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1st call of cascade funding for SMEs with solutions for hydrogen usage and transport. Non-refundable financing up to 60.000 EUR (per SME) available. The total budget available for the 1st Open Call is €540.000,00.

Summary

Profile Type
  • Research & Development Request
POD Reference
RDRSI20251215003
Term of Validity
15 December 2025 - 15 December 2026
Company's Country
  • Slovenia
Type of partnership
  • Research and development cooperation agreement
Targeted Countries
  • Italy
  • Croatia
  • Greece
  • Portugal
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • France
  • Belgium
  • Romania
  • Lithuania
  • Slovakia
  • Hungary
  • Poland
  • Bulgaria
  • Latvia
  • Czechia
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General information

Short Summary
A consortium, led by a Slovenian research organization JSI, has announced the 1st call for SMEs and is looking for services and products related to hydrogen usage and transport. There is a non-refundable financing available up to 60.000 EUR. Services are sought to complement existing partners in developing solutions for transport of hydrogen and its usage. Solutions/electric vehicles that can upgrade their usability with hydrogen or any other usage of hydrogen in transport/mobility are sought.
Full Description
IMPORTANT NOTE! EOIs (Expression Of Interests) will be replied after 5th of January 2026, due to holidays.

The Slovenian research organization is coordinating project NACHIP – North Adriatic Clean Hydrogen Investment Platform under the I3 Instrument, managed by EISMEA.

Project partners are looking to strengthen hydrogen value chains across Europe and are looking for partners from that are already active within hydrogen or have services that could be usable in hydrogen sector. Financing is available for SMEs that have potential to join the partners.

Participation is particularly encouraged from:
• Technology developers and component suppliers
• Hydrogen production, storage, distribution and end-use solution providers
• Safety, monitoring, control and certification solution providers
• Digital and data technology SMEs enabling hydrogen system optimisation
• Engineering, integration and industrial service providers
• Market analysers of hydrogen needs, electrolysers, exc

[Hydrogen Usage/Market Uptake]
The research organisation welcomes solutions related to hydrogen usage in the transport/mobility exc. They welcome SMEs developing electric vehicles with or without hydrogen extender (developing/already developed/ with or without extender or with intention to be developed/is being developed, or any similar idea/plans/development in the future). Optimal would be vehicle on hydrogen already developed/being in development, even if in the future.
They welcome also SMEs with any solutions to use hydrogen as a storage (fuel cell). Any developments or already developed solutions are welcome. It is advisable that applicants possess certifications, relevant experience and the skills related to electromobility or/and usage of hydrogen in transport. It is welcome that applicants have already some experience on the markets related to their planned or already marketable solution. This is advisable to have however not “a must” and can be developed in the future. They welcome also partners already having or developing solutions related to secure usage/transport of hydrogen.
Innovations/solutions addressing any step within security of hydrogen transport or storage are very welcome.

[Fibers]
They welcome SMEs with solutions/innovations or activities related to (glass) fibers. This can be related to winding machines or other usages. They also search for SMEs working/having solutions of impregnation (of the fibers) related to winding process (or not). They are in search of partners with understanding of composite materials, having or developing composite materials or any other related processes. These solutions can be related to hydrogen or not.

[Catalyst Design]
They are seeking innovative solutions for catalyst design in the hydrogenation–dehydrogenation domain, with a focus on overcoming current limitations in durability and efficiency. Applicants should also demonstrate solid experience in catalyst replacement and, ideally, the ability to regenerate catalysts directly on site.

[Design & Compactness]
They are looking to collaborate with companies that have proven expertise in designing and building engines, to explore opportunities for improving the design and compactness of the DHR (Dynamic Hydrogen Releaser) and enhancing its scalability for a wide range of future applications.

[Renovation Approach]
They seek solutions supporting the development of a modular renovation approach that enables the integration of "NACHIP" (project)-based energy supply and storage systems into existing buildings.

[Process Optimisation (dsp tool)]
Related to DSP (decision support tool) they are looking for solutions for assessment of components. For example, defining technical and economic parameters related to energy sector.

[Application of hydrogen demo]
Applicants are expected to adapt the technology, make necessary updates, and ensure it fits within the hydrogen value chain, ultimately finding its place in a targeted niche use case.
Stage of Development
  • Available for demonstration
Sustainable Development Goals
  • Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
  • Goal 13: Climate Action
  • Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Partner Sought

Expected Role of a Partner
3 main areas of intervention have been identified for the sub-projects:

• Input: innovative chemicals/materials for the NACHIP pilot testing
• Process: Solutions to optimize hydrogen-related processes used in the NACHIP pilots
• Output: Applications of new technologies complementing the NACHIP value chains: mobility, urban, and manufacturing sectors

A non-exhaustive list of potential activities that can be included in the projects presented by the FSTP beneficiaries is:
• trial and testing activities,
• market analysis
• the acquisition and testing of materials
• integration in the pilots of the SME solutions, demonstration in real/operational environment, small and/or medium scale;
• exploitation activities in new application sectors (cross-fertilisation)
• standardisation of deployment (renovation approach, installation process, administrative requirements)
• establishment of safety mechanisms for different types of applications
• Cost analysis and pricing as part of a go to market offer
• hiring of additional specialized services that not available within the project consortium
• prototyping.
Type and Size of Partner
  • SME 50 - 249
  • SME <=10
  • SME 11-49
Type of partnership
  • Research and development cooperation agreement

Call details

Framework program
  • Energy
Call title and identifier
North Adriatic Clean Hydrogen Investment Platform (NACHIP) - I3 Instrument, ERDF/EISMEA
Submission and evaluation scheme
The open call is published widely and in conformity to EU standards concerning equal treatment, conflict of interest and confidentiality. Applications must be submitted exclusively through the dedicated webpage (www.nachip.eu). Please also notify your EEN!
Anticipated project budget
540000
Coordinator required
No
Deadline for EoI
Deadline of the call
Project duration in weeks
26
Web link to the call
https://www.nachip.eu/
Project title and acronym
North Adriatic Clean Hydrogen Investment Platform - NACHIP

Dissemination

Technology keywords
  • 04001006 - Transport and storage of hydrogen
Market keywords
  • 06002004 - Hydro-electric
Targeted countries
  • Italy
  • Croatia
  • Greece
  • Portugal
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • France
  • Belgium
  • Romania
  • Lithuania
  • Slovakia
  • Hungary
  • Poland
  • Bulgaria
  • Latvia
  • Czechia