Supporting digitalisation of Distribution System Operators for a smart energy transition (Smart Grid Academy)
Covers up to 95% of costs for projects that build electricity Distribution System Operators' in-house digital and AI capacity across at least 3 countries.
Evaluation criteria, scoring and thresholds for this call sit in the call document rather than on the topic page itself. Funded projects have to show real DSO buy-in before they are even assessed: proposals need to name the Distribution System Operators and territories they target and demonstrate commitment, either by bringing those DSOs into the consortium directly or by attaching tailored letter…
The LIFE Clean Energy Transition programme wants projects that help electricity Distribution System Operators, especially small and local ones, build the skills and capacity to modernise their networks with data management, grid observability and AI tools. Proposals should help each targeted DSO build a tailor-made Digitalisation Roadmap covering data exchange, real-time grid monitoring and safe AI deployment, and support getting that roadmap embedded into the DSO's own Distribution Network Development Plan. The focus is on rolling out proven digital technologies and capacity building, not developing or demonstrating new technology.
Sign up free to see the funding breakdown
Sign up free to see the industries in scope
Sign up free to see the full eligibility
Sign up free to see how to apply
Sign up free to see what you submit
Sign up free to see the timeline
Sign up free to see where teams trip up
Guides for this application
All guides →Grant Financials and Co-Funding Evidence: Examples for Startup Applications
See examples of grant financials, match funding evidence, co-funding tables, accountant letters, investor commitments, and budget-to-work-plan checks.
DocumentsGrant Work Plan Template: Work Packages, Gantt, Milestones, and Risks
Use this grant work plan template to structure work packages, tasks, owners, deliverables, Gantt timing, dependencies, and risk registers.
DocumentsLetter of Support for Grant Applications: Template and Examples
Learn how to write and request a letter of support for a grant, with template structure, examples, reviewer logic, and common mistakes.
Find grantsGovernment Grants for Startups: What Deeptech Founders Should Know
A practical guide to government grants for startups, including Grants.gov, SBIR/STTR, state programs, eligibility, fit, timelines, and when to apply.
More from European Commission
All grants from this funder →Coordination for Cross-Sector Nuclear Technologies
🇪🇺European Commission · European Union
Funds coordination of European nuclear research platforms across energy, medicine, space, maritime uses and radiation protection.
Euratom Radiation Protection Partnership (PIANOFORTE)
🇪🇺European Commission · European Union
Funds PIANOFORTE’s 2026-27 continuation, an EU radiation-safety research partnership — only for its current members and any partner who joins them.
European Stable Isotopes for Nuclear Medicine
🇪🇺European Commission · European Union
Funds industrial production of stable isotopes needed for radionuclide therapies and a more resilient European medical supply chain.
Horizon Batteries: EV Recycling Pilot with India
🇪🇺European Commission · European Union
Funds a €9.4M lithium-ion battery recycling pilot line in India, matched to a separately funded Indian project on the same schedule.
Horizon Batteries: Sustainable Electrode Materials
🇪🇺European Commission · European Union
Funds four €7.1M projects that make battery electrode materials cleaner to produce — via greener refining or plant-based sourcing instead of mined graphite.
Horizon Buildings: Whole Life Carbon Data Platforms
🇪🇺European Commission · European Union
Funds three €5.25M projects that plug embodied and operational carbon data into building certificates, passports and BIM tools.
Similar grants
Browse the directory →
EIC Transition Open
🇪🇺EIC · European Union
Supports European deep-tech ventures advancing laboratory research toward validated prototypes and near-market technologies.
Horizon Europe EIC Accelerator — Estonian Applicant Support
🇪🇪EIS · Estonia
Funds research teams and institutions for Horizon Europe EIC Accelerator Estonian Applicant Support in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and climate technology.
DRIVE35 Supplier Readiness and Transformation Fund
🇬🇧WMCA · United Kingdom
Funds West Midlands businesses scaling EV supply-chain manufacturing capacity through capital grants.
Qatar Open Innovation Challenge Grant
QNRF · Qatar
Funds innovators piloting solutions for Qatar-based entities through Qatar Open Innovation challenge grants.
ICON (Interdisciplinary Cooperative Research)
🇧🇪VLAIO · Belgium
Supports cooperative demand driven research bridging Flemish strategic research centres clusters and at least independent Flemish companies.
BOI Competitiveness Enhancement Fund — Cash Subsidies
🇹🇭BOI Thailand · Thailand
Funds Thai firms upgrading machinery, automation, and digital capacity to strengthen real-world implementation.