Advanced innovative solutions for improved competitiveness and sustainability in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA)

The EU funding call "Advanced innovative solutions for improved competitiveness and sustainability in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA)" is aimed at consortia consisting of companies, founders, start-ups, and research institutions across the entire European Union. The objective is the development and testing of advanced, resource-efficient technologies and business models for more sustainable, scalable food production under controlled environmental conditions. Projects that integrate novel approaches in digitalization, energy efficiency, and climate protection to strengthen the competitiveness of the European agricultural industry while simultaneously supporting environmental and nature conservation are eligible for funding. Designed as a grant, the funding covers thematic areas such as agriculture & rural development, research & innovation, as well as environmental and climate protection.

The initiative offers companies, founders, and educational institutions the opportunity to jointly advance innovative CEA concepts from validation to market readiness. Funded projects are expected to create scalable demonstrators that combine the use of state-of-the-art sensor technology, automated control loops, and data-driven analysis systems. Through an interdisciplinary approach, not only technical solutions are promoted but also new business models that ensure fairness in the supply chain and long-term resilience. The European Commission, as the contracting authority, supports this call within the framework of the Horizon Europe program to establish sustainable and competitive production methods in protected cultivation across the Member States.