LIFE 2026 Programme: National support for Czech applicants

What support is available

• Funding for proposal preparation of up to CZK 280,000 (for the coordinator)
• Co-financing of projects of up to 25% of eligible costs (max. CZK 25 million per project)
• Co-financing for partners of up to 25% of eligible costs (max. CZK 2 million per partner)

Total allocation

• CZK 2 million – project preparation
• CZK 55 million – project co-financing
• CZK 10 million – partner co-financing

Who can apply

• Entities preparing a project for the European LIFE 2026 call
• Entities whose project is successful in the European LIFE call and require co-financing

Evaluation process

• Formal assessment of the application
• Expert review by three independent evaluators
• Discussion within evaluation panels, including feedback for applicants

Supported project types

The LIFE Programme supports projects with practical impact in the fields of environment and climate that:

• test innovative solutions in practice
• deliver measurable results and demonstrate clear benefits
• have the potential for scaling up and replication

Support is primarily aimed at projects in the following areas:

• Environment
• Climate action

Key benefits for Czech applicants

The national call from the Ministry of the Environment:

• Reduces financial barriers to participation in European projects
• Supports high-quality project preparation
• Increases the chances of Czech entities succeeding in international competition

Given these advantages, this represents a strong opportunity for organisations considering participation in the LIFE Programme and seeking to maximise their chances of success.

European context

The LIFE Programme has a total budget of EUR 5.43 billion for the period 2021–2027 and is divided into four sub-programmes:

• Nature and Biodiversity
• Circular Economy and Quality of Life
• Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
• Clean Energy Transition

The European Commission launched the LIFE 2026 calls on 21 April 2026 via the Funding & Tenders Portal. The calls are open to a wide range of applicants (public authorities, businesses, research organisations, and non-profit entities) and focus on projects supporting the implementation of the European Green Deal, biodiversity protection, the transition to a circular economy, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The main type of supported projects are Standard Action Projects (SAP), complemented by strategic projects (SIP/SNAP), technical assistance projects, and coordination and support actions in the field of clean energy.

Most application deadlines fall in September 2026, while strategic projects are submitted in two stages, with final deadlines in spring 2027.