Source of Funding: European Cooperation in Science & Technology (COST)

A COST Action is an interdisciplinary research network that brings researchers and innovators together to investigate a topic for four years. Open to all science and technology fields, including new and emerging ones, COST Actions are also bottom-up meaning you can propose a network based on your own interests or ideas.

The funding a COST Action receives covers the expenses of networking activities and can be used to fund events, Short-Term Scientific Missions, Training Schools, communication activities, and virtual networking tools. A COST Action has an estimate budget of €125,000 in its first year and €150,000 per year for the other three years.

Participants are invited to submit a proposals that contributes to the scientific, technological, economic, cultural or societal knowledge advancement and development of Europe. Multi- and interdisciplinary proposals are encouraged.

The Open Call Action proposal submission, evaluation, selection and approval (SESA) procedure is fully science and technology-driven and will ensure a simple, transparent and competitive proposal evaluation and selection process, reflecting the bottom-up, open and inclusive principles of COST.

Visit the below link to read further.

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Visit the below link to view the 19 funding opportunities under Cascade Funding, an instrument by the European Commission. 

Please note that these calls have different deadlines within the month of May 2025.

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Source of Funding: CINEA - European Climate, infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency

The new CEF Energy call makes available €600 million from the EU budget to co-finance studies and works for both PCIs and PMIs. The call will close on 16 September 2025.

Projects in the fields of electricity, smart electricity grids, CO2 networks, hydrogen and electrolysers, and offshore, included in the latest PCI and PMI list can apply for funding.

Check the call in the Funding and Tenders Portal:

• Electricity, Gas, Smart Grids, Hydrogen and CO₂ networks - Works: CEF-E-2025-PCI-PMI-WORKS
• Electricity, Gas, Smart Grids, Hydrogen and CO₂ networks - Studies: CEF-E-2025-PCI-PMI-STUDIES

A CEF Energy info day to present the call explain its policy context and inform about the application and evaluation process will be held virtually on 22 May 2025 in the morning.

More information on the policy context and projects targeted by the call is availabile on the below link.

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Visit the below link to view the 22 funding opportunities under Cascade Funding, an instrument by the European Commission. 

Please note that these calls have different deadlines within the month of April 2025.

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Source of Funding: Xjenza Malta and Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR)

Xjenza Malta and the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) have launched the 2025 Joint Call for Research Proposals under the SPIRE Programme. This initiative aims to strengthen research collaborations between Malta-based and CNR researchers by providing seed grants for small-scale projects that pave the way for larger future research efforts.

The SPIRE: Seed Grants for International Research Programme enhances Malta’s international research collaboration by facilitating joint calls with international partners. Through multi-annual calls, SPIRE supports projects that foster research partnerships, promote knowledge exchange, and serve as a foundation for larger-scale initiatives.

Funding & Project Details for the Xjenza Malta-CNR Joint Call

• Funding: Up to €6,000 for the Malta-based consortium (at least one Malta-based partner). The financial contribution to Malta-based entities shall be 100% of the eligible costs incurred.
• Project Duration: 24 months (1 January 2026 – 31 December 2027)
• Application Deadline: 29th May 2025, 12:00 PM CET
• Technology Readiness Levels (TRL): 1–7

Thematic Areas

Proposals must align with at least one of the following focus areas:

• Marine and Maritime
• Digital Technologies
• Health
• Sustainable Use of Resources
• Smart Manufacturing
• Aerospace, Aviation, and Space
• Cultural Heritage

Who Can Apply?

Each consortium must include:

• At least one eligible Malta-based entity
• At least one CNR researcher

Projects should be balanced in terms of workload and funding distribution between the two partners.

Download the guidelines on eligibility and application forms from the below link.

Online Information Session

Xjenza Malta will be hosting an online information session on 27 March from 10:00 to 11:00 AM CET to introduce the SPIRE Programme and the Xjenza Malta – CNR 2025 Joint Call for Research Proposals. This session will cover key details about the call, eligibility criteria, and the application process. Interested participants can register here.

Information and image source:

Visit the below link to view the 21 funding opportunities under Cascade Funding, an instrument by the European Commission. 

Please note that these calls have different deadlines within the month of March 2025.

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Source of Funding: European Commission

Source of Funding: European Commission

Expected Impact:

Project results are expected to contribute to the following impact:

• Contribute to the ambitious targets of the European Green Deal and the set of European Commission policy guidelines applicable to the steel industry for full decarbonisation of the steel sector.

Expected Outcome:

Project results are expected to contribute to all the following outcomes:

• Contribute and clearly quantify the CO2 reduction achieved in the steel sector or in the target group.
• Make it technically and economically feasible for novel technologies and processes to produce the same products as current industrial processes, as demonstrated and validated at suitable scale.
• Demonstrate overall positive environmental and, if relevant, health and safety effects of the technology and/or the approach pursued.
• Outline a plan for technology scalability and greater expansion, ultimately linked to a viable business case.
• Provide high visibility dissemination of lessons learnt and continue to contribute to the development of skills and creation/conversion of jobs.

Objective:

The RFCS Research Programme (Council Decision (EU) 2021/1094) has the following research objectives for the steel sector:

• new, sustainable and low-carbon steelmaking and finishing processes (Article 8).
• advanced steel grades and applications (Article 9).
• conservation of resources, protection of the environment and circular economy (Article 10).
• management of work force and working conditions (Article 10a).

The call objectives are:

1. Cross cutting issues: digitalisation, skills and social innovation in the steel sector.
2. CO2 neutral iron ore reduction (Increasing the use of pre-reduced iron carriers).
3. Technologies to improve energy efficiency, increase heat recovery and enhance process integration (PI) approaches in steel production.
4. Advanced steel alloys for special applications.
5. Circular economy and sector coupling solutions to meet the zero-waste goal for steelmaking.
6. Carbon capture of steel CO/CO2 gases.

Scope:

• Applicants may submit proposals for either Pilot or Demonstration projects (see Articles 15 and 16 of Council Decision (EU) 2008/376/EC).
• Proposals are expected to achieve technology readiness level 7-8 (TRL 7-8) by the end of the project. Research activities must take account of the requirements of the selected TRL levels.
• Proposals must be in line with the general and specific objectives listed in the Memorandum of Understanding for the European partnership on Clean Steel launched in Horizon Europe.
• Proposals need to show in the excellence and/or impact part of the application form how they contribute to the multiannual strategic R&I agenda of the Clean Steel Partnership.
• Proposals must address the application of innovative technologies related to one or two of the six call objectives listed above. If addressing two call objectives, proposals should clearly identify which work packages address which area(s) of which call objective(s).
• Proposals must include an exploitation strategy outlining possible integration of the outcomes of the project (including the pilot/demonstrators) in an industrial environment and a preliminary assessment of their economic viability.
• When addressing the call objectives, proposals should pay particular attention, where relevant, to Article 10a of RFCS Council Decision (EU) 2021/1094 and, more precisely, include activities to address potential solutions that can improve the working conditions of employees at steelmaking facilities, in particular health, safety and ergonomics in and around the workplace.
• Targeted improvements (compared to the existing installation or, for new projects, to the relevant ETS benchmark) must be clearly quantified and demonstrated with energy system and materials balance assessments (including emissions) clearly defined by the applicants. This requirement applies to all the call objectives, with the exception of objective 1.
• Collaborations with start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprise are encouraged.

Visit the below link to read further.

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Source of Funding: Xjenza Malta

The Intellectual Property Registration (IPR) Voucher provides inventors with essential financial support and guidance to protect their creations against potential infringement. Innovators can apply for national protection through the Malta Industrial Property Registration system. At a European level, the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) offers broader protection across EU Member States, while international registration through the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is also available for globally safeguarding Maltese IP rights.

Types of Intellectual Property Rights

There are five main types of intellectual property rights:

1. Trademarks – Unique graphics that distinguish products or services.
2. Copyrights – Automatically granted protection for original works upon creation.
3. Industrial Designs – Protects the aesthetic design aspects of an object, requiring novelty.
4. Trade Secrets – Protects commercially valuable, confidential information under strict conditions.
5. Patents – Exclusive rights for innovative products or processes, granting 20 years of protection from the application date.

IP Registration Process

The IPR Voucher supports a streamlined registration process, which typically takes one to three years from the initial application. During this time, the service provider will:

• Update the IP Check report, recommending specific IP rights to pursue based on an initial 4-week review period.
• Collaborate on timelines for each stage of the process.
• Support the beneficiary through every phase, from updating the IP Check report to patent publication.

Reimbursements will be issued by Xjenza Malta upon submission of payment receipts.

Financial Support for Novel Technologies

The Voucher provides financial support for novel technologies that have reached the prototype stage (TRL 5+) with a Xjenza Malta-approved research grant. This ensures inventors can protect their intellectual property rights and safeguard their inventions from potential infringement.

Information Session and Application Details

An online information session with more details on the IPR Voucher will be held on:

• Date: Tuesday, 25th February 2025
• Registration: Click here to register.

Submission Process: Application forms can be sent electronically to voucher.xjenzamalta@gov.mt, keeping Kyle Bonnici (kyle.bonnici.4@gov.mt) in copy. Use the subject line: “Intellectual Property Registration – Voucher Submission.”

Note: It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure confirmation of receipt is provided.

Contact Information

For further information, please contact:

• Mr. Kyle Bonnici
  • Email: kyle.bonnici.4@gov.mt
  • Phone: (+356) 2360 2209

Visit the below link to download application forms and guidelines.

Information and image source:

Visit the below link to view the 25 funding opportunities on Cascade Funding portal, an instrument by the European Commission. 

Please note that these calls have different deadlines within the month of February 2025.

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