Green Transition Fund
Climate change and biodiversity loss are progressing too rapidly, while the transformation of research projects into practical applications can take up to 10 years. The goal of the Green Transition Fund is to accelerate the journey of promising research projects toward real-world implementation. The fund focuses on developing and piloting solutions that support the sustainability transition. The foundation for solutions of the 2030s must be built now.
What do we fund?
We award grants to research groups developing solutions to challenges caused by climate change or biodiversity loss. Funding is primarily targeted at projects in the later stages of the research pipeline that are approaching commercialization readiness (TRL 3–6). The evaluation considers, among other factors, the scientific background of the project, its expected impact, and its business potential.
The awarded grants may cover salary costs, research expenses, equipment purchases, and other justified costs necessary for the progress of the project. The duration of funded projects ranges from six months to two years, and the grant size is €20,000–€100,000 per project. Projects may also have other concurrent funding.
Funded projects will participate in joint meetings twice a year. These meetings will involve external experts and cover topics such as funding, industrial collaboration, and other themes relevant to the projects, while also offering opportunities for peer support and sparring.
Applying for a grant
The application period is from 11 September to 9 October 2026.
Grants will be available for application over three consecutive years (2026, 2027, 2028). Each year, €150,000–€200,000 will be distributed from the funds of the KAUTE Foundation.
Grants are applied for as a research group. The application process has two stages.
- In the first stage, the research team or principal investigator is asked to submit a free-form concept note of no more than five pages. The concept note must include a concise description of the project, its background and objectives, a justified assessment of commercialization potential, expected impact, timeline, total budget, and the amount requested from the KAUTE Foundation.
- In the second stage, the steering committee invites the most promising projects to give an oral presentation.
Funding decisions are made by the Board of the KAUTE Foundation based on the proposals of the steering committee. Decisions will be made in November 2026.
Steering Committee of the Fund
The steering committee evaluates the applications and proposes the projects to be funded to the Board of the KAUTE Foundation. It also monitors the progress of the projects.