Are you working on innovative solutions for the energy transition or circular economy? The EKOO grant (Energy and Climate Research and Development) supports partnerships that carry out R&D projects. With subsidy rates of up to 80% and budgets per theme, this is an interesting option for SMEs and knowledge institutions.

What is the EKOO Grant?

EKOO is part of the Top Sector Energy and focuses specifically on the early innovation phase: Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 to 5, which means that your project is between concept development and early prototyping.

The goal is to accelerate the development of climate-neutral, cheaper or circular products, processes and services.

When does EKOO not fit?

EKOO is not suitable for fundamental research (too early), pilot or demonstration projects (too late, look at DEI+ or MOOI), or projects for which you already receive other subsidies

EKOO's 6 Themes

The scheme is divided into six themes, each with its own budgets and deadlines:

• Electricity: Renewable energy generation (2026 budget: €7 million)
• Industry: Making industrial processes more sustainable (2026 budget: €7 million)
• Built Environment: Sustainability homes and buildings (no opening in 2026)
• Biobased Circular: Biopolyesters from biobased raw materials (€3 million)
• Circular Plastics: Innovative processes for circular plastics (€4 million)
• Circular Economy (other): Circular products and services (no opening in 2026)

Application periods 2026

Please note that not all themes will open in 2026. The confirmed dates are:

• EKOO: Industry: April 1, 2026 to May 13, 2026
• EKOO: Electricity: April 22, 2026 to May 28, 2026
• EKOO: Biobased Circular: Round 1 (April 1 - April 22) and Round 2 (May 18 - August 20, 2026)

How much subsidy can you get?

The subsidy amounts depend on your company size:

• Large companies: 40%
• Medium-sized companies: 50%
• Small Enterprises (SMEs): 60%
• Research organizations (non-economic): up to 80%

The maximum per project varies by theme, from €500,000 to €750,000.

Requirements: What should you pay attention to?

1. Collaboration is mandatory. Your consortium must consist of at least one company and one research organization.
2. Market introduction must be realistic (depending on theme: 2029 to 2035).
3. No double subsidy: you must not have received a subsidy for the same activities before.
4. Tender assessment: the best projects receive subsidies until they run out of budget.

More Information

Check out the official EKOO page on RVO for the most current terms and deadlines.

In short

EKOO is the subsidy for R&D in the early innovation phase of energy and climate projects. With strong subsidy rates and clear themes, this is an opportunity for partnerships that want to innovate. Prepare your application carefully, because it is a tender: only the best projects will be awarded.