The first Call for Proposals drew 54 Expressions of Interest from across the country and resulted in 06 funded enterprises. Building on that, the Green Innovation Grants Initiative (GIGI) has officially opened its second Call for Proposals (CfP #2). This round is open to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam with clean energy solutions ready to be piloted or scaled.

For many SMEs in the clean energy sector, the biggest challenge is rarely the technology itself. The challenge is the transition stage: the solution exists, but the business lacks funding to test it under real-world conditions and lacks validated data to convince customers. These businesses also lack connections to investors and green finance institutions that could help them scale. GIGI is designed to close precisely this gap by combining non-repayable grants with capacity-building support.

Results from Cohort 1

GIGI’s first call received 54 Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from businesses across Vietnam. Of these, 06 SMEs were funded end-to-end, each receiving between €15,000 and €25,000. These enterprises are now deploying, validating and refining their solutions in real operating conditions.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Cong, CEO of LC Tech, shared: “GIGI helps us deploy and validate our solutions, creating a model that can scale across Vietnamese enterprises.”

Ms. Nguyen Pham Cam Tu, CEO of CAS Energy, expressed a similar expectation: “We hope that GIGI will help us overcome testing and market access barriers while connecting us with partners, investors, and green finance to scale our solution.”

Benefits for CfP #2 Participants

In the second round, GIGI plans to award non-repayable grants of €15,000 to €25,000 per enterprise, to a maximum of 09 SMEs. The funding will help businesses pilot, refine and scale clean energy solutions in Vietnam.

Beyond financial support, selected SMEs will join a 12-month capacity-building programme tailored to each company’s needs. The programme covers investment readiness support, technical advisory and peer learning within the GIGI community. Participants will also be connected with financiers and ecosystem partners. The goal is to help businesses overcome testing and market access barriers, so their solutions move beyond the pilot stage.

GIGI prioritises commercially viable innovations that deliver measurable environmental impact and have long-term scaling potential. Eligible areas include energy efficiency, renewable energy, low-emission transportation and other clean energy applications. Through this support, the initiative contributes to improved energy efficiency, faster adoption of renewable energy and Vietnam’s transition towards a low-emission economy.

Eligibility and Application Process

GIGI is open to small and medium-sized enterprises in Vietnam with clean energy solutions ready to pilot or scale. Before applying, businesses should review the full eligibility criteria on GIGI’s official website: www.thegigi.org.

The application process has two stages. In the first stage, businesses submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) via: https://shorturl.at/Exl2M. Shortlisted applicants will then be invited to submit a full proposal. Applications are accepted in either Vietnamese or English.

Key Timelines

The EOI deadline is 14/09/2026, and the shortlist was announced on 22/09/2026. The full proposal deadline is 22/10/2026. Grant results are expected to be announced in mid-November 2026, with grant agreements scheduled for signing in January 2027.

Turning Green Innovation from Pilot to Practice

If your business has a clean energy solution ready to pilot or scale in Vietnam, now is the time to secure the right resources. Full details and application materials are available at www.thegigi.org. Submit your EOI here: https://shorturl.at/Exl2M.

As a Strategic Community Partner of GIGI, InnoEx is pleased to share this opportunity with SMEs, innovative enterprises and startups seeking the resources to bring green innovation from idea to implementation.

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The Green Innovation Grants Initiative (GIGI) is implemented by SNV under the SHIFT – Shifting Investment Flows Towards Green Transformation project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) through the International Climate Initiative (IKI), in partnership with the Ministry of Finance of Vietnam.