STEP | Productive Innovation | Energy

Actions covered by notice COMPETE2030–2026-2

Operations of an innovative nature that contribute to the ecological transition through the manufacturing of critical technologies or the strengthening of their value chains, including carbon-neutral technologies, are eligible for support:

• Clean and Efficient Technologies: Focus on the manufacturing of equipment for renewable energy, storage systems, heat pumps, and smart electrical grid technologies.
• Net-Zero Industry: Manufacturing of final products and components that reduce the European Union's strategic dependencies in the energy sector.

Operation Types 

The central operation type is Productive Business Investment (SI). Under this Notice, investments must constitute an initial investment and fall within the following types of action:

• Creation of a new establishment: Installation of a new production unit dedicated to clean technologies.
• Diversification of an establishment's activity: Entry into new business areas in the energy sector, provided the new activity is not identical to the previous one.
• Diversification of production: Extending the range of products or services to items not previously manufactured or provided by the unit.
• Fundamental change of process: Deep modernisation that alters the overall nature of the existing production or service delivery process.

These operation types must aim for the manufacture of: 

1. Final products, within the scope of the aforementioned clean technologies, as identified here;
2. Specific components and machinery, used primarily for the manufacture of clean energy technologies;
3. Critical raw materials, relevant to the production of clean energy technologies;
4. Associated services, which include specialised services that are specific and critical for the manufacture of the final products.

Investment Types

Eligible expenses are divided into the following categories:

A - Tangible Assets (Corporeal)

• Acquisition of machinery and production equipment.

• Costs of transport, installation, and commissioning.
• Computer equipment and hardware, including the software necessary for its operation.

B - Intangible Assets (Incorporeal)

• Technology transfer (acquisition of patent rights, licences, and unprotected know-how).

• Standard software or software developed specifically for the purposes of the operation.

Note for Large Companies: These costs are limited to 50% of the total eligible expenses.

C - Other Investment Expenses (applicable only to SMEs)

• Engineering and architecture services, and marketing plans.

• Studies, diagnostics, and audits.
• Alignment reports with the DNSH principle (maximum of €15,000).
• Intervention of Certified Accountants or Statutory Auditors (ROC) for expense validation (maximum of €5,000).

Limit: The total of these expenses cannot exceed 20% of the total eligible investment.

D - Construction and Refurbishment Works

Eligible in duly justified cases, limited to 35% of the total eligible expenses of the operation.

Application Dates

• Start: 30/01/2026.
• End: 30/04/2026 (until 17:00).

Notice Beneficiaries

The notice is open to companies of any size that meet the eligibility requirements.

Company Types

• SMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises).
• Small Mid-Caps: Companies that are not SMEs but have up to 499 employees and a turnover ≤ €100M (or balance sheet ≤ €86M).
• Large Companies: Companies that exceed Small Mid-Cap limits.

Financing and Support Rates

Support is granted in the form of a Grant (Non-repayable), calculated based on actual eligible costs.

Budgetary Allocation

The global allocation of €300,000,000 (three hundred million euros).

Financing Rates (Aid Intensity)

• Micro Enterprises: up to 70%
• Medium Enterprises: up to 60%
• Small Mid-Cap / Large Companies: up to 50%

Financing Conditions

• Minimum Investment: €3,000,000 (three million euros)
• Maximum Investment: €25,000,000 (twenty-five million euros)

Note: The company must prove that the new investment is relevant compared to its existing assets. The investment must represent at least 10% of its current Net Fixed Assets.