RENEW-BOOSTER EUROCLUSTER CALL N°2 FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THIRD PARTIES

RENEW-BOOSTER Eurocluster Call No.2 offers cascade grants to SMEs for near‑market innovation in photovoltaics, offshore wind and energy grids, with a total budget of €800,000 and a cumulative per‑SME cap of €60,000 across RENEW‑BOOSTER calls. The call runs two strands: Strand A is a two‑step challenge‑driven route (Stage €1 10,000 with ≥20% private co‑funding; Stage €2 50,000 with ≥40% co‑funding) and Strand B is a single‑stage open call with grants up to €10,000, €30,000 or €60,000 and increasing private co‑funding requirements. Projects must deliver demonstrable validation-to-demonstration results within 3–6 months, comply with Do No Significant Harm and anti‑double‑funding rules, and co‑funding must be real private financial contribution (in‑kind and personnel time excluded). Applications must be submitted in English via the EU Survey form on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by 30 November 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time.

What it funds

Scope and focus

Who can apply

Only SMEs established in EU-27 and countries participating in the Single Market Programme (SMP/COSME) are eligible. Applicants must meet the EU SME definition, be able to provide required private co-funding (cash; in-kind not accepted as co-funding), register on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and hold a PIC when requested.

Eligibility and limits (high-level)

How applications are evaluated & practical notes

Proposals are scored on Excellence, Impact and Quality & efficiency of implementation (0–10 each; threshold 6/10 per criterion). At least 10% of funded SMEs should come from countries/regions outside the consortium partners. Final selection subject to available budget and portfolio balance.

Footnotes

1. 1Call text and application details available from the official call page and documents on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal: ec.europa.eu

Opportunity summary

Eligible applicant types

Funding type and nature of support

Consortium requirement and application modes

The call implements two distinct funding strands with different consortium rules and selection processes: Strand A (Challenge-driven) uses a two-step staged process and accepts single-SME applications only (consortia not eligible). Strand B (Open Call) uses a single-stage open selection; SMEs may apply individually or as part of a consortium of up to three SMEs. When applying as a consortium, one SME must act as coordinator and submit a single joint application on behalf of the consortium. Each SME may submit a maximum of one application per strand (one for Strand A and one for Strand B) provided activities are distinct and no double funding occurs.

Geographic eligibility (beneficiary scope) and countries mentioned

Target sectors, technologies and TRL

The call targets innovations contributing to resilient and diversified renewable energy supply chains within three primary sectors: Photovoltaics (PV), Offshore Wind Energy (including floating offshore wind), and Energy Networks (grid technologies). Cross-sectoral innovations are also eligible (digital twins, AI, quantum computing, blockchain, power electronics, recyclability, manufacturing process innovations, material substitution etc.). Technology Readiness Levels targeted: projects should address technologies around TRL 6-7 (validation, demonstration) and Strand A Stage 2 expects TRL 8-9 outcomes for scale-up and deployment. Examples of eligible innovations are detailed in the call text and include material substitution, manufacturing/process innovation, digital solutions for supply chain traceability and grid optimisation, SF6-free equipment, advanced cables from recycled materials, PV cell/module innovations and recyclability improvements.

Project maturity / expected project stage

Expected project maturity ranges from near-market validation and demonstration (TRL 6-7) through demonstration and deployment readiness (TRL 8-9). Strand A Stage 1 funds proof-of-concept / demonstration at TRL 6-7; Strand A Stage 2 funds scale-up to TRL 8-9. Strand B supports projects up to demonstration/deployment maturity depending on requested grant size.

Funding amounts and budget allocation

Co-funding requirement

Co-funding from the applicant (private financial resources) is mandatory. In-kind contributions and personnel costs are not accepted as co-funding. Co-funding must be real private financial contributions (debt or own funds) and must be demonstrated at application stage and documented during reporting. Minimum co-funding rates: Strand A Stage 1: minimum 20% private co-funding of the grant amount; Strand A Stage 2: minimum 40% private co-funding; Strand B: increasing minimum co-funding rates by grant level (roughly 30% to 50% depending on requested amount), with exact percentages and rules described in the call text and sub-grant agreement.

Application type, templates and submission process

Evaluation process, criteria and selection stages

Eligibility checks are followed by quality evaluation performed by independent evaluators and, for Strand A, with input from challenge owners. Evaluation criteria are Excellence, Impact, and Quality and efficiency of implementation. Each criterion is scored 0 to 10; minimum threshold is 6/10 per criterion. Maximum total score: 30. Tie-breaking rules prioritise Impact, then Excellence, then Quality & efficiency, then geographical balance, and finally Evaluation Committee consensus. Indicative timeline: evaluation in December 2026, results mid-January 2027, contract signature end-January 2027.

Selection volumes and success rate information

The call documentation indicates that Strand B will select between 12 and 72 projects depending on funding level distribution. Strand A selection is challenge-driven with up to three Stage 1 winners per challenge and one Stage 2 winner per challenge. The exact number of awards and overall success rate are not published as fixed figures and depend on the quality of proposals and fund distribution choices; therefore the call does not provide an explicit overall success rate. Applicants should assume competitive selection subject to the available €800,000 budget and the scoring thresholds.

Eligible and ineligible costs

Eligible costs for the RENEW-BOOSTER grant budget include equipment and materials, software and licences, personnel costs funded by the grant (but personnel costs cannot be used as co-funding), external services and subcontracting (justified and necessary), testing and prototyping expenditures, and other project-related expenses. VAT is eligible only if non-deductible under national rules. Ineligible costs include depreciation costs of existing or newly purchased equipment, recoverable VAT, costs unrelated to approved project activities, and costs already financed by other public funds (double funding). Co-funding must be private financial resources and cannot be in-kind or personnel time.

Deliverables, reporting and DNSH

Each funded SME must submit a final deliverable (slides, technical report, KPI summary) and a mandatory impact assessment. The final deliverable must include first results (measured or justified estimates), earnings and/or savings related to targeted KPIs, and a completed beneficiary satisfaction feedback questionnaire. Do No Significant Harm (DNSH) compliance is mandatory: applicants must self-declare DNSH compliance and avoid activities that significantly harm environmental objectives. Non-compliant proposals may be excluded.

Support, helpdesk and complaints

Templates and application structure (applicants guidance)

Evaluation scoring matrix (summary)

What is this opportunity about and how to approach it

RENEW-BOOSTER Call N°2 is a cascade funding opportunity focused on strengthening European renewable energy supply chains in photovoltaics, offshore wind (including floating) and energy networks. The mechanism channels financial grants and business support to SMEs to validate, demonstrate and scale innovations that improve supply chain resilience, reduce dependency on critical raw materials, increase circularity and accelerate the green and digital transition. The call is structured as two complementary strands: a challenge-driven Strand A using a two-step selection to fast-track solutions to pre-defined industry challenges and an Open Call Strand B allowing bottom-up SME proposals across the thematic scope. The funding is limited in size per SME (maximum cumulative €60,000) with mandatory private co-funding and strict rules on co-funding composition (no in-kind or personnel time allowed as co-funding). Applications must be submitted via EU SURVEY in English using the provided templates, include two budget tables (grant and co-funding), and respect DNSH and other EU funding rules. Evaluation uses Excellence, Impact and Quality/efficiency criteria with minimum per-criterion thresholds. The call also provides non-financial support services as part of the RENEW-BOOSTER Accelerator. Applicants should prepare concise, evidence-based submissions showing technical feasibility (TRL), realistic budgets with documented private co-funding, measurable KPIs, and an implementation plan that delivers tangible results within the 3–6 month project timeframe. For Strand A applicants should explicitly map their proposal to the specific challenge description. For Strand B applicants should clearly justify the requested grant level relative to project maturity, co-funding plan and expected impact.

Footnotes

1. 1Full call text, challenge descriptions, templates and application portal are available from the official RENEW-BOOSTER sources: EU SURVEY application and Call Text (see the RENEW-BOOSTER page on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and the EU SURVEY submission link). Call documents and guidance are published at the call page and the EU SURVEY form: ec.europa.eu

RENEW-BOOSTER Call N°2 is a cascade funding opportunity for SMEs working in photovoltaics, offshore wind, and energy grids, with a total budget of 800000 euros and a maximum cumulative support of 60000 euros per SME across the full RENEW-BOOSTER call set1. The call is designed to help close-to-market innovation projects move from validation to demonstration and early deployment over a project duration of 3 to 6 months, and applications must be submitted through EU Survey before 30 November 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time1.

The opportunity sits under the EU Single Market Programme, SMP COSME strand, and supports the Green Deal, Net Zero Industry Act, and Critical Raw Materials Act objectives by strengthening European renewable energy supply chains, industrial resilience, and digital and green transition capabilities1. The official call page and supporting documents are available on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal and in the published call text12.

What the funding is about

The funding supports innovations that improve resilience, diversification, and industrial competitiveness in renewable energy value chains. The project focus is on practical market-oriented solutions that can be implemented quickly and that generate measurable technical, economic, environmental, or operational impact.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants are SMEs established in EU-27 countries and in countries participating in the Single Market Programme and COSME strand, subject to the programme participation rules1. Applicants must meet the EU SME definition and have sufficient operational capacity to implement the project.

SMEs may apply individually to Strand A. For Strand B, SMEs may apply individually or as a consortium of up to 3 SMEs, and consortium partners are jointly responsible for proper use of funds1. Each SME may submit only one application per strand, with the condition that Strand A and Strand B proposals must concern different activities and must not result in double funding1.

Funding amounts and co funding

The call uses two funding strands with different grant logics. Strand A is a two step challenge driven route, while Strand B is a single stage open call with funding levels linked to project maturity1. Private co funding is mandatory and must come from the SME's own financial resources, not from in kind contributions or staff time1.

The official call text states that the cumulative maximum FSTP support per SME across the whole RENEW-BOOSTER set is 60000 euros1. The exact co funding rate for each Strand B tier should be checked in the application template and call text because the published summary refers to increasing private co funding requirements rather than a single fixed rate1.

Eligible scope and challenge topics

The call is not limited to a single topic under the open route. Instead, it supports innovations that strengthen renewable energy value chains, reduce dependency on critical materials, and improve productivity, traceability, resilience, and sustainability.

Submission process and practical requirements

Applications must be completed in the EU Survey submission form, and only the annexes requested in the platform may be uploaded1. The platform closes automatically at the stated deadline, and applicants receive a submission confirmation email if the upload is successful1.

Evaluation process and selection criteria

Eligible proposals are assessed on Excellence, Impact, and Quality and efficiency of implementation, with each criterion scored from 0 to 10 and a minimum threshold of 6 out of 10 per criterion1. The maximum total score is 30 points, and final ranking is based on total score, subject to thresholds and available budget1.

Key obligations and conditions

Funded projects must comply with the Do No Significant Harm principle, avoid double funding, and produce a final deliverable that includes an impact assessment and evidence of first results or justified estimates1. The final report must also include the completed beneficiary feedback questionnaire, and payment can be suspended if contractual obligations, milestones, reporting, or compliance conditions are not met1.

Indicative timeline

Footnotes

1. 1Official call page on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal: RENEW-BOOSTER Call N°2.
2. 2Call text and supporting documents referenced in the opportunity record, including the published application materials and FAQ pages.