Gaznat and EPFL have a long-standing strategic cooperation, which involves setting up a competence pole on CO2 capture, storage, and utilization for the production of synthetic gas. Building on the success of this collaboration, a new framework agreement was signed in December 2024 that involves issuing new calls for research proposals.The second call is now open and proposals can be submitted by the deadline of 17 August 2026 (17:00 CEST). The Gaznat-EPFL Research Programme will support projects in the following thematic areas:Advanced separation technologies (for example CO2 from air or flue gases, H2 from CH4, etc.);Production of synthetic and renewable gases and liquids;Energy storage infrastructure (for example in rockcaves or chemical energy storage/P2X) and transport infrastructure;CO2 capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS);Impact of various molecules on confinement materials (for example H2 in steel pipelines);Systemic aspects related to gas transformation and supplyAI in topics related to the above-mentioned areasOther topics deemed relevant by the Steering Committee.Type of projects, funding and duration This new Gaznat-EPFL Research Programme will support two categories of projects: 1. ‘Explore projects’: TRL ≥ 4: Lab-scale prototypes with the potential to progress towards TRL 6-9.Project duration: Up to 4 yearsExpected funding: CHF 300-500k (maximum) per projectExpected outcomes: Prototypes of novel technologies, processes, or solutions deployed at the Gaznat GreenGas Innovation Lab whenever possible. 2. ‘Seed projects’: TRL ˂ 4: early-stage projects with the potential to advance to higher TRLsProject duration: 6-12 monthsExpected funding: CHF 50-100k (maximum) per projectExpected outcomes: Description and characterization of promising pathways, frameworks, or technologies with the potential for further development towards higher TRLs.Requirements The call for proposals is open to the EPFL community as follows:Explore projects: Open to Professors or Maîtres d’Enseignement et de Recherche (MER).Seed projects: Open to the entire EPFL community (faculty members, senior scientists, postdocs, PhD students). Projects must be hosted by an EPFL laboratory, andsupervised by at least one EPFL faculty member (Prof. tit., MER, PATT, PA or PO).EPFL Heads of relevant units or Centers are also eligible to apply.The number of proposals submitted as main applicant/ co-applicants is restricted to max 1 Explore project and max 1 Seed project per EPFL laboratory.How to applyPlease read carefully the applications guidelines.Explore the application toolkit and the programme webpage.All required documents must be submitted via the online submission platform.