Horizon 2018-2020 contest for projects of smart cities, energy systems and renewable fuels opens – Total budget EUR 138.3 million

The European Union has opened a contest within the Horizon 2018-2020 program for projects dedicated to smart cities, smart energy systems and renewable fuels. The application deadline is April 5.

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia are among the eligible countries.

The total budget is EUR 138.3 million.

The topics open for applications are: Developing and testing solutions for smart cities and communities (EUR 43 million), Developing and demonstrating integrated local energy systems – energy islands (EUR 26.3 million), Decarbonizing energy systems of geographical islands (EUR 19 million), TSO – DSO – Consumer: large-scale demonstrations of innovative grid services (EUR 30 million) and Demonstrating cost-effective advanced biofuel pathways in retrofitted industrial installations (EUR 20 million), announced the EU Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA).

The European Commission presented the Horizon 2020 program on October 27, 2017. The program covers the budget years 2018, 2019 and 2020 with total investments of around EUR 30 billion.

Horizon 2020 is the biggest research and innovation program in the EU so far, with nearly EUR 80 billion available in a seven-year period (2014-2020) – along with private investments drawn by these funds.