The sector Transport & Infrastructure is continuously adapting and changing. The sustainability goals of the EU is putting pressure on our transportsector and transport infrastructure. Changes need to be made to ensure the sector is sustainable. But also that the sector is efficient and can help defence provide military aid quickly when needed. By investing in research and innovation for transport and transport infrastructure, we can improve the competitiveness of the EU. Therefore, the EU invests billions in grant programmes every year. Grants are available for innovative projects focusing on key themes, among which the improvement of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T).

Accelerating Europe’s sustainable mobility transition

The transport and infrastructure sector is undergoing a fundamental transformation. The shift towards zero-emission mobility, renewable energy integration, and digitalised logistics is reshaping how companies invest and operate. For both private investors and public infrastructure managers, the European Union and national governments has already offered substantial financial support within the current Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021–2027. Hezelburcht can help you identify the remaining opportunities for your investments planned during the final years of the current multi-annual budget period.

The new EU budget

The new EU budget framework starting in 2028 will introduce fresh priorities that we will highlight in due time. Hezelburcht’s experts help organisations develop funding-ready projects and secure the right mix of EU, national, and regional grants to move forward with confidence.

Current EU funding outlook

Many bottlenecks in the transport network are of European importance and cannot be solved at national level alone. The major European grant programmes therefore focus on modernising and maintaining European infrastructure. Besides an internationally competitive sector, Europe demands efficient, safe and sustainable transport. International projects of partnerships with a large-scale impact on the European transport network can, for example, apply for funding from CEF Transport AFIF or Innovation Fund.

Complementary opportunities

While Innovation Fund and AFIF dominate the EU landscape for the 2021–2027 period, additional programmes can strengthen project pipelines:

• CEF Energy (2026) — For cross-border electricity and hydrogen infrastructure (PCI/PMI status required)
• Horizon Europe – Cluster 5 — For R&I and pilot projects (TRL 5–8), bridging towards Innovation Fund deployment
• ERDF 2021–2027 regional programmes — For local decarbonisation, logistics hubs, and grid upgrades (typically 30–50 % co-funding)
• National grant schemes— Often a number of different programmes available, each with a more specific focus in terms of eligible projects. Examples of national subsidy schemes include the Netherlands’ AanZET, France’s ADEME AAPs, Spain’s MOVES III, and Italy’s Bonus Colonnine Domestiche

Unequalled track record in the sector

Hezelburcht has extensive experience with (innovative) European transport & infrastructure projects and has managed the applications for various organisations, including local and regional governments, multinational corporations and SMEs. For instance, within the CEF programme, Hezelburcht coordinated over thirty grant applications, among others for the Provinces of Groningen and Fryslân, Swedegas, PitPOint.LNG, Port of Gothenburg and Uniper.

Key success parameters

Winning projects consistently meet these conditions:

• Strategic alignment – Clear contribution to EU or national climate targets
• Innovation – First-of-a-kind or breakthrough integration
• Maturity – Permits, grid connection and finance secured
• Impact – Quantified GHG reductions and energy efficiency metrics
• Replication potential – Transferable business model across Europe
• Digitalisation – Smart management, data interoperability

How Hezelburcht supports your project

Hezelburcht combines technical insight, policy expertise, and grant experience to maximise your funding potential. Our services include:

1. Funding Roadmap (scan) & strategy;
2. Project specific business case and Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA);
3. Detailed analysis of the match between a project and a specific grant call;
4. Support to strengthen the match, including amongst others consortium building;
5. Preparation of a full proposal (writing, full support);
6. Review of a proposal if prepared by the client;
7. Grant Agreement preparation;
8. Grant management & reporting.

Within 4–6 weeks, our specialists can deliver a full funding readiness assessment and an actionable submission roadmap.

Discover grant opportunities for the Transport & Infrastructure sector

Grants help realising your innovation and research projects for the Transport & Infrastructure sector. Our grant specialists at Hezelburcht have extensive knowledge of the developments relevant in your area of expertise and are experts on managing grant projects. They are pleased to offer support in setting up a successful innovation project and help you find the right funding. Would you like to know more? Schedule a meeting and discover your grant opportunities. Send us an email to info@hezelburcht.com, call us on 088 495 20 00 or fill in the form below: