New R&D call: €19.3 million grant is available for hydrogen and green electrons for specialty and fine chemicals

In 2025, the GroenvermogenNL programme expands with three more R&D consortia to be formed, focusing on green chemistry. For theme 6: Hydrogen and green electrons for specialty and fine chemicals, €19.3 million is available. This can make an important contribution to making the Dutch chemical industry more sustainable. An information meeting on the call for this theme will be held on 13 February.  

Specialty and fine chemicals are an important part of the chemical, materials, agro and pharmaceutical industries. Current production processes of special and fine chemicals are based on fossil raw materials. In addition, they consume a lot of energy and generate a lot of waste. By using hydrogen and green electrons, synthesis routes can be made shorter and cleaner.  

Making the chemical industry more sustainable

The key objective in this program is the development of new methods & routes for chemical synthesis to green the chemical industry infrastructure, also providing opportunities to enlarge the market with new and innovative products.   

This theme 6 aims to develop new, innovative reactions in the synthesis of specialties and fine-chemicals that move the resource chain away from fossil-based petrochemistry.   

The activities are divided into two approaches  

• Production of specialty & fine chemicals from hydrogen, green electrons or photons & complex, non-fossil-based feedstock (biomass and various waste streams, including e.g. plastic waste, agricultural waste, household waste, and CO2 for fine chemical synthesis).  

• Development of novel synthesis routes to produce specialty & fine chemicals using electrochemistry and/or photochemistry. 

Special procedure: one consortium, one project plan   

NWO will open a call for the R&D Theme 6: Hydrogen and green electrons for specialty and fine chemicals on February 4th. From then on, companies and knowledge institutions can apply to participate. One national consortium of companies and researchers will be formed and the grant budget is €19.3 million.  

• Demand from industry is central to the research.  
• Companies can also apply for grants (for up to 40%).   
• There is no competition between grant applicants. Parties work together on one project plan.   
• Beforehand, parties participate in two workshops of 2.5 days each, in April and May 2025.   

Information meeting on 13 February  

GroenvermogenNL and NWO are organising an information meeting on R&D Theme 6: Hydrogen and green electrons for speciality and fine chemicals on 13 February. During this meeting, participants will get all information about the call and participation in the R&D consortium. We encourage you to join. Registration is essential. 

Location:  Utrecht Jaarbeurs MeetUp
Time:  15.00 – 17.00 hours (including drinks)  

Timeline of important dates 

•  13 February 2025: Information meeting 
• The call is open, all information on the webpage of NWO
• 13 March 2025: Deadline to register for preparatory workshops. Participation in the two workshops is mandatory for the lead applicant and the consortium technical manager.
• 7-9 April 2025: First preparatory workshop
• 12-14 May 2025: Second preparatory workshop
• 10 July 2025: Deadline to submit full application  

Want to stay informed about the call? Subscribe to GroenvermogenNL’s newsletter. Or ask a question to: Jane Butler 

GroenvermogenNL: innovation motor of the green hydrogen economy, is a program funded by the National Growth Fund. It aims to stimulate and accelerate the use of green hydrogen in Dutch industry by focusing on R&D, pilot projects, demonstrations and Human Capital Agenda. A total budget of €838 million has been set aside for this purpose through 2030.