On the 26th of February, the Commission presented the Clean Industrial Deal, “Europe’s business plan to boost economic resilience”, as stated by EVP Ribera. The Deal will accelerate decarbonisation while securing the future of manufacturing in Europe and ensuring that Europe is the frontrunner for clean manufacturing
The Deal focuses mainly on two closely linked sectors: energy-intensive industries and clean tech.
Clean tech is key for Europe’s competitiveness and a pillar for reaching water resilience and climate neutrality by 2050. The Clean Industrial Deal will pave the way for a water-smart and water-resilient society by:
– Introducing resilience and sustainability criteria to foster clean European supply for energy-intensive sectors.
– Committing EUR 6 billion from the Innovation Fund in 2025, including for clean tech, battery manufacturing, the Hydrogen Bank and industrial decarbonisation.
– Recognising that R&I is a key enabler of the advanced clean tech, and launching a flagship Horizon Europe call of EUR 600 million under the 2026-2027 work programme to support fit-for-deployment projects.
– Mobilising around EUR 50 billion additional financing and investment in key EU policy priorities, such as modernisation of industrial processes, manufacturing and deployment of clean tech, financing for energy infrastructure projects, or waste reduction and recycling, until the end of the current MFF.
– Deploying a TechEU investment programme to bridge the financing gap to disruptive innovation in technologies such as AI or semiconductors.
The achievement of the EU’s strategic autonomy cannot happen without considering water. Water shortages can bring up costs up to €27.5 million per month only for semiconductor production, highlighting the need for water-smart technologies and improved management of resources, with the support of AI tools and clean tech. The Clean Industrial Deal will support the deployment of AI tools that will, on their side, enhance water management and water circularity and reuse, as demonstrated by EU-funded projects such as RESURGENCE or AquaSPICE.
Read here the press release and here a factsheet on the Clean Industrial.
