Cryo-cooled power electronics for a fully electric hydrogen fuel cell powered aircraft
Development and demonstration of cryo-cooled motor inverter power electronics for fully electric hydrogen fuel cell-powered aircraft, targeting advancements in efficiency, compactness, and scalability of cryogenic electric propulsion systems. Intended for consortia or organizations capable of delivering technology at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 4 to 6.
Details
Agency
EU Commission
Status
Open
Language
English
Funding Type
Grant
Funding Amount
Up to 60.0M €
Deadline
2026-05-19
Open Date
2026-03-31
Overview
Development and demonstration of cryo-cooled motor inverter power electronics for fully electric hydrogen fuel cell-powered aircraft, targeting advancements in efficiency, compactness, and scalability of cryogenic electric propulsion systems. Intended for consortia or organizations capable of delivering technology at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 4 to 6.Who Can Apply
Consortia or legal entities established in eligible countries, including EU Member States, Horizon Europe Associated Countries, and select third countries with specific funding provisions. Applicants must demonstrate financial and operational capacity, with no exclusions for specific entity types (e.g., SMEs, universities, research organizations, or industry).Funding Details
- Maximum grant amount: 60,000,000 EUR per project.
- Funding rate: Not explicitly stated; refer to Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes for standard rates (typically 70% for for-profit entities, 100% for non-profits).
- Co-funding: Not specified; standard Horizon Europe rules likely apply.
What Is Funded
- Development and demonstration of cryo-cooled motor inverter power electronics at TRL 5.
- Validation of reliability and performance for cryogenic electric propulsion systems in hydrogen fuel cell-powered aircraft.
- Activities may include design, prototyping, testing, and integration into propulsion system architectures.
Technology / Maturity Requirements
- TRL range: 4 to 6 (component and/or system validation in laboratory and relevant environments).
- Proposals must demonstrate a clear pathway to TRL 5 by project completion.
Key Dates
- Call opens: 2026-03-30
- Application deadline: 2026-05-18T22:00:00Z
- Q&A releases:
- Indicative evaluation and grant agreement timeline: Refer to Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Application Process (High-Level)
- Single-stage submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal.
- Proposal must include:
- Evaluation criteria and thresholds follow Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes, with a topic-specific evaluation template for Clean Aviation Fast Track Activities (FTA).
Post-Award Obligations
- Compliance with Horizon Europe reporting requirements, including financial and technical progress reports.
- Dissemination of results in accordance with Clean Aviation and Horizon Europe guidelines.
- Adherence to the Clean Aviation Model Consortium Agreement and any specific conditions outlined in the grant agreement.
Geographic Scope & Language
- Eligible countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, United Kingdom, Switzerland.
- Application language: English.
Notes
- Proposals must align with the Clean Aviation Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA).
- Applicants are advised to monitor the call webpage for updates to documents or Q&A releases.
- Standard Horizon Europe rules for admissibility, eligibility, and evaluation apply, with editorial clarifications specific to this call.