Application period
The call opens on 15 July 2026 closes on 30 September 2026 at 16:00.
Based on the call, Finnish projects and actors will be assessed for potential participation in EU-level matchmaking and further preparation of IPCEI INT.
Funding decisions are made by the Innovation Funding Agency Business Finland after the European Commission’s notification decisions.
Other important information:
- Submitting an application does not guarantee funding.
- Projects will be assessed both nationally and at EU level as part of the IPCEI process.
- The implementation of IPCEI INT requires sufficient European participation.
Description of the call
The IPCEI on Innovative Nuclear Technologies (IPCEI INT) is a European initiative aimed at strengthening value chains, industrial capabilities and cross-border cooperation related to innovative nuclear energy technologies in Europe.
IPCEI INT targets research, development and innovation projects as well as the first industrial deployment of innovative nuclear energy technologies. The objective is to promote low-carbon energy production and climate neutrality, strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and capabilities, and build strategic autonomy in the energy and technology sectors.
In addition, the aim is to develop European value chains and new solutions also for industrial and medical applications.
This call is part of Finland’s preparation for the IPCEI INT initiative. Based on the call, Finnish projects and actors will be assessed and selected for potential participation in EU-level matchmaking and further preparation of IPCEI INT. Selection for further preparation does not mean final participation in the IPCEI initiative and does not guarantee funding.
Objective of the call
The objective of this call is to:
- identify Finnish companies and other actors whose projects may be relevant to the IPCEI INT initiative
- assess the suitability of projects for further IPCEI INT preparation
- prepare Finland’s participation in EU-level matchmaking and in the next phases of the IPCEI INT process
- select the projects and actors that Finland may propose for EU-level matchmaking and further preparation
IPCEI INT concerns research, development and innovation projects (RDI) as well as the first industrial deployment phase (First Industrial Deployment, FID). Projects may include:
- research and development projects
- pilot and demonstration projects
- activities related to the development of value chains
First industrial deployment refers to the phase following the pilot line, but does not include mass production or commercial activities. IPCEI projects must form an integrated European whole and include cross-border cooperation.
Funding for IPCEI projects is granted in accordance with the Finnish State Aid Act (688/2001) and the Government Decree on funding for research, development and innovation activities (1444/2014).
Focus areas
IPCEI INT focuses on innovative nuclear energy technologies in accordance with the areas defined at EU level. The focus areas are based on the common preparation material of the IPCEI INT initiative: Common building blocks for national calls for expression of interest – IPCEI (INT) document (pdf).
The key focus areas
Funding may be granted to projects supporting three complementary workstreams:
WS1: Nuclear reactors
- The first workstream focuses on the conception, design, development and first industrial deployment of innovative reactor technologies. This includes reactors for the production of low-carbon electricity, cogeneration and heat, as well as applications such as radioisotope production, propulsion and off-grid systems. The workstream also covers improvements to existing designs and the early demonstration of first-of-a-kind reactor concepts.
WS2: Fuel and radioisotopes
- The second workstream focuses on innovation in the production and management of nuclear fuels, advanced fuel cycle solutions and target materials. This includes the development and qualification of new fuels for different reactor technologies, as well as solutions for waste management, valorisation of spent fuel and the production of radioisotopes for industrial and medical use. The workstream supports the full lifecycle of fuels and related materials.
WS3: Materials, components and services
- The third workstream focuses on transversal industrial capabilities needed across the nuclear value chain. This includes the development of advanced materials, components and manufacturing processes, as well as digital, engineering and lifecycle services supporting the design, construction, operation and decommissioning of nuclear facilities. The workstream covers both fission- and fusion-related supply chains.
Target group of the call
The call is open to Finnish companies related to the international value chain of innovative nuclear energy technologies in the role of a direct participant, associated partner or indirect partner. The roles are defined in the EU technical guidance on IPCEI participation: Technical guidance on conditions and process for participation in an IPCEI (pdf).
Prerequisites for granting funding
The company must be linked to the European value chain of innovative nuclear energy technologies, aimed at developing new technologies and their first industrial deployment.
Research and development projects must:
- be highly innovative in nature, or
- create significant added value for RDI activities, taking into account the latest state of the art in the field
Industrial deployment projects must:
- enable the development of a new product, service or technological solution with a high research and innovation content, and/or
- enable the deployment of a fundamentally innovative production process or technology
First Industrial Deployment refers to the scaling up of pilot facilities or the first equipment and installations covering the steps subsequent to the pilot line, including the testing phase, but not mass production or commercial activities.
The company must disseminate the new knowledge generated through the funded activities — spillover effects — not only to its customers, suppliers and project partners, but also more widely within the EU. IPCEI projects must enable the broad dissemination of the knowledge acquired, regardless of whether it is protected by ownership rights or intellectual property rights. The mechanisms for disseminating knowledge must be clearly described in connection with the project, and protected results must be disseminated on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory market terms.
The following are not considered IPCEI projects:
- incremental improvements to existing solutions or processes without a significant innovative dimension
- development of new versions of already existing products or technologies
Obstacles to granting funding
The company must not be in difficulty within the meaning of the European Commission’s State aid rules at the time the aid is granted, as defined in the guidelines on rescue and restructuring aid for firms in difficulty, section 2.2. Read more:
A project may be supported with public funding only if there is a market failure, meaning that the project could not be implemented without such support.