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

La Clean Hydrogen Partnership has launched the 2026 call for proposals, allocating €105 million under the Horizon Europe programme with the aim of accelerating the deployment of clean hydrogen technologies across Europe and strengthening European industrial leadership.

The Clean Hydrogen Partnership is a public-private partnership that supports research and innovation in hydrogen technologies in Europe, thus contributing to the European goal of climate neutrality. The Partnership is currently entering its technological ramp-up phase, supporting projects that can bring innovations closer to the market.

The 2026 calls address the following key priorities of the Partnership's Strategic Research Agenda:

Renewable hydrogen production (6 calls, EUR 16 million)
Hydrogen storage and distribution (4 calls, EUR 17.5 million)
Transport (4 calls, EUR 25 million)
Heat and energy (3 calls, EUR 16 million)
Transversal (2 calls, EUR 5.5 million)
Hydrogen Valleys (2 calls, €25 million)Specifically, this call aims to strengthen Europe's position in clean hydrogen by supporting concrete demonstration projects that help reduce costs, increase reliability, and reduce investment risk.

Specifically:

HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-01-01: Development and validation of innovative approaches, catalysts, electrolytes and components for electrolysis technologies based on low-quality water (RIA)
HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-01-02: Cost-efficient and reliable designs towards gigawatt-scale electrolytic hydrogen production plants (RIA)
HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-01-03: Improved components and tools to increase the safety of electrolysers (RIA)
HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-01-04: Innovative business models advancing renewable electrolysis integration in industry (CSA)
HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-01-05: Sustainable hydrogen production from renewable gases and biogenic waste sources through innovative modular reactor design, process intensification and integration (RIA)
HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-01-06: Scalable and high efficiency materials and reactors for direct solar hydrogen production (RIA)
HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-02-01: Affordable, Safe and Sustainable aboveground medium to large GH2 storage (RIA)
HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-02-02: Demonstrating in-line inspection (ILI) to monitor cracks assuring compatibility for operation with hydrogen in new and re-purposed offshore natural gas pipelines (RIA)
HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-02-03: New thermal insulation concepts for bulk liquid hydrogen shipping (RIA)
HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-02-04: Cost-efficient small scale hydrogen liquefaction (RIA)
HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-03-01: Integration of control & monitoring tools and strategies for improved Fuel Cell System durability & reliability (RIA)
HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-03-02: Components Development and Experimental Testing for an Onboard Liquid Hydrogen Supply and Conditioning System in High-Power Fuel Cell Aviation Applications (RIA)
HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-03-03: Flexible and standardized hydrogen storage system (IA)
HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-03-04: Multi-fuel SOFC powertrain for maritime transport (RIA)
HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-04-01: Next generation of reversible proton conducting ceramic cells and stacks for efficient energy applications at ≥1 kW scale (RIA)
HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-04-02: Demonstration of rSOC operation for local grid-connected hydrogen production and utilization (IA)
HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-04-03: Fuel-flexible gas turbine combustion technology for clean and efficient ammonia firing (RIA)
HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-05-01: Public datasets of technologies along the hydrogen value chain for life cycle (sustainability) assessment (CSA)
HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-05-02: Pre-Normative Research on hydrogen odorisation: enhancing safety and detection along the hydrogen value chain (RIA)
HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-06-01: Large-scale Hydrogen Valley (IA)
HORIZON-JU-CLEANH2-2026-06-02: Small-scale Hydrogen Valley (IA)

The deadline for submitting proposals is 15 April 2026 (17:00 CEST).

For more information: info@iniziativa.cc

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Success Cases

Sabina Public Water

PPP operation (pursuant to Legislative Decree 50/2016) concerning the "Implementation and management of a Smart metering system for the automation of the reading and management processes of Sabina Public Water meters and the implementation of a management of data driven water resource management processes”

Sector: Digitalisation
Date: 2023

European Digital Innovation Hub

Heritage Smart Lab

Program: Digital Europe Program and MIMIT
Project cost: €5.137.101,14
Contribution: €2.568.550,58
Date: November 2022

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

Business organization

Support in perfecting the business model, optimizing the organizational structure and company functions, assessing skills and plan to increase professionalism for listing on Euronext Growth Paris

Sector: Telecommunications
Turnover: €1.425.000
Date: 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

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

Luc-Me

Large UAS Conversion – Mro Enhancement

Contract: Major R&D Projects
Project cost: €4.837.833,32
Non-refundable contribution: €2.994.688,75
Date: August 2021

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

MUNICIPALITY OF LUCCA – PORTA ELISA STADIUM

Technical assistance to the Grantor in the evaluation of a Project Financing proposal relating to a "Recovery with demolition and reconstruction of the "Porta Elisa Municipal Stadium" of Lucca and restoration of the historic grandstand" presented pursuant to Law 147/2013 and subsequently adjusted in compliance to Legislative Decree 38/2021

Sector: Sports Facilities PPP
Date: 2021

ISTHMUS

Smart Infrastructures for Transport and Mobility

Contract: Major R&D Projects
Project cost: €5.578.468,75
Contribution to spending: €1.834.279,63
Concessionary Financing: €1.115.693,75
Date: June 2021

CA.MPANIA

MEASUREMENT CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYMERS: NON-INVASIVE ANALYSIS

Contract: Campania startUp 2020
Project cost: €78.862,00
Contribution: €67.032,70
Date: June 2023

Technical assistance

Technical support activities to the CPT Regional Unit of Bolzano for the analysis of economic-financial and equity data and processing of economic, financial, management and ESG performance indicators of the complex of Local Public Enterprises (around 115 entities) with a focus on investee companies with direct participation from the Province (22 entities)

Sector: Investee Companies - performance analysis
Date: 2023
Value of turnover of the companies analyzed: From €3 million to €169 million

Tecno

Iniziativa assisted Tecno in the M&A process which saw them involved in the process of acquiring 65% of Aere. The acquisition is aimed at expanding the services offered by Tecno

Acquisition transaction: Purchase of majority stake
Sector: Energy services
Deal: Undisclosed
Date: 2021

“NGR-25”

NEXT GREEN REVOLUTION

Contract: Innovation Agreement
Project cost: €9.140.577,74
Contribution to spending: €4.495.275,01
Date: November 2022

ROMAN GROUP

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

Sector: Call Center
Date: 2023

Business Process Engineering Startups

Support for the definition of the organizational structure, management and control processes of the commercial funnel and process optimization with a view to upgrading the company information system, design and implementation of the management control system and a KPI dashboard for monitoring the company performance

Sector: Computer programming
Turnover: €60.500,00
Date: 2022

RICE

Rpas for Intelligent Crop Enhancement

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

Technical assistance

Administrative and accounting assistance service for obtaining and reporting financial benefits deriving from community, national and local regulations provided by the Puglia Region

Sector: Publicly owned companies - strengthening of production infrastructures
Date: 2021

BO Industries Srl

New production unit for the production, processing and marketing of butter

Contract: Industrial Development Contract
Project cost: €14.927.461,83
Non-refundable contribution: €6.275.400,00
Date: 2023

Sustainability reports

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

Sector: Textile company
Turnover: €36.081.512
Date: 2023

Cantu Next

“Construction of the new multifunctional arena of Cantù” through the procedure provided for in paragraph 304 art. 1 of the 2014 stability law – Technical assistance to the proposer with particular reference to the drafting activities of the Economic and Financial Plan.

Sector: Sports facilities
Date: 2020

Business Process Reengineering

Reorganization of the activities and processes of the offices in which the organization is organized with the aim of improving the offer of services provided to users with a view to optimizing the available resources and the digital transition

Sector: Local authorities - Organizational and process reengineering
Date: 2022

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

Sustainability Report

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

Sector: Railway, telecommunications and automation
Turnover: €27.506.749
Date: 2023

Giffoni Innovation Hub

CDP Ventur Capital, Opes Lcef Trust and Sefea Impact enter the capital of Giffoni Innovation Hub. Iniziativa assisted Giffoni as a financial and strategic advisor.

Acquisition transaction: Venture Capital
Sector: Academic & Educational Services
Deal: 2.000.000,00
Date: 2022

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

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

Study, research, data analysis

Constitution of the Italian Observatory on Public Shareholdings in partnership with the University of Naples Federico II, the University of Rome Tor Vergata and the University of Milan Bicocca with the aim of carrying out study, research, data analysis, preparation and publication of reports regarding the economic, financial and financial situation

Sector: Public-owned companies - performance analysis
Date: 2020

Business Process Reengineering

Technical support in the analysis and optimization of processes with a view to upgrading the company information system and modernizing logistics activities

Sector: Soft drinks, mineral water and other bottled water industry
Turnover: €110.516.083
Date: 2020

100% Transfer

Iniziativa, as financial advisor, assisted Medinok in the sale of 100% of its capital to Telebit and in the reinvestment of a minority stake in the latter's capital.

Acquisition transaction: 100% sale
Sector: Telecommunications Services & Facility Management
Deal: Undisclosed
Date: 2022

€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 |