LIFE, the European instrument dedicated to the enviroment

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  5. LIFE, the European instrument dedicated to the enviroment

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.

FIND OUT WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT OUR WORK​

Vaidas Palinauskas
Nature Research Centre
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A perfect example of a 3 in 1 company: smooth process, professional and pleasant to work with.
Elena Casiraghi
Università degli Studi di MIlano
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Kindness, experience, ability to understanding and integrate different research languages/views
Manuel Menéndez Muñiz
VIAS
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Very close team and well managed.
Jose Manuel Rodriguez
ITAINNOVA
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Well organized work, with filtered request to what really matters.
David Martín Gómez
- Charles III University of Madrid
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I would like to point out that the elaboration of the proposal was steered with a lot of detail and efficiency.
Tania Tisheva
BGRF
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It was great meeting you and I am looking forward to working with you in the future. The professionalism of your team is excellent. I am very thankful for the guidance and cooperation during the whole process.
Alberta Aversa
Politecnico di Torino
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cooperation rapid and effective.
Samuel Martínez
Circular in Motion B.V.
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Excellent team in place which has been instrumental in assisting the creation of a robust application, which otherwise would have been very difficult for us to complete it. Their understanding of the process, deliverables required, and key areas to consider, is essential to increase the application success probability.
Daniel Edenholm
Sysarb AB
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We would not have come this far without your help.
Fleming Pedersen Dambo
Staccato Technologies
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I couldn't have done the application without the support from Euro-Funding Their expertise and guidance was invaluable.
Klas Ehnemark
Knowing Company
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Very positive to have strength in both business development and technology at the same time. Now we have a really good business plan.
Pablo Pérez
AQUACORP
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The experience of working with Euro-Funding has been both exciting and demanding because. The level of the consultants has been professional from an emotional intelligence and technical speaking perspective.
Manuel Grases
Flexofibers
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I would recommend working with Euro-Funding. The level of professionalism is evident in the company. The process was exactly what we required.
Cristina Ferreras
Venter Pharma
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Euro-Funding helped us in a very professional and efficient way in all the steps of the preparation of the proposal. We consider the proposal to be of a very high standard. Without their help, we would not have been able to have the proposal in time and with such high quality.
Mátyás Péter
Medres Kft. / Cardiosight Ltd.
Read More
Despite a tight deadline, the team at Euro-Funding managed to accomplish the task and delivered an excellent grant proposal. It was a pleasure working with them.
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Priorities of programme

  • Support the objectives established in the EU Birds and Habitats Directives and the Invasive Alien Species Regulation.
  • Contribute to the objectives of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030 for a Trans-European Nature Network and the EU Restoration Plan.

In addition, there are two areas of intervention:

  • Space for nature: area-based conservation and restoration measures.
  • Safeguarding our species: measures targeting specific species
  • Resource recovery from waste: innovative solutions for value-added recycled materials, components or products.
  • Circular economy and environment: supporting the value chains set out in the EU Circular Economy Action Plan.
  • Air: helping to implement air quality legislation and address urban, industrial and rural environmental problems.
  • Water: improving water quality and quantity, as well as marine and coastal water management. Innovative technologies and tools for drinking water and urban wastewater treatment systems.
  • Soil: protecting the quality of EU soil.
  • Noise: reduce noise in densely populated urban areas.
  • Chemicals: reducing the impact of hazardous substances on the environment or human health.
  • Environmental governance: supporting government decision-making and alternative methods, ensuring environmental compliance and access to justice, promoting behavioral change and awareness.
  • Climate change mitigation: reducing fluorinated greenhouse gases, improving the functioning of the Emissions Trading System, better managing land and sea to reduce emissions, enhancing natural carbon sinks.
  • Adaptation to climate change: implementing adaptation plans, developing state-of-the-art adaptation tools, climate proofing, preparing cities and regions for climate change and extreme weather events.
  • Climate governance and information: supporting the European Climate Pact, promoting behavioral change, raising awareness, monitoring greenhouse gas emissions, analyzing climate policy.
  • Build a national, regional and local policy framework that supports the clean energy transition.
  • Accelerate the deployment of technology, digitalization, new services and business models, as well as improve skills.
  • Attract private financing for sustainable energy projects.
  • Support local and regional investment projects.
  • Involve and empower citizens in the clean energy transition

Objectives

  • Contribute to the shift towards a sustainable, circular, energy-efficient, renewable energy-based, climate-neutral and resilient economy.
  • Protect, restore and improve the quality of the environment, including air, water and soil.
  • Halting and reversing biodiversity loss
  • Address ecosystem degradation, including through support for the implementation and management of the Natura 2000 network, thereby contributing to sustainable development

Types of Projects

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.

Personnel, equipment, materials and consumables, and external collaborations.

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