The LEAP-RE Call 2026 is a major competitive funding instrument under the Long-Term Europe-Africa Partnership on Renewable Energy (LEAP-RE) program, a cornerstone of the EU-Africa cooperation in research and innovation. Co-funded by the European Union and a consortium of African and European national funding agencies, this call aims to finance transnational collaborative projects that address key challenges in renewable energy access and integration.

Click here for LEAP-RE Call 2026 Application Website >>

Core strategic objectives and operational details include:

1. Strengthening EU-Africa Collaboration: The call mandates the formation of consortia comprising partners from both the European Union and African Union member states, fostering long-term scientific and technological partnerships.
2. Focus on Thematic Priorities: Projects must align with specific, strategic research areas central to the energy transition in both continents, such as:
   1. Solar Energy & Geothermal
   2. Green Hydrogen & Integration
   3. Climate & Weather Services for Renewable Energy
   4. Cross-cutting issues like policy, social acceptance, and business models.
3. Two-Stage Funding Structure: The call is structured to support different stages of the innovation chain:
   1. Pillar 1: Research & Innovation (R&I) Projects: For developing new technological solutions and methodologies.
   2. Pillar 2: Innovation Support Activities: For projects focused on scaling, market replication, capacity building, and creating a fertile ecosystem for innovation.
4. Multi-Stage Application Process: The process involves a mandatory pre-proposal stage, followed by a full proposal stage for shortlisted consortia, ensuring a rigorous and competitive selection procedure managed by the LEAP-RE secretariat.

In essence, this call is a strategic, large-scale initiative designed to mobilize the joint scientific and industrial capacities of Europe and Africa to co-develop and deploy renewable energy solutions, directly contributing to the clean energy transition and sustainable development goals on both continents.