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    LIFE-2026-CET-DIGITAL

    Supporting digitalisation of Distribution System Operators for a smart energy transition (Smart Grid Academy)

    Closing soon · 22 daysLive official EU data

    LIFE Clean Energy Transition · LIFE-PJG · Needs partners

    16 Sep 2026
    Deadline
    €10M
    Call budget (2026)

    What this call funds

    This call funds projects that help electricity grid operators (DSOs), especially small and local ones, build the skills and knowledge to digitalise their operations. Money goes toward developing tailored digitalisation roadmaps, training staff, and running pilot projects covering data exchange, grid monitoring, and AI tools for grid management. The goal is to make distribution networks smarter, more resilient, and better able to integrate renewable energy and active consumers.

    smart grids · energy efficiency · renewable energy · artificial intelligence · internet of things · education skills

    Who wins this

    A consortium of energy sector organisations, DSO associations or training/technical assistance providers from at least three EU countries partnering with multiple distribution system operators to build their digital capacity and skills.

    Could you win this call?

    We read your site to see what you build.

    The call in detail

    Funding model
    LIFE-AG
    Submission
    Single-stage submission (full proposal at once)
    Type of action
    LIFE Project Grants
    Partners
    Required. The call asks for a consortium — at least 3 partners, from 3 countries.
    Eligible applicants
    Distribution System Operators, DSO associations
    Funding rate
    95% (Other Action Grants)
    Also required
    Indicative EU contribution per project is around EUR 2 million, though other amounts may be requested; development and demonstration of new technologies are out of scope, only deployment of available technologies.
    Sectors
    CleanTech · Energy · Circular Economy
    Read the full conditions from the official call ›

    Conditions 1. Admissibility conditions: Proposal page limit and layout described in section 5 of the call document. Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. 2. Eligible countries described in section 6 of the call document. 3. Other eligibility conditions described in section 6 of the call document. 4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion described in section 7 of the call document. 5a. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes described section 8 of the call document and the Online Manual. 5b. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds described in section 9 of the call document. 5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement described in section 4 of the call document. 6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants described in section 10 of the call document. Call document and annexes: Call document

    Who has won calls like this

    No past winners are recorded for this call family yet.

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