Innovative technologies and solutions to improve wind energy systems supporting the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan on wind

This grant aims to foster the development and deployment of innovative technologies and solutions for improving wind energy systems, aligned with the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan’s research and innovation priorities. It supports efficient cooperation among stakeholders to increase wind energy system performance, reduce costs, enhance reliability, sustainability, and safety, and ensure minimal environmental and health impacts. Activities include industrialisation, digitalisation, system integration, sustainability, floating offshore wind, research infrastructure, environmental and social integration, and the development of emerging wind technologies.

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Agency	HORIZON (EU)
Region	EU
Country	N/A
Legal form	Company, NGO, Government organization, House union, Other
Start date	5 May 2026
End date	15 Sep 2026
Max funding	Maximum amount to be granted to each third party under Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP): 1,000,000 EUR.
Budget	Demonstration activities: total maximum EU funding expected is 50,000,000 EUR. A total of 93,000,000 EUR is planned for this specific Innovation Action across all distribution.
Coverage	Breakthrough challenge for third parties (FSTP): up to 8,000,000 EUR of the EU requested contribution. Validation challenge for third parties (FSTP): up to 16,000,000 EUR of the EU requested contribution. Budget for FSTP management is expected not to exceed 7% of EU funding.

Grant application conditions

Admissibility Conditions	Proposal page limit: up to 60 pages due to complexity. Proposal layout as described in application form Part B in the Submission System.
Eligible Countries	Participation open to EU Member States and countries listed in Annex B of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Some non-EU/non-Associated countries are eligible through special provisions.
Eligible Applicants	Any public or private entity, including research organizations, academia, start-ups, scale-ups, SMEs, and industries. FSTP calls open to entities not identified at proposal stage.
Use of Satellite-based Earth Observation	If using earth observation, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data/services may supplement).
Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP)	Beneficiaries must provide financial support to third parties in the form of grants only. Maximum grant per third party: 1,000,000 EUR. FSTP used for breakthrough and validation challenges but not for demonstration challenge. Projects supported via FSTP must have a short duration (12-18 months).
Demonstration Activities	At least three distinct demonstration activities must be implemented. Each demonstration activity to be continuously implemented for a minimum of 6 months. Each activity must have a 'go/no-go' milestone before deployment phase. Demonstration challenge is excluded from FSTP calls. Demonstration activities require evidence of permits, detailed engineering plans, and business plans before the go/no-go milestone. Applicants must demonstrate ability to achieve financial close for each demonstration.
Project Duration	Estimated project duration is around 5 years.
Project Management Budget	Management budget is expected not to exceed 7% of EU funding.
Documentation	https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-CL5-2026-09-D3-03

Eligible expenses

Evaluation criteria

Reporting

Application process

Application requirements