Five major eu funding programmes - and what your application needs to reach them
The European Union hosts several major funding programmes targeted at startups and scale-ups. Get the rundown and special ICN insights on what to look out for when you apply.
ICN insights courtesy of Ben Jorgensen, Head of ICN Secretariat
The EU offers substantial funding opportunities for cleantech innovators, but navigating them can be a complex task. Programmes differ in purpose, expectations and evaluation logic, and strong applications can fail simply because they target the wrong instrument.
In this guide, we unpack five key EU funding programmes, outlining how they work, what kind of projects they support, and add a couple of ICN insights applicants should keep in mind when preparing their proposals.
#1. Horizon Europe
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Funding opportunities under Horizon Europe are set out in work programmes. To apply for funding, organisations start by finding a suitable call on the EU’s Funding & Tenders Portal. Most projects involve working with partners from other countries, so applicants usually build a consortium and prepare a joint proposal that explains the idea, the expected impact and how the project will be carried out.
Proposals are submitted online and assessed by independent experts. If a proposal is selected, the applicants work with the European Commission to finalise a grant agreement before the project can start.
With a 2021-27 funding pool of 93,5 billion Euro, Horizon Europe is the European Union’s flagship funding programme for research and innovation. It focuses on frontier projects, global challenges and industrial competitiveness.
For cleantech innovators, Horizon Europe’s key funding instruments include its Cluster 5: Climate, Energy and Mobility, as well as the three funding areas Pathfinder, Transition and Accelerator, managed under The European Innovation Council (EIC).
As a part of the Horizon Europe-funded project HI2 Valley, ICN contributes its international cluster expertise to strengthen collaboration across the hydrogen value chain.
ICN INSIGHT: Think ‘mission logic’
Horizon Europe is often approached as a research funding programme, but strong proposals usually succeed because they articulate a system-level mission logic. Evaluators look for clarity on how the project contributes to EU priorities such as climate neutrality, resilience, or competitiveness, and how different actors across the value chain are mobilised. Consortia that already reflect parts of the real-world system the project aims to change tend to be more convincing than technically excellent but isolated collaborations.
#2. Interreg
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Interreg programmes regularly publish calls for project proposals, and applying for funding involves matching your project idea with an open call.
Organisations typically form a cross-border partnership with public and private actors from eligible regions.
Applications are submitted to the programme’s managing authority and evaluated against cooperation, relevance and impact.
Interreg is a European Union funding programme that supports cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation. It focuses on practical solutions to shared regional challenges, with an emphasis on implementation, pilot actions and knowledge exchange rather than frontier research.
For cleantech innovators, Interreg’s most relevant programmes include Interreg Baltic Sea Region and Interreg South Baltic, which support applied innovation, pilot projects and market uptake in collaboration with public authorities, regions and other companies across borders.
As a part of the Interreg South Baltic-funded SMEBeyond project, ICN leverages its global cleantech network to help small and medium-sized enterprises in the South Baltic region overcome barriers to internationalisation.
ICN INSIGHT: Clarity over novelty
Interreg rewards projects that solve concrete cross-border challenges with credible governance and delivery structures. Novelty is less important than clarity on who does what, how decisions are made, and how results will be implemented in practice. Projects that treat Interreg mainly as a networking or pilot exercise often struggle, whereas those anchored in real institutional mandates and long-term cooperation tend to perform better.
#3. innowWide
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The Innowwide programme provides grant funding to SMEs and startups for running market feasibility projects in cooperation with local actors in the selected target country.
A call for projects is launched once a year and the feasibility studies have a 6-month timeframe.
Proposals are evaluated competitively, and selected companies sign a grant agreement.
Innowwide is a European Union funding programme designed to help innovative SMEs explore international markets outside Europe. It focuses on early-stage market and business feasibility activities that reduce the risks associated with international expansion of new technologies.
For cleantech SMEs, Innowwide supports activities such as market studies, regulatory analysis, technical adaptation and local partner identification in third countries, helping companies prepare for internationalisation, investment or scale-up beyond the European market.
In collaboration with the Every1 project, ICN has recently hosted a webinar for cleantech SMEs ready to internationalize, exploring the Innowwide program and sharing tips on how to write succesful applications.
ICN INSIGHT: Combine activities
Innowwide works best when embedded in a broader project portfolio rather than used as a standalone feasibility grant. While it can support early market exploration outside Europe, identifying and engaging the right local partners often requires parallel activities. Combining Innowwide with Interreg, Horizon Europe, cluster projects, or bilateral cooperation initiatives can significantly strengthen partner access, local credibility, and follow-up potential.
#4. EUREKA EUROSTARS
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To apply for Eureka Eurostars, SMEs form an international R&D partnership with companies or research organisations from participating countries. One SME or startup acts as the project lead and coordinates the joint application.
Calls for projects in the Eurostars programme are usually organised twice a year.
Applications are submitted centrally and evaluated at European level, followed by national funding decisions. Once approved, partners receive funding from their respective national authorities.
Eureka Eurostars is a transnational funding programme supporting market-driven research and development led by SMEs. It focuses on collaborative R&D projects that result in new products, processes or services ready for commercialisation in the short to medium term.
For cleantech innovators, Eurostars provides funding for applied R&D carried out in international SME-led consortia, enabling companies to co-develop and validate technologies with partners across borders while maintaining a strong focus on current market needs.
ICN works closely with its member-cluster Clean, who hosts partner matching seminars and information sessions for Eurostars stakeholders.
ICN INSIGHT: Find the right partners
Eurostars’ bottom-up logic and SME focus make it attractive, but success depends heavily on having well-matched and committed partners in each country. Identifying and engaging these partners is rarely achieved through Eurostars alone. Combining Eurostars with other EU or regional projects, cluster platforms, or ecosystem-building initiatives often creates a much stronger foundation for collaboration and implementation.
#5. ERASMUS+
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To apply for Erasmus+, organisations develop a cooperation or training project aligned with the programme’s education and skills priorities, often in partnership with organisations from other countries.
Applications are submitted either at the national or European level, depending on the action, and successful projects move to a grant agreement before activities start.
Erasmus+ is the European Union’s funding programme for education, training, youth and skills development. It focuses on building human capital, strengthening organisational capabilities and fostering cooperation between education providers, businesses and other stakeholders across Europe.
For cleantech organisations and SMEs, Erasmus+ supports skills development, vocational training, curriculum design and talent pipelines related to the green transition, helping to ensure access to the resources needed to deploy and scale clean technologies.
Working with the Endurance project funded by Erasmus+, ICN and Clean hosts activities and develops learning materials for SMEs and startups eager to integrate green growth, eco-innovation and European Green Deal strategies.
ICN INSIGHT: Think in portfolios
Erasmus+ projects are most compelling when they demonstrate lasting institutional impact beyond courses, exchanges, or events. Strong proposals show how new competencies, curricula, or cooperation models will be embedded in organisations and linked to real innovation and labour-market needs. Projects that connect education actors with industry and regional ecosystems tend to stand out.
Core Insight: Funding starts with fit
EU cleantech funding is about understanding the logic each programme applies and aligning your project accordingly. Organisations that succeed are often those that treat EU funding as a strategic portfolio, not a series of isolated calls.
A clear grasp of evaluation logic, delivery structures and long-term impact can significantly strengthen any cleantech funding application. Taking the time to match ambitions, partnerships and impact to the right instrument can make the difference between a strong proposal and a funded one.