NACHIP launches a cascading funding call to enable small and medium-sized businesses to test, validate and deploy hydrogen solutions in real-world pilot environments.
The Northern Adriatic Clean Hydrogen Investment Platform (NACHIP) launches a public call to provide targeted financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) developing advanced hydrogen technologies. The call, implemented under the Interregional Innovation Investment (I3) scheme and co-financed by the European Union, aims to strengthen Europe’s hydrogen innovation ecosystem by enabling SMEs to validate, demonstrate and deploy their solutions in real pilot environments across multiple regions.
The public offering is part of NACHIP’s Cascade Financing (Financial Support to Third Parties – FSTP) mechanism, which is designed to accelerate the deployment of market-responsive hydrogen technologies. NACHIP supports small and medium-sized businesses proposing solutions at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7 or higher that are directly related to project pilot activities through simplified one-time funding and reduced administrative burden.
Supporting hydrogen deployment across key value chains
NACHIP focuses on three strategic hydrogen value chains: manufacturing, urban areas and mobility, and is implemented through five pilot activities in Croatia, Slovenia and Italy. These pilots provide a real-world production environment in which you can test, integrate, and demonstrate your innovative solutions.
Green Hydrogen Production from Wave Energy (Pag, Croatia), exploring new underwater wave energy recovery systems and multifunctional breakwater technologies. Hydrogen utilization in urban areas (Velěnge, Slovenia). Supporting decentralized energy supply from renewables through sectoral coupling of electricity, heat and hydrogen in the context of a just transition. Dynamic Hydrogen Release Device – DHR (Torviscosa, Italy). Based on liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC) technology for safe storage, transportation, and on-demand hydrogen release. Cost-effective hydrogen transport cylinder (Udine, Italy). We focus on composite vessel designs for safer and more affordable compressed hydrogen transportation. Waste Gasification (Zagreb, Croatia), developing a prototype plant to convert municipal solid waste into synthesis gas and other valuable products.
The SMEs supported through the call 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 call is aimed at SMEs with high innovation potential operating in the hydrogen value chain. We welcome applications from technology developers, component suppliers, hydrogen production and storage providers, digital solution providers, engineering companies, and industrial service providers. Small businesses can apply individually or as a consortium of up to three small businesses.
Applicants must be legally established in one of the eligible regions, which includes Slovenia, Croatia and parts of Italy. Also included are other eligible territories: Portugal, Spain, Belgium, France, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Czech Republic, Lithuania, and Latvia. Full eligibility requirements are detailed in the Open Call documentation.
What activities can be funded?
The open call supports activities consistent with NACHIP’s objectives, in line with EU priorities under the I3 Agreement. Funded projects must focus on testing, validating and demonstrating hydrogen solutions in real-world applications.
Three main areas of intervention will be addressed.
Inputs – Innovative materials and chemicals to support pilot testing. Process – Solutions to optimize hydrogen-related processes. Results – Applications that complement the hydrogen value chain in the mobility, urban and manufacturing sectors.
Activities covered include prototyping, trials and testing, integration into pilot sites, safety and standardization activities, cost analysis and market readiness, market analysis, and exploitation of new application areas. Detailed technical requirements related to specific pilots are provided in technical appendices available on the NACHIP website.
Funding conditions and schedule
The first public offering opened on December 1, 2025 and closed on February 3, 2026. The second round of calls is scheduled to open in April 2026 and will provide additional opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises to participate in NACHIP pilot activities and further validate and deploy hydrogen technologies in real-world settings.
A total budget of 540,000 euros is available for the first call. Any unallocated funds from the first call will be added to the budget dedicated to the second call. Each SME can receive up to €60,000 and the consortium can receive up to €180,000 in total. The project will be 100% funded under a lump sum scheme and the project duration will be up to 6 months.
Funds will be disbursed in two installments. An initial upfront funding payment and a final payment upon completion and verification of the activity.
Evaluation and expected results
Applications are subject to eligibility checks and then expert evaluation based on relevance, quality and potential impact. Proposals must achieve a minimum score to be eligible for funding. Selected applicants will be invited to an online interview to check feasibility and reliability before contracting.
Funded SMEs are expected to deliver tangible results, including the development of prototypes, integration into existing infrastructure, and demonstrable innovations in the storage, transportation and utilization of hydrogen. Beneficiaries will collaborate with NACHIP partners and contribute to dissemination and communication activities with the support of assigned technical mentors.
How to apply
All application templates, guidance documents and technical appendices are available on the official recruitment page.
Applications must be submitted in English using the official template. For administrative or technical questions, applicants should contact the NACHIP team.
Through these calls, NACHIP aims to strengthen Europe’s hydrogen innovation capacity, foster cross-border cooperation and accelerate the market introduction of clean hydrogen technologies across regions and sectors.
It is co-financed by the European Union through the I3 Instrument implemented by EISMEA. However, the views and opinions expressed are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the licensing authorities can be held responsible for them.
This article will also be published in the quarterly magazine issue 25.
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