Funding is available for high-risk, pre-competitive and company-driven research and development projects that are cross-technology and application-oriented. These research and development projects must be attributable to the technology field of "energy efficiency, climate protection and climate adaptation" and be important for the market positioning of the SMEs involved. The projects must show an economic exploitation perspective that is as cross-sectoral as possible in order to achieve a broad impact. The relevance to climate protection and adaptation is determined by this broad impact.

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SMEs are eligible to apply. Within the framework of collaborative projects, universities, non-university research institutions, regional authorities and commercial enterprises that do not meet the SME criteria are also eligible to apply.

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Theevaluation deadlines for project outlines are April 15 and October 15 of each year.