M-ERA.NET JOINT CALL 2026

This call aims to boost research and innovation in materials for low-carbon energy technologies, as well as support research into materials for future battery technologies in line with the European Green Deal.

Thematic areas:

• Materials for energy storage and distribution systems
• Materials for energy conversion
• Innovative surfaces, coatings and interfaces
• Innovative functional materials with defined architectures
• Materials aimed at environmental challenges
• Next-generation materials for electronic devices

Requirements

Applicants should know that:

• M-ERA.NET will enable collaboration between leading academic and industrial research partners from Europe and non-European countries and regions to facilitate access to new, previously inaccessible markets.
• Project consortia must consist of at least three partners from at least three different countries (at least two EU Member States or associated countries). 
• An applicant's funding may not exceed 60% of the total project budget in the proposal.
• Total funding from applicants from a country cannot exceed 70% of the total proposal budget.
• The proposal should address the appropriate TRLs for selected topics in this call.

Applicants must:

• Be Spanish non-profit institutions such as universities, public research centers, technology centers, or any other non-profit entity with R&D&I activities.

*A maximum of two AEI-funded entities may participate in the same proposal, but only if one of them acts as the proposal coordinator.

The IP must:

• Have research experience in projects funded by the 2009-2012 National Plan, the 2014-2017 State Research Plan, the 2018-2021 State Research Plan, European Research Council (ERC) calls, the European Framework Programme, or another internationally relevant programme.

The consortium must:

• Must be made up of at least three entities (requesting funding from one of the participating funding entities) from three countries participating in the call. In addition, other entities may participate as collaborators with their own funds or funds financed by entities not participating in the call.

*A single entity may not hold more than 60% of the total project budget, and entities from the same country may not hold more than 70% of the total project budget.

Application

The application will be submitted online via the application link, which is entirely in English, in two phases:

• Shipment of Mandatory Pre-Proposal form duly completed, before 12/05/2026.
• Submission of the complete proposal before 18/11/2026.

For more information, we recommend visiting the various links available for this purpose.

Spanish partners requesting funding from the AEI must send to the AEI (era-mat@aei.gob.es) by Application for International ApplicationsThis includes the joint international pre-proposal and the "Principal Investigator's Declaration of Responsibility." Furthermore, the entity's legal representative must register the proposal within one week of the submission deadline.

Deadline: 12 of May of 2026.