Quick lessons to give your LIFE proposal a solid start

During the WIN 4 LIFE webinar organised by PNO, Marc de Coster, Senior Consultant with 15 years of experience working exclusively on LIFE funding, set out in clear terms what the programme is for and what makes an application succeed.

First things first, LIFE is a funding programme built for implementation, and not for testing early stage technological solutions. The LIFE Programme supports projects in the environment, circular economy, climate action and quality of life. It has been in place for more than 30 years and is designed to help put EU policy into practice. This includes the implementation of EU directives, regulations and policy frameworks such as the European Green Deal and climate adaptation strategies.

This focus on implementation shapes everything else. LIFE does not fund early-stage research. It supports solutions that already exist and need to be tested, demonstrated or rolled out in real conditions. In this sense, LIFE sits closer to deployment funding than to traditional research and innovation programmes.

The projects that fit LIFE tend to fall into a small number of categories. These include pilot and demonstration projects, best-practice applications, or the scale-up and transfer of existing solutions.

The common thread is maturity. By the end of a LIFE project, the solution should be close to market or ready to be used more widely. Proposals framed as research projects generally struggle at evaluation stage. LIFE explicitly avoids research-only approaches and instead prioritises solutions that can operate at industrial, commercial or near-market scale by the end of the project.

Who can apply and how to structure a consortium

A wide range of organisations can apply. Companies, SMEs, associations, public authorities, and research organisations are all eligible.

Unlike other EU programmes, a single organisation can submit a proposal. International partners are not required, but they often strengthen the case. In practice, cooperation across countries can help show that a solution works beyond one local setting. While consortia are optional, transnational collaboration can provide a competitive advantage during evaluation and may contribute to additional scoring bonuses.

Relevant topics align with policy priorities

The programme covers a broad set of themes, from recycling and circular economy to climate mitigation and zero-emission transport. Projects can also address specific challenges such as:

• the removal of PFAS from soil or water
• the replacement of harmful chemicals

Other priorities include recycling of materials such as photovoltaic panels, batteries and construction materials, as well as pollution reduction in air, water and soil.The key point is that topics must clearly match one of the official LIFE call priorities. A good idea on its own is not enough if the link to the call is not explicit.

What evaluators look for in a proposal

A strong proposal combines several elements that need to work together.

1. There must be a clear fit with one of the call topics. Evaluators expect to see this early and consistently throughout the proposal.
2. The project needs to show a credible environmental or climate impact. LIFE is not meant for isolated local fixes. The solution should be transferable to other regions, sectors or contexts. Among the evaluation criteria, impact carries the highest weighting, reflecting the programme’s emphasis on scalability and replication across the EU.

3. The work plan must be realistic. This includes defined milestones, clear deliverables and a budget that matches the activities. A capable team and a well-thought-out plan for communication and dissemination also play a role.
4. Just as importantly, applicants should not underestimate CDE: communication, dissemination and exploitation. In LIFE, these are not administrative extras, but core elements of the project’s impact strategy. They show how results will be shared, taken up and used beyond the project itself.

Across all these elements, impact and replication remain central. Projects are assessed on whether they can be used again elsewhere, not only on their local results.

Funding structure and project duration

The programme typically covers up to 60% of eligible costs. These include personnel, subcontracting, purchases and indirect costs. A flat rate indirect cost of around 7% is applied on top of eligible direct costs.

Projects usually run between two and five years. This duration reflects the expectation that solutions will be tested and applied under real conditions, not just prepared.

Where to start when preparing an application

Marc de Coster pointed to a few practical steps for anyone considering a proposal:

1. Start with the call priorities and check whether the project clearly fits at least one of them. Then review previously funded LIFE projects to avoid duplicating existing work.
2. It also helps to be careful with how the project is framed. If it reads as research, it will likely be rejected. A clear implementation focus is expected.
3. Timing is another constraint. LIFE projects cannot begin immediately after submission, so planning needs to take into account a gap between the deadline and the start of activities.
4. For the specific call discussed during the webinar, the deadline is 22 September. Projects selected under this call are expected to start in late spring or summer 2027 at the earliest. Applicants should also factor in a lengthy evaluation and grant agreement preparation phase, which can take several months before projects are formally approved and launched.

If we had to sum up the WIN4LIFE webinar in only a few lines, the take-aways would probably be: LIFE is designed for organisations that already have a working solution and are ready to prove it in practice, scale it up or apply it in a new context. Successful proposals are those that combine a clear policy fit, a credible plan and a solution that can be used beyond a single case. In short, LIFE less about developing new knowledge and more about putting existing solutions to work, where they can bring a clear environmental or climate difference.

Need help with your LIFE proposal? Don’t hesitate to contact us.