Improving availability of secondary raw materials through recycling (IA)

Overview

Funding for projects that enhance the recycling and reuse of critical raw materials (metals only) from end-of-life products and urban mines, aiming to improve supply security and reduce environmental impacts in alignment with the EU Critical Raw Materials Act. Targets industrial and research consortia developing advanced recycling technologies and processes.

Who Can Apply

Consortia of legal entities established in EU Member States, associated countries, OECD countries, African Union Member States, MERCOSUR, CARIFORUM, Andean Community, or countries with EU strategic partnerships or trade agreements on raw materials. Participation is restricted to entities not directly or indirectly controlled by non-eligible countries.

Funding Details

• Maximum grant amount: 13,000,000 EUR
• Funding rate: Not specified
• Total budget: Not specified

What Is Funded

• Development of cost-effective and efficient technologies for disassembly, separation, shredding, and sorting of end-of-life products and urban mines.
• Recycling processes for critical raw materials (metals only), including refining, purification, and quality assurance of secondary raw materials.
• Analysis and mitigation of biodiversity impacts from urban mines, including renaturation solutions.
• Clustering activities with other relevant projects for cross-project cooperation, consultations, and joint dissemination.
• Business case and exploitation strategy for future full-scale deployment in the EU.

Technology / Maturity Requirements

• Activities must start at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 and achieve TRL 7 by the end of the project.

Key Dates

• Open date: 2026-01-05
• Deadline: 2026-04-20

Application Process (High-Level)

• Single-stage application process via the Funding & Tenders Portal.
• Proposals must include a business case and exploitation strategy, with an extended page limit for Part B of the application.

Post-Award Obligations

• Clustering activities with other projects, including joint meetings and communication events.
• Reporting on project progress and outcomes, including dissemination of results.
• The granting authority may object to transfers of ownership or exclusive licensing of results for up to 4 years post-project.

Geographic Scope & Language

• Eligible countries: EU Member States, associated countries, OECD countries, African Union Member States, MERCOSUR, CARIFORUM, Andean Community, and countries with EU strategic partnerships or trade agreements on raw materials.
• Application language: English.

Notes

• Downcycling (recycling into lower-quality materials) is excluded.
• Proposals must demonstrate a prominent role for EU-based recycling industries and users of recovered secondary raw materials.
• International cooperation is encouraged, particularly with Ukraine and other countries with EU strategic partnerships on raw materials.