Grants8 | The most comprehensive grants search on the web

Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

Grant Purpose and Target

Core objective: To highlight and reward excellence in innovation stemming from magnetic confinement fusion research and to stimulate a stronger innovation and entrepreneurial culture within the fusion sector.
Target recipient type: Researchers, research teams, and industrial participants.
Target size: Not specified, open to those involved in relevant research or industrial development.
Designation: SECTOR-SPECIFIC
Geographic scope: Open to entities eligible for funding under the Euratom Research and Training Programme 2021-2025, those working for national programmes in ITER partner countries (excluding Russia), or in third countries with a bilateral fusion cooperation agreement with Euratom in force.
Key filtering criteria: Applicant must have developed a physics or technology innovation within magnetic confinement fusion research that has market potential or has been adopted by industry; must meet specified country eligibility.
Grant frequency: Biennial prize.
Program context: A prize awarded in association with the Symposium on Fusion Technology (SOFT), distinct from traditional project grants.

Financial Structure

Total prize budget: EUR 100,000.
Prize amounts:
1st Prize: EUR 50,000
2nd Prize: EUR 30,000
3rd Prize: EUR 20,000
Currency: EUR.
Funding type: This is a prize recognizing existing innovation, not a traditional grant for project costs.
Co-financing requirements: None.
Eligible/ineligible costs: Not applicable, as this is an award.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Type

Researchers
Research teams
Industrial participants

Geographic Eligibility

Must be eligible for funding under the Euratom Research and Training Programme 2021-2025.
OR working for a national programme in an ITER partner country (excluding Russia).
OR working in any third country that has a bilateral fusion cooperation agreement with Euratom in force.
OR industrial participants participating in ITER (excluding Russia).

Innovation Focus

Innovation must have been developed specifically within magnetic confinement fusion research.
The innovation must demonstrate market potential or have been already taken up (or recognized) by industry for further market development.

Legal & IP

The applicant (researcher, research team, or industrial participant) must obtain permission from the owner of the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) to submit an application and provide supporting documentation if requested.

Application Process

Timeline

Call opening: 03 June 2025.
Deadline for submission: 03 March 2026 – 17:00:00 CET (Brussels time).
Evaluation period: March-June 2026.
Information on evaluation results / award announcement: September-October 2026 at the SOFT Conference 2026.

Submission Materials

A comprehensive application must include:
A detailed technical description of the innovation.
A state-of-the-art assessment of the innovation, clearly positioning it within current knowledge.
An account, in general terms, of the market potential for the exploitation or commercialization of the innovation.

Submission Process

Applications must be submitted via the Electronic Submission Service available on the Funding & Tenders Portal.
The application form (Part B) has a page limit of 20 pages.

Support and Resources

For questions related to this call, contact [email protected].
Additional assistance is available through the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, IT Helpdesk, and the Online Manual.

Evaluation Criteria

Essential Award Criteria (Cumulative)

Originality and replicability: This criterion assesses the extent to which the idea is innovative, truly original, and represents a first-of-a-kind use of the technology in industry or the application domain. The description of the innovation should be clear, logically presented, and well-illustrated.
Technical excellence: This criterion evaluates the extent to which the innovation is demonstrably state-of-the-art and founded on excellent scientific principles and engineering practices.
Economic impact and exploitation: This criterion focuses on the extent to which the submission demonstrates a clear understanding and awareness of relevant innovation aspects, including its market potential, identified needs, and concrete business opportunities.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance

Adherence to the specific Rules of Contest for the SOFT Innovation Prize 2026.
Compliance with overarching EU regulations including the Euratom Work Programme 2023-2025, Euratom Research Programme Regulation 2021/765, HE Framework Programme and Rules for Participation Regulation 2021/695, and EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509.

Data and Privacy

Compliance with the Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement regarding personal and application data.

Ethical Considerations

The European Commission applies an equal opportunities policy.
To promote gender balance in the nuclear field, applications from women are particularly welcomed.

Intellectual Property (IP)

Applicants must obtain explicit permission from the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) owner(s) before submitting their application.

Unique Aspects

This opportunity is structured as a prize for already-developed innovations, rather than a grant funding future research or projects.
There are no specific predefined categories for the prize; applicants are encouraged to submit any physics or technology innovation derived from magnetic confinement fusion research that meets the criteria.

Risk Tolerance and Mitigation

Not applicable for a prize, as it rewards achieved innovation, not future project risks.

Grant Details