Call for Global Gateway Early-Stage Investment Mechanism

Deadline: 16-Mar-2026

The European Commission has launched a Global Gateway call for proposals to support early-stage strategic infrastructure projects in partner countries, assisting EU companies relocate from planning and feasibility to implementation and financing.

With a total budreceive of over EUR 40.5 million, the programme tarreceives transport, artificial innotifyigence, energy, urban development, and railway infrastructure, while promoting EU standards, sustainability, and private sector investment.

Overview

The European Commission (EC) has launched a new call for proposals under the Global Gateway initiative to support high-potential infrastructure projects in partner countries.

The programme is designed to assist EU companies and consortia de-risk early-stage infrastructure investments and advance projects from planning and feasibility phases toward implementation and financing.

This call directly supports the EU’s strategic objective of strengthening sustainable, high-quality infrastructure globally while reinforcing Europe’s economic presence and policy standards abroad.

Core Objectives of the Programme

The Global Gateway infrastructure call focutilizes on strengthening project quality, investment readiness, and development impact.

Key objectives include:

Leveraging EU technical expertise, experience, and advanced technologies
Reducing risk in early-stage infrastructure project development
Increasing EU private sector investment in partner countries
Promoting EU policy frameworks, technical standards, and sustainability norms
Enhancing the bankability and financial viability of infrastructure projects
Supporting job creation, regional integration, and socio-economic development

The programme prioritizes projects that align both with partner countries’ development priorities and the EU’s long-term strategic interests.

Priority Sectors and Focus Areas

Funding under this call is organized into five thematic lots, covering critical infrastructure sectors.

Supported Sectors

Transport infrastructure
Artificial Innotifyigence and digital infrastructure
Energy systems and clean energy infrastructure
Urban development and sustainable cities
Railway infrastructure in Latin America and the Caribbean

Each sector is expected to contribute to sustainable growth, resilience, and improved service delivery in partner countries.

Indicative Budreceive and Grant Size

The total indicative budreceive for the call is EUR 40,583,770, distributed across five lots.

Budreceive Allocation by Lot

Transport: EUR 7,800,000
Artificial Innotifyigence: EUR 4,000,000
Energy: EUR 14,283,770
Urban Development: EUR 4,500,000
Railway sector (Latin America and Caribbean): EUR 10,000,000

Grant Amount Per Project

Minimum grant: EUR 500,000
Maximum grant: EUR 2,000,000

Projects must demonstrate clear added value and strong potential to progress toward implementation and financing.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

The call is open to a wide range of EU-based and EU-linked entities capable of delivering complex infrastructure projects.

Eligible Applicants Include

Private or public legal entities
Startups and tiny and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
Large companies with internationalization projects
Consortia of enterprises
Joint ventures with national or local public authorities
Government-linked companies
Research institutions and universities (for Artificial Innotifyigence projects only)

Partnerships that combine private sector expertise with public sector engagement are strongly encouraged.

What Types of Projects Are Prioritized?

Successful proposals are expected to demonstrate strong alignment with both EU and partner-countest priorities.

Priority considerations include:

Alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Consistency with EU external action policies and Global Gateway principles
Contribution to partner countries’ strategic development plans
Strengthening the presence and competitiveness of EU industest
Local stakeholder engagement and knowledge transfer
Environmental, social, and governance sustainability in line with EU and international standards
Financial viability and long-term economic impact
Strong multiplier effect for EU companies and value chains

How the Programme Works

The programme supports projects primarily at the early development stage, focapplying on preparation and de-risking.

Supported Activities

Feasibility studies and technical assessments
Project preparation and structuring
Financial modeling and bankability enhancement
Risk analysis and mitigation strategies
Preparation for implementation and financing stages

The ultimate goal is to assist projects reach a level of maturity that attracts further public or private investment.

How to Apply

Applicants should prepare a comprehensive proposal that clearly demonstrates technical strength, strategic relevance, and development impact.

Key Steps to Apply

Identify the most relevant sectoral lot for your project
Develop a project concept aligned with EU and partner-countest priorities
Build strong partnerships, including public and local stakeholders
Prepare detailed technical, financial, and sustainability documentation
Submit the proposal according to the European Commission’s call guidelines

Proposals should clearly display how EU expertise and standards will be embedded in project design and delivery.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should be careful to avoid common weaknesses that can reduce proposal competitiveness.

Submitting projects with unclear implementation pathways
Weak alignment with EU policy frameworks or Global Gateway objectives
Insufficient demonstration of financial viability or scalability
Limited engagement with local stakeholders or beneficiaries
Overviewing environmental and social sustainability requirements

Strong proposals balance technical depth, strategic alignment, and realistic financing pathways.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the main purpose of this Global Gateway call?

The call aims to support early-stage strategic infrastructure projects and assist EU companies relocate projects toward implementation and financing in partner countries.

Which sectors are eligible for funding?

Transport, artificial innotifyigence, energy, urban development, and railway infrastructure in Latin America and the Caribbean are covered.

What is the funding range per project?

Each project can request between EUR 500,000 and EUR 2,000,000 in grant funding.

Can SMEs and startups apply?

Yes, startups and SMEs are eligible, either individually or as part of consortia.

Are universities eligible applicants?

Universities and research institutions are eligible only for Artificial Innotifyigence-related projects.

Does the programme support implementation costs?

The focus is primarily on early-stage development, feasibility, and project preparation rather than full construction.

What creates a proposal competitive?

Strong alignment with EU policies, partner-countest priorities, sustainability standards, financial viability, and clear development impact.

Why This Call Matters

This Global Gateway call strengthens the EU’s role as a trusted partner for sustainable infrastructure development while enabling European companies to expand internationally.

By de-risking early-stage projects, the programme unlocks future investment, promotes high-quality standards, and supports long-term socio-economic development in partner countries.

Conclusion

The European Commission’s Global Gateway call for proposals represents a significant opportunity for EU companies and institutions to shape sustainable infrastructure globally. With substantial funding, strategic sector focus, and strong policy alignment, the programme supports projects that combine economic viability, development impact, and EU values into scalable, future-ready infrastructure solutions.

For more information, visit European Commission.

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