The LIFE 2023 call for proposals, the European Union’s only financial instrument dedicated exclusively to climate and environmental action, has just been published. The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) has just launched the funding lines of the LIFE Programme, which this year have a budget of 611 million euros (compared to 598 million euros last year).
The LIFE 2023 call and its different calls have been published on the EU’s Funding & Tenders Portal, which also includes the closing dates. To learn more about the ins and outs of these calls, CINEA has organised free Info Days on 25 and 26 April to guide potential applicants.
The budget by area
- Standard Action Projects (SAPs): nature and biodiversity. 141 million euros.
- Standard Action Projects (SAPs): circular economy and quality of life. 91 million euros.
- Standard Action Projects (SAPs): climate change mitigation and adaptation. 66 million euros.
- Integrated Strategic Projects (ISPs): climate and environment. 83 million euros.
- Operating grants for specific non-profit entities that have signed a Framework Partnership Agreement. 14 million euros.
- Replication of technical assistance. 6.5 million euros.
- Projects to address ad hoc legislative and policy priorities (LTPs). 15 million euros.
Key dates for the LIFE 2023 call for proposals
Here are the key dates you can’t miss to submit your project on time and be eligible for funding:
- Standard Action Projects (SAPs) for the Circular Economy and Quality of Life, Nature and Biodiversity and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Sub-programmes. Closing: 6 September 2023.
- Standard Action Projects (SAP) for the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Sub-programmes. Closing: 21 September.
- LIFE Clean Energy Transition Action Sub-programme. Closing: 16 November.
- Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs).
· Concept notes: 5 September.
· Full proposals: 5 March 2024.
- Technical Assistance preparation for SIPs and SNAPs. Closing: 7 September.
- Replication of Technical Assistance. Closing: 27 July.
- Operating grants for non-profit entities (SGA OG), by invitation only to LIFE FPA signatories. Closing 21 September.
- LIFE Preparatory Projects, addressing Legislative and Policy Priorities on an ad hoc basis. Closing: 7 September.
Funding for eight strategic LIFE 2023 projects
The LIFE Programme is one of the priorities of the European Commission, which has announced an investment of 116 million euros for strategic LIFE projects in 2023. This funding will help eight major nature, environment and climate action projects to achieve their objectives. The strategic LIFE eCoadapt50 project, presented by Zabala Innovation, will receive €11.6 million to raise awareness of climate change adaptation.
The projects will be implemented in Belgium, Estonia, Spain, Italy, Poland, Slovakia and Finland. The projects are expected to mobilise significant additional funds from other EU funding sources, such as agricultural, structural, regional and research funds, in addition to national funds and private sector investments.
The projects will contribute to making Europe the world’s first climate neutral continent by 2050 and to the successful implementation of the European Green Deal. They also underpin the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, the Circular Economy Action Plan, the Zero Pollution Action Plan and the Nature Recovery Act, and help the transition to clean energy.