LIFE — Clean Energy Transition Coordination & Support Actions (CET)
Runs research teams and institutions for LIFE Clean Energy Transition Coordination & Support Actions in energy systems, climate technology, and built environment.
Eligibility · EU member states
The LIFE 2026 Clean Energy Transition (CET) sub-programme is administered by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) on behalf of DG ENER. It funds Coordination and Support Actions (CSAs) — project coordination and policy support activities, not capital investment — across at least seven thematic CET call topics opened simultaneously on 21 April 2026, all sharing a common deadline of 16 September 2026. Topics include local heating and cooling plans (LIFE-2026-CET-HEATCOOLPLAN), renewable heating and cooling policy frameworks (RENEWHC), deep building renovation (BETTERRENO), industrial clean energy transition (INDUSTRY), BUILD UP Skills platforms for construction workers (BUILDSKILLS), energy poverty alleviation, and clean energy digitalization. The LIFE Programme overall carries a 2021–2027 budget of approximately €5.4 billion across all four sub-programmes; individual CET call award amounts are published per call topic on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal.
Eligible applicants include for-profit companies, non-profit organizations, universities, and research bodies established in EU Member States or EDF-associated countries; individual applicants are not eligible. The CSA format focuses on knowledge transfer, capacity building, stakeholder mobilization, and policy support rather than physical infrastructure or product development. Applications are submitted via the EU Funding and Tenders Portal (SEDIA). Evaluators assess applications against the standard LIFE criteria of relevance, quality, impact, and efficiency.
Organisations best positioned to win CET grants are those with demonstrated track records in EU energy policy implementation, cross-border stakeholder engagement, or training delivery in the construction and energy sectors. Consortia combining national energy agencies, local authorities, and technical universities are a common winning profile. Applicants must address the specific scope of a named CET call topic; cross-topic submissions are not accepted. The LIFE Programme has supported over 6,500 projects since its inception, making it one of the EU's most established environmental and clean-energy funding instruments.
Coordination and support actions for local heating and cooling plans, renewable heating and cooling frameworks, building renovation, industrial clean energy transition, BUILD UP Skills platforms, energy poverty, and clean energy digitalization across EU Member States.
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