KLIMA- UND ENERGIEFONDS

Their core work

The Austrian Climate and Energy Fund (KLIEN) is a national public funding body that co-finances clean energy research and deployment programs across Austria. In H2020, it channels national funding into ERA-NET Cofund initiatives focused on solar energy and smart energy systems, acting as a bridge between Austrian researchers and European joint programming. Its core function is strategic funding allocation — deciding which national energy research priorities align with EU-wide goals and committing public money to back them.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

KLIEN's early H2020 involvement (2016) centered on solar energy generation — photovoltaics and concentrating solar power tied to SET Plan objectives. By 2018, their scope broadened significantly to include smart grids, regional energy networks, heating and cooling systems, and support for local utilities and energy start-ups. This shift mirrors a wider Austrian and European transition from funding individual generation technologies toward funding integrated, decentralized energy systems.

KLIEN is moving from technology-specific solar funding toward system-level energy integration, suggesting future interest in district energy, sector coupling, and local energy community projects.

How they like to work

KLIEN operates exclusively as a participant, never as coordinator — consistent with its role as a national funding agency contributing co-financing rather than leading research. With 33 unique partners across 21 countries from just 3 projects, it sits within very large ERA-NET consortia (10+ partners each). This makes KLIEN a network amplifier: partnering with them gives access to Austrian national funding streams and a wide European co-funding network.

Despite only 3 projects, KLIEN connects to 33 partners across 21 countries — a remarkably wide network driven by the multi-country nature of ERA-NET Cofund programs. Their reach spans most of the EU and associated countries.

What sets them apart

KLIEN is not a research performer — it is a national funding instrument. Partnering with KLIEN means accessing Austrian public co-financing for clean energy research, which is valuable for any consortium seeking ERA-NET or joint programming funding. For researchers and companies, KLIEN's participation signals that a topic has Austrian national energy policy backing, adding credibility and unlocking additional national funds beyond what the EU provides.

Highlights from their portfolio

• EN SGplusRegSys
  Largest single project (EUR 1.44M to KLIEN), addressing the ambitious goal of integrated regional smart energy systems across heating, cooling, grids, and local utilities.
• SOLAR-ERA.NET Cofund
  Part of the flagship European solar research coordination network directly linked to SET Plan priorities, running since 2016 with continuation into Solar Cofund 2.