European Programs

LIFE 2021-2027: EU funding opportunities for the Clean Energy Transition (Climate)

LIFE 2021-2027 is a European Union’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. This programme includes a new subprogramme for the clean energy transition (LIFE-CET) in the area of climate action. The call for LIFE 2022 applications is expected to take place in May 2022 and will be duly advertised on the Commission's funding and tendering portal.

LIFE-CET provides funding for EU activities in the field of the clean energy transition, previously funded under Horizon 2020.

This sub-programme funds projects that aim to build a national, regional and local policy framework to support clean energy transition; Accelerate the market deployment of technology, digitalization, new services and business models and improve related professional skills; Attract private finance for sustainable energy; Support the development of local and regional investment projects; Engage and empower citizens in the clean energy transition.

Additional information about the LIFE-CET 2021 subprogram can be found at the following links:

• CINEA: https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/life_pt
• LIFE-CET sub-program: https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/life/clean-energy-transition_en
• New application platform: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/home
• Support for applicants: https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/life/life-support-applicants_en
• Commission LIFE Partner Search website: Partner Search (europa.eu)
• Portuguese LIFE homepage: https://life.apambiente.pt/

Source: Website of the European Commission.

LIFE - Climate and Environment projects

LIFE was launched in 1992 and is the only EU programme dedicated specifically to the environmental and climate action. It therefore plays a crucial role in supporting the implementation of EU legislation and policies in those areas by co-financing projects with European added value. LIFE contributes to the necessary transition towards a clean, circular, energy-efficient, low-carbon and climate-resilient economy, to protect and improve the quality of the environment and to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.

The European Parliament approved the agreement on April 29, 2021, with the member states on LIFE, an EU-level program dedicated exclusively to the environment and climate that will come into force retroactively as of January 1, 2021. The total budget allocated to LIFE in the compromise on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 is €5.4 billion, of which €3.5 billion will go to projects in the area of environment and €1.9 billion in the area of climate action.

The program will contribute to achieving the overall goal of spending at least 30 percent of the EU budget on climate objectives. LIFE will also support many biodiversity projects thereby contributing to spend 7.5% of the annual EU budget on biodiversity objectives from 2024 and 10% in 2026 and 2027. In deciding what to fund, the European Commission should give priority to projects that have a clear cross-border European interest, the greatest potential for replication and uptake by the public or private sector, or that mobilize the largest investments. LIFE will also promote the use of green public procurement. The European Commission will periodically monitor and report on the integration of climate and biodiversity objectives, including the amount of expenditure.

HORIZON EUROPE – investing to shape our future

The key objectives of the main EU funding programme for research and innovation are: tackle climate change; help achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goals; boost the EU's competitiveness and growth; facilitate collaboration and strengthen the impact of research and innovation in developing, supporting and implementing EU policies while tackling global challenges; support the creation and better diffusion of excellent knowledge and technologies; create jobs; fully engage the EU’s talent pool, boost economic growth, promote industrial competitiveness and optimise investment impact within a strengthened European Research Area.

The EU research and innovation framework program (2021-2027) addresses the following elements:

Science & Technology - fostering scientific and technological excellence and strengthen the European Research Area (ERA);

Society - tackle policy priorities, including green and digital transitions and Sustainable Development Goals;

Economy – boost Europe's innovation uptake, competitiveness and employment;

The Strategic Plan contains key strategic orientations for R&I support, including impacts, cross-cluster issues and intervention areas covered; identification of co-programmed and co-funded European partnerships; identification of missions; areas for international cooperation; and specific issues, such as the balance between research and innovation; the integration of Social Sciences and Humanities; the role of key enabling technologies and strategic value chains; gender equality, including gender mainstreaming in R&I content; adherence to highest ethics and integrity standards; priorities for dissemination and exploitation.

On 16 March 2021, the Council adopted the regulation establishing the EU's multi-annual framework programme for research and innovation for the years 2021 to 2027 (Horizon Europe). This program has a budget of around €95 billion for research and innovation activities all over Europe between 2021-2027 and is based on four pillars – Science of Excellence (pillar 1), Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness (pillar 2), Innovative Europe (pillar 3) and Extending participation and reinforcement of the European Research Area (pillar 4). Additional information at Horizon Europe - European Commission.

Source: European Commission website.

InvestEU

On March 17th, 2021, the Council adopted Invest EU, the new EU investment program. The programme brings together various financial instruments currently available to support investment in the EU. Building on the success of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (Juncker Plan), it aims at mobilising public and private investment in the EU through an EU budget guarantee of €26.2 billion that will support investment projects of financial partners, such as the European Investment Bank Group, national promotional banks and international financial institutions. Following the adoption of the Programme by the Council and the signature of Regulation (EU) 2021/523, the programme entered into force on March 26^th after publication in the EU's Official Journal.