The topic funds innovation actions that move solutions from TRL 6 to TRL 8, meaning first-of-a-kind demonstrators in energy-intensive sectors such as steel, cement and chemicals, with an indicative EU contribution of EUR 15 to 25 million per project and roughly seven to eight projects expected. The work programme points to three technology areas: managing the carbon cycle, with capture, utilisation or storage solutions that cut energy input by around 30%, clean energy use in production, and circularity of energy, feedstock and water across process industries. The call follows a bottom-up, industry-led approach, so proposals come from consortia that combine the producers with the technology and equipment providers needed to install and run the solutions, which makes electrified process heat, capture units and process automation natural parts of a bid. The equivalent topic in the previous round, which closed on 15 September 2026, drew 57 proposals for an indicative EUR 125 million, a measure of how competitive the call is likely to be. HaDEA manages the topic in a joint call with CINEA, which leads a second topic on clean technologies for climate action, and the long window until September 2027 leaves time to form consortia.

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