Net Zero Technology - Demo Projects Open Call #1

Home Funding Calls for proposals Net Zero Technology - Demo Projects Open Call #1 Net Zero Technology - Demo Projects Open Call #1 JEWEL Grant Cascade funding Internal navigation General information Submission & evaluation process Further information Task description General Information Opening date 01 April 2026 Deadline model single-stage Deadline date 01 June 2026 17:00 (Brussels time) Open For Submission Expected duration of participation 9 months Total funding available 540 000,00 € Project acronym JEWEL Full name of the EU funded project Joint nEtWork for European net-zero manufacturing Leadership Grant agreement number 101236275 Topic SMP-COSME-2024-CLUSTER-01 - Joint Cluster Initiatives (EUROCLUSTERS) for Europe’s recovery Submission & evaluation process Applications are submitted online via the GoodGrant platform within the defined deadline. After submission, proposals undergo an eligibility check by the consortium and then an evaluation by independent experts based on predefined criteria (Excellence, Impact, Implementation). Proposals meeting the minimum thresholds are ranked, and funding is awarded to the highest-scoring projects until the available budget is exhausted. 10 projects will be funded. The minimum consortium is 2 SMEs from 2 different eligible regions (NUTS 2). Show more Further information The call aims to : • Accelerate the deployment of Net-Zero Technologies (NZT) in manufacturing • Support the development of European NZT solutions • Support trans-regional and trans-national SME collaboration • Strengthen European industrial competitiveness. • Contribute to industrial decarbonisation Projects must address at least one of the following NZT categories : • Battery and energy storage technologies : Technologies that improve energy retention, efficiency, and management (e.g., advanced battery cells, thermal storage, etc.) • Hydrogen technologies : Specifically focusing on electrolysers (production of green hydrogen) and fuel cells (using hydrogen for power), which are critical for decarbonizing heavy industry and transport. • Electricity grid technologies : Solutions that make the power grid smarter, more flexible, and capable of handling high loads of renewable energy. • Wind, solar, and other green energy production technologies for decarbonation : This broad category includes renewable energy technologies applied directly to industrial processes to drastically reduce carbon footprints (e.g., electrifying heat processes, integrating wind/solar into factories). Projects should address one or more of the following ecosystems : • Automotive, Mobility or Transport • Aerospace & Defence • Energy-Intensive Industries The guide for applicants is available on the Open Call Website : JEWEL Joint nEtWork for European net-zero manufacturing Leadership | Evoluma Klaster Przemysłowy Task description This Open Call supports SMEs, either as manufacturing end-users or solution providers, in implementing advanced processes and technologies that accelerate the transition towards net-zero manufacturing. Proposals must address a concrete manufacturing use-case, demonstrating direct application within an industrial production environment. Actions shall focus on the deployment and demonstration of mature, near-to-market solutions in real industrial environments (TRL 7–8). The objective is to bridge the gap between applied research and market uptake by enabling scalable, operational implementation. Projects must : Deliver reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impact; Improve energy efficiency and/or optimize resource use; Integrate innovative and qualified digital technologies (e.g., IoT, AI etc.); Be clearly embedded in a manufacturing context and demonstrate measurable results. Eligible activities. The following activities may be supported under this Open Call, provided they are directly linked to the objectives of the project and contribute to the demonstration and deployment of Net-Zero Technologies in a manufacturing context: ·Demonstration and pilot activities Deployment and testing of technologies in real or operational industrial environments Pilot lines, protoptypes, demonstrators, or proof-of-concept validation at TRL 6–8 Integration of technologies into existing production systems ·Technology implementation and adaptation Customisation and integration of NZT solutions into manufacturing processes Retrofitting or upgrading industrial equipment to improve energy efficiency or reduce emissions Process optimisation and digitalisation (e.g. IoT, AI, data-driven monitoring) ·Digital solutions for sustainability Adopting or deployment of digital tools for energy monitoring, optimisation and management Consumption/resource reduction, tracking and valorisation systems Digital twins or predictive maintenance solutions improving resource efficiency ·Circular economy implementation Reuse, recycling or recovery of materials within production processes Development of circular production systems or industrial symbiosis approaches Reduction of raw material consumption and waste generation ·Testing, validation and performance assessment Measurement and verification of environmental impact (e.g. GHG emissions reduction) Life-cycle or performance assessments directly linked to the demonstration Validation of scalability and replicability of the solution Activities that fill the gap between demonstration and commercialization. Applicants are most welcome to also include upskilling, and/or internationalization and value chain strengthening activities, and/or promotion activities, to show the scalability of the solution and contribute to Europe’s leadership in sustainable manufacturing. Projects must clearly indicate : TRL before project start TRL expected at project completion Projects should typically aim to progress from TRL 5–6 toward TRL 7-8.