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Europe · CINEA

Innovation Fund

One of the world's largest funding programmes for the demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies. Financed by revenues from the EU Emissions Trading System, targeting flagship projects across energy, industry, and transport.

Clean-tech innovation icon with wind, solar and hydrogen symbols

Programme scope

The Innovation Fund supports first-of-a-kind commercial demonstrations of breakthrough technologies. The program funds projects that aim to significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in their sector.

A high level of financial and operational maturity is required to obtain funding, with over €2.5 billion in funding available each year:

  • Large-scale projects — Topic budget: €1,200,000,000
  • Medium-scale projects — Topic budget: €300,000,000
  • Small-scale projects — Topic budget: €100,000,000
  • Clean-tech manufacturing — Topic budget: €1,000,000,000
  • Pilot scale projects — Topic budget: €300,000,000
    (Indicative amounts taken from the IF25 call)

Who should apply

Project developers with a mature technology ready for demonstration at commercial scale, with a credible business case and the industrial partnerships needed to execute. Sectors include renewable energy, energy-intensive industries, carbon capture and storage, and clean mobility.

The EU Innovation Fund can be a strong fit for ambitious clean-tech, industrial decarbonisation and net-zero projects — but it is also highly competitive and administratively demanding. Before committing significant time, budget and internal capacity to a full proposal, it is important to understand whether the project is genuinely well positioned.

Service · 01

Project prequalification

Is your project ready for the Innovation Fund?

A structured, independent assessment of your project's suitability for the Innovation Fund before you begin a full application process.

We review the project against the core expectations of the programme — innovation level, emissions reduction potential, scalability, project maturity, business case, implementation readiness and strategic fit — and give you a clear view of whether the opportunity is worth pursuing.

Suitable for companies that
  • Have an innovative decarbonisation, clean-tech, energy, industrial or net-zero project
  • Are considering applying to the EU Innovation Fund
  • Need an independent view before committing to a full proposal
  • Want to understand how fundable the project appears from an evaluator's perspective
  • Need to compare the Innovation Fund against other grant or blended-finance options
What we assess
  • Project fit with the Innovation Fund scope
  • Technology and innovation positioning
  • Greenhouse gas reduction logic
  • Project maturity and implementation readiness
  • Commercial and financial credibility
  • Scale-up potential and market relevance
  • Consortium, partner and stakeholder readiness
  • Main risks, gaps and improvement areas
  • Recommended next steps
What you receive

A concise written assessment setting out the project's likely fit, major strengths, potential red flags and recommended actions.

Where appropriate, we indicate whether the project is ready for full proposal development, needs further preparation, or may be better suited to another funding route.

Designed to support an internal go/no-go decision and help management avoid spending time and budget on a weak or premature application.

Service · 02

Follow-up & resubmission support

Turn evaluator feedback into a stronger next application.

Many strong Innovation Fund projects are not funded on their first attempt. Sometimes the project is promising but the application fails to communicate the value clearly enough. In other cases, the proposal exposes deeper issues around maturity, emissions methodology, business case, implementation or risk management.

Auxn helps companies interpret evaluator feedback, identify what needs to change, and prepare a more competitive follow-up strategy.

Suitable for companies that
  • Have previously applied to the Innovation Fund
  • Received evaluator feedback and want to understand its implications
  • Are considering whether to resubmit
  • Need to improve the proposal before the next call
  • Want an independent review of why the application was not successful
  • Need help prioritising changes rather than rewriting from scratch
What we review
  • Evaluator comments and scoring patterns
  • Proposal strengths and weaknesses
  • Alignment between the project and call expectations
  • Gaps in narrative, evidence base or technical case
  • GHG reduction claims and supporting logic
  • Commercialisation, scale-up and implementation risks
  • Financial and business plan credibility
  • Whether a resubmission is justified
  • What should be changed before the next application
What you receive

A structured improvement roadmap outlining the key issues to address, the most important changes to make, and the level of effort likely required before resubmission.

Where appropriate, we can also support the next stage of proposal development — application strategy, workplan refinement, narrative development, technical-commercial positioning and review of draft materials.

Why work with Auxn

Beyond technical excellence.

Innovation Fund applications require more than technical excellence. Successful proposals need to present a credible project with a strong decarbonisation case, a convincing implementation plan, a clear business rationale and a persuasive growth story.

Auxn combines grant strategy, proposal development and innovation funding experience to help companies make better decisions before, during and after the application process.

Our support is practical, commercially aware and focused on decision-making. We help you understand not only whether the project is eligible, but whether it is worth pursuing and what would make it more competitive.