Technologies for innovative extraction of critical raw materials (RIA)
EU-funded research and innovation action for the development of new technologies for the sustainable and efficient extraction of critical raw materials. Submission deadline: 21/04/2026.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
The goal is the development and validation of innovative and sustainable extraction processes for critical raw materials (secondary and primary raw materials), taking into account ecological, economic, and social aspects, as well as contributing to the implementation of the Critical Raw Materials Act.
Eligible expenses
- Personnel costs
- Material costs for research and development
- Prototype construction and testing procedures
- Travel expenses for consortium meetings
- Costs for open access publications
Non-eligible expenses
- Mass production or large-scale market launch
- Acquisition of real estate
- Retroactive financing of existing projects
- Debt repayment
Eligible to apply
- Companies
- Educational Institutions
- Public Institutions
- Non-profit Organizations
Funding requirements
- Participation only for legal entities from EU member states, associated countries, OECD, AU, MERCOSUR, CARIFORUM, Andean Community, and EU strategy partner countries with raw materials chapter
- At least three independent partners from different countries
- Consortium must consist of research institutions and industry partners
Documents required for application
- Standard application form (HE RIA)
- Detailed financing and budget plan
- Business case and exploitation strategy
- Ethics self-assessment
- Proof of financial and operational capacity
Evaluation criteria
- Innovative content of the project
- Relevance and credibility of the impact
- Quality and efficiency of the consortium structure
Description
The EU research and innovation action “Technologies for innovative extraction of critical raw materials (RIA)” supports the development of forward-looking methods for the sustainable extraction of primary and secondary raw materials. With a total budget of €5–7 million per consortium, consortia consisting of at least three legal entities from different EU Member States or associated countries are supported. Eligible applicants include SMEs, educational institutions, public bodies, and NGOs. Applicants develop new concepts in phased stages – from feasibility studies to pilot and prototype testing – and validate them in an industrial environment. The goal is to create technical solutions that optimally combine ecological, economic, and social aspects, minimize the carbon footprint of raw material extraction, and make a substantial contribution to the implementation of the Critical Raw Materials Act. The EU funding rate is 100% for research costs, prototype construction, personnel and travel expenses, as well as open-access publications. Large-scale serial production, real estate acquisition, or retroactive project financing are excluded.
Interested are European consortia that bring together expertise in materials science, mining, environmental analytics, and circular economy. Funded are research and development activities that advance innovations at TRL 4–6, as well as preparatory activities for later market introduction. The application deadline is April 21, 2026, 17:00 (Brussels time). Mandatory documents include the official application form (HE RIA), a detailed financial and budget plan, business case with exploitation strategy, ethics self-assessment, and proof of financial capacity. Projects should promote knowledge transfer to industry, create synergies with other Horizon Europe projects, and provide impulses for the European innovation and value chain. The European Commission selects projects suitable for funding based on criteria such as innovation content, impact relevance, and consortium quality.
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