NACHIP launches cascade funding Open Calls enabling SMEs to test, validate and deploy hydrogen solutions in real pilot environments.
The North Adriatic Clean Hydrogen Investment Platform (NACHIP) is launching its Open Calls to provide targeted financial support to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) developing advanced hydrogen technologies. Implemented under the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument and co-financed by the European Union, the Open Calls aim to strengthen Europe’s hydrogen innovation ecosystem by enabling SMEs to validate, demonstrate and deploy their solutions in real-life pilot environments across multiple regions.
The Open Calls are part of NACHIP’s cascade funding (Financial Support to Third Parties – FSTP) mechanism, designed to accelerate the uptake of hydrogen technologies with high market readiness. Through simplified lump-sum funding and reduced administrative burden, NACHIP supports SMEs proposing solutions at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) above 7, connected directly to the project’s pilot activities.
Supporting hydrogen deployment across key value chains
NACHIP focuses on three strategic hydrogen value chains: manufacturing, urban areas and mobility, implemented through five pilot actions located in Croatia, Slovenia and Italy. These pilots provide real operational environments where innovative solutions can be tested, integrated and demonstrated:
- Green hydrogen production from wave energy (Pag, Croatia), exploring novel submerged wave-energy capture systems and multifunctional breakwater technology.
- Hydrogen use in urban areas (Velenje, Slovenia), supporting decentralised energy supply from renewables through sector coupling of electricity, heat and hydrogen in a just transition context.
- Dynamic Hydrogen Releasers – DHR (Torviscosa, Italy), based on Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) technology for safe storage, transport and on-demand hydrogen release.
- Cost-efficient hydrogen transportation cylinders (Udine, Italy), focusing on composite vessel design for safer and more affordable compressed hydrogen transport.
- Gasification of waste materials (Zagreb, Croatia), developing a prototype plant converting municipal solid waste into syngas and other valuable outputs.
SMEs supported through the Open Calls are expected to complement these pilots by addressing technical bottlenecks, improving efficiency and safety, and accelerating commercial deployment along the hydrogen value chain.
Who can apply
The Open Calls are open to SMEs with high innovation potential operating in the hydrogen value chain. Applications are welcomed from technology developers, component suppliers, hydrogen production and storage providers, digital solution providers, engineering companies and industrial service providers. SMEs may apply individually or in consortia of up to three SMEs.
Applicants must be legally established in one of the eligible regions, covering parts of Slovenia, Croatia and Italy, as well as additional eligible regions across Portugal, Spain, Belgium, France, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Czechia, Lithuania and Latvia. Full eligibility conditions are detailed in the Open Call documentation.
What activities can be funded
The Open Calls support activities aligned with EU priorities under the I3 Instrument and coherent with NACHIP objectives. Funded projects must focus on testing, validation and demonstration of hydrogen solutions in real-world applications.
Three main intervention areas are addressed:
- Input – innovative materials and chemicals supporting pilot testing.
- Process – solutions optimising hydrogen-related processes.
- Output – applications complementing hydrogen value chains in mobility, urban and manufacturing sectors.
Eligible activities include prototyping, trial and testing, integration into pilot sites, safety and standardisation activities, cost analysis and go-to-market preparation, market analysis, and exploitation across new application sectors. Detailed technical requirements linked to specific pilots are described in the Technical Annex available on the NACHIP website.
Funding conditions and timeline
The first Open Call opened on 1 December 2025 and closed on 3 February 2026. A second Open Call is planned to open in April 2026, providing additional opportunities for SMEs to engage with NACHIP pilot activities and further validate and deploy hydrogen technologies in real-world environments.
A total budget of €540,000 is available under the first Open Call. Any budget not allocated during the first call will be added to the budget dedicated to the second Open Call. Each SME may receive up to €60,000, while consortia can receive up to €180,000 in total. Projects are 100% funded under a lump-sum scheme, with a maximum project duration of six months.
Funding is disbursed in two instalments: an initial pre-financing payment and a final payment upon completion and verification of activities.
Evaluation and expected results
Applications undergo an eligibility check followed by expert evaluation based on relevance, quality and potential impact. Proposals must achieve a minimum score to be considered for funding. Selected applicants will be invited to online interviews to verify feasibility and credibility before contracting.
Funded SMEs are expected to deliver tangible results such as prototype development, integration into existing infrastructure, and demonstrable innovation in hydrogen storage, transport or utilisation. Beneficiaries will collaborate with NACHIP partners, supported by assigned technical mentors, and contribute to dissemination and communication activities.
How to apply
All application templates, guidance documents and the Technical Annex are available on the official Open Calls page.
Applications must be submitted in English using the official templates. For administrative or technical questions, applicants can contact the NACHIP team.
Through these Open Calls, NACHIP aims to reinforce Europe’s hydrogen innovation capacity, foster cross-border collaboration and accelerate the market uptake of clean hydrogen technologies across regions and sectors.
Co-financed by the European Union through the I3 Instrument implemented by EISMEA. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Please note, this article will also appear in the 25th edition of our quarterly publication.
