Funding Opportunities

This tool provides clear and practical information about opportunities of European funding for the enhancement and development of smart sustainable solutions for cities and regions. It covers European funding initiatives such as European Structural Investment Funds, the European Investment Bank’s financial instruments and a number of programmes managed by the European Commission and Member States.

 

Co-developed by the Business Models, Finance and Procurement Action Cluster and the Covenant of Mayors. Feedback is welcome.

 

European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)

Country
Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Spain
What am I?
City/Town/Region, SME, Large Company, Civil Society Organization, Academia
Sector / Activity
Infrastructure (Hard measures), Environment, Citizen Engagement
Type of Instrument
Grant, Financial instrument
Focus Areas

fostering knowledge transfer and innovation in agriculture, forestry and rural areas

enhancing the viability and competitiveness of all types of agriculture, and promoting innovative farm technologies and sustainable forest management

promoting food chain organisation, animal welfare and risk management in agriculture

restoring, preserving and enhancing ecosystems related to agriculture and forestry

promoting resource efficiency and supporting the shift toward a low-carbon and climate resilient economy in the agriculture, food and forestry sectors

promoting social inclusion, poverty reduction and economic development in rural areas

Beneficiaries

- Local, regional and national authorities
- Social, cultural and educational institutions
- NGOs
- Companies, SMEs and associations

Amount per Project

Variable

Co-funding Rate

Variable

Managing Structure and Coordination

- National or Regional managing authorities

- DG REGIO

- DG AGRI

Further Information

Project examples

National Ministries for Agriculture

Common provisions regulations

Description
Tags
Useful Links

European Energy Efficiency Fund (EEEF)

Country
Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Finland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania
What am I?
City/Town/Region
Sector / Activity
Energy, Mobility, Infrastructure (Soft measures)
Type of Instrument
Financial instrument
Focus Areas

- Energy Efficiency
- Renewable energy
- Clean Urban transport
 

Beneficiaries

- Local regional authorities;
- Public and private entities acting on their behalf

Amount per Project

5 - 25 m

Co-funding Rate

NA

Managing Structure and Coordination

- European Commission

-EIB

-Cassa Depositi e Prestiti

-Deutsche Bank

Further Information

Website

FAQ

Description
Tags
Useful Links

European Fund For Strategic Investments (EFSI)

Country
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Luxembourg, Romania
What am I?
City/Town/Region, SME, Large Company, Civil Society Organization, Academia
Sector / Activity
Cross-sectoral, Energy, Mobility, ICT, Infrastructure (Hard measures), Infrastructure (Soft measures), Environment, Citizen Engagement
Type of Instrument
Financial instrument
Focus Areas

- (Digital) Infrastructure development in transport & energy
- Renewable energy
- Energy efficiency and energy interconnections
- Risk financing for SMEs and midcaps
- Education
- Heath
- Environment and natural resources

Beneficiaries

- Public sector
- Entities of all sizes, including utilities, special purpose vehicles or project companies, SMEs (up to 250 employees), midcaps (up to 3,000 employees)
- National promotional banks or others intermediate banks
- Funds and any other form of collective investment vehicles, Investment platforms*

Amount per Project

Variable

Co-funding Rate

Variable

Managing Structure and Coordination

Existing EIB Group structures

Further Information

Webpage

Application form (via normal EIB lending procedures)

 

Q&A

Description
Tags
Useful Links

European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)

Country
Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Ireland, Greece, Spain, Croatia, France, Italy, United Kingdom
What am I?
City/Town/Region, SME, Large Company, Civil Society Organization, Academia
Sector / Activity
Energy, Infrastructure (Hard measures), Citizen Engagement
Type of Instrument
Grant, Financial instrument
Focus Areas

- Smart, sustainable fisheries (mitigation of climate change and energy efficiency)
- Innovative aquaculture (eco-management)
- Community led local development strategies (CLLD)
- Sustainable and inclusive territorial development of communities relying on fishing industries
- Diversification of local economies for the sustainable development of maritime regions

Beneficiaries

- Local, regional and national authorities
- Social, cultural and educational institutions
- NGOs
- Companies, SMEs and associations

Amount per Project

Variable

Co-funding Rate

Variable

Managing Structure and Coordination

- National or Regional managing authorities

- DG MARE

Further Information

Web site

Contact of Managing authorities

List of contacts as from 08/05/14

Common provisions regulations

Description
Tags
Useful Links

European Regional and Development Fund (ERDF)

Country
Malta, Romania, Slovakia, United Kingdom, Poland, Portugal, Hungary
What am I?
City/Town/Region, SME, Large Company, Civil Society Organization, Academia
Sector / Activity
Cross-sectoral, Energy, Mobility, ICT, Infrastructure (Hard measures), Environment, Citizen Engagement
Type of Instrument
Grant, Financial instrument
Focus Areas

- RES smart distribution systems and EE infrastructure
- Research, Innovation and ICT
- Competitiveness of SMEs
- Low carbon economy
- Climate change adaptation and risk management
- Environmental protection and resource efficiency
- Sustainable transport

Beneficiaries

- Local, regional and national authorities
- Social, cultural and educational institutions
- NGOs
- Companies, SMEs and associations

Amount per Project

Variable

Co-funding Rate

Max. 50%

In some cases, the EU regional funds provide as much as 75% percent of the financial resources needed to complete the project.

Managing Structure and Coordination

- National or Regional managing authorities
- DG REGIO

Further Information

Guide to operational programmes

Project examples

Contact of Managing authorities

Common provisions regulations

Description
Tags
Useful Links

Financial Instruments (Former Jessica)

Country
Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom
What am I?
City/Town/Region, SME, Large Company, Civil Society Organization, Academia
Sector / Activity
Energy, Mobility, ICT, Infrastructure (Hard measures), Environment
Type of Instrument
Financial instrument
Focus Areas

- Urban infrastructure, inc. transport, water/waste water, energy, etc.

- Heritage or cultural sites, for tourism or other sustainable uses.

- Redevelopment of brownfield sites,

- Office space for SMEs, IT and/or R&D sectors,

- University buildings, including medical, biotech and other specialised facilities and energy efficiency improvements

Beneficiaries

- Public authorities (inc. local and regional authorities)

- Commercial financial institutions

- Public agencies

- Investment fund holders

- Property developers

- NGOs

- etc.

Amount per Project

Variable

Co-funding Rate

Variable

Managing Structure and Coordination

Managing authorities from each MS

DG REGIO

EIB

Council of Europe Development Bank

Further Information

EIB webpage on ESIF Financial Instruments

DG REGIO website on financial instruments

Description
Tags
Useful Links

H2020 Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies

Country
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Moldova, Montenegro, Macedonia, Ukraine, Turkey
What am I?
City/Town/Region, SME, Large Company, Civil Society Organization, Academia
Sector / Activity
Cross-sectoral, Energy, ICT
Type of Instrument
Grant, Financial instrument
Focus Areas

- Excellent science
- Industrial leadership
- Societal challenges

Beneficiaries

Legal entities established in a member state or an associated country.

Amount per Project

Depends on the call (see corresponding work programme)

Co-funding Rate

Research & Innovation actions: 100%
Coordination & Support actions: 100%
Pre Commercial Procurement: 100%
Innovation actions: 70% (except for non-profit legal entities, where a rate of 100% applies)

Managing Structure and Coordination

European Commission

Further Information

Work Programme ICT

Work Programme Cross Cutting activities

Work programme Nanotechnologies, Advanced Materials, Biotechnology and

Advanced Manufacturing and Processing

Description
Tags
Useful Links

H2020 Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies

Country
Belgium, Austria, Croatia, France, Finland, Denmark, Hungary, Latvia, Italy
What am I?
City/Town/Region, SME, Large Company, Civil Society Organization, Academia
Sector / Activity
Cross-sectoral, Energy, ICT
Type of Instrument
Grant, Financial instrument
Focus Areas

- Excellent science
- Industrial leadership
- Societal challenges

Beneficiaries

Legal entities established in a member state or an associated country.

Amount per Project

Depends on the call (see corresponding work programme)

Co-funding Rate

Research & Innovation actions: 100%
Coordination & Support actions: 100%
Pre Commercial Procurement: 100%
Innovation actions: 70% (except for non-profit legal entities, where a rate of 100% applies)

Managing Structure and Coordination

European Commission

Further Information

Work Programme ICT

Work Programme Cross Cutting activities

Work programme Nanotechnologies, Advanced Materials, Biotechnology and

Advanced Manufacturing and Processing

Description
Tags
Useful Links
ec.europa.eu

H2020 Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials

Country
Lithuania, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Italy, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Ireland, Turkey, Ukraine
What am I?
City/Town/Region, SME, Large Company, Civil Society Organization, Academia
Sector / Activity
Energy
Type of Instrument
Grant
Focus Areas

Greening the Economy
- Climate services 
- Towards a low-carbon Europe
- Nature-based solutions for territorial resilience
- Water
- Raw material
- Earth observation
- Cultural heritage for sustainable growth
- Support to policy and preparing for innovation procurement

Beneficiaries

Legal entities established in a member state or an associated country.

Amount per Project

Depends on the call (see corresponding work programme)

Co-funding Rate

Research & Innovation actions: 100%
Coordination & Support actions: 100%
Innovation actions: 70% (except for non-profit legal entities, where a rate of 100% applies)

Managing Structure and Coordination

European Commission

Further Information

Work programme Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials

Description
Tags
Useful Links
ec.europa.euf