Grant

Production technologies for solar photovoltaics beyond the state-of-the-art (EUPI-PV Partnership)

Call for proposals for innovative next-generation production technologies in the EU to increase efficiency, reliability, and automation of solar PV systems. Start 03.12.2026, applications accepted until 31.03.2027.

Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energies

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Grant criteria

Application Deadline:
03.12. - 31.03.2027
Application level: Complex
Region: EU
Company size: All sizes
Funding amount: €12,000,000
Funding rate: 100% for research, 70% for innovation
Project start from: 03.12.2026

Funding objective

Promotion of research and innovation in advanced manufacturing processes for solar cells and modules to increase efficiency, enhance resilience, and advance automation solutions in Europe.

Eligible expenses

  • Personnel expenses
  • Material costs
  • Travel expenses
  • Subcontractor services

Eligible to apply

  • Companies
  • Educational Institutions
  • Non-profit Organizations
  • Public Institutions

Funding requirements

  • Consortium with at least three independent partners
  • At least two partners from different EU or associated countries
  • Project objective focused on the development and demonstration of non-commercial PV production technologies

Documents required for application

  1. Part A and Part B of the application form
  2. Exploitation and Dissemination Plan
  3. Curricula Vitae of the Key Researchers

Evaluation criteria

  • Innovative content of the project
  • Contribution to EU PV strategy and value chain
  • Quality and efficiency of the consortium

Description

The call "Production technologies for solar photovoltaics beyond the state-of-the-art (EUPI-PV Partnership)" supports EU-wide collaborations between companies, educational institutions, non-profit, and public organizations. Within the framework of the Horizon Europe program, up to €12 million in funding per project is provided (research rate 100%, innovation rate 70%). The goal is the development and demonstration of novel, automated production processes for high-performance photovoltaic cells and modules that exhibit significantly higher efficiencies, improved reliability, and resilience compared to currently available market technologies. Funding covers personnel and material costs, travel expenses, and subcontractor services over a period of 36 months. German and European consortia consisting of research institutes, universities, and industry along the entire PV value chain can apply until March 31, 2027, 5:00 p.m. Brussels time. A prerequisite is a consortium of at least three independent partners, of which at least two are from different EU member states or associated countries.

Substantively, projects should, in addition to implementing digitized pilot lines, also present exploitation and dissemination strategies that foresee subsequent scaling, commercialization, and market introduction. The contribution to the European solar PV strategy and the monitoring of the EUPI-PV partnership is decisive. Evaluation criteria include the level of innovation, contributions to the EU PV value chain, and the consortium’s efficiency. The results will feed into the implementation of the REPowerEU plan and the Net-Zero Industry Act objectives to strengthen the European PV industrial base. The funding measure is coordinated by the European Commission, which, as the EU’s executive body, manages the call and oversees the allocation of funds.

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