Scaling Green Innovation with Industry – Growth Box Call

The Scaling Green Innovation with Industry – Growth Box Call (Green Grid Europe, Grant Agreement 101236890) awards cascade grants to SMEs for validation, demonstration and scaling of pre-developed solutions addressing predefined challenges in energy systems, grid flexibility, renewable integration and digitalisation. Ten grants of up to €50,000 each are available from a total budget of €1,000,000 for projects expected to run about 6 months and with recommended TRL 5–8. Applications must be submitted via EUSurvey with a Declaration of Honour signed by qualified electronic signature before 07 July 2026, 17:00 Brussels time, and selected proposals require cooperation with a Challenge Owner and a minimum evaluation score of 70/100. Successful applicants will implement pilots in real operational environments in direct collaboration with challenge owners (TSOs, DSOs, industrial or public entities).

What it funds

Scope summary

Validation, demonstration and scaling of already-developed innovative solutions (recommended TRL 5–8) addressing predefined industry challenges in grid flexibility, renewable integration, digitalisation or energy system resilience. Activities include adaptation, pilot implementation with a Challenge Owner (TSO/DSO/industry/public), integration/testing in operational environments, performance monitoring and market-readiness preparation.

Who can apply:SMEs (technology providers) proposing solutions to the challenges set by Green Grid industry partners; selected applicants will cooperate directly with a Challenge Owner.

1. 1Funding format: cascade / open call under Green Grid Europe (Eurocluster)
2. 2Grants: 10 awards of up to €50,000 each; total budget €1,000,000
3. 3Project duration: expected participation 6 months
4. 4Eligible TRL: recommended 5–8; pure early-stage research (TRL 1–4) is not eligible
5. 5Submission via EUSurvey with a Declaration of Honour signed with a qualified electronic signature

Selection is single-stage; each applicant may submit one application per challenge. If selected, the applicant must agree terms with the Challenge Owner within 30 calendar days or the offer moves to the next applicant on the reserve list. Full call text and challenge descriptions available at the Open Call page Green Grid Open Call and the EU portal Opportunity page.

Opportunity Snapshot

Call title Scaling Green Innovation with Industry – Growth Box Call. Project acronym Green Grid. Full name of EU funded project Green Grid Europe: Eurocluster for Renewable Energy Growth. Grant agreement number 101236890. Opening date 07 May 2026. Deadline date 07 July 2026 17:00 (Brussels time). Deadline model single-stage. Expected duration of participation 6 months. Total funding available €1,000,000. Funding modality cascade funding (Growth Box stream). This open call is part of SMP-COSME - Joint Cluster Initiatives (EUROCLUSTERS) for Europe’s recovery. Applications must be submitted via the EUSurvey platform and include a Declaration of Honour signed with a qualified electronic signature. Each applicant may submit only one application per challenge. Each application will be evaluated by two independent experts; for each challenge the highest-ranked application scoring at least 70/100 will proceed to the grant/implementation phase. A reserve list of the next three ranked applications will be established. If the selected applicant and the Challenge Owner do not reach agreement within 30 calendar days, the opportunity will be offered to the next ranked applicant on the reserve list. Open Call information available at greengridcluster.eu ¹.

Detailed Eligibility and Scope

Purpose Under the Growth Box stream the eligible activity is validation, demonstration, and scaling of an innovative solution addressing a predefined challenge identified by GreenGrid challenge owners. The objective is to test, validate, and advance the solution under real operational or market conditions contributing to grid flexibility, renewable integration, digitalisation, or energy system resilience.

Technology readiness level requirement The proposed solution must already be developed and demonstrate sufficient maturity for real-environment testing. Recommended TRL 5–8. Activities focused purely on early-stage research or concept development (TRL 1–4) are not eligible.

Eligible activities Examples of eligible actions include adaptation and technical refinement to the specific challenge context; pilot implementation or demonstration in collaboration with the Challenge Owner; integration, testing, and validation in an operational environment; performance monitoring, impact measurement and data analysis; and preparation for market uptake and scaling within the Challenge Owner’s ecosystem or sector. The activity must demonstrate clear added value versus the state of practice and show potential for replication or broader market deployment. Scope must be feasible within the proposed budget and the defined project duration.

Structured Q&A and Categorisation

Eligible Applicant Types:Primarily SMEs. The call text explicitly invites SMEs and technology providers to apply. In addition to SMEs, the operational setup requires collaboration with Challenge Owners such as TSOs, DSOs, industrial companies, or public entities; these Challenge Owners act as partners during implementation but the funding awards (Growth Box grants) are targeted at SMEs. Therefore eligible applicant types are SME and technology provider; other organisation types (large enterprises, research organisations, public bodies) are not indicated as primary recipients for Growth Box grants but may act as Challenge Owners or partners in implementation.

Funding Type:Grant. This is cascade funding (open call issuing grants to beneficiaries). Individual awards are grants of up to €50,000 each in this first Growth Box Open Call.

Consortium Requirement:Single applicant. The call is presented as an opportunity for individual SMEs (applicants) to partner with a Challenge Owner for demonstration activities. The submission rules specify one application per applicant per challenge. There is no explicit multi-partner consortium requirement for the SME applicant; rather the implementation requires cooperation with a Challenge Owner (which is an external partner for the pilot/demonstration).

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):EU/European focus. The call is part of an EU-funded Eurocluster (Green Grid Europe) and is published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Applicants are SMEs operating in the EU (including likely EEA as per standard EU calls), though the call text explicitly addresses industry partners such as TSOs/DSOs and public entities in GreenGrid’s network. The source does not list non-EU countries as eligible; therefore primary geographic eligibility is EU (and implicitly EEA where typical EU cascade rules apply).

Target Sector:Energy systems including grid flexibility, renewable integration, and digitalisation. Secondary relevance to sectors such as cleantech, energy digital services, smart grids, energy storage, demand response, and energy system resilience. Applicants should align with challenges predefined by industry partners in these thematic areas.

Mentioned Countries:No specific countries are named in the scraped text. The call is EU-level and linked to the Green Grid Europe Eurocluster, so the relevant region is the European Union (EU).

Project Stage:Validation, demonstration and scaling. Recommended TRL 5–8; projects should be mature enough for real-environment testing and demonstration, beyond early research (not TRL 1–4).

Funding Amount:Total funding available for this call €1,000,000. The first Growth Box Open Call will award 10 grants of up to €50,000 each to SMEs. Individual award ceiling is therefore €50,000.

Application Type:Open call (single-stage) using the EUSurvey platform. Applicants must submit electronically via EUSurvey and include a Declaration of Honour signed with a qualified electronic signature. Each applicant may submit only one application per challenge.

Nature of Support:Monetary grant support combined with non-financial in-kind collaboration with a Challenge Owner. The Growth Box provides money (grants up to €50,000) to support activities such as demonstration, integration, testing and preparation for market uptake; beneficiaries will also rely on access to real operational environments and cooperation with Challenge Owners (TSOs, DSOs, industrial or public entities) for implementation.

Application Stages:Single-stage evaluation. Applications are evaluated by two independent experts. The selection threshold is 70/100 points. After selection, there is an implementation/negotiation phase with the Challenge Owner; if agreement is not reached within 30 calendar days, the next ranked applicant on the reserve list is invited.

Success Rates:Not explicitly provided. From the call structure and budgets: 10 grants will be awarded in this Open Call. The success rate depends on number of applicants per challenge; the call sets a reserve list of 3 applications per challenge. Without applicant numbers an exact percentage cannot be determined.

Co-funding Requirement:The scraped text does not explicitly state a mandatory co-funding percentage from applicants. The scope and feasibility must be achievable within the proposed budget for the activity, implying applicants should show how activities will be financed. Standard COSME/EU cascade projects sometimes require no mandatory co-funding for small grants but expect clear budgets and possible in-kind contributions (e.g., time, access to facilities) from Challenge Owners. Applicants should consult the official Open Call document for precise co-funding conditions.

Templates and Application Structure:Applications must be submitted via EUSurvey. A Declaration of Honour signed with a qualified electronic signature is mandatory. Although the scraped content does not reproduce the full application template, applicants should expect to provide: 1) Project title and challenge selected; 2) Applicant details (legal name, registration, SME status); 3) Technical description of the solution, including TRL and previous deployments; 4) Description of the planned activities (adaptation, pilot/demonstration, integration, testing, monitoring); 5) Work plan and timeline (must fit the 6-month expected duration); 6) Budget breakdown showing how the requested grant (up to €50,000) will be used and justification of costs; 7) Value added and replication/scalability plan; 8) Risk assessment and mitigation; 9) Letters of support or partnership statement from the Challenge Owner confirming collaboration and access to operational environment; 10) Declaration of Honour signed with qualified electronic signature. Applicants must submit only one application per challenge; check Chapter 16 of the Call document for predefined challenges and specific templates or annexes.

Selection, Evaluation and Implementation Mechanics

Evaluation Each application will be evaluated by two independent experts. The minimum threshold to proceed is 70/100 points. For each challenge the highest-ranked application achieving at least 70 points will be selected for grant/implementation. A reserve list of 3 next highest-ranked applications will be created. Implementation Selected SMEs will work directly with Challenge Owners (TSOs, DSOs, industrial companies or public entities) to implement demonstration and scaling activities in real environments. If no agreement is reached between the selected SME and Challenge Owner within 30 calendar days, the next ranked applicant on the reserve list will be offered the chance to implement. If no suitable applicant remains, the challenge may be reintroduced in a later Open Call subject to availability and feasibility.

1. 1Number of awards: 10 grants in the first Growth Box Open Call.
2. 2Maximum award per SME: €50,000.
3. 3Total call budget: €1,000,000.
4. 4Project duration: expected participation 6 months.
5. 5Evaluation: two independent experts; threshold 70/100; reserve list of 3 per challenge.
6. 6Submission: EUSurvey platform; Declaration of Honour signed with qualified electronic signature.

Practical Guidance for Applicants

Recommended applicant actions Review Chapter 16 of the Call document to select the predefined challenge that matches your solution. Prepare a concise technical proposal demonstrating readiness for real-environment testing (evidence of TRL 5–8), a clear implementation plan for a 6-month pilot/demonstration, a realistic budget not exceeding €50,000 of requested grant funding, and measurable KPIs for performance monitoring and impact measurement. Secure a formal statement or letter of intent from the Challenge Owner confirming collaboration, access to operational environment and the intended scope of integration/demonstration. Complete the EUSurvey form and attach the Declaration of Honour signed with a qualified electronic signature. Submit only one application per challenge.

Risks and considerations Ensure the proposed activity is demonstrably more advanced than concept stage and that required resources and access (Challenge Owner cooperation, test site access, data sharing) are available within the project timeframe. Be prepared to negotiate terms of implementation with the Challenge Owner promptly after selection; failure to agree within 30 calendar days can result in withdrawal of the award and offer to the next applicant on the reserve list. Check the full Open Call document and any annexes on the Green Grid Open Call web pages for precise eligibility and administrative requirements before submission ¹.

Concluding summary

This Growth Box Open Call under the Green Grid Europe Eurocluster offers targeted cascade grants to SMEs to validate, demonstrate and scale pre-developed innovations that address industry-defined challenges in energy systems, grid flexibility, renewable integration and digitalisation. The call finances real-environment pilots and demonstrations (recommended TRL 5–8) with awards up to €50,000 per SME, a total envelope of €1,000,000, and an expected participation period of about 6 months. Applications are submitted via EUSurvey and assessed by two independent experts; selection requires at least 70/100 points. Successful applicants must partner with Challenge Owners (TSOs, DSOs, industrial or public entities) to implement the demonstration in operational contexts. A reserve list of three contingency applicants per challenge is maintained to ensure implementation if initial agreements fail. Applicants should prioritise readiness evidence, a concise implementation and monitoring plan, a feasible budget, and a formal commitment from the Challenge Owner. For full application materials, challenge descriptions and templates consult the Green Grid Open Call pages at the official site ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Open Call information and full call documentation available at greengridcluster.eu and the EU Funding & Tenders Portal opportunity page.

Funding Opportunity Overview

The Scaling Green Innovation with Industry – Growth Box Call is a cascade funding initiative under the Green Grid Europe: Eurocluster for Renewable Energy Growth programme. This call invites Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to propose innovative solutions that address predefined industry challenges in the fields of energy systems, grid flexibility, renewable energy integration, and digitalisation. The programme aims to foster direct collaboration between technology providers and challenge owners such as Transmission System Operators (TSOs), Distribution System Operators (DSOs), industrial companies, and public entities to validate and scale impactful solutions in real industrial environments.

Key Funding Details

Total Budget Available:€1,000,000 across the entire call.

Grant Amount Per Project:Up to €50,000 per selected project ¹.

Number of Grants:10 grants will be awarded in this first Growth Box Open Call.

Project Duration:Expected duration of participation is 6 months.

Application Timeline

Opening Date:7 May 2026.

Submission Deadline:7 July 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. This is a single-stage submission process.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicant Type

Only Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are eligible to apply. Each SME may submit only one application per challenge within this open call.

Technology Maturity Level

The proposed solution must already be developed and demonstrate sufficient maturity for real-environment testing. The recommended Technology Readiness Level (TRL) is 5 to 8 ². Activities focused purely on early-stage research or concept development (TRL 1–4) are not eligible. This requirement ensures that selected projects can move directly to validation and demonstration phases rather than foundational research.

Challenge Alignment

The innovative solution must address one of the predefined challenges identified by GreenGrid and described in Chapter 16 of the Call document. These challenges fall within the thematic areas of energy systems, grid flexibility, renewable integration, and digitalisation. Applicants must select a specific challenge and demonstrate how their solution directly addresses it.

Eligible Activities

Under the Growth Box stream, eligible activities focus on validation, demonstration, and scaling of innovative solutions under real operational or market conditions. The following activities are specifically eligible:

• Adaptation and technical refinement of the solution to the specific challenge context
• Pilot implementation or demonstration in collaboration with the Challenge Owner
• Integration, testing, and validation in an operational environment
• Performance monitoring, impact measurement, and data analysis
• Preparation for market uptake and scaling within the Challenge Owner's ecosystem or sector

All proposed activities must demonstrate clear added value compared to the current state of practice and show potential for replication or broader market deployment. The scope of activities must be feasible within the proposed budget of up to €50,000 and the defined 6-month project duration.

Submission and Evaluation Process

Submission Requirements

Applications must be submitted via the EUSurvey platform. Each application must include a Declaration of Honour signed using a qualified electronic signature. Applicants are required to carefully review the call document and ensure their proposal aligns with all specified requirements and constraints ³.

Evaluation Criteria

Each application will be evaluated by two independent experts. For each challenge, the highest-ranked application achieving at least 70 out of 100 points will proceed to the grant and implementation phase. Applicants should ensure their proposals clearly demonstrate innovation, feasibility, market potential, and alignment with the specific challenge requirements.

Reserve List and Selection Process

A reserve list will be established comprising the 3 next highest-ranked applications after the selected applicant. If no agreement is reached between the selected applicant and the Challenge Owner within 30 calendar days, the opportunity will be offered to the next highest-ranked applicant on the reserve list. If no suitable applicant is available on the reserve list, the challenge may be reintroduced in a subsequent Open Call, subject to availability and feasibility.

Collaboration Model

The Growth Box programme emphasises direct collaboration between SMEs and challenge owners. Selected SMEs will work directly with challenge owners such as TSOs, DSOs, industrial companies, or public entities to demonstrate the feasibility, performance, and scalability of their solutions. This collaborative approach ensures that solutions are tested and validated in authentic industrial environments, increasing the likelihood of successful market uptake and deployment.

Strategic Context and Objectives

This call is part of the broader European Green Deal initiative and supports the EU's climate targets for 2030 and 2050, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent and achieving climate neutrality by 2050. The programme recognises that meeting sustainability pledges requires rapid diffusion and scaling of innovation across industries and geographies. By focusing on mature technologies ready for real-world testing, Growth Box accelerates the transition from innovation to commercial deployment in the critical energy sector.

Key Application Considerations

Applicants should note the following important points when preparing their proposals:

1. 1Read the call document thoroughly, particularly Chapter 16 which describes the predefined challenges. Scope mismatches are a common reason for rejection.
2. 2Ensure your solution has reached TRL 5–8 and is ready for real-environment testing. Early-stage research projects will be rejected.
3. 3Clearly articulate the added value of your solution compared to current practice and its potential for replication or broader deployment.
4. 4Identify and engage with a suitable Challenge Owner before or during the application process, as collaboration is central to the programme.
5. 5Ensure all budget items are feasible within the €50,000 grant and the 6-month project duration.
6. 6Submit your application via EUSurvey with a qualified electronic signature before the 7 July 2026 deadline.
7. 7Remember that only one application per challenge per applicant is permitted in this call.

Programme Context

The Growth Box call is funded under the SMP-COSME Joint Cluster Initiatives (EUROCLUSTERS) for Europe's recovery programme (Grant Agreement Number 101236890). This positioning reflects the EU's commitment to supporting cluster-based innovation and cross-sectoral collaboration as drivers of economic recovery and green transition. The Green Grid Europe cluster brings together stakeholders across the renewable energy value chain to accelerate the development and deployment of solutions that enhance grid flexibility, integrate renewable energy, and advance energy system digitalisation.

Additional Resources

For detailed information about the predefined challenges, application procedures, and technical requirements, applicants should visit the official Green Grid cluster website at [[https://greengridcluster.eu]].. The full call document, including Chapter 16 with challenge descriptions, is available on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal at [[ec.europa.eu.

Footnotes

1. 1With 10 grants of up to €50,000 each, the total funding available of €1,000,000 can support all 10 selected projects at the maximum grant level if each project utilises the full allocation.
2. 2Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) range from 1 (basic research) to 9 (commercial deployment). TRL 5–8 indicates that the technology has been tested in relevant environments (TRL 5–6), demonstrated in operational environments (TRL 7), or is ready for commercial deployment (TRL 8).
3. 3EU grant applications commonly fail due to administrative errors, scope mismatches, or incomplete documentation. Careful review of the call document and submission requirements is essential to avoid rejection before evaluation.