Author: Gayle Kimberley
About the call
On the 22nd September a new call was launched by the EU Commission under the European Green Deal this time targeting the construction sector. This call funds Innovative Actions which propose to build or renovate in an energy and resource efficient way. The priority is the design and construction of new or retrofitting of existing buildings as zero-emission/zero-pollution, positive energy-houses in sustainable green neighbourhoods. There are two major components in this transition.
Firstly, a transition in designing and constructing buildings to reduce their embodied emissions and to increase the energy efficiency of their operation; the same applies to retrofitting existing buildings to increase their efficiency.
Secondly, a transition to energy positive buildings (producing electricity, covering their heating and cooling needs and contributing to the energy grid stability) with sustainable, renewable energy technologies.
Eligible projects
At least three legal entities each one established in a different EU Member State or Horizon 2020 associated country and independent of each other must propose a project jointly. ‘Sole participants’ formed by several legal entities (e.g. Consortia, central purchasing bodies etc) are also eligible if the above-mentioned minimum conditions are satisfied by the legal entities forming together the sole participant. In addition, a number of search services are available to help you find suitable partners if you don’t already have them.
Proposals are expected to deliver at least two (residential and non-residential, new and/or retrofitted) large-scale, real-life demonstrations of promising technology, process and social innovations, in different regions of Europe and addressing various pre-defined technical and environmental aspects.
Aim of project
The objective of the demonstrations is to test, in view of scaling up and wide replication, the proposed innovations across the whole value chain (from planning and design through manufacturing and construction to end use, including all relevant players, governance and financing institutions, planners, owners, architects, engineers, contractors, facility managers, tenants, social partners, etc.). The objective is also to adapt this value chain to new operation patterns resulting from the innovations (new business models and services, new usages, changed behaviour). Therefore, the validation of the market and consumer uptake potential should be carried out in the form of real life “living-labs” and under conditions that are open to innovation and promoting affordable access to housing.
On this purpose, the project will set up (or use existing) innovation clusters in different regions of Europe, where relevant with a link to other initiatives (e.g. R&I partnerships). Such innovation clusters need to include the local/regional/national value chain(s), to demonstrate, evaluate and ultimately replicate the innovative solutions in different environment and market conditions, with due consideration of social, business and policy drivers. This will also ensure the validation of the innovations for different building types – residential (e.g. social housing) and non-residential (e.g. hospitals, schools, public buildings) – and various climatic zones.
Technical specifications
Proposals are expected to bring the technologies from TRL 5/6 to TRL 7/8 at the end of the project.
Funding amount
Proposals are expected to request a contribution from the EU of between EUR 10 to 20 million to address the specific challenges appropriately.
This call will close on the 26th of January 2021.
Therefore, if you have a project which you think might tick the above boxes, contact us on info@ewropa.mt as this may be the Fund for you. We will assess your project, identify the appropriate funding opportunity and even help you find partners in other Member States. Ewropa’s team will take care of carrying out all necessary research, liaising with external bodies and implementing the application process from A-Z.