12.05.2025
Current calls for funding have been published as part of the EU funding program HORIZON EUROPE. Cluster 5 “Climate, Energy and Mobility” in particular includes topics that can be decisively advanced through developments and innovations in the field of thin-film technology. This opens up opportunities for you to help shape projects and ideas in the field of surface technology.
To give you an overview and help you get started, here is an overview of 3 current calls from the European Commission relating to climate, energy and mobility – including deadlines, topics and links to the official call pages.
We will be happy to advise you in the selection of your calls, in the search for suitable project partners and during the application process.
Further important information on the individual calls can be found at
https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2023-2024/wp-8-climate-energy-and-mobility_horizon-2023-2024_en.pdf
The European Surface Networking Summit (11 June 2025 | 9:00 – 12:00 | Online) will take place shortly, at which experts from the National Contact Points and funding advisory services will explain the program once again. Afterwards, international networks and surface technology scientists can introduce themselves. This gives you the opportunity to find international partners for your EU project.
If you have any questions or need support, please do not hesitate to contact us.
European Society of Thin Films e.V. (EFDS)
Gostritzer Str. 63
01217 Dresden
E-Mail: info@efds.org
Tel. 0351 8718370
Web: www.efds.org
28.06.2024
CORNET Call – Deadline September 25, 2024
Within the program for Industrial Collective Research (IGF) of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), international research projects benefiting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are also funded. These projects are carried out as part of the transnational network CORNET (COllective Research Networking) in collaboration with the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA). For more information about CORNET, you can visit the IGF website of the BMWK, CORNET-online, and the BAFA website.
38. CORNET Call is now open.
From June 27, 2024, the 38th call for proposals under CORNET is open to realize further international research projects for the benefit of SMEs in different countries and regions. Project submission is possible until September 25, 2024, 12:00 CEST (Central European Summer Time).
04.06.2024
The IGF’s “Lead Technologies” funding option is entering the next round: particularly systemically relevant, broad-based projects on the topic of the energy transition can be submitted. In particular, they should sustainably strengthen the international competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the respective sector(s). The projects must deal with one or more lead technology(ies) in the field of the energy transition. In particular, the topics “energy supply”, “energy infrastructure for transportation and storage”, “energy use”, “energy efficiency”, “energy system and system integration” are in demand.
As part of the current announcement, you can submit applications for funding in the area of “Leading technologies of the energy transition” from 03.06.2024 to 26.07.2024 (8 weeks).
All further information can be found on the IGF portal at https://portal.industrielle-gemeinschaftsforschung.de/antragstellende/leittechnologien. Over this link you can also find further downloads and frequently asked questions.
EFDS is happy to support projects relating to thin-film technologies for the energy transition. If you would like to submit a project for this funding program, please contact us and submit your project outline to the EFDS office at info@efds.org by 14.06.2024.
20.10.2023
We would like to draw your attention to a funding opportunity for SMEs on the subject of digitalization. Here, companies can apply for investment grants via the BMWK.
In today’s world of work and business, digital technologies and know-how are decisive for the competitiveness and future viability of companies. To enable SMEs to exploit the economic potential of digitalization, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK) supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the “Digital Now – Investment Promotion for SMEs” programme. The program offers financial grants and is intended to encourage companies to invest more in digital technologies and employee training.
For more information, please click here:
https://www.bmwk.de/Redaktion/DE/Dossier/digital-jetzt.html
18.04.2023
This year, the BMWK is once again funding IGF projects in the area of the energy transition through the variant ‘Guiding Technologies for SMEs’ as outlined in the IGF guideline from December 21, 2022. Please refer to the attached announcement for more details.
Under the current announcement, you can submit applications until June 9, 2023, via the EFDS to the AiF through ELANO (Funding Variant: Guiding Technologies).
For further information, you can contact the EFDS office (info@efds.org or 0351 8718370), as well as the AiF (Mr. Martin Krauße, Martin.Krausse@aif.de; 0221 37680-318) and the BMWK, as detailed in the attached letter
03.08.2022
In the 2022 federal budget and as part of the government’s draft for the 2023 budget, the German government sent a clear positive signal for the Central Innovation Program for SMEs (ZIM) of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK).
Since 3 August 2022, the Central Innovation Programme for SMEs (ZIM) of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK) has again been open to applicants and is thus also available as a funding instrument for SMEs based in Germany and cooperating research institutions in the current 30th IraSME Call.
21.07.2022 – 31.01.2024
The new funding line “Scientific Preliminary Projects” (WiVoPro) of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is intended to act as a link between basic research and application-oriented work in industry-led research associations. The functional principle of new technologies in the field of photonics and second generation quantum technology will be demonstrated and their feasibility proven. These achievements are to be continued in industrial development work, for which separate funding programmes are available for application-oriented research projects in photonics and quantum technology. BAnz from 21.07.2022
20.07.2022 – 30.06.2024
The new funding programme “Quantum Systems – Developing Cutting-Edge Technology” of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) makes a valuable contribution to the transfer of innovative photonics research results in the field of “Novel photonic tools for industry and society – laser-based high-energy beam sources”. BAnz from 20.07.2022
Europäische Forschungsgesellschaft Dünne Schichten e.V.
Gostritzer Straße 63
01217 Dresden, GERMANY
