LIFE programme

Funding for Environment and Climate Action with the EU LIFE programme.

Grants for Nature, Biodiversity, Circular Economy, and the Clean Energy Transition.

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The LIFE Programme is designed to support environmental, nature conservation, and climate action initiatives across Europe.

 Whether you’re protecting biodiversity, enhancing resource efficiency, or advancing the clean energy transition, the LIFE Programme offers funding and support to help scale your project’s impact and accelerate the EU’s path toward sustainability and climate neutrality.

Substantial Funding

Receive up to 60–100% funding for eligible project costs through non-dilutive grants, including lump-sum options.

Dedicated Sub-Programmes

Apply under focused streams like Nature & Biodiversity, Circular Economy, Climate Mitigation & Adaptation, and the Clean Energy Transition.

Catalyse investment

LIFE projects are designed to unlock further investment, promote policy innovation, and scale real-world environmental impact.

Networking & Technical Support

Benefit from CINEA-led support, including tools, guidance, and opportunities to connect with stakeholders, NGOs, SMEs, and public authorities.

€5.43B

Total budget 2021-27

€1.5M

Average project funding rate

30+

participating countries

60-100%

funding rate

What you need
to know before
applying

Start your eligibility check now

💡Tip: Start Early—allow 4 to 6 months for preparation.  A successful application requires a well-structured approach and sufficient time for planning.

About the LIFE programme

The LIFE Programme is the EU’s funding instrument for environment and climate action, supporting the implementation and demonstration of solutions for biodiversity, circular economy, climate mitigation, and clean energy. It is structured into several sub-programmes and calls, each addressing specific thematic priorities and funding schemes.

It is managed by CINEA (the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency) and complements, but is separate from, Horizon Europe, which focuses more on research and innovation.

Eligible LIFE programme applicants
  • Public bodies (local/regional authorities)
  • Private companies (including SMEs)
  • NGOs, research organisations, universities
  • Need to be from EU Member States or associated countries
  • Proposals can be submitted by individual applicants or consortia, depending on the type of action and sub-programme.

 

Types of projects

It funds:

  • Pilot and demonstration projects that test and showcase new technologies or methods.
  • Best practice projects that implement proven techniques in new contexts.
  • Integrated projects that coordinate large-scale implementation of environmental and climate plans.
  • Technical assistance and capacity-building projects to help prepare larger LIFE or EU-funded initiatives.
LIFE programme sub-programme calls
Sub-Programme Focus Areas
Nature & Biodiversity Protect species and habitats, restore ecosystems, strengthen Natura 2000.
Circular Economy & Quality of Life Waste, water, air, soil, zero-pollution actions, sustainable urban solutions.
Climate Mitigation & Adaptation Support EU climate targets, emissions reduction, and adaptation planning.
Clean Energy Transition (CET) Boost renewables and energy efficiency, capacity-building, citizen engagement.
Types of Actions Funded
Action Type Purpose
Standard Action Projects (SAPs) Implement practical environmental, climate, or energy solutions.
Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs) Large-scale implementation of environmental or climate strategies.
Strategic Nature Projects (SNaPs) Large-scale support for Natura 2000 and biodiversity strategies.
CET Actions Skills, coordination, and market-enabling activities for clean energy uptake.
Technical Assistance (TA-R, TA-PP) Prepare future large-scale or replication projects.
Other Actions Platforms, coordination, and policy-support initiatives.
Funding rate & budget per project type

€5.43 billion total budget (2021-2027).

 

Project Type Indicative Budget (2025) Funding Rate
SAPs €299.4 million Up to 60–75%
SIPs Part of €158 million combined budget Up to 60%
SNaPs Part of €158 million combined budget Up to 75% (or 67%)*
CET Actions €91.4 million Up to 95%
PLP €22.5 million Typically 95–100%
Technical Assistance (TA, TA-R, TA-PP) €6.5 million (TA-R), €1 million (TA-PP) Up to 100%
Key deadlines
  • SAPs & TA (single-stage): Submission cutoffs are typically around September
  • SNaPs/SIPs (two-stage): Calls follow a two-step process:
    • Concept Note (Step 1): typically due around September
    • Full Proposal (Step 2): typically due around March (approx. 6 months after Step 1)
Application process

The application process for the LIFE programme generally follows these steps:

  1. Call Publication: Calls open around April each year on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

  2. Proposal Submission:

    • Single-stage for most calls (e.g. SAPs, CET, PLP): Full proposal due ~September.

    • Two-stage for SIPs/SNaPs: Concept Note (~September), then Full Proposal (~March next year).

  3. Evaluation: Proposals are evaluated against five award criteria.

  4. Grant Agreement Preparation: For selected projects, agreements are signed within a few months.

  5. Project Start: Typically within 6 months after the call deadline.

Supporting documents (budget, partner info, co-financing letters) must be uploaded at submission.

 

Evaluation criteria

LIFE proposals are evaluated on five criteria: Relevance, Impact, Quality, Resources, and EU Added Value, each scored out of 20 points. Projects must score at least 55/100 overall, with a minimum of 10 points per criterion. Bonus points may be awarded for exceptional synergies or replication potential.

Eligible costs

Eligible LIFE costs include personnel, travel, equipment, subcontracting, and materials directly related to the project, plus 7% flat-rate indirect costs. Equipment can be fully or partially eligible depending on use, and subcontracting is capped at 30% unless justified. All costs must be necessary, reasonable, and incurred during the project.

How We Support your LIFE application

  • Backed by PhDs, engineers, and finance experts, we guide you through every stage of the application and project lifecycle.
  • We combine strategic insight with technical excellence to help innovators secure the right collaborative funding and manage their projects successfully.
Control de convocatorias (1)

1. Opportunity Scouting

We help identify the most suitable LIFE subprogramme and call, ensuring alignment with EU priorities and requirements. We also keep updated and scout other EU funding opportunities that fit your profile, and we support partner identification—public authorities, NGOs, research centres, or SMEs—when needed to strengthen your proposal.
Diagnóstico y preparación

2. Proposal Preparation

We guide you through the full preparation of the LIFE application, refining technical, environmental, and financial inputs into a strong, compliant proposal. We support the definition of project logic, work plan, budget, EU-level impact, and replicability to ensure full alignment with LIFE expectations.

Obtención de ayuda (2)

3. Submission & Grant Agreement

We manage the submission workflow and support communication with CINEA during evaluation. Once selected, we help complete all grant agreement steps—legal validations, certificates, consortium arrangements, and budget refinements—for a smooth transition to project launch.

Gestión del proyecto (1)

4. Project Management

We support project implementation by ensuring compliance, tracking progress, preparing reports, assisting with audits, and managing communication with CINEA—allowing you to focus on delivering impact.

Need expert advice for your LIFE programme proposal?

Our consultants guide you through everything you need to know about this programme, its different calls, requirements, and winning strategies.

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“We highlight the Evolution team’s flexibility in offering a proposal tailored to startups, their communication with international teams, and their ability to improve consortia and tasks.”

Ana Bouchet, Scientific Co-Founder of Lifesome Therapeutics

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“The Evolution Europe team has been a revelation. From evaluating our project’s potential to structuring the collaboration agreement, their support eased pressure across our team and facilitated seamless communication between Sweden and France. We look forward to continuing this collaboration.”

Soham Saha, Co-founder and CEO of MedInsights

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“At Evolution, we found the expertise and guidance we needed to identify and target the right programme for our goals. Having Evolution by our side gave us peace of mind and allowed our start-up team to stay fully focused on project development.”

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about the LIFE programme.

Which countries participate in the LIFE programme?

The LIFE Programme supports projects in the 27 EU Member States, Iceland, and Norway, forming part of the eligible countries. Other countries (e.g. candidate or associated countries) may participate if formally associated or their involvement is essential to achieving EU environmental or climate goals. Projects must be primarily implemented within eligible countries, unless justified otherwise.

What funding rate does LIFE programme offer?

The LIFE Programme typically offers a funding rate of 60% of eligible costs. For Nature & Biodiversity projects targeting priority habitats or species, the rate can go up to 75%. Some Technical Assistance projects and NGO Operating Grants may have different rates depending on the call.

What is the success rate of the LIFE programme?

The typical success rate of the LIFE Programme is around 20–30% for most calls. However, this varies by sub-programme and year:

  • Standard Action Projects (SAPs): ~25%

  • Strategic Projects (SIPs/SNaPs): Higher, but more competitive at concept note stage

  • Clean Energy Transition (CET): Can be below 20% due to high demand

Well-prepared proposals, especially those aligned with EU priorities and demonstrating strong impact and replicability, have a better chance.

How long does it take to get funded?

From submission to funding, the LIFE Programme process typically takes 6 to 9 months.

What is the TRL required to apply to the LIFE programme?

The LIFE Programme typically targets solutions with a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 5 to 8:

  • TRL 5–6: For demonstration or pilot projects (e.g. testing in relevant environments)

  • TRL 7–8: For close-to-market solutions ready for scaling or replication

Proposals should clearly demonstrate that the technology is beyond basic research and ready for real-life validation or deployment.

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