What is cascade funding?

Cascade funding (also called financial support to third parties) is money the European Commission gives to an EU-funded project, which the project then passes on to startups, SMEs, researchers or other organisations through its own open calls. You apply to the project, not to the Commission, and the project's own call rules apply.

Each call sets its own eligibility in its call document: usually organisations established in an EU member state or a Horizon Europe associated country, often startups and SMEs. Check the call's eligibility section and the official guide before you apply.

Do I need a consortium?

Most cascade calls accept single applicants, which makes them one of the easiest ways into EU funding. Some calls ask for small teams; the call document says which.

How large are the grants?

Typically tens of thousands of euros per applicant and rarely more than €200,000, because the EU rules for financial support to third parties keep amounts per recipient modest. The exact maximum is in each call.

Can I combine it with other EU funding?

Yes, as long as the same costs are not funded twice. Many startups use a cascade grant to build evidence before applying to larger programmes such as the EIC Accelerator.

European City Facility – Eighth Call for Applications…

On this page · 7 sections→

01The project
02Consortium
03Similar calls
04Cascade funding FAQ
05Call scope
06Eligibility & conditions
07Official source

The project running this call: LIFE25-CET-LIFE EUCF 3.0

LIFE European City Facility 3.0

LIFE EUCF 3.0 provides financial assistance and enhanced technical support to municipalities and their groupings to develop and implement investment concepts (ICs) in sustainable energy, thereby operationalising the European Green Deal. Building on Horizon 2020 (2019-2024) and LIFE EUCF (2022-2027), the Facility consolidates and scales up a proven approach that directly supports the LIFE CET sub-programme. EUCF 3.0 will deliver 185 robust ICs across 32 countries (EU Member States, Iceland, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Ukraine), anchored in SECAPs, heating and cooling plans, and other plans of similar ambition. It strengthens municipal capacity through an enriched learning programme, peer collaboration, exchange activities, national roundtables and advisory activities. EUCF 3.0 reduces structural barriers, particularly in complex sectors such as heating and cooling, and…

EU contribution

€15.0M

Total cost

€15.8M

Runs

1 Jul 2026 to 30 Jun 2031

Programme

Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE)

Funded under the EU call LIFE-2025-CET-EUCF. Official project record ↗

Who runs it: the consortium

20 organisations in the project. The coordinator usually manages the open call and its evaluation.

Energy Cities/Energie-Cites Association · FranceCoordinator
Global New Energy Finance SL · SpainPartner
Iclei European Secretariat GmbH (Iclei Europasekretariat GmbH) · GermanyPartner
Enviros Sro · Czech RepublicPartner
Escan SL · SpainPartner
Federation Europeenne des Agences et des Regions Pour L'Energie et L'Environnement · BelgiumPartner
Asociatia Obsteasca Alianta pentru Eficienta Energetica ai Regenerabile · MoldovaPartner
Samband Islenskra Sveitarfelaga · IcelandPartner
Zajednica Opstina Crne Gore · MontenegroPartner
Alleanza Per Il Clima Italia · ItalyPartner
Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO · NetherlandsPartner
Adeporto - Agência de Energia do Porto · PortugalPartner
Voluntary Association of Local Self-Government Bodies Energy Efficientcities of Ukraine · UkrainePartner
Ekotermija · LithuaniaPartner
Lenerg Energiaugynokseg Mernoki Es Tanacsado Nonprofit Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag · HungaryPartner
Carlow Kilkenny Energy Agency Limited · IrelandPartner
Diktyo Aeiforon Nison A.e. -Anaptyxiakos Organismos Topikis Aftodioikisis · GreecePartner
Mittetulundusuhing Tartu Regiooni Energiaagentuur · EstoniaPartner
Energikontor Syd AB · SwedenPartner
Mazowiecka Agencja Energetyczna Spzoo · PolandPartner

Similar open calls from EU projects

Other cascade calls on related topics that you can apply to now.

Cascade funding: what to know before you apply

What is cascade funding?: Cascade funding (also called financial support to third parties) is money the European Commission gives to an EU-funded project, which the project then passes on to startups, SMEs, researchers or other organisations through its own open calls. You apply to the project, not to the Commission, and the project's own call rules apply.
Who can apply?: Each call sets its own eligibility in its call document: usually organisations established in an EU member state or a Horizon Europe associated country, often startups and SMEs. Check the call's eligibility section and the official guide before you apply.
Do I need a consortium?: Most cascade calls accept single applicants, which makes them one of the easiest ways into EU funding. Some calls ask for small teams; the call document says which.
How large are the grants?: Typically tens of thousands of euros per applicant and rarely more than €200,000, because the EU rules for financial support to third parties keep amounts per recipient modest. The exact maximum is in each call.
Can I combine it with other EU funding?: Yes, as long as the same costs are not funded twice. Many startups use a cascade grant to build evidence before applying to larger programmes such as the EIC Accelerator.

Cascade funding in the glossary · All open cascade calls

What this call funds

The EUCF is open to all municipalities/local authorities (or their groupings) from the 27 EU Member States, Iceland, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Ukraine. The EUCF submission process: i) Eligibility check; ii) Full application. 4 evaluation criteria: 1. Ambition of the proposed investment concept; 2. Governance structure for the development of the investment concept; 3. Stakeholders engagement strategy; 4. Coherence and plausibility

Eligibility & conditions+

Web address for further information (eligibility check/full application form/full call text/proposal guidelines/templates):

https://www.eucityfacility.eu/

For further information (helpdesk):

https://fmp.eucityfacility.eu/iss/NewTicket

You can also contact your national hub:

https://www.eucityfacility.eu/national-support

Official source

Confirm the current call documents and submission conditions with the funding authority.

View on EU portal ↗

Source: EU Funding & Tenders Portal · synced 2026-11-09

On this page · 7 sections→

01The project
02Consortium
03Similar calls
04Cascade funding FAQ
05Call scope
06Eligibility & conditions
07Official source

The project running this call: LIFE25-CET-LIFE EUCF 3.0

LIFE European City Facility 3.0

EU contribution

€15.0M

Total cost

€15.8M

Runs

1 Jul 2026 to 30 Jun 2031

Programme

Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE)

Funded under the EU call LIFE-2025-CET-EUCF. Official project record ↗

Who runs it: the consortium

20 organisations in the project. The coordinator usually manages the open call and its evaluation.

Energy Cities/Energie-Cites Association · FranceCoordinator
Global New Energy Finance SL · SpainPartner
Iclei European Secretariat GmbH (Iclei Europasekretariat GmbH) · GermanyPartner
Enviros Sro · Czech RepublicPartner
Escan SL · SpainPartner
Federation Europeenne des Agences et des Regions Pour L'Energie et L'Environnement · BelgiumPartner
Asociatia Obsteasca Alianta pentru Eficienta Energetica ai Regenerabile · MoldovaPartner
Samband Islenskra Sveitarfelaga · IcelandPartner
Zajednica Opstina Crne Gore · MontenegroPartner
Alleanza Per Il Clima Italia · ItalyPartner
Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO · NetherlandsPartner
Adeporto - Agência de Energia do Porto · PortugalPartner
Voluntary Association of Local Self-Government Bodies Energy Efficientcities of Ukraine · UkrainePartner
Ekotermija · LithuaniaPartner
Lenerg Energiaugynokseg Mernoki Es Tanacsado Nonprofit Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag · HungaryPartner
Carlow Kilkenny Energy Agency Limited · IrelandPartner
Diktyo Aeiforon Nison A.e. -Anaptyxiakos Organismos Topikis Aftodioikisis · GreecePartner
Mittetulundusuhing Tartu Regiooni Energiaagentuur · EstoniaPartner
Energikontor Syd AB · SwedenPartner
Mazowiecka Agencja Energetyczna Spzoo · PolandPartner

Similar open calls from EU projects

Other cascade calls on related topics that you can apply to now.

Cascade funding: what to know before you apply

What is cascade funding?: Cascade funding (also called financial support to third parties) is money the European Commission gives to an EU-funded project, which the project then passes on to startups, SMEs, researchers or other organisations through its own open calls. You apply to the project, not to the Commission, and the project's own call rules apply.
Who can apply?: Each call sets its own eligibility in its call document: usually organisations established in an EU member state or a Horizon Europe associated country, often startups and SMEs. Check the call's eligibility section and the official guide before you apply.
Do I need a consortium?: Most cascade calls accept single applicants, which makes them one of the easiest ways into EU funding. Some calls ask for small teams; the call document says which.
How large are the grants?: Typically tens of thousands of euros per applicant and rarely more than €200,000, because the EU rules for financial support to third parties keep amounts per recipient modest. The exact maximum is in each call.
Can I combine it with other EU funding?: Yes, as long as the same costs are not funded twice. Many startups use a cascade grant to build evidence before applying to larger programmes such as the EIC Accelerator.

Cascade funding in the glossary · All open cascade calls

What this call funds

Eligibility & conditions+

Web address for further information (eligibility check/full application form/full call text/proposal guidelines/templates):

https://www.eucityfacility.eu/

For further information (helpdesk):

https://fmp.eucityfacility.eu/iss/NewTicket

You can also contact your national hub:

https://www.eucityfacility.eu/national-support

Official source

Confirm the current call documents and submission conditions with the funding authority.

View on EU portal ↗

Source: EU Funding & Tenders Portal · synced 2026-11-09

European City Facility – Eighth Call for Applications: Support local authorities in developing investment concepts for sustainable energy

The project running this call: LIFE25-CET-LIFE EUCF 3.0

Who runs it: the consortium

Similar open calls from EU projects

Cascade funding: what to know before you apply

What this call funds

Official source

Track this call and plan your application.

European City Facility – Eighth Call for Applications: Support local authorities in developing investment concepts for sustainable energy

The project running this call: LIFE25-CET-LIFE EUCF 3.0

Who runs it: the consortium

Similar open calls from EU projects

Cascade funding: what to know before you apply

What this call funds

Official source

Track this call and plan your application.