European UnionPublic Institution, Private Business, Research Institution
Boosting the transformation towards climate-neutral cities, the net-zero economy and open strategic autonomy through Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP)
HORIZON Pre-commercial Procurement under the Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission
Funding Amount
€7.0M - €12.0M
Deadline
20/01/2026
Eligible Organization Types
Public Institution, Private Business, Research Institution
Trusted by
What is the Boosting the transformation towards climate-neutral cities, the net-zero economy and open strategic autonomy through Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) Call?
Grant Description
This call supports consortia of public procurers (local authorities) to jointly implement pre-commercial procurement of research and development to bring innovative solutions to market that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in cities, addressing market fragmentation and fostering early adoption in energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable mobility and digitalisation to contribute to climate-neutral and smart cities.
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
• Public procurers, through demand-side PCP, stimulate competitive development of market-ready innovations that reduce GHG emissions and advance local climate-neutrality while strengthening EU open strategic autonomy.
• Successful market introduction and implementation of solutions in sectors such as building energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable smart mobility, and digitalisation in participant cities.
• Increased innovation and supply-chain resilience by opening procurement markets to EU/Associated SMEs and startups, enabling them to scale up.
• Enhanced market uptake and economies of scale via aggregated public demand, wide dissemination of results, and contributions to standardisation, regulation or certification.
• Clear presentation of expected GHG emission reductions by 2030 and 2050 for each participating city against a project-baseline.
• (Mission impacts) Enhanced city capacity to implement Climate City Contracts, boost energy/resource efficiency, circular economy and urban regeneration, engage citizens inclusively, leverage data and digital technologies, adopt cross-sectoral governance models, and pool city demands to strengthen European industry competitiveness.
• Successful market introduction and implementation of solutions in sectors such as building energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainable smart mobility, and digitalisation in participant cities.
• Increased innovation and supply-chain resilience by opening procurement markets to EU/Associated SMEs and startups, enabling them to scale up.
• Enhanced market uptake and economies of scale via aggregated public demand, wide dissemination of results, and contributions to standardisation, regulation or certification.
• Clear presentation of expected GHG emission reductions by 2030 and 2050 for each participating city against a project-baseline.
• (Mission impacts) Enhanced city capacity to implement Climate City Contracts, boost energy/resource efficiency, circular economy and urban regeneration, engage citizens inclusively, leverage data and digital technologies, adopt cross-sectoral governance models, and pool city demands to strengthen European industry competitiveness.
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
• Consortium composition: at least three of the 112 Mission cities, with the lead procurer one of those; optional engagement of additional follower cities.
• Focus on innovative GHG-reduction solutions in urban domains such as building energy efficiency, renewable energy production/use, sustainable and smart mobility, digitalisation, circular economy, water and waste management.
• PCP procurement must follow General Annex H: demand-side R&D procurement in iterative phases under EU open strategic autonomy conditions.
• Solutions must be market-ready, with first customer references via piloting and validation in the participant cities.
• Suppliers must be established in EU Member States or Associated Countries (unless insufficient).
• Proposals must include open market consultation before tender launch, effective end-user involvement, and wide supplier outreach.
• Demonstrate the project’s sustainability beyond its lifetime, anchored in a clear strategy for climate-neutral cities, including cooperation with policy makers to mobilise additional national budgets for innovation procurement.
• Procurers must declare deployment intent: 1) direct PCP purchase of at least one solution (budgeted), 2) follow-up procurement (with dedicated deliverable), 3) open-source/ free adoption, or 4) financial/regulatory incentives (via third-party grants up to €200k).
• Focus on innovative GHG-reduction solutions in urban domains such as building energy efficiency, renewable energy production/use, sustainable and smart mobility, digitalisation, circular economy, water and waste management.
• PCP procurement must follow General Annex H: demand-side R&D procurement in iterative phases under EU open strategic autonomy conditions.
• Solutions must be market-ready, with first customer references via piloting and validation in the participant cities.
• Suppliers must be established in EU Member States or Associated Countries (unless insufficient).
• Proposals must include open market consultation before tender launch, effective end-user involvement, and wide supplier outreach.
• Demonstrate the project’s sustainability beyond its lifetime, anchored in a clear strategy for climate-neutral cities, including cooperation with policy makers to mobilise additional national budgets for innovation procurement.
• Procurers must declare deployment intent: 1) direct PCP purchase of at least one solution (budgeted), 2) follow-up procurement (with dedicated deliverable), 3) open-source/ free adoption, or 4) financial/regulatory incentives (via third-party grants up to €200k).
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
• Place of performance and commercialization conditions per General Annex H require majority of procured R&D and subsequent production in EU Member States or Associated Countries.
• Participation in the procurement may be restricted to suppliers established in EU or Associated Countries if sufficient capacity exists.
• Maximum €200,000 per third party for financial support grants to end-users.
• Projects targeting the upper budget range (€7–12 million) must demonstrate higher ambition in innovation level and/or deployment scope.
• Collaboration with the Cities Mission Platform is mandatory and must be formalized via MoU immediately after project start.
• Projects must allocate resources in the work plan for joint activities with the Mission Platform and other funded initiatives.
• Third-party selection requires external expert review.
• Eligibility and evaluation governed by Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes A–H, Annex B eligible countries, Annex D award criteria, Annex F processes, and model grant agreements HE-PCP and HE-AG.
• Participation in the procurement may be restricted to suppliers established in EU or Associated Countries if sufficient capacity exists.
• Maximum €200,000 per third party for financial support grants to end-users.
• Projects targeting the upper budget range (€7–12 million) must demonstrate higher ambition in innovation level and/or deployment scope.
• Collaboration with the Cities Mission Platform is mandatory and must be formalized via MoU immediately after project start.
• Projects must allocate resources in the work plan for joint activities with the Mission Platform and other funded initiatives.
• Third-party selection requires external expert review.
• Eligibility and evaluation governed by Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes A–H, Annex B eligible countries, Annex D award criteria, Annex F processes, and model grant agreements HE-PCP and HE-AG.
Important dates
Open from: 06/05/2025
Deadline:20/01/2026
Win your grant with Cogrant
How cogrant works
Smart Funding Fit Check
Instantly know if your project fits call criteria. Our system highlights strengths, gaps, and risks, so you only apply when your chances are real.
Intelligent Research Engine
Our research engine digs deeper than any founder could alone. It pulls data about your company, your market, and even your competitors - giving your proposal an edge backed by facts, not fluff.
Full Proposal Development
Our system builds your entire proposal from start to finish, ensuring every section is complete, coherent, and crafted to the highest quality. You focus on your vision — we deliver the winning document.
Expert Review
Our experts run a complete review before delivery, ensuring your draft proposal is accurate, well-structured, and polished. You’ll receive a high-quality draft that’s ready for your final touches before submission.
Our Numbers
Results that speak for themselves
70+
proposals prepared
€36.7M
total funding secured for clients
65%
win rate in highly competitive calls