LIFE Calls for proposals 2025
The LIFE Calls for proposals 2025 will be published on 24 April (tentative date). You will find the complete information in the Funding & tender opportunities portal.
The Calls will be presented at the EU LIFE info days, planned from 13 to 15 May 2025. See the LIFE YouTube channel for previous recordings.
Anticipated submission deadlines
The LIFE Calls for proposals 2025 are expected to be published on the Funding & tender opportunities portal on 24 April 2025.
CINEA will hold virtual information sessions from 13 to 15 May 2025 to guide potential applicants through the LIFE Calls for proposals 2025. See the LIFE YouTube channel for previous recordings.
Anticipated submission deadlines:
- Standard Action Projects (SAPs) for circular economy and quality of life
Deadline date: 23 September 2025
- Standard Action Projects (SAPs) for nature and biodiversity,
Deadline date: 23 September 2025
- Standard Action Projects (SAPs) for climate change mitigation and adaptation
Deadline date: 23 September 2025
- Coordination and Support Action Grants (CSA) for clean energy transition sub-programme:
Deadline date: 23 September 2025
- Strategic Integrated Projects (SNAPs/SIPs):
- Concept notes: Deadline date: 4 September 2025
- Full proposals: Deadline date: 5 March 2026
- Technical Assistance preparation for SIPs and SNAPs:
Deadline date: 23 September 2025
- Technical Assistance Replication:
Deadline date: 23 September 2025
- Specific Operating Grant Agreements (SGA OG) to Non-Governmental Organisations – on invitation to Framework Partnership Partners only
Deadline date: 25 September 2025 (launch and closure dates to be confirmed)
- LIFE Preparatory Projects (addressing ad hoc Legislative and Policy Priorities – PLP):
Deadline date: 23 September 2025
Previous calls
Nature and Biodiversity
The Nature and Biodiversity sub-programme aims to protect and restore nature in Europe and to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity. Therefore, the Nature and Biodiversity sub-programme will fund nature conservation projects, particularly in the areas of biodiversity, habitats, and species.
Circular Economy and Quality of Life
The Circular Economy and Quality of Life sub-programme aims to facilitate the transition to a sustainable, circular, toxic-free, energy-efficient, and climate-resilient economy and to protect, restore, and enhance the environment, either through direct interventions or by supporting the integration of these goals into other policy areas.
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
The Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation sub-programme will contribute to the transition to a sustainable, energy-efficient, renewable energy-based, climate-neutral, and resilient economy, thereby contributing to sustainable development.
Clean Energy Transition
Building on the success of the Intelligent Energy – Europe (2003-2013) and Horizon 2020 – Energy Efficiency (2014-2020) programs, the Clean Energy Transition sub-program continues to support the implementation of EU policy in the field of sustainable energy, in particular the European Green Deal, the Energy Union (2030 energy and climate targets), and the European Union’s long-term decarbonization strategy 2050.
LIFE is a funding opportunity for all public and private institutions. Small, medium, and large enterprises are eligible to apply.
LIFE is particularly interesting for companies that want to establish an innovative and environmentally friendly solution (product, process, or service). They can receive funding to conduct a pilot project to test the innovation or to demonstrate best practices.
LIFE funding begins after research and development.
LIFE is not a funding program for research and development. Therefore, the eco-innovative solutions for which funding is to be applied for must already have a certain level of technical maturity (Technology Readiness Level 5-8). This makes LIFE similar to the German Environmental Innovation Program. Unlike UIP, however, LIFE-funded projects must have clear European relevance. This means that there must be a need for the eco-innovative solution throughout the EU or at least in several EU countries.
What are the advantages of LIFE funding?
One of the advantages of LIFE is that it is not mandatory to form a project consortium to receive funding. Individual companies are eligible to apply. For example, a single company that wants to build an innovative and environmentally friendly production facility could easily apply for funding.
Further LIFE advantages include the comparatively high funding rate of 60% of eligible costs and the scope of eligible costs: investments, personnel, consumables, travel, external support, etc. On average, LIFE projects range in size from EUR 1.5 to 3 million and last two to five years, in individual cases even up to 10 years.
