Call Energy Transition Fund 2023

Research

Funding organisation:

FOD Economie, K.M.O., Middenstand en Energie

What?

The Energy Transition Fund encourages and supports energy research, development and innovation within federal energy competences.

In the context of energy transition, the competencies of the federal state are reflected and divided into three thematic axes:

• Thematic axis 1: renewable energy sources in the Belgian exclusive economic zone of the North Sea and biofuels
• (Thematic axis 2: nuclear energy applications)
• Thematic axis 3: security of supply and grid balance

Following the federal coalition agreement, it was decided to prioritise the project call of 9 November 2023 to thematic axes 1 and 3. Projects within the "thematic axis 2 - nuclear energy applications" are only eligible to the extent that the available budget is not allocated to project proposals within thematic axes 1 and 3.

The budget of the Energy Transition Fund for 2024 is € 15 million, which can be awarded as grants to projects related to research and development, investment in research infrastructure, or innovation by SMEs.

The funding granted per project is a minimum of € 100,000 and a maximum of € 5 million (after applying the relevant funding rates).

At least € 5 million of the available budget in 2024 will be awarded to projects requesting funding of up to €1 million.

The maximum duration of eligible projects is 3 years.

Application?

The application will take place in two stages:

(1) Mandatory pre-registration - deadline 14 December 2023
Applicants are requested to submit- no later than 14 December 2023 - their project proposal to the Energy Transition Fund. This can be done via e-mail to the ETF mailbox (ETF.FTE@economie.fgov.be) with the following basic information about the project proposal that will be effectively submitted one month later:

• Consortium leader (i.e. the responsible legal entity that will submit)
• Project name and short description
• Thematic axis under which will be submitted (and possible reference to the specific themes put forward in this call).

(2) Final project proposal via participation form - deadline 23 January 2024
The final project proposal must again be submitted via e-mail to the ETF mailbox (ETF.FTE@economie.fgov.be).

Regulations?

All relevant documents can be accessed via this link.

More information?

Contact OBI as soon as possible because:

• The state aid rules apply in this call. Making the correct analysis and applying the correct funding rate is important; 
• The participation form (deadline 23 January 2024) will have to be signed by all project partners;
• Several administrative certificates need to be submitted with the final proposal.

The participation form will only be signed after a review of the draft project proposal and approval of the budget.

Deadline

14.12.2023

Contact Hasselt University?

E-mail sarah.szyr@uhasselt.be

Tel. +3211269052