R&D subsidies in the energy sector
On 5 September 2024, the acceptance of applications started under the second call to participate in the THÉTA 2 programme managed by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic. The programme offers support for applied research and innovation activities aimed at modernising the energy sector.
The call period runs until 23 October 2024, and large companies may also apply for this type of support. The total funds for allocation are CZK 700 million and have been divided into three sub-programmes.
Sub-programme 1 - Research in Public Interest is intended for projects addressing the decarbonisation, decentralisation, digitisation, and democratisation of the energy sector from a public interest perspective. A maximum subsidy of CZK 15 mil can be obtained for one project.
Sub-programme 2 - Energy Technologies for Competitiveness can provide support for projects focusing on the preparation of technologies and solutions with rapid application in practice. Such projects should increase the competitiveness of the innovation sphere and at the same time contribute to the fulfilment of the climate, energy, and environmental objectives of the Czech Republic. No maximum subsidy amount per project has been set for this sub-programme.
Sub-programme 3 - Technologies to Ensure the Long-Term Sustainability of the Energy Sector targets comprehensive and long-term projects showing a lower degree of technological preparedness with respect to currently used technologies and solutions. Such projects are not expected to be quickly put into practice but are instead intended to contribute to major and breakthrough innovations in the medium to long run. As in the previous sub-programme, the maximum subsidy amount per project has not been set.
The maximum aid intensity for large enterprises is set at 25-65% of eligible expenses, depending on whether the applicant is carrying out industrial research or experimental development or whether the project is carried out in effective cooperation with another relevant entity. The maximum duration of the project is 48 months for the first two sub-programmes, while for the third sub-programme, it is 80 months.
Projects can be started no earlier than May 2025 and no later than July 2025. The project outputs or results are expected to be put into practice. The project output must be, e.g., an industrial design, utility model, functional sample, prototype, patent, software, or pilot plant, etc. Projects can be carried out all over the Czech Republic, including Prague.