Innovation Fund: €5.2 billion made available for clean transition technologies and industrial decarbonization

The European Commission has opened three new funding opportunities under the Innovation Fund, one of the world's largest funding programmes for the demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies.

With an estimated budget of around €40 billion between 2020 and 2030, the Programme aims to create financial incentives for companies and public authorities to invest in cutting-edge low-carbon technologies and support Europe's transition to climate neutrality by 2050.

This year, Innovation Fund presents a total budget of € 5.2 billion coming from the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and presents three funding opportunities.

The first opportunity is the general call for net-zero emissions technologies (IF25 NZT), with an overall budget of € 2.9 billion and expected deadline for the April 23, 2026, aims to fill investment gaps, attract public and private capital, and strengthen Europe's leadership in the production and implementation of clean technologies. The open calls are as follows:

General decarbonisation – Large-Scale Projects (INNOVFUND-2025-NZT-GENERAL-LSP) with a budget of EUR 1 200 000 000;

Clean-tech manufacturing (INNOVFUND-2025-NZT-CLEAN-TECH-MANUFACTURING) with a budget of EUR 1 000 000 000;

General decarbonisation – Small-Scale Projects (INNOVFUND-2025-NZT-GENERAL-SSP) with a budget of EUR 100 000 000;

General decarbonisation – Medium-Scale Projects (INNOVFUND-2025-NZT-GENERAL-MSP) with a budget of EUR 300 000 000;

Pilot projects (INNOVFUND-2025-NZT-PILOTS) with a budget of EUR 300 000 000.

Next up is the third auction of the European Hydrogen Bank (IF25 Hydrogen Auction) which, with an overall budget of € 1.3 billion, provides support for the production of hydrogen from renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO) or low-carbon electrolytic hydrogen across three themes, including a new theme for hydrogen producers with maritime or aviation customers.

Finally, there is the first European auction for the decarbonisation of industrial process heat (IF25 Heat Auction) of the future Industrial Decarbonisation Bank aimed at addressing one of the EU's largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. It will be made available EUR 1 billion to support the production of heat from electrified sources and direct renewable sources.

Per IF25 Hydrogen Auction e IF25 Heat Auction the deadline to submit an application is February 19, 2026.

For more information: info@iniziativa.cc

Latest Articles

Iniziativa alongside Pisa Sporting Club in financing the Pisa Training Centre

January 23, 2026

Clean Hydrogen Partnership: €105 million available to boost hydrogen innovation in Europe

January 21, 2026

JPI Oceans: €2 million available to address groundwater gaps.

January 20, 2026

New calls for proposals in the health sector are open: Global Health EDCTP3 and EP BrainHealth

January 20, 2026

Success Cases

RECREATE

Recovery of aeronautical waste from the perspective of industry 4.0 and sustainability

Contract: Innovation Agreement
Project cost: €5.287.587,09
Contribution to spending: €2.908.522,09
Date: July 2022

Dolciaria Acquaviva SpA

Development of new products and services, also for the innovative contents that are introduced compared to industry standards, and capable of satisfying the needs and trends of customers/consumers; as well as maximizing levels of production and management efficiency.

Contract: Development Contract
Project cost: €32.136.493,50
Non-refundable contribution: €11.473.195,00
Concessionary Financing: €2.643.220,00
Date: July 2019

MISENO

Multipurpose Ital-GovSatCom application Services for Emerging user Needs and Objectives

Contract: Innovation Agreements for the Space Economy
Project cost: €8.987.370,13
Non-repayable contribution: €4.192.681,20
Date: June 2020

Beste SpA

Iniziativa acted as financial advisor assisting Beste in the sale of the majority shares in favor of Hind – Industrial Holding

Acquisition transaction: Transfer of majority stake
Sector: Fashion & Apparel
Deal: Undisclosed
Date: 2023

Diadem

Distributed Advanced Energy Management Application

Contract: Campania startUp 2020
Project cost: €427.084,00
Contribution: €298.958,80
Date: September 2023

Comesvil SpA

The private equity fund Auctus Capital Partners has acquired 65% of Comesvil, an Italian excellence in the railway sector, Iniziativa supported the sellers in the deal.

Acquisition operation: Entry into the capital by Auctus Capital Partners
Sector: Railway Construction
Deal: Undisclosed
Date: 2023

MAGYCO

MEMS based appliance for gyro compassing in general aviation and unmanned aircraft applications equipment in the area of homeland security

Program: Horizon - SME Instrument
Project cost: €70.000
Contribution: €50.000
Date: 2016

ARACNE

Advocating the role of Silk Art and Cultural Heritage at National and European scales

Program: Horizon
Project cost: €2.999.634,50
Contribution: €2.999.634,50
Date: March 2023

SGAM SpA

Expansion of production capacity through technological adaptation and extraordinary maintenance interventions of the production plant located in the Municipality of Pratella (CE).

Contract: Development Contract
Project cost: €28.116.140,00
Non-refundable contribution: €7.431.980,00
Date: September 2016

Sustainability Report

Support in the preparation of the corporate sustainability report and definition of the ESG strategy and indicators for monitoring sustainable variables

Sector: Production of paper and cardboard
Turnover: €63.405.288
Date: 2022

Colser Services

Consultancy and support for economic-financial and procedural aspects in all phases of the procedure relating to a PPP initiative (pursuant to paragraph 15 art. 183 Legislative Decree 50/2016) relating to an "Infrastructural enhancement intervention for the integrated management of classrooms, monitoring of structures and environments, environmental hygiene services and general services for the IUAV University of Venice"

Sector: Facility Management
Date: 2020

Italrom Engineering

Egis acquires 100% of the capital of the ITR group, an engineering company based in Romania and Poland headed by a group of entrepreneurs from Campania. Iniziativa assisted them as a 360° advisor.

Acquisition operation: Sale of 100% of the ITR group
Sector: Construction & Engineering
Deal: Undisclosed
Date: 2023

SAMBA

Development of an Aeronautical seat using innovative technologies and materials for additive manufacturing and proposal of an innovative, sustainable and integrated Business Model in the Industry 4.0 perspective

Contract: Sustainable Growth Fund – “Intelligent Factory” Help Desk PON I&C 2014-2020, pursuant to Ministerial Decree 5 March 2018 Chapter III
Project cost: €213.333,75
Non-refundable contribution: €149.333,63
Concessionary Financing: €42.666,75
Date: March 2020

RICE

Rpas for Intelligent Crop Enhancement

Contract: PON Horizon2020
Project cost: €1.453.013,27
Non-refundable contribution: €830.464,07
Date: November 2017

EACP-EUROSME

aErospace inter-clUster smaRt specialization actiOns for SMEs competitiveness in the circular economy approach

Program: COSME
Project cost: €465.320,53
Contribution: €348.990,40
Date: October 2018

Management control and company organization

Design and support for the implementation of the management control system, the KPI dashboard for monitoring company performance and the optimization of the organizational structure and organizational and compliance processes from an ESG perspective

Sector: Production of Plastic Materials
Turnover: €69.978.904
Date: 2021

Sandro Ferrone

Iniziativa, acting as financial advisor, assisted Ferrone in the issuance of a €2,5 million minibond under the Basket Bond Lazio program, to support brand development, retail expansion, and digital investments.

Acquisition transaction: Minibond issue
Sector: Women's Fashion / Fashion & Retail
Deal: Undisclosed
Date: 2025

GEVEN SpA

Construction of a new production unit for the manufacture of aircraft seats

Contract: Law 181/89 and subsequent amendments.
Project cost: €10.441.948
Non-refundable contribution: €2.014.000
Concessionary Financing: €5.220.000
Date: October 2017

MUNICIPALITY OF GIUGLIANO – SCHOOL BUILDINGS

Technical assistance to the Grantor in the evaluation of a Project Financing proposal presented pursuant to paragraph 15 of the art. 183 of Legislative Decree 50/2016 concerning the intervention of "realization of the modernization of sewage systems and management of monitoring and emergency services"

Sector: Facility Management PPP
Date: 2020

Calearo Antennas

Iniziativa assisted the Venetian company, a leader in the production of components for the automotive sector, in defining the strategy and in the process of accessing the financing allocated by the GID Fund established by Invitalia.

Acquisition operation: Debt arrangement
Sector: Automobiles & Auto Parts
Deal: 7.500.000,00
Date: 2022

EOS LAUNCH VEHICLE

Contract: Campania startUp 2020
Project cost: €391.324,00
Contribution: €273.926,80
Date: July 2023

Sidereus Space Dynamics

Primo Venture and CDP Venture Capital enter the capital of Sidereus Space Dynamics with a seed round of 1,5 million. Iniziativa as financial Co-Advisor he accompanied the start-up in the operation.

Acquisition transaction: Venture Capital seed round
Sector: Aerospace
Deal: 1.500.000,00
Date: 2021

Engineering SpA

Consultancy and support for economic-financial and procedural aspects in all phases of the procedure relating to a PPP initiative (pursuant to paragraph 15 art. 183 Legislative Decree 50/2016) relating to an intervention of "Implementation of the Physical and IT infrastructures for the management of the drug cycle, treatment aids and physical and information flows for the Ragusa ASP"

Sector: Hospital
Date: 2019

Technical assistance

Technical assistance in mapping, analysis and description of the processes underlying the implementation of public works, with a view to the project of simplification of investment processes and creation of the Knowledge Hub for Italian Municipalities and assistance in putting the website online

Sector: Association of Local Authorities - simplification of processes and best practices
Date: 2022 - 2023

Management control

Design and support for the implementation of the management control system, the design of a KPI dashboard for monitoring company performance and the optimization of organizational processes

Sector: Production of pastry products
Turnover: €3.947.216
Date: 2019

FAST TRACKS

Fast radio technologies for uninterrupted train to trackside communications

Program: Horizon - SME Instrument
Project cost: €2.370.625,00
Contribution: €1.659.437,50
Date: July 2017

Heineken Italia SpA

Expansion of the production capacity of the Assemini site in order to cover the growing market demands for the products of the Ichnusa range

Contract: Development Contract
Project cost: €61.123.573,72
Non-refundable contribution: €13.890.446,72
Date: April 2022

Management control

Design and support for the implementation of the management control system, the KPI dashboard for monitoring company performance and the optimization of organizational processes

Sector: Environmental analyses
Turnover: €4.090.257
Date: 2020

Technical assistance

Technical, specialist and management assistance service for projects financed under the Pact for the City of Naples FSC 2014-2020

Sector: Local authorities - Technical assistance for FSC programming, monitoring and reporting
Date: 2018 - 2023
FSC resource allocation assigned to the Metropolitan City of Naples: €310.999.041

South Tyrol Health Authority

Technical assistance in the evaluation of a Project Financing proposal presented pursuant to paragraph 15 of the art. 183 of Legislative Decree 50/2016 relating to "Digitization and optimization of the sanitization service and the main Facility Management services of the buildings of the South Tyrol Health Authority"

Sector: Healthcare company PPP
Date: 2019

€1.9 billion Production investments supported | €435 billion Investments in Research & Innovation subsidized | 200 active customers with hundreds of completed transactions | 100 Project Financing/PPP Operations Supported | €1.9 billion Production investments supported | €435 billion Investments in Research & Innovation subsidized | 200 active customers with hundreds of completed transactions | 100 Project Financing/PPP Operations Supported |