Romania’s Ministry of Economy, Digitalisation, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, acting as the National Contact Point for the Innovation Fund, is organising an online information session on 5 October 2026 dedicated to the upcoming IF26 Heat Auction, aimed at companies and organisations interested in the funding opportunities available through the Innovation Fund.
The event is intended to give potential applicants in Romania up-to-date information on the second auction dedicated to decarbonising heat used in industrial processes, as well as the opportunity to ask questions directly to representatives of the European Commission.
EUR 1 billion for industrial heat decarbonisation
IF26 Heat Auction is the second Innovation Fund auction dedicated to decarbonising heat used in industrial processes, following the IF25 Heat Auction pilot. The new auction will have a budget of EUR 1 billion and will support projects that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by introducing and scaling up innovative solutions for decarbonising industrial heat generation.
The technologies covered include electrification and renewable-based solutions, such as heat pumps, as well as solar thermal and geothermal solutions. The launch of the second auction is planned for December 2026.
Free participation, online only
The information session will be held in English and addresses mainly companies, organisations and other entities interested in developing and implementing projects to decarbonise industrial process heat, as well as all actors interested in the opportunities offered by the Innovation Fund. Participation is free and takes place exclusively online, and participants will be able to submit questions and obtain clarifications directly from European Commission representatives.
Details and registration: Online information session on the IF26 Heat Auction – 5 October 2026.
Source: Ministry of Economy, Digitalisation, Entrepreneurship and Tourism – Directorate for Industrial Policies and Industry Financing. Photo: heating plant with buffer tanks, Drammen (Norway) – John Clark, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.