Synergies and mutual learning with national and regional initiatives in Europe on Industrial decarbonisation (CSA)

The EU Funding and Tenders Portal has announced a Horizon Europe grant opportunity titled HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-TWIN-TRANSITION-38. This initiative targets "Synergies and mutual learning with national and regional initiatives in Europe on Industrial decarbonization" under the Coordination and Support Action (CSA) framework. The objective of the call is to enhance cooperation among EU Member States and Associated Countries to decarbonize energy-intensive industries, facilitating research, innovation, and the deployment of necessary technologies.

Eligible applicants mainly include national and regional governments and relevant public authorities responsible for industrial policies directed towards energy-intensive industries. The program promotes the establishment of consortia, as collaboration among multiple entities across different regions is emphasized. Submission of proposals is expected to follow a single-stage open call, with a deadline set for 23 September 2025.

Funding is provided through a lump-sum grant under the HORIZON-AG-LS model, with indicative budgets ranging around 1,000,000 EUR. The call encourages the development of national and regional industrial decarbonization roadmaps and policies aligned with the EU's Clean Industrial Deal.

The expected outcome is to foster a greater exchange of best practices, enhance coordination among actions under frameworks such as the ERA Action and the SET-Plan, and establish monitoring and reporting mechanisms for national and regional decarbonization efforts. The initiative addresses goals related to accelerating the decarbonization of industries, improving technology roadmaps, and ensuring a comprehensive approach involving government authorities.

The program is designed to mobilize collaborative efforts across Europe in support of sustainable transformation and innovation within industrial sectors, particularly energy-intensive industries such as steel and chemicals. Successful applicants will receive the necessary financial support to promote and implement these strategic initiatives aimed at supporting decarbonization. Detailed conditions for participation, evaluation, and award processes are outlined in Horizon Europe's General Annexes, and applicants are advised to refer to various guidance documents for comprehensive information on application requirements and processes.

The EU Funding and Tenders Portal presents a Horizon Europe call, specifically the INDUSTRY (HORIZON-CL4-2025-01) call, focusing on "Synergies and mutual learning with national and regional initiatives in Europe on Industrial decarbonisation (CSA)" under the topic HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-TWIN-TRANSITION-38. This call aims to foster increased cooperation among Member States and Associated Countries in decarbonizing energy-intensive industries through research, innovation, and deployment of relevant technologies.

The call is a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (HORIZON-CSA) with a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] and follows a single-stage submission process. The opening date for submissions is 22 May 2025, and the deadline for submissions is 23 September 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The indicative budget for the topic is 1,000,000 EUR, with an expected number of 1 grant.

The expected outcome of this call is to increase cooperation across Member States and Associated Countries related to European, national, and regional initiatives in the field of decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries in the context of a Research and Innovation (R&I) deployment agenda. It supports the implementation of accelerating the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries as part of the ERA Action on “Accelerating R&I investments for Europe’s industrial Transformation and Competitive Sustainability” within the 2025-2027 ERA Policy Agenda. The call also aims to facilitate the exchange of best practices, contribute to the coordination of actions under the ERA Action and the SET-Plan, facilitate the development and updating of industrial decarbonisation roadmaps, and make nationally and regionally funded projects available on the INCITE-Platform.

The scope of the call emphasizes that the governance of the action should be under the authority of national and regional governments and relevant public bodies responsible for policies, strategies, and programs addressing energy-intensive industries. Proposals should support the coordination of funding from national and regional public authorities for research, innovation, acceleration of public/private R&I, and deployment of technologies for decarbonizing energy-intensive industries. These proposals should align with the Clean Industrial Deal policies and build upon the Mutual Learning Exercise on Industrial Decarbonisation.

Coordination and support activities should include:

Promoting active networking, information exchange, mutual learning, and a whole-of-government approach involving national and regional authorities.

Building an overview of national and regional technology roadmaps, strategies, and action plans on industrial decarbonisation.

Comparing this overview to relevant work at the European level, including the ERA Industrial Technology Roadmap, SRIAs of Processes4Planet and Clean Steel Partnerships, activities under the Innovation Funds, the SET-Plan, the Net Zero Industry Act, and the 2020 Taxonomy Regulation.

Building and exchanging knowledge and expertise in national and regional industrial decarbonisation roadmapping and developing monitoring tools and indicators.

Promoting the valorisation of knowledge and results from EU, national, and regional projects.

Implementing the action through analytical work, information and data provision, and workshops to facilitate collaboration.

General conditions for participation include admissibility conditions related to proposal page limits and layout, eligible countries, and financial and operational capacity. Evaluation and award processes are detailed in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum.

Applicants are directed to various guidance documents, model grant agreements, and additional resources such as the Horizon Europe Programme Guide, EU Financial Regulation, and the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual for detailed information. Partner search announcements are available on the portal to facilitate consortium building.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call seeks to coordinate and support initiatives aimed at decarbonizing energy-intensive industries across Europe. It encourages collaboration among national and regional authorities, knowledge sharing, and the development of effective strategies and roadmaps to achieve industrial decarbonisation goals in alignment with EU policies and initiatives. The call is structured as a Coordination and Support Action, providing funding to facilitate networking, analysis, and the exchange of best practices among participating countries and regions.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types include national and regional governments and relevant public bodies who are responsible for national and regional policies, strategies and programmes addressing energy intensive industries. Other types are not explicitly excluded, but the focus is clearly on public authorities.

Funding Type: The funding type is primarily a grant, specifically a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (HORIZON-CSA) with a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] model grant agreement. There are also HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) and HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) and HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions (HORIZON-COFUND)

Consortium Requirement: The content suggests that a consortium of multiple applicants is expected, as the focus is on cooperation across Member States and Associated Countries. The governance of the action should be under the authority of national and regional governments and relevant public bodies.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and Associated Countries. Non-EU/non-Associated Countries may also be eligible if they have specific provisions for funding participation in Horizon Europe projects.

Target Sector: The program targets the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries, digital technologies, advanced materials, and the twin transition (digital and green transition). It also touches upon manufacturing.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity mentions EU Member States and Associated Countries. It also refers to non-EU and non-associated countries (third countries) that may have specific funding provisions.

Project Stage: The project stage varies depending on the specific action type. Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) typically support networking, information exchange, and roadmapping activities, suggesting a focus on development and validation stages. Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Innovation Actions (IA) cover a broader range, including research, development, demonstration, and deployment.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary significantly depending on the specific topic and action type:
HORIZON-RIA: around €6,000,000 (one topic has €30,000,000 total)
HORIZON-CSA: around €1,000,000 to €3,000,000 (topics range from €1,000,000 to €5,000,000 total)
HORIZON-IA: around €3,000,000 to €8,000,000 (topics range from €3,000,000 to €42,000,000 total)
HORIZON-COFUND: around €90,000,000 (one topic has €45,000,000 budget)
Some topics specify a funding range per project (e.g., €5,000,000 to €7,000,000).

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 grants. The eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum.

Application Stages: The application process is a single-stage process.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants per topic is provided, which can be used to estimate the success rate based on the number of applications.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding is required for HORIZON-COFUND actions. For other action types, the co-funding requirements are not explicitly stated in this content.

Summary:
This opportunity is a set of funding calls under the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically within the INDUSTRY call (HORIZON-CL4-2025-01). It aims to foster cooperation and advancement in various industrial sectors, including digital technologies, advanced materials, and the twin transition (digital and green). The calls are structured around different types of actions: Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), Innovation Actions (IA), and Programme Cofund Actions.

The primary focus is on decarbonising energy-intensive industries and supporting the implementation of the ERA Action on accelerating R&I investments for Europe’s industrial transformation. The calls encourage the exchange of best practices, the coordination of actions under the ERA Action and the SET-Plan, and the development or updating of national and regional industrial decarbonisation roadmaps.

Eligible applicants are primarily national and regional governments and public bodies responsible for industrial policies. However, the participation of entities from EU Member States, Associated Countries, and potentially non-EU/non-Associated Countries with specific funding provisions is possible.

The funding amounts vary significantly, ranging from approximately €1,000,000 for Coordination and Support Actions to €45,000,000 for Programme Cofund Actions. The application process is a single-stage open call, and funding is provided as a lump sum.

In essence, this opportunity seeks to mobilise collaborative efforts across Europe to drive research, innovation, and the deployment of technologies that will enable the decarbonisation and sustainable transformation of energy-intensive industries, aligning with the Clean Industrial Deal and broader EU climate and industrial policy objectives.