LIFE Programme - Calls for Proposals

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EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action LIFE protecting the environment and climate Watch our video to see how the LIFE Programme is driving fundamental change in the environment and people’s lives, with over 6,000 projects making a difference at the local level. Nature and Biodiversity Circular Economy and Quality of Life Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Clean Energy Transition Are you an SME, start-up or entity? Looking for support to develop your cleantech solution and bring it to the market? Support provided by the LIFE Programme to European non-profit making entities through operating grants. Prizes that recognise the most innovative, inspirational and effective LIFE projects in three categories: climate action, environment and nature protection. European initiative to support municipalities, local authorities and their groupings across Europe to develop investment concepts to accelerate investments in sustainable energy. Green Advisory Service for Sustainable Investments Support Featured Projects LIFE WASTE2PROTEIN Programme Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE) (2014/2020)Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE) (2021/2027) LIFE INNOCEREAL EU Programme Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE) (2014/2020)Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE) (2021/2027) LIFE GREEN COMPOSITE Programme Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE) (2014/2020)Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE) (2021/2027) With €3.4 million budget and €1.87 million EU co-funding, LIFE FIT’s Rail-Flow shifted freight to rail 32 countries, saving 115,000 litres of diesel, cutting costs and attracting €12.5 million investment. The LIFE Facilitating Intermodal Transport (LIFE FIT) project has transformed the way freight moves across Europe, cutting air pollutant emissions, reducing costs and proving that rail can compete with road. All thanks to a digital platform that lets any freight forwarder - a company that organises the shipment of goods for businesses - book intermodal transport in just a few clicks. Rail-Flow, the German-headquartered company behind the LIFE FIT project, which served as a starting point, now employs more than 170 people, operates across 32 countries, generated €10 million in revenue in 2025 (a figure expected to be exceeded this year), and closed a €12.5 million Series A funding round in December 2025. This type of ‘Series A’ financing round is the first major external investment (typically used to scale the business in exchange for equity) and will help Rail-Flow scale its business. By the end of the LIFE FIT project, the ICB platform had reached significant scale - more than 9,500 bookable lanes across Europe; 37 intermodal operators covering 32 countries; routes extending beyond the EU to Turkey and China; 115,000 litres of diesel saved through modal shift to rail, and cost reductions of 10-20% on routes shifted from road to rail. One example illustrates the dual benefit - regular battery shipment from Hamburg to Nuremberg (around 600 km) was moved fully to rail via the ICB. The forwarder reduced transport costs by 20%, eliminated CO2 emissions, and maintained the same transit time. LIFE Programme funding enabled Rail-Flow to develop its platform at an early stage while maintaining both commercial and environmental objectives. “The funding helped us build the product. Without it, we most likely would not have been able to invest in this marketplace, as it can take five to ten years before transaction revenues make such platforms profitable,” says Dominik Fürste. “It allowed us to build a commercially viable product while advancing our mission of shifting transport from road to rail.” The C2M support provided valuable external perspective at a critical development stage. “We used feedback from the C2M team to adjust our market approach, which made the project more successful,” Fürste explains. He highlights the benefit of experienced advisors challenging assumptions and refining go-to-market decisions: “The C2M experts were strong sparring partners- something I can really recommend to any founder, as it broadens the solution space beyond the initial business plan.” The support for LIFE FIT focused less on detailed business planning and more on strategic positioning and market entry choices, including how to approach target audiences and prioritise early adopters. “It helps to have external experts look at your approach from the outside and assess whether it makes sense overall,” concludes Dominik Fürste. The LIFE FIT project supports the Clean Air Programme for Europe. LIFE close-to-market initiative supports LIFE beneficiaries in bringing their innovative green solutions to market. Beneficiaries gain access to a dedicated support team with extensive experience, offering business coaching, advisory on business strategy development, pitching presentation guidance and expert connections, among other services. Looking for support to develop your clean-tech solution and bring it to market? Check out the LIFE close-to-market webpage. LIFE Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs) are a key instrument under the LIFE Programme 2021–2027. In the previous programming period, these projects were known as Integrated Projects. SIPs support authorities in EU Member States in implementing environmental and climate plans, programmes and strategies at regional, multi-regional or national level. By facilitating coordinated action and mobilising complementary funding, they help Member States comply with key EU legislation in six areas: nature, water, air quality, waste, climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation. The meeting will be hosted by LIFE IP Urban Klima 2050 and will gather representatives from 26 LIFE Strategic/Integrated Projects, showcasing the results achieved, the commitment of beneficiaries, and the impact of LIFE funding across Europe, while highlighting the programme’s added value within the wider EU funding landscape. For the new SIPs and SNAPs, EU funding of more than €103 million covers 36% of the total €284 million cost of seven strategic LIFE projects in Greece, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia and Finland. From remote islands to inner cities, from high mountains to deep oceans, their shared goal is to reduce the impacts of climate change, improve the natural environment, ensure a better quality of life for EU citizens and boost sustainable competitiveness.