Delivery of industrial CCUS clusters – Societal Readiness pilot

The EU-funded pilot initiative supports consortia consisting of industrial companies, public institutions, universities, and civil society actors in the societal preparation and development of regional industrial CCUS clusters (Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage). The focus is on holistic analyses of technology focus, socio-technological acceptance, and future strategies aimed at the initial reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from energy-intensive industries. By balancing technology planning and stakeholder engagement, detailed analyses of potential CO₂ sources and sinks—including cross-border potentials—economic feasibility studies, as well as options for multimodal transport networks are developed. The project lays the foundation for large-scale follow-up initiatives and integrates experts from the social sciences and humanities to promote societal dialogue and build trust in innovative decarbonization solutions.

Eligible for funding are consortia comprising at least three independent legal entities from three EU Member States or associated countries that comply with EU procurement regulations and control restrictions. Eligible expenses include personnel, material costs, and subcontractor services, which are subsidized at rates between 70% and 100% over a period of up to 36 months. Applicants may include medium-sized enterprises, research institutions, public, and non-profit organizations. The total budget amounts to approximately €10 million, and applications can be submitted until December 1, 2027. Evaluation criteria include the degree of innovation, societal impact, and consortium expertise. The objective is to establish market readiness, increase societal trust, and unlock scaling potential for future CO₂ capture and storage projects.