Batteries, Renewables, and Energy-Intensive Industries: €200 million in new calls from Horizon Europe Cluster 5

The new funding package provides over €200 million to support cooperative European research and innovation projects, with calls for proposals already open from January 2026.

The focus is on the battery sector, aiming to increase the competitiveness and strategic autonomy of the entire EU value chain. The calls also aim to reduce dependence on raw materials while improving energy storage technologies to increase the resilience of the EU energy system.

Furthermore, specific calls are dedicated to the sectors of renewable energy; energy systems, networks, and storage; carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS); and carbon dioxide removal (CDR).

Finally, the funded projects must contribute to the energy efficiency of the EU's energy-intensive industries, drastically reducing their consumption of fossil fuels and their emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants, while preserving their competitiveness.

Within Cluster 5 of Horizon Europe, proposals can now be submitted for:

Call – Energy, HORIZON-CL5-2026-04-Two-Stage, provides for an overall budget of EUR 23.5 million for 1 topicsThe deadline is set for the March 31, 2026 (1st stage) and for the October 20, 2026 (2nd stage).

HORIZON-CL5-2026-04-Two-Stage-D3-02: The next generation of renewable energy technologies (RIA) Maximum EU contribution per project EUR 4 million, 6 projects to be financed.

Call – Batteries and Energy, HORIZON-CL5-2026-03which provides 10 topics and allocates an overall budget of EUR 176.70 millionThe deadline is set for the March 31, 2026.

HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-18: Grid-shaping capacity for more resilient, renewable-based electricity grids (IA) Maximum EU contribution per project EUR 10 million, 2 projects to be financed.

HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-12: Long life and optimized material use in recyclable Ag and Si-free photovoltaic modules (EUPI-PV partnership) (RIA) Maximum EU contribution per project EUR 5 million, 5 projects to be financed.

HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-19: Cost-effective and sustainable primary equipment for future-ready multi-terminal HVDC systems (IA) Maximum EU contribution per project EUR 12 million, 3 projects to be financed.

HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-29: Pre-commercial assessment for CO2 storage in aquifers (IA) Maximum EU contribution per project EUR 5 million, 5 projects to be financed.

HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-22: AI-Based Forecasting Algorithms for Grid- and Consumer-Sized Energy Sharing – A Social Readiness Pilot Project (IA) Maximum EU contribution per project EUR 6 million, 2 projects to be financed

HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-20: Hybrid AI control framework for next-generation grid-scale energy storage system and system integration (IA) Maximum EU contribution per project EUR 7 million, 2 projects to be financed

HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-01: Targeting key components of the value chain to increase the competitiveness of renewable energy technologies in Europe (RIA) Maximum EU contribution per project EUR 3 million, 3 projects to be financed

HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-21: New solutions for off-grid renewable energy storage for critical infrastructure (RIA) Maximum EU contribution per project EUR 4 million, 3 projects to be financed

HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-13: Industrial expansion and circularity pathway for IPV technologies (EUPI-PV partnership) (IA) Maximum EU contribution per project EUR 10.5 million, 3 projects to be financed

HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D2-02: Development of direct recycling processes (BATT4EU Partnership) (RIA) Maximum EU contribution per project EUR 4.7 million, 3 projects to be financed

For more information: info@iniziativa.cc

Latest Articles

European Cyber Competence Centre: 3 calls open to strengthen leadership and strategic autonomy in cybersecurity

March 13, 2026

Space research: €90,97 million available under Horizon Europe

March 12, 2026

Single Market Programme: €6.9 million available to strengthen the sustainable competitiveness of SMEs in the tourism sector.

March 12, 2026

Creative Europe: €60 million available for European cooperation projects

March 12, 2026

Success Cases

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

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

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

Be.CULTOUR

Beyond CULtural TOURism: human-centred innovations for sustainable and circular cultural tourism

Program: Horizon
Project cost: €4.097.203,75
Contribution: €3.993.328,75
Date: February 2021

A.Abete Srl

Iniziativa, as financial advisor, assisted A.Abete in the subscription of the Campania Bond.

Acquisition transaction: MiniBond
Sector: Aerospace
Deal: 3.500.000
Date: 2024

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

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

Model 231 from 2001

Support for the preparation of the company's Organization, Management and Control Model, drawn up pursuant to Legislative Decree 231 of 2001.

Sector: Wholesale trade of street sweeping machines
Turnover: €27.197.845
Date: 2023

TRACE

SMEs TRAnsition for a European Circular tourism Ecosystem

Program: SMP-COSME
Project cost: €1.251.596,12
Contribution: €1.198.436,50
Date: January 2023

Business Process Reengineering

Business Process Reengineering intervention aimed at the upgrade and technological development of the company's IT assets; support in the design of the company performance monitoring system and in the optimization of organizational processes

Sector: Textile Company
Turnover: €36.081.512
Date: 2022

Santa Maria Terni Hospital

Technical assistance for the economic-financial and management evaluation relating to a project financing proposal pursuant to art. 183, paragraph 15, of Legislative Decree 50/2016 for the "Construction and management of the new Terni hospital"

Sector: Healthcare company PPP
Date: 2021

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

Corporate training

Planning of the training intervention and provision of training, in support of ANCI CAMPANIA, on the issues of Public Private Partnership to the Municipalities of the Campania Region for the simplification of relations with the Public Administrations and the increase in investment opportunities and valorisation of the municipal heritage

Sector: Association of Local Authorities - capacity building
Date: 2021

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

EOS LAUNCH VEHICLE

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

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

NeZAPoB

Nearly Zero Air Pollution Building

Contract: Smart Factory, Agrifood and Life Sciences
Project cost: €1.950.188,75
Non-refundable contribution: €956.868,13
Concessionary Financing: €390.037,75
Date: December 2023

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 Plastic Materials
Turnover: €69.978.904
Date: 2023

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

“NGR-25”

NEXT GREEN REVOLUTION

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

Business Process Reengineering

Business Process Reengineering intervention aimed at perfecting the business model, optimizing the governance and Internal Audit structure and improving processes with a view to upgrading the company information system and controlling performance

Sector: Home care and social care
Turnover: €103.882.395,00
Date: 2022-2024/XNUMX/XNUMX

“NSS2023

Next Smart system in a marine environment

Contract: Innovation Agreement
Project cost: €6.431.394,25
Contribution to spending: €2.000.354,01
Date: September 2020

Management control

Development of the Investment Plan and the economic-financial plan for the opening of Mignon brand sales points of the company business in the main Italian cities and railway stations

Sector: Bars and other establishments
Turnover: €3.918.453
Date: 2018

BRIDGESMEs

Boosting Resilience In five industrial ecosystems through adoption and Deployment of advanced technoloGiEs among SMEs

Program: Horizon
Project cost: €2.487.491,25
Contribution: €2.487.491,25
Date: 2023

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

SEGLUCO

“Eating well and gluten-free: development of a gluten-free croissant (already cooked and frozen) with valuable nutritional characteristics

Contract: PON Horizon2020
Project cost: €2.336.625,00
Contribution to spending: €812.156,25
Concessionary Financing: €467.325,00
Date: June 2021

ULISSE

Usability and recyclability of materials, processes and products for sustainable air transport

Contract: Innovation Agreement
Project cost: €4.815.538,75
Contribution to spending: €1.809.923,73
Date: June 2022

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

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

Airtime

Iniziativa, as a financial advisor, assisted the Airtime Partecipazione group in the listing process on Euronext Paris.

Acquisition operation: IPO on Euronext
Sector: Telecommunications Services
Deal: Undisclosed
Date: 2021

€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 |