO-FUND action, which suggests that national or regional funding agencies could also be involved.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically a CO-FUND action. This means that the EU funding is intended to be combined with funding from other sources, likely national or regional funding agencies in Europe and Africa.

Consortium Requirement: While not explicitly stated, the call for a "Long-Term Joint EU-AU Research and Innovation Partnership" and the focus on collaboration suggest that a consortium of multiple applicants is likely required. The involvement of both European and African partners is strongly implied.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes both Europe and Africa, as the call is for a joint EU-AU research and innovation partnership.

Target Sector: The target sector is sustainable energy. Specific areas of focus include: Assessment of Renewable Energy Sources and integration of RES in sustainable energy scenarios; End-of-life and second-life management and environmental impact of RE components; Smart stand-alone systems; Smart grid (different scales) for off grid application; Processes and appliances for productive uses (agriculture, mobility and industry); Innovative solutions for priority domestic uses (clean cooking and cold chain); Production and utilisation of Green Hydrogen.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the regions of Europe and Africa are explicitly referenced.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project is not explicitly stated, but given the focus on research and innovation, the projects are likely to be in the research, development, validation, and demonstration stages. The call mentions multi-annual roadmaps, suggesting a focus on longer-term projects with a clear path to impact.

Funding Amount: The total funding available is 9,855,000.00 €. The funding range for individual projects is not specified, but it is likely variable depending on the scope and duration of the project.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with multiple cut-off dates.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants.

Application Stages: The application process consists of two stages: pre-proposals (step 1) and full proposals (step 2).

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned. However, the two-stage evaluation process and the ranking of proposals based on specific criteria suggest that the success rate is likely to be competitive, potentially in the 10 to 39% range or lower.

Co-funding Requirement: Given that this is a CO-FUND action, co-funding from the applicant or other parties is likely required. The EU funding is intended to be combined with funding from other sources.

Summary:

The LEAP-SE (Long-Term Joint EU-AU Research and Innovation Partnership on Sustainable Energy) call is a funding opportunity focused on fostering collaboration between European and African entities in the field of sustainable energy. The call aims to support research and innovation projects that address key challenges and opportunities in the sustainable energy sector, with a particular emphasis on renewable energy sources, smart grids, energy access, and green hydrogen. The call is structured around seven multi-annual roadmaps (MARs) that define specific priority areas for collaboration.

The application process involves a two-stage submission and evaluation procedure, starting with pre-proposals and followed by full proposals for selected applicants. Proposals will be evaluated based on scientific excellence, impact, and quality and efficiency of implementation. An International Review Panel (IRP) will assess the proposals, and a Call Steering Committee will make the final selection decisions.

The total funding available for this call is 9,855,000 €, and the projects are expected to contribute to the broader goals of the EU-Africa partnership on sustainable energy. The call is a CO-FUND action, meaning that the EU funding will be combined with funding from other sources, likely national or regional funding agencies. Interested applicants are encouraged to review the call text on the LEAP-RE website and submit their proposals through the dedicated submission platform. Webinars in French, English, and Portuguese are scheduled to provide further information about the call. The opening date for submissions is January 14, 2025, with deadline dates on March 27, 2025, and September 11, 2025.