The SET Plan Wind Flagship Call for Expressions of Interest (EoI) for the direct research activities is now open.
This call aims to identify consortia capable of delivering pre-defined research activities supporting a portfolio
of large-scale demonstrators under the Horizon Europe SET Plan Flagship on Wind Energy (Topic HORIZON-CL5-
2026-09-D3-03: Innovative technologies and solutions to improve wind energy systems supporting the Strategic
Energy Technology (SET) Plan on wind).
Objectives
The objective is to build a high-impact, integrated consortium that will jointly develop a competitive proposal
addressing:
• Demonstration activities
• Targeted research activities directly supporting these demonstrators
• A coherent and coordinated European research programme
The approach aims to reduce fragmentation and strengthen alignment between research and industrial needs.
Who can apply?
The call is open to:
• Members of JP Wind
• Organisations that submitted ideas during the Wind Innovation Forum (Amsterdam) in September 2025
Applications must be submitted as consortia (not individual organisations).
Scope of applications
Applicants are invited to apply to one specific research topic, demonstrating how their consortium will:
• Address the expected outcomes
• Contribute to the demonstrators
• Deliver measurable impact
The research programme is structured around 11 key areas :
• Installation and O&M MCR logistics
• Production automation
• Digitalisation ecosystems and data interoperability
• Digital twins for optimisation and control
• Digital twin wind farms for performance monitoring
• Reliable components for grid connection
• Circularity and life-time extension
• Nature-based solutions, eco-engineering and ecosystem impacts
• Integration in society by policies and regulations, engagement with citizens and coexistence
• Geophysical and atmospheric measurements, models and validation
• Impact assessment
These topics are designed to support demonstrators and ensure strong industry relevance.
Key principles
• Maximum one EoI per organisation for each of the 11 research topics
• Maximum 3 EoIs as coordinator per organisation
• Maximum EU contribution per EoI in total : €2 million
• Short and concise applications (web form format on JP Wind website, limited length)
The process is designed to be fast and focused, building on existing expertise and collaborations rather than
creating new partnerships from scratch.
Evaluation process
The selection will follow a two-stage evaluation:
Stage 1 – Pre-filtering
• Evaluation by the JP Wind Steering Committee
• Reduction of the number of applications
Stage 2 – Final selection
• Evaluation by a broader panel including industry representatives
Conflict-of-interest rules will apply throughout the process.
Timeline
• Call opening: 15 April 2026
• Deadline: 6 May 2026 – 17:00 CET
• Results (indicative): 19 May 2026
Submission
Applications must be submitted via the online form available on the JP Wind website.
Submissions should be concise, structured, and directly aligned with the defined topics.
A blank version of the form is available to help contributors familiarise themselves with the questionnaire before
submitting their application.
Content can be copied and pasted into the form, but applicants are advised to avoid using mathematical
formulas, as these may not display correctly.
Important notes
• The selected consortia in EoI will be invited to participate the core consortium of the entire project
• Note that organisations involved in the core consortium will not be eligible for funding under the FSTP
• Direct contact details of demonstrator partners will not be disclosed to ensure fairness and
transparency
• In the absence of industrial partners within the consortium, there is no guarantee that the proposal will
be evaluated or considered.
• The budget requested in the EoI application will be subject to negotiations and does not constitute a
guarantee under any circumstances.
Contact
If you have any question, please contact Julien Balsen, JP Wind Manager : j.balsen@eera-set.eu
Q&A
Eligibility
Q: Do eligibility criteria apply to all consortium members or only to the coordinator?
A: Eligibility criteria apply to the coordinating organisation. Non-eligible organisations may still participate as partners but cannot act as coordinators.
Q: Can organisations that are not members of EERA JP Wind participate?
A: Yes, non-members can participate as partners in a consortium. However, only eligible organisations may submit an EoI and act as coordinator.
Q: How is “organisation” defined (e.g. large research groups or umbrella entities)?
A: “Organisation” is defined at the level of the legal entity. For example, a large research organisation composed of several institutes is considered as one single organisation for the purpose of the call.
Q: Can individuals moving between institutions transfer eligibility?
A: No, eligibility is assessed at the level of the organisation, not the individual.
Q: Are organisations affiliated through umbrella structures automatically eligible?
A: No, being part of a broader umbrella structure does not automatically confer eligibility. Eligibility must be assessed at the level of each individual organisation.
Submission Rules
Q: Who should submit the EoI?
A: The EoI must be submitted by the coordinating organisation.
Q: If an organisation is involved in multiple proposals, how many EoIs should it submit?
A: An organisation should only submit the EoIs for which it acts as coordinator. If it participates as a partner in other proposals, those should be submitted by the respective coordinators.
Q: Is there a limit to the number of EoIs per organisation?
A: Yes:
- Maximum one EoI per organisation per research topic
- Maximum three EoIs as coordinator per organisation across all topics
Q: What happens if more than one Expression of Interest (EoI) is submitted by the same organisation for the same research topic?
A: As a general rule, only one EoI per organisation and per research topic is allowed. Applicants are therefore strongly encouraged to ensure internal coordination before submission.
In case multiple EoIs are submitted by the same organisation for the same topic, the concerned applicants will be contacted and invited to agree on one single EoI to be retained for evaluation.
If no agreement can be reached within the given timeframe, the first submitted EoI will be considered eligible, and any subsequent submissions from the same organisation for that topic will not be taken into account.
Consortium & Funding Rules
Q: If selected in the core consortium, can organisations still benefit from FSTP funding?
A: No. Organisations involved in the core consortium are not eligible for funding under the FSTP, across all demonstration projects.
Q: Will all partners from a successful EoI be part of the final consortium?
A: All partners involved in a successful EoI will be invited to participate in the core consortium. However, final selection criteria for the core consortium have not yet been defined.
Application Form & Technical Aspects
Q: Can diagrams or figures be included?
A: No, figures cannot be included directly in the submission form. If essential, they may be shared separately and attached to the submission.
Q: Is a template of the form available?
A: Yes, a blank version of the form can be shared to facilitate preparation offline.