Europe-Africa Research and Innovation call on Sustainable Energy - 2026

The LEAP-SE initiative, titled "Europe-Africa Research and Innovation call on Sustainable Energy - 2026," is an open opportunity under Horizon Europe's framework, specifically identified as HORIZON-CL5-2024-D3-01-09, with a total budget of €14,529,000. This international collaborative research effort aims to foster sustainable energy solutions between Europe and Africa through joint participation across various stakeholders. The funding primarily focuses on advancing technologies related to sustainable energy, with an emphasis on creating effective partnerships among diverse entities, including research institutions, private sector companies, civil society organizations, and governmental bodies.

Eligible applicants include those engaged in research and innovation in sustainable energy, with explicit encouragement for consortia that comprise both European and African participants. This multi-stakeholder approach is a hallmark of the co-funded call structure, where multiple funding agencies oversee the process, ensuring that selected projects align with defined thematic priorities established within seven multi-annual roadmaps.

The application process consists of two stages: first, a pre-proposal stage where applicants submit abbreviated proposals for evaluation by an International Review Panel, followed by a more comprehensive full proposal stage for those that meet the initial scoring criteria. Scoring for both stages includes assessments of scientific excellence, impact, and quality and efficiency of implementation, with established thresholds for progression.

Applications are reviewed based on detailed scoring systems that acknowledge the complexities of different research domains. Given the collaborative nature of this initiative, successful proposals must reflect a strong commitment to shared objectives across the participating regions. The initiative includes a co-funding requirement, necessitating that applicants secure matching funds from their own national funding sources or contribute their own financial resources.

The geographic scope covers both EU member states and African countries, facilitating extensive cooperation aimed at addressing priority areas such as the integration and assessment of renewable energy sources, lifecycle management of renewable energy components, smart energy systems and grids, innovative solutions for domestic purposes, and production of green hydrogen.

Overall, LEAP-SE seeks to drive innovative research and development that bridges the technological and developmental gaps across continents, promoting sustainable energy practices that resonate with broader climate neutrality goals. The opportunity encourages active collaboration and emphasizes the need for African institutional participation, thereby fostering knowledge transfer and capacity building. The call opens on November 19, 2025, with two main deadlines for submissions: February 5, 2026, and June 24, 2026.

The LEAP-SE (Long-Term Joint EU-AU Research and Innovation Partnership on Sustainable Energy) call, under the topic HORIZON-CL5-2024-D3-01-09 - Africa-EU CO-FUND action, is now open for submission. The opening date was November 19, 2025. There are multiple cut-off deadlines, with the first on February 5, 2026, and the second on June 24, 2026, both at 16:00 (Brussels time). The total funding available is 14,529,000.00 €. The grant agreement number is 101172838.

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

The submission procedure for LEAP-SE involves a two-step application process. Proposals should be submitted via the dedicated submission platform. All call documents are available on the LEAP-RE website. It is strongly advised to submit pre-proposals and full proposals well in advance of the deadlines to avoid technical issues. Extensions due to last-minute technical problems will not be granted.

The evaluation procedure also consists of two stages: one for pre-proposals and one for full proposals.

Evaluation Stage 1: Pre-Proposals

Each eligible pre-proposal will be reviewed by at least two, and often three, International Review Panel (IRP) experts, selected based on their expertise relevant to the proposal's topic.

Pre-proposals will be 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. In cases of 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 scores for each of the three main criteria, ranging from 0 to 5, resulting in a total score between 0 and 15.

A ranking list will be created for each multi-annual roadmap (MAR). Pre-proposals must achieve an average or consensus score of 3 or higher in each of the three evaluation criteria, and a total average or consensus score of 10 or higher, to be considered.

The IRP will produce seven ranked lists (one per MAR) based on the final scores. The Call Steering Committee will then hold a consensus meeting to finalize the Stage 1 pre-proposal assessment and select pre-proposals for Stage 2. A list of 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 projects of high complexity.

The IRP will meet to discuss all proposals, produce an assessment report for each full proposal, and rank the lists of full 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 with all the main evaluation criterion scores of 3 or above. Proposals failing to 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.

Two webinars presenting the call will be held in English and French. The English session is scheduled for November 24, 2025, at 10:00 CET. The French session is scheduled for December 8, 2025, at 13:30 CET. Registration for these webinars is mandatory.

In summary, this call for proposals, LEAP-SE, aims to foster research and innovation collaboration between Europe and Africa in the field of sustainable energy. It focuses on several key thematic priorities, including renewable energy assessment, end-of-life management of RE components, smart systems and grids, productive uses of energy in various sectors, innovative solutions for domestic uses, and green hydrogen production. The application process involves two stages: pre-proposal and full proposal. Both stages are evaluated by an International Review Panel based on scientific excellence, impact, and quality/efficiency of implementation. Successful proposals will contribute to the multi-annual roadmaps defined under the LEAP-RE initiative, promoting sustainable energy solutions in both Europe and Africa.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, given that it is a research and innovation call on sustainable energy within the Horizon Europe framework (HORIZON-CL5-2024-D3-01-09 - Africa-EU CO-FUND action), it is likely that eligible applicants 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, so it is likely that the applicants will be consortia of European and African entities.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, as indicated by the terms "GrantCascade funding" and "Grant agreement number." It is also a CO-FUND action, implying that the EU funding is combined with funding from other sources.

Consortium Requirement: While not explicitly stated, the call is an "Africa-EU CO-FUND action" and part of the "Long-Term Joint EU-AU Research and Innovation Partnership on Sustainable Energy," suggesting that a consortium of European and African partners is required.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes both EU member states and African countries, as it is an "Africa-EU CO-FUND action."

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: The opportunity explicitly mentions Africa and the EU.

Project Stage: The project stage is likely to encompass research, development, validation, and demonstration, given the focus on research and innovation and the specific technology areas mentioned.

Funding Amount: The total funding available is €14,529,000.00. The funding range for individual projects is variable and depends on the specific project and its scope.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a two-step submission process (pre-proposal and full proposal). The deadline model is multiple cut-off.

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

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

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: As a CO-FUND action, co-funding from the applicant or other parties is likely required.

Summary:

The LEAP-SE (Long-Term Joint EU-AU Research and Innovation Partnership on Sustainable Energy) call is a funding opportunity focused on promoting research and innovation in sustainable energy between Europe and Africa. With a total budget of €14,529,000.00, this initiative aims to foster collaboration on various aspects of renewable energy and sustainable energy technologies. The call is structured around seven multi-annual roadmaps (MARs) that address key priorities, including the assessment and integration of renewable energy sources, end-of-life management of renewable energy components, smart stand-alone systems, smart grids for off-grid applications, processes and appliances for productive uses, innovative solutions for domestic uses, and the production and utilization of green hydrogen.

The application process involves a two-step submission: first, a pre-proposal, and then, if successful, a full proposal. The evaluation process is rigorous, with proposals assessed by an International Review Panel (IRP) based on scientific excellence, impact, and quality and efficiency of implementation. Pre-proposals are evaluated, and those meeting specific score thresholds are invited to submit full proposals. Full proposals undergo a similar evaluation process, with the IRP producing assessment reports and ranking the proposals for funding consideration.

This call is a CO-FUND action, indicating that the EU funding is intended to be combined with funding from other sources, likely requiring co-funding from the participating consortia. The geographic scope includes both EU member states and African countries, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the partnership. The call aims to support projects in various stages of development, from research to demonstration. Two webinars, in English and French, are scheduled to provide further information to interested participants. The opening date for submissions is November 19, 2025, with deadlines on February 5, 2026, and June 24, 2026.