Federal Funding for Industry and Climate Protection (BIK) - New Calls for Proposals Starting October 19, 2026

The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) has published the third call for proposals under the Federal Funding Program for Industry and Climate Protection (BIK) . This once again gives industrial companies with an operating facility in Germany the opportunity to receive funding of up to €35 million for the development and testing of innovative technologies to reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions.

The new call for proposals focuses on research and development (R&D) projects aimed at developing climate-friendly, low-carbon technologies and production processes, as well as innovative technologies for the capture, utilization and storage of CO₂.

Project proposals may be submitted from October 19 through December 6, 2026.

What is funded in the third call for proposals?

The third call for proposals focuses on application-oriented research and development projects across two funding modules.

Module 1, Submodule 3: Decarbonization of Industry

Funding is provided for industry-oriented research and development of innovative technologies and production processes aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the industrial sector as much as possible and on a permanent basis.

The focus is on projects with a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4 to 8 that are highly innovative and demonstrative in nature and can be transferred to other companies. Basic research is excluded from funding.

Eligible for funding are industrial research, experimental development, and project-specific feasibility studies. These activities may involve the development of new or significantly improved products and innovative processes, the implementation of prototypes and pilot projects, and the testing of new technologies under real-world conditions.

The project management agency for this module is the Competence Center for Climate Protection in Energy-Intensive Industries (KEI), a division of Zukunft – Umwelt – Gesellschaft (ZUG) GmbH.

Module 2, Submodule 2: Funding for CCU/CCS

This submodule, managed by the Jülich Project Management Agency (PtJ), supports application-oriented research and development in the fields of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) in industry and waste management.

The focus is on the technical (further) development and testing of innovative technologies for the capture, utilization, and storage of CO₂ emissions—particularly those that are difficult to avoid—as well as the economic and ecological assessment of corresponding process chains.

Projects should primarily address at least one of the following topics:

1. CO₂ Capture: Development and testing of innovative, efficient systems and processes for CO₂ capture
2. CO₂ Utilization: Development and testing of facilities and processes for utilizing CO₂ as a raw material source
3. Direct Air Capture: Development and testing of technologies and processes for the capture, utilization, and/or storage of CO₂ from the air
4. CO₂ storage: Development and testing of processes for the exploration, development, and monitoring of CO₂ storage sites.

A technology readiness level (TRL) of 4 to 8 is required.

Who is eligible to apply for funding?

• Industrial companies of any size with a facility or office in Germany that plan or operate plants for carrying out industrial processes
• in particular, companies from energy-intensive sectors such as
  • basic chemicals,
  • metal processing, steel, and foundry industries,
  • the glass industry,
  • the ceramics industry,
  • paper and pulp industry,
  • cement and lime industries.
    
  However, funding is expressly not limited to these sectors.
  
  
• Research institutions, colleges, and universities are eligible to apply if at least one member of the consortium is a company.

How much is the funding?

Funding is provided in the form of a non-repayable grant. The amount of funding depends in particular on the type of research project, the size of the company and the applicable state aid regulations.

The funding intensity may be increased by 10% or 20% for small and medium-sized enterprises. Additional increases, up to a maximum funding intensity of 80%, are possible for industrial research and experimental development, subject to certain conditions.

What costs are eligible for funding?

• Project-related personnel costs
• Costs for instruments and equipment (for the duration of the project)
• Costs for buildings and land (for the duration of the project)
• Costs for contract research, knowledge, and patents acquired from third parties or under license in accordance with the arm’s-length principle
• Consulting costs
• Additional project-related overhead costs and other operating costs directly attributable to the project
• the costs of the feasibility study

How does the application process work?

The application process consists of two stages in both modules. During the call for proposals phase, prospective applicants have the opportunity to develop and submit a detailed project outline in German. Project outlines may be submitted until December 6, 2026. Following a positive evaluation of the submitted proposals and notification of approval to proceed from the respective project management agency, the formal application phase begins. During this phase, companies are required to prepare the formal funding applications and submit them via the “easy-Online” electronic application system.

Conclusion: Take advantage of funding opportunities for innovative climate protection technologies now

The third funding call under the Federal Funding Program for Industry and Climate Protection once again offers companies attractive funding opportunities for innovative research and development projects. Companies that wish to develop new climate-friendly production processes or test innovative technologies in an industrial setting can ensure their eligibility for funding and strategically position their projects.

The deadline for submitting project outlines is December 6, 2026. Companies should therefore check early on whether their planned projects meet the funding requirements and begin preparing their project outlines.

Are you planning an innovative research and development project to reduce industrial CO₂ emissions? We’d be happy to support you with our grant consulting services throughout the entire application process — from assessing your project’s eligibility to refining your project idea, preparing the full application, and handling financial reporting after approval.

Text: Carolin Kühnl