On 23 February 2026, CINEA launched a new call for projects under Green Assist, the EU advisory initiative aimed at supporting the development of sustainable investment projects across Europe. With a total budget of €3 million, the call offers tailored advisory support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), helping them develop and scale their green investment initiatives. The programme is coordinated with the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) to ensure broad outreach and assistance throughout the EU.
Green Assist focuses on turning green ambitions into investable projects by providing specialised technical advisory services. Selected SMEs receive hands-on support to strengthen business strategies, improve financial structuring, validate environmental performance, and address regulatory or technical challenges. By enhancing project readiness and reducing investment risks, the initiative helps mobilise private capital for the green transition, addressing advisory gaps that often prevent smaller companies from accessing finance. This strengthens Europe’s green competitiveness, sustainability objectives, and overall investment capacity.
The call prioritises projects in the circular economy and bioeconomy sectors but remains open to other environmentally focused investment areas supported under Green Assist. Its main objective is to help SMEs transform environmentally beneficial projects into investment-ready initiatives capable of attracting financing and scaling up their impact across Europe and beyond.
Eligible applicants include SMEs established in the EU-27 and LIFE-associated countries, including Ukraine, Moldova, Iceland, North Macedonia, and Montenegro. Projects must demonstrate a clear environmental benefit and meet minimum investment thresholds. Interested companies are encouraged to contact their EEN Sustainability Adviser for guidance and pre-screening before submitting an application. The call remains open until 18 May 2026.
