LEAP-SE 2026 Call for AU-EU Collaborative Research and Innovation Projects on Sustainable Energy

Sustainable Energy (SE) development is crucial for Africa and Europe’s green energy transition, enabling them to tackle the global challenge of climate change. Providing reliable and clean energy access to millions of people worldwide is necessary. To this end, the Long-Term Joint EU-AU Research and Innovation Partnership on Sustainable Energy (LEAP-SE) program, co-funded by the European Commission (EC) under Horizon Europe, aims to develop a long-term partnership between Europe and Africa in Research and Innovation (R&I) on sustainable energy. This partnership is set within the framework of the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy (CCSE) partnership of the AU-EU High-Level Policy Dialogue (HLPD) on Science, Technology and Innovation.

LEAP-SE is a six-year program conducted by a consortium of about 26 partners from European and African countries. The program’s budget is around €33 million, including €10 million from the EC. This partnership is built upon the successes of previous programs, including the LEAP-RE program.

LEAP-SE consortium members are launching in 2026 the second edition of a transnational joint Call for proposals co-funded by European and African national/regional research funding agencies (members of LEAP-SE consortium), with additional EC contribution, following the first call launched in 2025. The selected projects will focus on achieving goals of mutual benefit based on a balanced and cooperative approach. Particular attention will be given to strengthening the impact of R&I-supported activities for the well-being of society in Europe and Africa. The total indicative budget for this LEAP-SE 2026 call is approximately €13 million, provided by funding organisations, plus €3.5 million from the EC’s contribution.

Each project consortium that applies for funding must consist of at least two independent legal entities from two different European Union Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries, and another two independent legal entities from two countries in the African Union.

Each consortium must include at least one partner from the institutional research sector (e.g., academic, public research centre, non-profit organisation) and one partner from a commercial company, both of which must be from participating countries.

Scope of the Call and Priority Areas for Collaboration

The range of activities recommended for collaboration under LEAP-SE will focus on seven identified multi-annual roadmaps presented in the Call, and also on the LEAP-RE thematic priorities:

• Assessment of Renewable Energy Sources and integration of RES in sustainable energy scenarios;
• End-of-life and second‐life management and environmental impact of RE components;
• Smart stand‐alone systems;
• Smart grid (different scales) for off-grid application;
• Processes and appliances for productive uses (agriculture, mobility and industry);
• Innovative solutions for priority domestic uses (clean cooking and cold chain);
• Production and utilisation of Green Hydrogen.

The LEAP-SE Joint Call 2026 will fund basic research, applied research, and experimental development projects that are 12-36 months in duration. However, applicants should be aware that each funding agency participating in the Call will apply its own rules and regulations regarding eligibility and criteria (nationality, thematic, nature of project, TRL, rate of subsidy, etc.).

Call Calendar

November 19th 2025

Publication of the Call

February 5th 2026 at 16:00 CET

Deadline for Pre-proposal submission (mandatory)

April 29th 2026

Communication of pre-proposal assessment

June 24th 2026 at 16:00 CEST

Deadline for Full Proposal submission (mandatory)

Mid-November 2026

Communication of full-proposal assessment

01 April 2027

Latest starting date of selected projects

Click here to apply.