Support and funding in the net zero industry and critical raw materials

InvestEU is an investment programme for the period 2021–2027, primarily supporting projects within four key policy areas:

1. Sustainable infrastructure
2. Research, innovation and digitalisation
3. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
4. Social investment and skills development

Funding can be provided through loans, guarantees, equity support, and in some cases, grants. InvestEU also includes an Advisory Hub that offers guidance on project development and structuring.

Target groups for the programme include private companies, public sector organisations, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and in some cases, non-profit organisations.

InvestEU at the European Commission

The European Investment Bank (EIB) offers loans and guarantees for projects that align with EU objectives, including net-zero and critical raw materials. For large-scale investment projects, the EIB typically provides loans covering up to 50% of project costs, with a starting amount of €25 million. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the Bank offers financing for smaller investments, such as the purchase or renovation of assets and long-term working capital.

European Investment Bank

TechEU offers a range of financing solutions, including venture capital, loans, and infrastructure investments. The focus is on supporting products, services, and technologies that strengthen Europe’s digital leadership, strategic autonomy, secure access to critical raw materials, and research, development and innovation.

TechEU

The EIC Accelerator is a programme that provides funding for start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop and scale up high-risk and/or breakthrough innovations. It offers grants of up to €2.5 million and equity investments of up to €10 million, along with coaching, mentoring, networking and related support services.

EIC Accelerator (funding programme)

Sustainability-linked loans are working capital financing tied to the borrower’s sustainability targets, such as improving energy efficiency, reducing transport emissions, or lowering the number of workplace accidents. If the borrower meets these targets, a lower interest rate is applied.

Unlike green loans, where the funds are earmarked for specific projects, sustainability-linked loans are connected to the overall sustainability goals of the business. For example, this could involve reducing energy consumption in the company’s own production facilities.

Sustainability-Linked Loans at the Swedish Export Credit Corporation (SEK)

The Swedish Energy Agency has ongoing calls for tenders in areas that are relevant to both critical raw materials and net zero technologies.

Calls for tenders at the Energy Agency (in Swedish)

The Just Transition Fund is an EU fund that focuses on industries and counties with very high carbon dioxide emissions. The fund will reduce emissions and tackle the challenges that come with the transition.

The just transition fund at the European Commission

The just transition fund at the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (in Swedish)

LIFE is an EU program that co-finances environmental and climate projects within, among other things, nature and biodiversity, circular economy, climate adaptation and clean energy. Project duration approximately 2-5 years with financing of approximately SEK 15-30 million of up to 60% of costs.

LIFE at the European commission

Horizon Europe finances research and innovation within the EU with a focus on the environment. The funding amount for the period 2021-2027 is EUR 93.5 billion.

Horizon Europe at the European commission

Nordic Investment Bank finances projects that contribute to productivity and sustainability in the Nordic countries through long-term loans and guarantees that focus on infrastructure, innovation and environmental improvements.

Nordic Investment Bank

The European Innovation Fund focuses on energy and industry with the aim of developing solutions to decarbonise European industry and support the transition to climate neutrality. They offer grants, information and guidance.

European Innovation Fund

EIC STEP Scale Up offers financial support of EUR 10-30 million in the form of investments to startups, small and medium-sized enterprises and medium-sized listed companies.

EIC STEP Scale Up

EIC Pathfinder is a fund program within Horizon Europe that finances sustainability research and innovation to develop and scale up new technologies and solutions in Europe.

EIC Pathfinder

Green credit guarantee offers lenders government credit guarantees for new loans that actors take out for green investments. In order to take part in a guarantee, the loan must amount to at least SEK 500 million.

Credit guarantees for green investments at the Swedish National Debt Office

Green credit guarantee for banks lenders offer credit guarantees to Swedish or foreign banks that issue credits to Swedish export companies and their subcontractors. The credits amount to a maximum of SEK 500 million.

Green credit guarantee for banks at EKN

The Swedish Export Credit Cooperation (SEK) offers green loans to export companies, subcontractors to export companies and projects that contribute to reduced climate and environmental impact or more efficient use of resources. The loan itself does not have to be linked to an export business, but there must be a direct or indirect export connection in the company's operations or a clear connection to Sweden's transition.

Green loans at the Swedish Export Credit Cooperation

Almi GreenTech is a fund that offers financing in the form of venture capital to Swedish startups that have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or improve the local environment. The fund's investments focus on sectors such as energy transition, circular solutions and nature restoration.

Almi GreenTech

The Climate Leap offers government support for physical investments that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with a particular focus on energy conversion, transport and agriculture. The support can be used to switch to renewable fuels, install charging infrastructure for electric vehicles or introduce climate-smart technologies.

The Climate Leap at the The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

The Industrial Leap offers support to Swedish process industry in the form of grants and financing to reduce process-related emissions and to achieve negative emissions. The support covers research, feasibility studies, pilot and demonstration projects as well as full-scale investments in fossil-free technology and innovative solutions.

The Industrial Leap at the Swedish Energy Agency

The program includes support for research, development and demonstration of new technologies and solutions for sustainable, carbon dioxide-neutral and secure energy use. Focuses primarily on research and innovation projects that highlight challenges linked to electricity production, electricity use and future electricity grids.

The electrical system of the future at the Swedish Energy Agency (in Swedish)

Offers funding for research, development and innovation in road transport to make Sweden a leader in sustainable transport.

Vehicle strategic research and innovation at the Swedish Energy Agency

Bio+ is a program that supports projects on biomass and bioenergy solutions, system analysis, market/commercialization and international cooperation, with the goal of accelerating the transition to a sustainable energy system.

Bio+ at the Swedish Energy Agency (in Swedish)

InfraSweden supports innovators and project groups with financing of projects related to innovations in the transport system. Project support can be applied for in an annual project call that runs from November to February. In addition to the annual call, project support can be obtained to participate in international research consortia. In addition, InfraSweden arranges innovation competitions where the winner receives project funding to develop the innovation further.

InfraSweden

LIFE Clean energy transition finances projects that break market barriers for energy efficiency and renewable energy via calls for proposals.

LIFE Clean energy transition at the European Commission

The European Regional Development Fund works to strengthen economic, social and territorial cohesion within the EU by funding programmes.

The European Regional Development Fund at the European Commission

EIT Manufacturing has calls and activities for the manufacturing industry in education, innovation promotion, business promotion and regional innovation development.

EIT Manufacturing

Nefco finances Nordic small and medium-sized companies whose solutions have a positive impact on the environment or climate. They offer loans, capital funding and financial support for pre-studies for internationalization.

Nefco

Nordic Innovation implements programs and projects with the aim of supporting sustainable solutions, circular economy, digitization and innovation. During 2025-2027, projects are carried out in three program areas:

1. Innovative Solutions for 2030
2. Nordic Forward: Resilience and Competitiveness for 2050
3. Nordic Growth and Capital Attraction. Target group small and medium-sized companies.

Nordic Innovation

The European Commission has developed the Net-Zero Navigator tool to help stakeholders navigate the funding landscape. The tool provides information on the main EU funding programmes as well as opportunities for financial advisory services.

Information on Net-Zero Navigator

List of programmes – Net-Zero Navigator

EIT RawMaterials is a European knowledge and innovation network within the framework of the European Institute for Innovation and Technology. Its mission is to promote Europe's transition to a green, digital and circular economy by driving innovation along the entire commodity chain.

EIT RawMaterials offers networking and funding for innovation and educational projects, supporting the development of technology, research and sustainability in the raw materials sector.

EIT RawMaterials