The industrial opportunity in the energy transition extends to the equipment, components, materials and processes used to develop and manufacture clean technologies. The two STEP Energy calls published on 30 September 2026 have a combined allocation of €175 million, split between Productive Innovation and R&D&I.
The starting point is the investment's contribution to a critical technology or its value chain. Environmental benefits alone do not establish that specific eligibility.
What does STEP mean by clean technologies?
The domain covers clean and resource-efficient technologies, including net-zero technologies, under the call's terms. Investment may involve final products, specific components and machinery, relevant critical raw materials or specialised services critical to development and manufacturing.
A supplier producing energy-storage components may have an important industrial role. Equipment specifically intended to manufacture hydrogen technologies or other products within the technical scope may also warrant assessment. Each case requires verification of the technology, criticality and principal connection to an eligible value chain.
Is installing solar panels enough?
Installing a technology for use in the company's own operations does not, by itself, demonstrate the STEP contribution. Self-consumption and energy-efficiency investment should be assessed under the appropriate instrument. These calls focus on the development or manufacture of critical technologies and their value chains.
This distinction matters at the outset. A factory installing batteries to manage consumption has a different project from a business developing or manufacturing their critical components. Understanding the purpose avoids preparing an application around an unsuitable framework.
Productive Innovation Energy: investing in industrial capacity
COMPETE2030-2026-12 allocates €100m to individual applications by companies of any size, subject to the relevant conditions. Investment must be in Norte, Centro or Alentejo. Reference eligible expenditure is €3m to less than €25m, with justified exceptions, and normal project duration is 24 months.
The stated maximum rate is 70%, subject to company size, location and the regional aid map. Equipment, intangible assets and construction may be eligible within the call's limits. The plan must establish demand, differentiation and the financial capacity to deliver.
R&D&I Energy: developing and commercialising technology
COMPETE2030-2026-11 allocates €75m to business-led consortium projects combining R&D and Productive Innovation. The reference expenditure range is €5m to less than €25m under the stated conditions. Corrected eligible expenditure below €5m following appraisal is not supported. Normal duration is 36 months.
The 80% ceiling concerns business R&D. Productive investment follows its own aid framework. A complete consortium should cover critical phases and include companies taking results to market, with responsibilities and rights clearly defined.
The call mentions Algarve in its geographical scope but identifies only Norte, Centro and Alentejo in the funding allocation section. An Algarve project therefore requires clarification from the managing authority before eligibility is concluded.
Financing should follow the industrial timetable
A new production line requires coordination of equipment, works, permits, recruitment and cash receipts. The grant does not remove the need for own funding and liquidity during delivery. Financial analysis should test delays, additional costs, commercial ramp-up and the ability to fund expenditure until grant payments arrive.
Fenix Capital connects the application, business plan and financing. The assessment starts with the technology and its strategic relevance, then considers an investment structure the business can execute.