The LIFE programme is the only European R&D&I funding program dedicated exclusively to financing activities with environmental and climate objectives. Since 1992, more than 900 LIFE projects have been approved in Spain and 5,500 throughout the European Union.
‘Standard action projects’ are the most common type of LIFE projects. In current OPEN LIFE CALLS, they make up about 50-75%. These are demonstration, pilot, good practice, information and/or governance projects that support EU policy in the field of environment and climate.
The LIFE program aims to favor the innovation and commercialization of solutions and products developed by Start-Ups in a risk-free incubation context that allows companies to bring their solution to market safely, and backed by adequate financial, technical and commercial means. The LIFE program welcomes proposals whose partnership combines the knowledge and experience of consolidated players in the market, together with the impulse of emerging companies or Start-Ups wishing to commercialize their solution or product.
It is very important to stress that all projects that apply must present quantified and credible key impact indicators (KPIs) to measure the expected impacts of the project in the different sub-programs and areas.
Name | Opening date | Next deadline | Deadline model | Link |
Supporting the clean energy transition of European businesses | 18/04/2024 | 19/09/2024 | single-stage | |
Projects on Legislative and Policy Priorities in the fields of Nature & Biodiversity and Circular Economy & Quality of Life | 18/04/2024 | 19/09/2024 | single-stage | |
Crowding in private finance | 18/04/2024 | 19/09/2024 | single-stage | |
Facilitation structures for the renovation of public buildings | 18/04/2024 | 19/09/2024 | single-stage | |
Supporting district heating and cooling | 18/04/2024 | 19/09/2024 | single-stage | |
Developing support mechanisms for Energy Communities | 18/04/2024 | 19/09/2024 | single-stage | |
Real world energy consumption of energy-related products | 18/04/2024 | 19/09/2024 | single-stage | |
LIFE Clean Energy Transition – Standard Action Project | 18/04/2024 | 19/09/2024 | single-stage | |
Circular Economy, resources from Waste, Air, Water, Soil, Noise, Chemicals, Bauhaus | 18/04/2024 | 19/09/2024 | single-stage | |
Nature and Biodiversity | 18/04/2024 | 19/09/2024 | single-stage | |
Technical Assistance preparation of CLIMA SIPs | 18/04/2024 | 18/09/2024 | single-stage | |
Climate Governance and Information | 18/04/2024 | 17/09/2024 | single-stage | |
Technical Assistance – Replication – Nature & Biodiversity and Circular Economy & Quality of Life | 18/04/2024 | 18/09/2024 | single-stage | |
Energy Performance of Buildings – Making renovation faster, deeper, smarter, service- and data-driven | 18/04/2024 | 19/09/2024 | single-stage | |
BUILD UP Skills – Upskilling and reskilling interventions for building decarbonisation | 18/04/2024 | 19/09/2024 | single-stage | |
Alleviating household energy poverty in Europe | 18/04/2024 | 19/09/2024 | single-stage | |
Clean energy transition plans and strategies in municipalities and regions | 18/04/2024 | 19/09/2024 | single-stage | |
One-Stop-Shops – Integrated services for clean energy transition in buildings and businesses | 18/04/2024 | 19/09/2024 | single-stage | |
Project Development Assistance for sustainable energy investments | 18/04/2024 | 19/09/2024 | single-stage | |
Operating grants Framework partnerships | 18/04/2024 | 05/09/2024 | single-stage | |
Nature Governance | 18/04/2024 | 19/09/2024 | single-stage | |
Technical Assistance preparation of ENV SIPs | 18/04/2024 | 18/09/2024 | single-stage | |
Supporting the roll-out of high-quality heat pump installations | 18/04/2024 | 19/09/2024 | single-stage | |
Towards an effective implementation of key legislation in the field of sustainable energy | 18/04/2024 | 19/09/2024 | single-stage | |
Climate Change Adaptation | 18/04/2024 | 17/09/2024 | single-stage | |
Strategic Integrated Projects – Environment | 18/04/2024 | 05/09/2024, 06/03/2025 | two-stage | |
Strategic Nature Projects | 18/04/2024 | 05/09/2024, 06/03/2025 | two-stage | |
Climate Change Mitigation | 18/04/2024 | 17/09/2024 | single-stage | |
Environment governance | 18/04/2024 | 19/09/2024 | single-stage | |
Technical Assistance preparation of SNAPs | 18/04/2024 | 18/09/2024 | single-stage | |
LIFE-2024-NGO-OG-SGA – SGA LIFE operating grants | 18/04/2024 | 17/09/2024 | single-stage | |
Strategic Integrated Projects – Climate Action | 18/04/2024 | 05/09/2024, 06/03/2025 | two-stage |
Scope: Europe
Organization: European Commission
Nature of project: Energy Efficiency, Renewables, Mobility and Environment.
In addition, there are two areas of intervention:
Pilot projects: a technique or method that has not been applied or tested before, or elsewhere, that offers potential environmental or climatic advantages compared to current best practices and that can be applied on a larger scale to similar situations.
Demonstration projects: to implement, test, evaluate and disseminate actions, methodologies or approaches that are new or unknown in the specific context of the project (geographical, ecological, socioeconomic context) and that could be applied elsewhere under similar circumstances.
Best practice projects: applying appropriate, cost-effective and state-of-the-art techniques, methods and approaches, taking into account the specific context of the project.
Information, awareness and dissemination projects: support communication, information dissemination and awareness raising in the areas of the environment and climate action sub-programs.
Regarding the eligibility of applicants, it applies to all countries of the European Union including eventually associated countries such as the United Kingdom. Applicants can be public bodies, private commercial organizations and private non-profit organizations (including NGOs).
In general, the funding rate is 60% grant on eligible non-repayable costs, with the possibility of reaching up to 75% for nature and biodiversity actions.
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