Call Description:

The European Prize for Women Innovators celebrates the women entrepreneurs behind Europe's most ground-breaking innovations. The prize awards women from across the EU and countries associated to Horizon Europe, whose disruptive innovations are driving positive change for people and planet.

The prize is managed jointly by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency and the European Institute for Innovation & Technology. The winners are chosen by an independent expert jury.

Who can apply? 

Please refer to the “Rules of Contest” document of the call (Section 6. Eligibility, p. 7) for the detailed information regarding the eligibility to participate the call. Please note that each category has different eligibility criteria and limitations.

Prize Categories

There are three prize categories:

The Women Innovators prize, awarded to the most talented women innovators from across the EU and Associated Countries. The winner is awarded EUR 100.000, and two runners-up are awarded EUR 70.000 and EUR 50.000 respectively;

The Rising Innovators prize, awarded to promising young innovators under the age of 35. The winner is awarded EUR 50.000, and two runners-up are awarded EUR 30.000 and EUR 20.000 respectively;

The EIT Women Leadership Award, awarded to exceptional women leaders from the EIT Community The winner is awarded EUR 50.000, and two runners-up are awarded EUR 30.000 and EUR 20.000 respectively.

Eligible applicants can only apply to one category.

Application Deadline:

Applications are now open and will close on 27 September 2023 at 17:00 CET.

For application and more information regarding the call, please visit the call website and the call announcement of the EIT.

Special Conditions:

Please refer to the “Rules of Contest” document of the call for detailed information regarding the special conditions including the eligibility for each prize category.

Call Description:

The European Prize for Women Innovators celebrates the women entrepreneurs behind Europe's most ground-breaking innovations. The prize awards women from across the EU and countries associated to Horizon Europe, whose disruptive innovations are driving positive change for people and planet.
The prize is managed jointly by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency and the European Institute for Innovation & Technology. The winners are chosen by an independent expert jury.

Categories
There are three prize categories:

• The Women Innovators prize, awarded to the most talented women innovators from across the EU and Associated Countries. The winner is awarded EUR 100.000, and two runners-up are awarded EUR 70.000 and EUR 50.000 respectively;
• The Rising Innovators prize, awarded to promising young innovators under the age of 35. The winner is awarded EUR 50 000, and two runners-up are awarded EUR 30.000 and EUR 20.000 respectively;
• The EIT Women Leadership Award, awarded to exceptional women leaders from the EIT Community. The winner is awarded EUR 50 000, and two runners-up are awarded EUR 30 000 and EUR 20 000 respectively.

Eligible applicants can only apply to one category.

Who should apply
The prize is open to women in EU Member States/Assosciated Countries who founded an innovative company two years before the call year. Those applying for the Rising Innovators category must be under 35. There is no age limit to apply for the Women Innovators or EIT Women Leadership prize.

Award criteria
Eligible applications will be evaluated against 3 award criteria:

1. Breakthrough innovation – the company or organisation founded or cofounded by the applicant is pioneering a breakthrough and disruptive innovation within the EU or countries associated to Horizon Europe. 
2. Impact – This innovation addresses a real need or challenge, with significant benefits for people and/or planet.
3. Inspiration – the applicant is an inspiring leader, who has played a pivotal role in the success of the company or organisation. The applicant is a role model who inspires and empowers other women and girls.

How to apply

• Women Innovators Prize
• Rising Innovators Prize
• The EIT Women Leadership Award

Applicants should read the following before submitting their application:

• Rules of contest
   

• 27 September 2023 – 17:00:00 CET - Deadline for applications
• February 2024 – Announcement of finalists 
• March 2024 – Announcement of winners
   

Call Description:

BoostUp! Europe 2023 is an instrument of EIT Manufacturing to promote relationships between innovative startups and industrial Corporates and SMEs. The total budget for this call is 150,000 EUR and the top-5 startups will receive a 30,000 EUR lump sum grant to implement a proof of concept (PoC) of their innovative solution to solve a Corporate/SME challenge.

BoostUp! Europe 2023 Call is a call for mature European startups to solve 5 industrial business challenges, disclosed by this year’s partners – Volkswagen AG, Dana Inc., Talgo, voestalpine Böhler Aerospace, and Berg Propulsion.

Focus areas of the Call:

EIT Manufacturing organises BoostUp! Europe 2023 Call – a pan-European Open Innovation competition for solutions to relevant industrial challenges addressing at least one of the following four thematic areas (EIT Manufacturing flagships):

Flexible Production Systems for Competitive Manufacturing

Low Environmental Footprint Systems & Circular Economy for Green Manufacturing

Digital & Collaborative Solutions for Innovative Manufacturing Ecosystems

Human-machine co-working for socially sustainable manufacturing

This Call is composed of two phases:

Phase 1 is the submission of application form and project concept where the applicants present a technological solution.

In Phase 2 – submission of Proof of Concept (PoC) project full proposal –15 shortlisted startups will be invited to submit a PoC project full proposal showcasing in detail the recommended plan for the proof of concept of their technological solution applied to the specific challenge posed by the Challenge Owner.  These PoC project full proposals will be assessed by a panel of independent experts. 

Top 5 startups selected during the 2nd phase will receive a “growth package” as well as 30,000 EUR in the form of a lump sum grant for the implementation of PoCs of the startups’ innovative technologies applied to the corporates’ challenges. 

Who can apply? 

The “BoostUp! Europe 2023” is open to mature startups with solutions at Technology Readiness Level 7 or higher.

The startups applying to the “BoostUp! Europe 2023” call must be registered headquarters in one of the European Union Member States or countriesassociated to Horizon Europe at the time of their application to the call.

Application Deadline:

The applications will be received until on 1^st September, 23 - 12:00 pm CET.

For application and more information regarding the call, please follow the call website.

Special Conditions:

Please refer to the Terms and Conditions document of the call for the detailed information regarding the eligibility criteria and the special conditions. To reach the document please either use the call website or the “Download the Document”button in our announcement.

Call Description:

Co-create NEB Call for proposals to build sustainable, beautiful and inclusive public space.

The EIT Community invites applicants to develop and submit applications aligned with the New European Bauhaus initiative (hereinafter NEB) focused on developing long-term solutions in collaboration with citizens to deliver transformation that match the needs and demand of a wider community.

The Call Aims:

The overall purpose of this Co-Create NEB Call for Proposals is to demonstrate new solutions to boost the transformation of cities, rural and peri-urban, by bringing individuals and communities closer to nature, bringing a sense of belonging, addressing the needs of territories, and communities that needed specific attention, and transforming value chains and life of materials towards circularity.

Who can apply?

This Call for Proposals is open to legal entities (private or public, KIC partners or not) established in Member States (MS) of the European Union (EU), and/or in Third countries associated to Horizon Europe.

Applications must be a consortia of a minimum 2 partners and a maximum of 4 partners. One of these partners must be a City, region or an affiliated entity to a City or region located in an EU Member State or a Third Country associated to Horizon Europe. At least 2 of the partners must be independent from each other. One partner has to be presented as the Lead Partner.

Applications from RIS countries are encouraged to participate.

For further information regarding Eligibility Conditions, EIT Community New Bauhaus Areas and the Outcomes-Outputs-Impacts Expected from the Projects, please check respectively the Section 2.2, 3.3 and 3.4 of the Call document.

Supported activities

The grant will award products and services (including rapid prototypes) and/or the co-design of of public realm and commons, addressing at least one of the EIT Community NEB Challenges based on the New European Bauhaus four thematic axes:

• Reconnecting with nature
• Regaining a sense of belonging
• Prioritising the places and people that need it the most
• The need for long-term, life cycle thinking in the industrial ecosystem

EIT Fund Allocation: The funding rate is 75% up to 45.000€ for each project, leaving the remaining 25% to be co-funded by the applicant.

In order to have more information, you can join the webinar on 31 July 11:00 CET. Registration for the webinar is open until 27 July 2023.  

The deadline for the application to the call is 16 October, 2023, 17:00 CET. Proposals submitted after the set deadline will not be eligible. For detailed information and to access the application submission platform please visit the webpage of the call.

Special Conditions:

Please use the Call Manual for the details of the Special Conditions and the Eligibility Criteria. 

Call Description:

The Call Aims:

Activate citizen generated solutions and initiatives for European cities/peri-urban/rural areas. Empower citizens to implement new solutions in their communities, influencing local policies for change.

Co-design and co-stewardship of public realm, social activation and educational activities to respond NEB Challenges:

• Re-connecting with nature,
• Re-gaining sense of community and belonging,
• Prioritising the places and people that need it the most,
• Need for a long term, life cycle and integrated thinking in industrial ecosystem.

Outcomes:

• Boost solutions to advance sustainability, beauty and inclusivity of local strategies,
• Prioritise citizen’s needs and empower them to co-design solutions,
• Strengthen transdisciplinary and intergenerational collaboration,

Who can apply? EU/associated countries private or public legal entities. Consortia not allowed.

EIT Funding: 80% up to 15K€ per project and 20% co-funding. 8 selected projects to be implemented in 2024.

In order to have more information, you can join the webinar on 31 July 10:00 CET. Registration for the webinar is open until 27 July 2023.  

The deadline for the application to the call is 29 September, 2023, 17:00 CET. Proposals submitted after the set deadline will not be eligible. For detailed information and to access the application submission platform please visit the webpage of the call.

Special Conditions:

Please use the Call Manual for the details of the Special Conditions and the eligibility criteria. 

Call Description:

The goal of this destination is expected to contribute to the use of efficient and sustainable energy accessible for all with a clean energy system and a just transition.

The calls to be opened within the scope of this destination have been collected under two main topics:

Highly energy-efficient and climate neutral European building stock: Topics targeting energy efficiency in buildings under this Destination seek to achieve the following impacts:

• More energy efficient building stocks supported by an accurate understanding of buildings performance in Europe and of related evolutions.
• Building stocks that effectively combine energy efficiency, renewable energy sources and digital and smart technologies to support the transformation of the energy system towards climate neutrality

Special Conditions:

Unless otherwise provided for in the specific call conditions, legal entities forming a consortium are eligible to participate in actions provided that the consortium includes:

• at least one independent legal entity established in a Member State; and 
• at least two other independent legal entities, each established in the different Member States or Associated Countries. 
• The funding rate is up to 70% of the eligible costs for Innovation Action call topics. This funding rate applies for non-profit legal entities.

Call Description:

Call Description:

Destination 3: Sustainable, secure and competitive energy supply

This destination covers 3 main areas: 

• Renewable Energy
• Energy systems, grids and storage
• Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS)

Global leadership in renewable energy

Renewable energy technologies encompass renewable electricity, renewable heating and cooling and renewable fuel technologies. They provide major opportunities to replace or substitute carbon from fossil origin in the power, heating/cooling, transportation, agriculture and industry economic sectors. Their large-scale and decentralised deployment is expected to create more jobs than the fossil fuel equivalent and, especially, local jobs. Renewable energy technologies are the baseline on which to build a European and global climate-neutral future. A strong global European leadership in renewable energy technologies will pave the way to increase energy security and reliability.

It is imperative to enhance affordability, security, sustainability, and efficiency for more established renewable energy technologies (such as wind energy, photovoltaics, solar thermal, bioenergy or hydropower), and to further diversify the technology portfolio. Furthermore, advanced renewable fuels, including synthetic fuels (which contain also direct solar fuels) and sustainable advanced biofuels, are also needed to provide long-term carbon-neutral solutions for the transport, energy consuming and energy-intensive industrial sectors, in particular for applications where direct electrification is not a technical and cost-efficient option.

In line with the “do not significantly harm” principle for the environment, research and innovation actions for all renewable energy technologies aim to also improve the environmental sustainability of the technologies, delivering products with reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved environmental performance regarding water use, circularity, pollution, and ecosystems. For biofuels and bioenergy improving environmental sustainability is associated with the biomass conversion part of the value chain and the quality of the product, while air pollution associated with combustion in engines falls in the scope of other destinations in Cluster 5 and other environmental aspects will be under Cluster 6.

Synergies with activities in cluster 4 are necessary for integrating renewable energy technologies and solutions in energy consuming industries and ensure that renewable energy solutions do not harm the environment. Complementarities with cluster 6 concern mainly biomass-related activities and with EIC low technology readiness level actions.

All renewable energy technologies are addressed as they have all a strong international market potential, and it will be coherent with the EU policy of industrial leadership worldwide. Regarding the REPowerEU communication, renewable energy technologies are - as described above - a key instrument to diversify EU gas supplies and reduce the EU’s dependence on fossil fuels. Most of the topics in this work programme are centred along two of the REPowerEU tracks, with the remainder of the topics fully contributing to decreasing the EU’s dependence on fossil fuels:

• PV, wind energy and heat pumps, encompassing the most readily available renewable energy technologies to reduce the EU’s dependence on fossil fuels. (17 topics)
• Renewable fuels, encompassing the most readily available technologies (advanced biofuels) but also the less mature ones (synthetic renewable fuels). Renewable fuels can be used in transport but also in buildings and industry to meet the demand for electricity and heat, therefore displacing fossil fuels. Gaseous renewable fuels are one of the named actions in the REPowerEU communication, as regards increasing the production of bio methane twice above the European Green Deal target in 2030. All forms of renewable fuels, and in particular advanced biofuels, contribute to reduce the EU’s dependence, because they are drop-in fuels and direct replacements of fossil fuels, utilizing the existing infrastructure. (8 topics)
• The remainder of the topics also contributes to the objective of decreasing the EU’s dependence on fossil fuels, with the focus either on specific renewable energy sectors (bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean energy and solar thermal) or on crosstechnology activities (next generation renewable energy, market measures, international cooperation). (18 topics)

Main expected impacts:

• Availability of disruptive sustainable renewable energy and renewable fuel technologies & systems accelerating the replacement of fossil-based energy technologies to achieve climate neutrality in the energy sector by 2050, considering future climate conditions, and without harming biodiversity, environment and natural resources.
• Reduced cost and improved efficiency of sustainable renewable energy and renewable fuel technologies and their value chains.
• Support de-risking of sustainable renewable energy and fuel technologies with a view to their commercial exploitation to contribute to the 2030 “Fit for 55” targets increasing the share of renewable electricity, heat and fuels in the EU energy consumption (in particular, 40% renewable energy overall, 2.2% advanced biofuels and 2.6% renewable fuels of non-biological origin).
• Better integration of sustainable renewable energy and renewable fuel-based solutions in all economic sectors, including through digital technologies.
• Enhanced security and autonomy of energy supply in the EU, while accelerating the green transition.  Affordable, secure and sustainable energy solutions to diversify gas supplies in the EU by increasing the level of biomethane.
• Reinforced European scientific basis and European export potential for renewable energy technologies through international collaborations (e.g., the AU-EU Climate Change and Sustainable Energy partnership, the missions and innovation communities of Mission Innovation 2.0).
• Enhanced sustainability of renewable energy and renewable fuels value chains, taking fully into account circular economy, social, economic and environmental aspects in line with the European Green Deal priorities.
• More effective market uptake of sustainable renewable energy and fuel technologies to support their commercialisation and provide inputs to policy making.
• Increased knowledge on the environmental impacts of the different renewable energy technologies along their lifecycle and value chains.

Energy systems, grids and storage

Main expected impacts:

• Increased resilience of the energy system, based on improved and/or new technologies and energy vectors, to control the system and maintain system stability under difficult circumstances.
• Increased flexibility and resilience of the energy system to plan and operate different networks for different energy carriers simultaneously in a coordinated manner that will also contribute to climate neutrality of hard-to-electrify sectors.
• Innovative data-driven services for consumers that empower them to engage in the energy transition. Enhanced consumer satisfaction and increased system flexibility thanks to enabling consumers to benefit from new energy services and facilitating their investment and engagement in the energy transition.
• Improved energy storage and energy vector technologies, in particular technologies for long-term storage of electricity and heat.
• Foster the European market for new energy services and business models as well as tested standardised and open interfaces of energy devices through a higher degree of interoperability, increased data availability and easier data exchange.
• More effective and efficient solutions for transporting and seamlessly integrating offshore energy with new electricity transmission technologies, in particular using superconducting technologies, power electronics and hybrid Alternate Current – Direct Current grid solutions as well as MT HVDC (Multi Terminal High Voltage Direct Current) solutions.
• Based on easy data-sharing, increased flexibility of the energy system to integrate renewables, and better predictability of return on investments in renewable and energy efficiency investments.
• Speeding up of (from early-adoption to upscaling) of new digital technologies in the energy sector for the benefit of the energy transition.
• Development of cyber-security and privacy tools and technologies tailor-made for the specific requirements of the energy system.
• Development of technologies and systemic approaches that optimise energy management of IT technologies.

Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS)

Main expected impacts:

Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS

• Accelerated rollout of infrastructure, in particular for CCUS hubs and clusters.
• Continuing knowledge and best practice sharing activities, in particular on connecting industrial CO2 sources with potential bankable storage sites and installations using CO2, providing greater confidence for decision makers and investors.
• Proven feasibility of integrating CO2 capture, CO2 storage and CO2 use in industrial facilities and to maximize the efforts to close the carbon cycle. Demonstrating these technologies at industrial scale should pave the way for subsequent first-of-a-kind industrial projects.
• Reduced cost of the CCUS value chain, with CO2 capture being still the most relevant stumbling block for a wider application of CCUS. Develop innovative technology for CO2 conversion to reduce the need for pre-concentration and/or purification.
• Adequate frameworks for Measurement, Monitoring and Verification (MMV) for storage and use projects, to document safe storage and for public buy-in of the technology.
• Further research in DACCS and BECCS as CO2 capture technologies in combination with CO2 storage in order to deliver carbon removals.in view of achieving the net zero targets.
• Assess the environmental impacts and risks, in the short, medium and long term, of CCUS technologies, with respect to the Do No Significant Harm principle, and to intergenerational solidarity.

Special Conditions:

• At least one independent legal entity established in a Member State; and 
• At least two other independent legal entities, each established in different Member States or Associated Countries
• The funding rate is up to 70% of the eligible costs for Innovation Action call topics. This funding rate applies for non-profit legal entities.

Call Description:

Destination 3: Sürdürülebilir, Güvenli ve Rekabetçi Enerji Tedariki

This destination covers 3 main areas: 

• Renewable Energy
• Energy systems, grids and storage
• Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS)

Global leadership in renewable energy

Renewable energy technologies encompass renewable electricity, renewable heating and cooling and renewable fuel technologies. They provide major opportunities to replace or substitute carbon from fossil origin in the power, heating/cooling, transportation, agriculture and industry economic sectors. Their large-scale and decentralised deployment is expected to create more jobs than the fossil fuel equivalent and, especially, local jobs. Renewable energy technologies are the baseline on which to build a European and global climate-neutral future. A strong global European leadership in renewable energy technologies will pave the way to increase energy security and reliability.

It is imperative to enhance affordability, security, sustainability, and efficiency for more established renewable energy technologies (such as wind energy, photovoltaics, solar thermal, bioenergy or hydropower), and to further diversify the technology portfolio. Furthermore, advanced renewable fuels, including synthetic fuels (which contain also direct solar fuels) and sustainable advanced biofuels, are also needed to provide long-term carbon-neutral solutions for the transport, energy consuming and energy-intensive industrial sectors, in particular for applications where direct electrification is not a technical and cost-efficient option.

In line with the “do not significantly harm” principle for the environment, research and innovation actions for all renewable energy technologies aim to also improve the environmental sustainability of the technologies, delivering products with reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved environmental performance regarding water use, circularity, pollution, and ecosystems. For biofuels and bioenergy improving environmental sustainability is associated with the biomass conversion part of the value chain and the quality of the product, while air pollution associated with combustion in engines falls in the scope of other destinations in Cluster 5 and other environmental aspects will be under Cluster 6.

Synergies with activities in cluster 4 are necessary for integrating renewable energy technologies and solutions in energy consuming industries and ensure that renewable energy solutions do not harm the environment. Complementarities with cluster 6 concern mainly biomass-related activities and with EIC low technology readiness level actions.

All renewable energy technologies are addressed as they have all a strong international market potential, and it will be coherent with the EU policy of industrial leadership worldwide. Regarding the REPowerEU communication, renewable energy technologies are - as described above - a key instrument to diversify EU gas supplies and reduce the EU’s dependence on fossil fuels. Most of the topics in this work programme are centred along two of the REPowerEU tracks, with the remainder of the topics fully contributing to decreasing the EU’s dependence on fossil fuels:

• PV, wind energy and heat pumps, encompassing the most readily available renewable energy technologies to reduce the EU’s dependence on fossil fuels. (17 topics)
• Renewable fuels, encompassing the most readily available technologies (advanced biofuels) but also the less mature ones (synthetic renewable fuels). Renewable fuels can be used in transport but also in buildings and industry to meet the demand for electricity and heat, therefore displacing fossil fuels. Gaseous renewable fuels are one of the named actions in the REPowerEU communication, as regards increasing the production of bio methane twice above the European Green Deal target in 2030. All forms of renewable fuels, and in particular advanced biofuels, contribute to reduce the EU’s dependence, because they are drop-in fuels and direct replacements of fossil fuels, utilizing the existing infrastructure. (8 topics)
• The remainder of the topics also contributes to the objective of decreasing the EU’s dependence on fossil fuels, with the focus either on specific renewable energy sectors (bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean energy and solar thermal) or on crosstechnology activities (next generation renewable energy, market measures, international cooperation). (18 topics)

Main expected impacts:

• Availability of disruptive sustainable renewable energy and renewable fuel technologies & systems accelerating the replacement of fossil-based energy technologies to achieve climate neutrality in the energy sector by 2050, considering future climate conditions, and without harming biodiversity, environment and natural resources.
• Reduced cost and improved efficiency of sustainable renewable energy and renewable fuel technologies and their value chains.
• Support de-risking of sustainable renewable energy and fuel technologies with a view to their commercial exploitation to contribute to the 2030 “Fit for 55” targets increasing the share of renewable electricity, heat and fuels in the EU energy consumption (in particular, 40% renewable energy overall, 2.2% advanced biofuels and 2.6% renewable fuels of non-biological origin).
• Better integration of sustainable renewable energy and renewable fuel-based solutions in all economic sectors, including through digital technologies.
• Enhanced security and autonomy of energy supply in the EU, while accelerating the green transition.  Affordable, secure and sustainable energy solutions to diversify gas supplies in the EU by increasing the level of biomethane.
• Reinforced European scientific basis and European export potential for renewable energy technologies through international collaborations (e.g., the AU-EU Climate Change and Sustainable Energy partnership, the missions and innovation communities of Mission Innovation 2.0).
• Enhanced sustainability of renewable energy and renewable fuels value chains, taking fully into account circular economy, social, economic and environmental aspects in line with the European Green Deal priorities.
• More effective market uptake of sustainable renewable energy and fuel technologies to support their commercialisation and provide inputs to policy making.
• Increased knowledge on the environmental impacts of the different renewable energy technologies along their lifecycle and value chains.

Energy systems, grids and storage

Main expected impacts:

• Increased resilience of the energy system, based on improved and/or new technologies and energy vectors, to control the system and maintain system stability under difficult circumstances.
• Increased flexibility and resilience of the energy system to plan and operate different networks for different energy carriers simultaneously in a coordinated manner that will also contribute to climate neutrality of hard-to-electrify sectors.
• Innovative data-driven services for consumers that empower them to engage in the energy transition. Enhanced consumer satisfaction and increased system flexibility thanks to enabling consumers to benefit from new energy services and facilitating their investment and engagement in the energy transition.
• Improved energy storage and energy vector technologies, in particular technologies for long-term storage of electricity and heat.
• Foster the European market for new energy services and business models as well as tested standardised and open interfaces of energy devices through a higher degree of interoperability, increased data availability and easier data exchange.
• More effective and efficient solutions for transporting and seamlessly integrating offshore energy with new electricity transmission technologies, in particular using superconducting technologies, power electronics and hybrid Alternate Current – Direct Current grid solutions as well as MT HVDC (Multi Terminal High Voltage Direct Current) solutions.
• Based on easy data-sharing, increased flexibility of the energy system to integrate renewables, and better predictability of return on investments in renewable and energy efficiency investments.
• Speeding up of (from early-adoption to upscaling) of new digital technologies in the energy sector for the benefit of the energy transition.
• Development of cyber-security and privacy tools and technologies tailor-made for the specific requirements of the energy system.
• Development of technologies and systemic approaches that optimise energy management of IT technologies.

Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS)

Main expected impacts:

Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS

• Accelerated rollout of infrastructure, in particular for CCUS hubs and clusters.
• Continuing knowledge and best practice sharing activities, in particular on connecting industrial CO2 sources with potential bankable storage sites and installations using CO2, providing greater confidence for decision makers and investors.
• Proven feasibility of integrating CO2 capture, CO2 storage and CO2 use in industrial facilities and to maximize the efforts to close the carbon cycle. Demonstrating these technologies at industrial scale should pave the way for subsequent first-of-a-kind industrial projects.
• Reduced cost of the CCUS value chain, with CO2 capture being still the most relevant stumbling block for a wider application of CCUS. Develop innovative technology for CO2 conversion to reduce the need for pre-concentration and/or purification.
• Adequate frameworks for Measurement, Monitoring and Verification (MMV) for storage and use projects, to document safe storage and for public buy-in of the technology.
• Further research in DACCS and BECCS as CO2 capture technologies in combination with CO2 storage in order to deliver carbon removals.in view of achieving the net zero targets.
• Assess the environmental impacts and risks, in the short, medium and long term, of CCUS technologies, with respect to the Do No Significant Harm principle, and to intergenerational solidarity.

Special Conditions:

• At least one independent legal entity established in a Member State; and 
• At least two other independent legal entities, each established in different Member States or Associated Countries
• The funding rate is up to 70% of the eligible costs for Innovation Action call topics. This funding rate applies for non-profit legal entities.

Call Description:

The the exploitation of research results and the creation of value for our economy and society, often depend on the skills and abilities of the beneficiaries as well as the intermediaries (i.e., technology/knowledge transfer officers) to present and connect to those stakeholders that can help them take the results into the next level. Therefore, this action focuses on activities to strengthen or build D&E capacities in Widening countries.

One project with a budget of 1-5 million Euros is expected to be funded. In order to achieve the expected outcomes, participation as coordinators to the call is limited to legal entities established in Widening countries, as defined in the Horizon Europe regulation

Call Description:

European Innovation Procurement Awards (EUPIA) – 2023 
Innovation procurement boosts the process of transforming research results and ideas into innovative solutions. It represents an untapped potential to stimulate the demand for innovation. Moreover, it appears to have a positive impact on private spending on research and innovation activities and innovation commercialisation success. 

The new European Innovation Agenda highlights the importance of innovation procurement for the modernisation of the public sector but also for securing Europe’s strategic autonomy and strengthening the European industrial competitiveness globally. 

The European Innovation Procurement Awards aim to recognise public and private buyers, natural persons and those legal entities supporting these practices across Europe in their efforts to promote and stimulate innovation procurement and the innovative ways the solutions are procured.

Categories
In 2023, the European Innovation Procurement Awards is featuring two categories:

• Innovation procurement initiative category: to reward actions, and mid/long term strategies and action plans that trigger different innovation procurement and sustainable solution and practices.
• Facing societal challenges “green energy transition” category: to reward those innovative procurement practices aimed to support the green energy transition.

Each category will reward the winner with EUR 75 000, one second place with EUR 50 000, and one third place with EUR 25 000

How to apply

• Participants can only apply to one of the two categories with the same application and set of activities.
• You can apply until 17 August 2023, 17:00 CET.
• See Rules of Contest for more details of the competition. 

Who should apply
The contest is open to any public and private buyers, natural persons and those legal entities supporting these practices located in one of the EU Member States or Associated Countries to Horizon Europe.

Eligibility criteria

1. Eligible applicants are any public and/or private procurer, individuals/natural persons, and/or legal entities supporting those practices established in one of the Member States (including overseas countries and territories, OCTs) or Associated Countries to Horizon Europe;
2. The awarded procurement practice must have taken place in a Member State (including overseas countries and territories, OCTs) or in an Associated Country to Horizon Europe;
3. The awarded procurement practice must relate to completed or ongoing initiatives started after 1 January 2018. In the case of ongoing activities, only work completed by the submission deadline will be considered for the prize;
4. Applicants that have already received an EU or Euratom prize cannot receive a second prize for the same activities.
5. Winners of former European Innovation Procurement Awards editions, as well as runners-up of the 2022 edition are not eligible;

Award criteria

1. Transformation – stimulating the conversion of procurement practices towards innovation procurement with the aim to ensure a sustainable and inclusive growth.
2. Uptake – the innovative procurement practice is replicable and scalable, and therefore, contributes to providing, more efficient and effective solutions.
3. Collaboration – demonstrated co-operation linked to the innovation procurement practice. Special attention should be paid to the establishment of synergies, to the promotion of best practices, to the support to capacity building and skill development, and to the efforts of knowledge sharing between stakeholders within the different territories, especially among those at different state of maturity in innovation procurement practices.
4. Societal impact – practices with a demonstrated positive quantitative and qualitative impact on society, with special emphasis to achieving the green deal and digital transformation priorities.

Call timeline

• 20 April 2023 – Call opening
• 17 August 2023 – 17.00 CET – Deadline for submissions
• August – December 2023 – Evaluation 
• March 2024 – Information on evaluation results & award publication