FFG Energy Research 2026: Up to €2M for the Green Transformation

What to expect in this issue

• Deep Dive - FFG Energy Research 2026: up to €2M for the green transformation
• StartMatch News - Everything about the FFG in 12 minutes
• FörderRadar - New and expiring grants

🤿 Deep Dive: FFG Energy Research 2026 – Up to €2M for the Green Transformation

With Energy Research 2026, the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI) funds the development of technical and societal solutions for the green transformation. The total budget is at least €17.9 million. €100,000 to €2,000,000 in funding is possible per cooperative R&D project.

What Is Funded?

The call has four focus areas:

1. Energy generation and storage technologies: photovoltaics, wind, heat pumps, heat and electricity storage, geothermal, small-scale hydropower
2. Hydrogen and CCUS: electrolyzers, fuel cells, power-to-X, CO₂ capture and storage
3. Flexible energy systems: smart grids, sector coupling, power electronics, cybersecurity, heating/cooling infrastructures
4. Societal transformation: behavioral change, removing barriers, inclusive solutions, fair distribution of costs and benefits (budget: €700,000)

Not funded are, among others: biogas, biomass, solar thermal, renewable energy communities and Green AI (these have their own calls).

Which Funding Instruments Are Available?

• Cooperative R&D project (industrial research): €100,000 to €2M, funding rate up to 85%, max. 36 months. Cooperation required.
• Cooperative R&D project (experimental development): €100,000 to €2M, funding rate up to 60%, max. 36 months. Cooperation required. Preferred in budget allocation (TRL 5-8).
• Exploratory study: Max. €250,000, funding rate up to 80%, max. 12 months. No cooperation needed, but only in focus areas 1-3. Max. 10% of the total budget for exploratory studies.
• Industry-related dissertation: Max. €110,000, funding rate up to 50%, max. 36 months. Rolling submission until 30.09.2026.

Who Can Apply and by When?

Target group: Austrian companies (SMEs and large enterprises), universities and research institutions, ideally in cooperation with future users (energy companies, infrastructure operators, industrial businesses).

Submission deadline: 30.09.2026, 12:00 noon

Language: the entire application must be written in German. Even small passages of English text lead to formal rejection.

Excellence requirement: only projects with at least 80 out of 100 points are funded.

⚠️ Caution: the eCall is unavailable from 02.07. to 08.07.2026 due to a system migration. Plan your submission accordingly!

Why Is This Relevant?

Energy Research is one of the FFG's largest thematic funding programs, with a budget of nearly €18M. For companies working on storage technologies, hydrogen, smart grids or heat pumps, this is one of the best opportunities to get R&D projects co-financed. Particularly interesting: projects in experimental development (TRL 5-8) are preferred in budget allocation. So those who are already closer to the market have especially good chances here.

All information and the complete call guidelines are available here: FFG Energieforschung 2026 on StartMatch

🗞️ StartMatch News: Everything About the FFG in 12 Minutes

What exactly does the FFG fund? And what doesn't it fund? Funding advisor Michael Semler explains it compactly and simply in just 12 minutes. Terms like funding rate, funding call and the like are explained so that everyone understands them. You'll also learn which kinds of projects are best suited for a basic program or a small project.

We invited Michael for an interview and recorded the whole thing as a video: Everything About the FFG in 12 Minutes

📡 FörderRadar: New and Expiring Grants

These Grants Can Be Submitted Now

AI Ökosysteme 2026
Cooperative R&D projects in Hybrid AI and Green AI. For companies of all sizes, startups and research institutions. Submission: 18.05.2026 to 06.10.2026.

FFG Energieforschung 2026
See Deep Dive above. Up to €2,000,000 for R&D projects on the green transformation. Submission: 27.05.2026 to 30.09.2026.

Mobilitätswende – Mobilitätstechnologie 2026
R&D projects in vehicle technology and automated mobility. For companies, startups and research institutions. Submission: 27.05.2026 to 30.09.2026.

Mission Klimaneutrale Stadt 2026
Research and demonstration projects for climate-neutral cities, districts and buildings. Submission: 13.05.2026 to 01.10.2026.

Multilaterale Eureka Leichtbau Ausschreibung 2026
Transnational R&D projects in lightweight construction: designs, materials, circular economy, digital technologies. In Austria only with a mobility focus. Submission: 06.05.2026 to 12.10.2026.

Go!Tech Praktika 2026
Funds multi-month internship placements for high school graduates for career orientation in scientific and technical fields. Submission: 04.05.2026 to 04.11.2026.

These Grants Are Expiring Soon

BRIDGE 2026
Funds basic-research-oriented cooperation projects between science and industry. At least 80% of the project costs at the scientific institution. Submission deadline only until 11.06.2026.

Nano EHS – Nano Environment, Health and Safety
Research on the risk assessment of nanomaterials and advanced materials. National R&D services and transnational cooperation projects. Submission deadline only until 01.07.2026.

Medienprojekt der Wiener Medieninitiative
Non-repayable grants for new, high-quality journalistic projects. For existing companies and associations in the Viennese media industry. Submission deadline only until 31.07.2026.

Best of luck with your projects!

Best regards,
Robert & your StartMatch Team 👋