In August 2026, another public call under the THETA 2 programme, which is aimed at supporting applied research, experimental development and innovation in the energy sector, is expected to be announced. The programme has long aimed to support the transformation and modernisation of the energy sector and encourages the emergence of technologies, technical solutions, analytical tools and systemic approaches that can contribute to the fulfilment of the Czech Republic’s climate, energy and environmental goals, strengthen energy security and increase the competitiveness of Czech industry.
The upcoming call is to be announced under three sub-programmes:
Sub-programme 1 focuses on research in the public interest and the creation of documents to support decision-making by public administration in the field of energy.
Sub-programme 2 supports energy technologies for competitiveness, i.e. solutions with faster practical application and the potential to strengthen the market position of Czech companies.
Sub-programme 3 is intended for more ambitious projects at lower levels of technological readiness, which can deliver breakthrough solutions for long-term sustainable energy in the longer term.
The THETA 2 programme represents a relevant opportunity for organisations that are preparing research and innovation projects in the energy sector and want to respond to current issues of modernisation, safety and the long-term sustainability of the sector. A combination of support for projects with public impact, solutions with faster market application, and more ambitious projects with a longer innovation horizon is particularly attractive.
From the perspective of project preparation, it is important that the programme covers a wide range of applicable results – from technologies and technical solutions through analytical tools to systemic approaches. It is precisely this breadth that makes it possible to target projects both at specific technical innovations and at tools supporting the transformation and effective management of the energy sector.
It will be crucial for the applicant to correctly select the appropriate sub-programme and to justify the application and commercial potential of the results. It will also be important to link the project to the national priorities of oriented research and the priority areas of the national RIS3 strategy, as well as to fulfil the formal eligibility conditions.
Attention will also need to be paid to setting up the project partnership structure. In Sub-programmes 1 and 3, the mandatory involvement of an application guarantor is assumed, while in Sub-programme 2 there must be at least one enterprise among the applicants that will ensure the practical use of the project results after completion. Already in the preparatory phase, it will be important to have a clear arrangement regarding the role of the individual partners and the way the results will be applied in the future.
The submission of project proposals is expected from August to October 2026.
The announcement of the results is expected in April 2027.
The implementation of the projects is expected to begin in May 2027, and the latest completion date is planned for February 2030.
The expected allocation for the call is CZK 1.1 billion.
The maximum aid intensity is expected to be up to 90% in Sub-programmes 1 and 3, and 60% in Sub-programme 2.
For Sub-programme 1, the maximum amount of support per project is expected to be CZK 15 million, while the amount of support for Sub-programmes 2 and 3 is not expected to be limited.
Businesses and research organisations will be able to participate in the call both as the main applicant and as other project participants.
Supported activities are expected to include industrial research and experimental development in the energy sector, including the development of prototypes, functional samples, software, methodologies, technologies and other applicable results.
Tip Deloitte
If you are considering applying for one of the current or upcoming calls, it is worth starting your preparation as soon as possible. For the PRODEF programme, the submission of proposals is already under way; for THETA 2, it makes sense to start preparing the project framework, partnership arrangements and key annexes in good time. At the same time, we also recommend following the STEP programme, for which the calls have already been announced. Projects that are prepared well in advance are better positioned for successful submission.
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