NACHIP - First Open Call

The NACHIP First Open Call is a funding opportunity under the North Adriatic Clean Hydrogen Investment Platform, designed to support Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in specific regions of Europe focused on advancing clean hydrogen technologies. The call opened on December 1, 2025, with a deadline for proposals set for February 3, 2026, at midnight Brussels time. The total budget allocated for this funding is €540,000, which will be distributed among successful applicants. Eligible applicants consist solely of SMEs that are established in designated regions across 16 EU member states, including Slovenia, Croatia, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, France, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Czechia, Lithuania, and Latvia. SMEs can either apply individually or form consortia of up to three members to submit proposals. The nature of support offered is in the form of non-repayable grants intended to facilitate commercialization and market development of hydrogen innovations. The evaluation involves a single-stage process where applications are reviewed based on three main criteria: relevance to NACHIP objectives, quality of the proposed project including technical and financial feasibility, and potential impact on market potential, social benefits, and effects on less developed regions. Applications must score above a minimum threshold of 35 points to be considered, with a maximum possible score of 60 points. The evaluation will be carried out by a panel of three independent experts assessing proposals simultaneously. For more information during the application process, potential applicants can reach out to the NACHIP project team at the provided contact email until February 1, 2026. The opportunity aims to enhance innovation and investment in the clean hydrogen sector, fostering regional economic development and contributing to Europe's decarbonization strategies.

The NACHIP First Open Call is a funding opportunity under the North Adriatic Clean Hydrogen Investment Platform project. The call aims to support SMEs in specific regions with funding to advance clean hydrogen investments. The opening date for submissions is December 1, 2025, and the deadline for submissions is February 3, 2026, at 00:00 (Brussels time). The call follows a single-stage submission model. The total funding available is 540,000.00 €. The project acronym is NACHIP, and the full name of the EU-funded project is the North Adriatic Clean Hydrogen Investment Platform. The grant agreement number is 101161397. The topic is I3-2023-IN… - Interregional Innovation Investments Strand 2a. Applications can be submitted through the NACHIP website: nachip.eu. Only SMEs established in the following regions are eligible: Slovenia: Vzhodna Slovenija; Zahodna Slovenija Croatia: Jadranska Hrvatska; Panonska Hrvatska; Sjeverna Hratska Italy: Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lazio; Umbria; Veneto; Sardegna; Sicilia; Calabria; Basilicata; Puglia; Campania; Molise Portugal: Norte; Centro; Oeste e Vale do Tejo; Alentej; Acores; Madeira Spain: Andalucia; Extremadura; Castilla-la Mancha Belgium: Walon France: Guyane; Mayotte; Réunion; Guadalupe Martinique Greece: Kriti; Peloponnisos; Dytiki Ellada; Ionia Nisia; Sterea Ellada; Thessalia; Ipeiros; Dytiki Makedonia; Kentriki Mkedonia; Anatoliki Makedonia Thraki; Voreio Aigaio Bulgaria: Yuzhen tsentralen; Yugoiztochen; Severoiztochen; Severen tsentralen; Severozapaden Romania: Sud-Vest Oltenia; Sud-Muntenia; Sud-Est; Centru; Vest; Nord-Vest; Nord-Est Hungary: Dél-Dunantul; Dél-Alfold; Eszak-Aldold; Eszak-Magyarorszag; Pest; Budapest; Kozep-Dunantul; Nyugat-Dunantul Slovakia: Vychodne Slovensko; Stredné Slovensko; Zapadné Slovensko Poland: Podkarpackie; Malopolskie; Slaskie; Opolskie; Lubelskie; Mazowiecki regionalny; Podlaskie; Warminsko-mazurskie; Kujawsko-pomorskie; Pomorskie; Zachodniopomorskie; Lubuskie; Lodzkie Czechia: Moravskoslezsko; Stredni Morava; Severovychod; Severozapad Lithuania: Vudurio ir vakaru Lietuvos regionas Latvia: Latvia Applications can be submitted by SMEs individually or in consortia of up to 3 members. All applications must be filled and submitted in English. The evaluation is conducted by 3 experts. Applications will be assessed against the following criteria: Relevance (max 20 points): Coherence of the proposed project with the NACHIP objectives and NACHIP partners’ business objectives including progress beyond the state of the art Consistency with the value chains of the industrial partners Complementarity with other innovation actions and I3 projects Quality (max 20 points): Technical-financial feasibility of the action plan Soundness and credibility of the marketing plan Credibility (technical/operational capacity and experience) of the applicant Potential Impact (max 20 points): Market potential Social, territorial, and environmental impact Impact on “Less Developed Regions" Applications below the threshold of 35 points will be rejected. For more information or assistance with the application process, participants can contact the NACHIP project directly at nachip@meta-group.com. Questions can be submitted to the email address until February 1, 2026. In summary, the NACHIP First Open Call provides funding for SMEs located in specific regions of Europe to support projects related to clean hydrogen investments. The application process involves submitting a proposal through the NACHIP website, and the proposals will be evaluated based on relevance, quality, and potential impact. The call aims to foster interregional innovation and contribute to the objectives of the North Adriatic Clean Hydrogen Investment Platform. SMEs should ensure they meet the eligibility criteria and address the evaluation criteria in their proposals to maximize their chances of receiving funding.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant type for this opportunity is SME (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises). Applications can be submitted by SMEs individually or in consortia of up to 3 members. Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically cascade funding, as indicated by the phrase "GrantCascade funding". Consortium Requirement: A consortium is not strictly required. Applications can be submitted by SMEs individually or in consortia of up to 3 members. Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is limited to SMEs established in specific regions within the following countries: Slovenia, Croatia, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, France, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Czechia, Lithuania, and Latvia. The specific regions are listed below: Slovenia: Vzhodna Slovenija; Zahodna Slovenija Croatia: Jadranska Hrvatska; Panonska Hrvatska; Sjeverna Hratska Italy: Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lazio; Umbria; Veneto; Sardegna; Sicilia; Calabria; Basilicata; Puglia; Campania; Molise Portugal: Norte; Centro; Oeste e Vale do Tejo; Alentej; Acores; Madeira Spain: Andalucia; Extremadura; Castilla-la Mancha Belgium: Walon France: Guyane; Mayotte; Réunion; Guadalupe Martinique Greece: Kriti; Peloponnisos; Dytiki Ellada; Ionia Nisia; Sterea Ellada; Thessalia; Ipeiros; Dytiki Makedonia; Kentriki Mkedonia; Anatoliki Makedonia Thraki; Voreio Aigaio Bulgaria: Yuzhen tsentralen; Yugoiztochen; Severoiztochen; Severen tsentralen; Severozapaden Romania: Sud-Vest Oltenia; Sud-Muntenia; Sud-Est; Centru; Vest; Nord-Vest; Nord-Est Hungary: Dél-Dunantul; Dél-Alfold; Eszak-Aldold; Eszak-Magyarorszag; Pest; Budapest; Kozep-Dunantul; Nyugat-Dunantul Slovakia: Vychodne Slovensko; Stredné Slovensko; Zapadné Slovensko Poland: Podkarpackie; Malopolskie; Slaskie; Opolskie; Lubelskie; Mazowiecki regionalny; Podlaskie; Warminsko-mazurskie; Kujawsko-pomorskie; Pomorskie; Zachodniopomorskie; Lubuskie; Lodzkie Czechia: Moravskoslezsko; Stredni Morava; Severovychod; Severozapad Lithuania: Vudurio ir vakaru Lietuvos regionas Latvia: Latvia Target Sector: The opportunity is related to the North Adriatic Clean Hydrogen Investment Platform (NACHIP), indicating a target sector of clean hydrogen and related investments. The topic is "I3-2023-IN… - Interregional Innovation Investments Strand 2a". Mentioned Countries: Slovenia, Croatia, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, France, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Czechia, Lithuania, and Latvia. Project Stage: The project stage is not explicitly mentioned, but the focus on interregional innovation investments suggests projects that are likely in the development, validation, or demonstration stages, aiming to scale up or commercialize clean hydrogen technologies. Funding Amount: The total funding available is €540,000. The funding amount available for each project is not specified, but it will be a portion of this total amount. Application Type: The application type is an open call, with a single-stage submission process. Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant (cascade funding). Application Stages: There is a single stage in the application process. Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned. Co-funding Requirement: The co-funding requirement is not explicitly mentioned. Summary: This opportunity is the NACHIP First Open Call, offering cascade funding to SMEs located in specific regions across several European countries. The call aims to support interregional innovation investments in the clean hydrogen sector. The total funding available is €540,000. SMEs can apply individually or in consortia of up to three members. The application deadline is February 3, 2026. The evaluation criteria include relevance, quality, and potential impact, with a minimum threshold of 35 points required for approval. The call is part of the North Adriatic Clean Hydrogen Investment Platform (NACHIP) project and seeks to promote the development and deployment of clean hydrogen technologies in less developed regions. Interested SMEs can submit their proposals through the NACHIP website and can direct questions to the provided email address until February 1, 2026. The NACHIP project is funded by the EU and aims to foster innovation and investment in the clean hydrogen sector across the participating regions.