In the context of the European call PowerUp NetZero – Business Innovation and Technology Adoption Services, we provide SMEs and startups with specialized expertise to prepare investments in Net-Zero technologies. The initiative aims to transform a development need or an investment idea into a project that is technically, economically, and strategically sound, capable of supporting both a competitive application and a responsible investment decision.
For this phase, we will be able to support a maximum of two companies, in accordance with the program’s terms, which limit the involvement of the same service provider to no more than two beneficiaries. This limitation allows us, at the same time, to allocate the necessary professional resources to each initiative and to maintain a high level of engagement throughout the analysis, documentation development, and preparation of deliverables.
The selection of the two initiatives for collaboration will take into account the maturity of the project, the clarity of the identified need, the availability of technical and economic data, the company’s ability to support implementation, and the investment’s compatibility with the technological fields targeted by the call for proposals. Selection for collaboration does not constitute a confirmation of funding, but rather a commitment to a professional process of preparing the project and the related documentation.
The program targets investments related to one or more of the five priority areas: solar energy, batteries and energy storage systems, hydrogen-based technologies, biogas and sustainable biomethane, as well as carbon capture and storage (CCS). Digital components directly related to these technologies may also be included, such as monitoring, data integration, predictive maintenance, operational optimization, or the use of artificial intelligence-based solutions.
The proposed services may include the preparation of a technical and economic feasibility study, the analysis of technological options, preliminary sizing of the solution, the assessment of integration requirements, and the identification of necessary resources. Each project will be analyzed in relation to the company’s operations, existing infrastructure, site conditions, relevant consumption levels, and the operational objectives to be achieved.
The economic component will aim to provide a realistic basis for the investment by estimating capital and operating costs, potential savings or revenues, the payback period, and key financial performance indicators. Depending on the specifics of the project, the analysis may include alternative scenarios and sensitivity tests regarding technology costs, energy price trends, utilization rates, production capacity, or other variables that may influence the investment’s viability.
Special attention will be given to technical, financial, operational, legal, and compliance risks. The study may incorporate requirements related to authorization, environmental protection, the circular economy, recyclability, ESG performance, and the compatibility of the proposed solution with existing processes, along with recommended measures to prevent or mitigate the identified risks.
The result of this collaboration will be practical documentation tailored to the beneficiary’s actual needs. This may include a technical and economic feasibility study, an implementation plan, a timeline of activities, a detailed budget, performance indicators, a risk analysis, and recommendations for next steps. The documentation will support both the PowerUp NetZero application and the company’s dialogue with technology providers, financiers, partners, or relevant authorities.
Under this call for proposals, a beneficiary may request a financial contribution of up to 20,000 EUR, which may cover a maximum of 80% of the service’s eligible costs. The beneficiary must cover the remaining 20% or more from private financial sources. Funding covers the costs of eligible external services, based on a substantiated proposal, and the award of support depends on the applicant’s eligibility, the quality of the project, and the outcome of the competitive evaluation.
The deadline for submitting applications is July 30, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. CEST, and funded activities may last up to seven months from the date the agreement is signed. Given the time required for the initial review, defining the services, preparing the proposal, and incorporating it into the application, interested companies are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible.
Requests for a customized proposal can be sent to the email address listed in the Contact section. The message must include a brief overview of the company, the targeted technology, the investment objective, the proposed location, the current status of the project, and any available technical data. Following a preliminary evaluation, initiatives that align with our areas of expertise will receive a tailored proposal specifying the activities, deliverables, timeline, and budget for the service.
Preparing the documentation and selecting a company to partner with does not guarantee that funding will be awarded. The evaluation and final decision rest solely with the bodies responsible for managing the PowerUp NetZero program, in accordance with the rules, criteria, and ranking of the call for proposals.