Technologies for innovative processing of raw materials (IA)

The EU initiative supports forward-looking industrial projects that develop and demonstrate novel pilot plants for sustainable raw material processing and recovery. The focus is on plants that efficiently process particularly critical raw materials such as rare earth elements or special alloys and reintegrate them into the value creation cycle. This program makes an important contribution to the circular economy while simultaneously reducing the ecological footprint of industrial processes: less waste, lower water and energy consumption, and reduced emissions are key priorities, as is the reduction of land and marine area alterations. Funding is available for small and medium-sized enterprises, research institutions, public and non-profit organizations that form multinational consortia. Requirements include a legal seat in an EU or associated country, at least three independent partners, and secure premises for hazardous work. Applications can be submitted until 02.02.2027.

With a funding amount of €49 million and a project duration of up to 36 months, the grant covers personnel, material, travel, equipment, and subcontractor costs with a funding rate of up to 70%. Evaluation criteria include the degree of innovation, sustainability aspects, and societal as well as industrial relevance. A clearly structured financing plan, a well-founded project description, and an ethics statement are part of the application, as are CVs of key personnel. Based on a convincing business case and an exploitation strategy for industrial applications, promising solutions should be advanced to TRL 6–7 and demonstrate concrete commercialization opportunities. The European dimension, strong partnerships, and a solid contribution to reducing strategic dependencies make this call an opportunity for stakeholders to bring sustainable and scalable technologies for raw material processing to market readiness.