Advanced Materials for Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Systems
Yes, they are required to provide a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in the proposal itself.
The challenge is strictly related to technologies for renewable energy sources and mid long-term storage. It does not deal with wearable sensors or conformable electronics.
There is no specific CRM. The proposal simply needs to comply with what are the challenge requirements as stated in the EIC Work Programme 2026.
It would depend on the deep tech content of the proposal related to the hydrogen technology aiming at improving the quality of hydrogen for off-takers.
No, in this case, biogas or biomethane would not be considered a form of renewable energy, or energy storage for the purpose of this challenge, because they are not advanced materials.
No, materials that can be potentially used for coatings to enhance energy efficiency in buildings, e.g., thermal insulation coatings, cannot be considered within the scope of this challenge because the definition for renewable energy sources cannot be applied in this case.
Alternative Concepts and Key Enabling Technologies for Fusion Power Plants
We expect to be able to fund 3-4 companies with this budget, with a rough split over the two application dates. If the budget will be fully used the remaining proposals that are selected by the juries will compete with proposals from the open part.
The challenge deals with deep tech. If technologies, that enable the construction and licensing of fusion reactors, are deep tech, then, they will be considered in scope for Alternative Concepts and Key Enabling Technologies for Fusion Power Plants. All the technologies that comply with the challenge need to be deep tech technologies. The Challenge is focused only on fusion, and not on fission.
Subcontracting should always be a minor part of the overall costs.
Proposals whose technologies start with TRL4 (or, it could also start at TRL 5 or 6) will be evaluated in alignment with the evaluation criteria required for this Challenge, Alternative Concepts and Key Enabling Technologies for Fusion Power Plants. The evidence provided will be proof of the TRL achieved which will not have to be necessarily TRL 8 as for other Accelerator challenges. Please consult the EIC 2026 Work Programme for your reference.
Proposals will be evaluated against the evaluation criteria according to the EIC 2026 Work Programme and will be judged in the light of the scope and specific objectives of the related challenge, Alternative Concepts and Key Enabling Technologies for Fusion Power Plants. Only the explicited priorities will be applied, consult EIC Work Programme 2026.
For the proposals which are evaluated positively by the jury, it will be checked if the mentioned requirement is met before they get a definitive "go".
No, it would not. A project that delivers a conceptual or engineering design of a fusion technology but does not necessarily involve the construction, or testing, of a physical prototype does not comply with the definition of TRL4 or higher TRLs.
Biotech for Regenerating Agricultural Soils
Robotic vertical farms, which use automated systems and controlled environments to produce vegetables do not comply with the requirements of the Biotech for regenerating agriculture soils challenge. However, such proposal could be in line with challenge call 'Deep tech for Climate Adaptation - specific objective: Climate Smart Agriculture' if proposed solution addresses, appropriately, those specific objectives of the challenge.
Challenge proposals could have a broader impact. However, specific objectives of the challenge must be addressed properly.
Biotech solutions within this challenge can be supported by different types of Key Enabling Technologies, KET.
Yes, it does. Proposed solutions could leverage different Key Enabling Technologies, KET.
Yes, it is. Asking for equity only is an option for all the open and challenges proposals.
As indicated in the title of the challenge, this challenge primarily seeks biotech solutions aiming to address specific objectives of the challenge. Proposed solutions could leverage different non-biotech KET - Key Enabling Technologies.
Additionally, which of the 2026 challenges would be the best fit for our project: the 'Biotech for Regenerating Agricultural Soils' challenge or the 'Deep Tech for Climate' challenge’?
That would depend on how the proposal is structured, and the type of impact it is supposed to produce.
As indicated in the title of the challenge, this challenge primarily seeks biotech solutions aiming to address specific objectives of the challenge. Pyrolysis for obtaining biofuel from plastic is not in the scope of this challenge.
Boosting the European Critical Raw Materials value chain
The challenge is focussed on gaining access to Critical Raw Materials, CRM. Therefore, machines that are developed in support of that objective are in scope. Machines for the manufacturing of products from recycled materials is out of scope.
If so, are there any specific priorities or areas of focus within the domain of secondary raw materials, such as developing new recycling technologies or improving the efficiency of existing recycling processes?
Critical Raw Materials and the subset of Strategic Raw Materials as mentioned in the CRMA that are recovered from primary or secondary sources (i.e. recycling) are all in scope of this Challenge.
The objective of this Challenge is to secure access in EU to Critical and Strategic Raw Materials. Novel materials that substitute these Critical and Strategic Raw Materials are important but are outside the scope of this Challenge.
The policy context of this Challenge is the Critical Raw Materials Act. Targets and national strategies are part of the implementation of the CRMA.
The Challenge is open to deep-tech startups that develop technologies including biobased technologies to extract and recycle critical and strategic raw materials within the policy context of the CRMA.
Deep Tech for Climate Adaptation
Microbial solutions and bio stimulants are in scope of second specific objective of the challenge only if they are enhancing climate resilience.
Ocean pollution, specifically collection, recycling of plastics and manufacturing of products from those materials is not within the scope of Deep Tech for Climate Adaptation call. However, you can support the ocean ecosystem by addressing specific objective 'Combating water scarcity' with wastewater processing and water filtration systems sensitive to emerging pollutants.
The Challenge is open for deep tech startups developing technologies supporting adaptation to climate change. Business model questions, such as, finance of asset management is part of the proposition challenges these startups face.
The Challenge is looking for ‘climate-neutral solutions that address urban heat island effects and urban cooling’, for example with coating technologies. Therefore, coatings shall primarily offer cooling. Coatings that improve energy efficiency in buildings, but do not address heat islands and urban cooling, are out of scope.
One proposal could address one, or more specific challenges.
Energy production is not a focus of this challenge. Challenge focus of the specific objective: ‘Combating Water scarcity’ is on reuse of water through wastewater processing and water filtration.
The Challenge supports deep tech startups solving for the stated objectives of climate adaptation. Targeting, or prioritising, the market segment of cultural heritage is an entrepreneurial choice. Cultural heritage is a relevant segment of the built environment.