LIFE calls for proposals 2025

Research

Funding organisation:

Europese Commissie

What?

The LIFE programme is the EU’s environmental and climate action funding instrument. The 2021-2027 programme is managed by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) and has a budget of €5.4 billion. It is divided into four sub-programmes:

• Nature and biodiversity
• Circular economy and quality of life
• Climate change mitigation and adaptation
• Clean energy transition

The general objective of the LIFE Programme is to contribute to the shift towards a sustainable, circular, energy-efficient, renewable energy-based, climate-neutral and -resilient economy, to protect, restore and improve the quality of the environment, including the air, water and soil, and to halt and reverse biodiversity loss and to tackle the degradation of ecosystems, including by supporting the implementation and management of the Natura 2000 network, thereby contributing to sustainable development.

Application?

Submission deadlines
Full proposals: 23 September 2025

• Standard Action Projects (SAPs) for Circular Economy and Zero Pollution - Environment
• Standard Action Projects (SAPs) for Environmental Governance
• Standard Action Projects (SAPs) for nature and biodiversity - Nature
• Standard Action Projects (SAPs) for nature and biodiversity – Governance and Information
• Standard Action Projects (SAPs) for Climate Change Adaptation
• Standard Action Projects (SAPs) for Climate Change Mitigation
• Standard Action Projects (SAPs) for Climate Governance and Information
• Technical Assistance preparation for SNAPs
• Technical Assistance preparation for SIPs - Environment
• Technical Assistance preparation for SIPs - Clima
• Technical Assistance - Replication
• LIFE Preparatory Projects (PLP) in the field of Clean Energy Transition
• LIFE Preparatory Project (PLP) in the field of Nature & biodiversity and Circular Economy & Quality of Life
• LIFE Preparatory Project (PLP) for the green transition in Urban spaces
• Coordination and Support Action Grants (CSA) for clean energy transition sub-programme
  • Boosting the clean energy transition in cities and regions
  • Towards an effective implementation of key legislation in the field of sustainable energy
  • Energy renovation solutions - Making buildings’ renovation faster, deeper, affordable, smarter, service- and data-driven
  • Supporting the clean energy transition of European industry and businesses
  • BUILD UP Skills - National Platforms on energy efficiency skills for the clean energy transition
  • Supporting district heating and cooling networks
  • Crowding in private finance
  • One-Stop-Shops - Integrated services for clean energy transition in buildings
  • Project Development Assistance for sustainable energy investments
  • European City Facility
  • Alleviating household energy poverty in Europe
  • Support services for energy communities

Concept notes: 4 September 2025, full proposals: 5 March 2026

• Strategic Nature Projects (SNaP)
• Strategic Nature and Integrated Projects – SIP Environment
• Strategic Nature and Integrated Projects – SIP CLIMA

Regulations?

Some programme-specific guidelines:

• Cost eligibility conditions vary from call to call
• Maximum funding rates vary from call to call
• Submission deadlines vary from call to call
• Indirect cost (overhead) flat-rate is 7% of the eligible direct costs
• Non-deductible VAT is eligible for funding

Standard Action Projects (SAPs)

• pursues specific objectives of the LIFE Programme
• maximum 60% funding rate

Strategic Nature Projects (SNAP)

• implements coherent programmes of action in Member States
• maximum 60% funding rate

Strategic Integrated Projects (SIP)

• implements environmental or climate strategies on a (multi)regional, national or translational level
• maximum 60% funding rate

Technical Assistance Project (TA)

• promotes capacity building for participation in strategic projects
• maximum 60% funding rate

Operating Grants (OG)

• supports non-profit entities in developing and implementing Union legislation and policy
• maximum 70% funding rate

Other Action Grants (OAG)

• needed for the purpose of achieving the general objective of the LIFE programme
• maximum 95% funding rate

Coordination and Support Actions (CSAs)

• capacity-building, dissemination of information and knowledge, awareness-raising
• maximum 95% funding rate

More information?

Call document
CINEA website - call 2025
VLEVA website - LIFE: oproepen 2025
EU LIFE info days

Deadline

23.09.2025

Contact Hasselt University?

E-mail ward.ceunen@uhasselt.be

Tel. +3211268945