EIB and European Commission Renew Agreement to Accelerate Decarbonisation Projects with Innovation Fund Support

EIB and European Commission Renew Agreement to Accelerate Decarbonisation Projects with Innovation Fund Support

(IN BRIEF) The European Commission and the European Investment Bank have renewed the Project Development Assistance (PDA) agreement under the Innovation Fund, providing expanded technical and financial support for innovative decarbonisation projects. The renewed agreement increases the PDA’s budget from €24 million to €90 million and will assist up to 250 projects between 2025 and 2028. The expanded scope includes new sectors like low-carbon mobility and buildings, in line with EU climate goals. The PDA programme will be more accessible through direct requests for assistance, enabling tailored support to help projects succeed in future Innovation Fund calls.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUXEMBOURG, 3-Jun-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have signed an agreement to renew the Project Development Assistance (PDA) under the Innovation Fund, enhancing technical and financial advisory support for innovative decarbonisation projects. This initiative is designed to aid projects that have not been selected via the Innovation Fund or those preparing to apply. The renewed agreement aligns with the European Union’s Clean Industrial Deal, which aims to accelerate the deployment of net-zero technologies and improve the competitiveness of European industries in the transition to climate neutrality.

The renewed agreement extends the PDA to provide support to up to 250 projects between 2025 and 2028, expanding sectoral coverage and simplifying the application process. This builds on the success of the first PDA programme, which supported 62 innovative projects, with 16 securing Innovation Fund grants, seven receiving funding from national or other sources, and one designated as an EU project of common interest.

The budget for the renewed PDA phase has been significantly increased from €24 million to €90 million, enabling a more extensive reach and impact. This funding boost will further accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge decarbonisation technologies across Europe. The expansion of the PDA scope now includes sectors such as net-zero and low-carbon mobility—encompassing maritime, rail, and road transport—as well as buildings, following the inclusion of these sectors in the Emission Trading System (EU ETS).

New Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have also been introduced, focusing on achieving geographical and sectoral balance while promoting small-scale and early-stage projects. This strategic expansion will help address the EU’s climate neutrality goals and foster the growth of a sustainable and clean industrial base.

A key feature of the renewed PDA programme is increased accessibility. Project developers can now apply for PDA through direct requests, in addition to the standard support mechanism tied to Innovation Fund calls. This flexibility enables faster, more tailored assistance to high-potential clean tech and industrial decarbonisation projects, enhancing the chances of success in Innovation Fund calls.

Under the new “open PDA” mechanism, project promoters can directly contact EIB Advisory for guidance. EIB Advisory will assess each project’s needs and determine how PDA can best increase its maturity and improve its chances of success in upcoming Innovation Fund calls. PDA will be allocated on a ‘first-come-first-served’ basis following the assessment.

For more details, please visit the EIB Innovation Fund Project Development Assistance website.

Commissioner Hoekstra stated:
“Through the Project Development Assistance from the Innovation Fund, the EIB is providing vital technical and financial support for promising decarbonisation projects. We are laying the foundations for the competitive and innovative industrial base of tomorrow, underscoring the EU’s long-term commitment to industrial decarbonisation and innovation.”

Christoph Kuhn, EIB Deputy Director General of the Projects Department, commented:
“With the renewed PDA agreement, EIB Advisory is not only building on past successes but also setting a new benchmark for how Europe can support its most innovative and transformative clean technologies.”

Media Contact:

Donata Riedel
d.riedel@eib.org
+352 4379 – 86192

Press Office
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SOURCE: European Investment Bank