Innovation for responsible EU sourcing of primary raw materials, the foundation of the Green Deal (RIA)
Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
Horizon Europe is the European Union (EU) funding programme for the period 2021 – 2027, which targets the sectors of research and innovation. The programme’s budget is around € 95.5 billion, of which € 5.4 billion is from NextGenerationEU to stimulate recovery and strengthen the EU’s resilience in the future, and € 4.5 billion is additional aid.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
Projects under this Call aim to:
- improve knowledge base of EU and third country critical raw materials to identify new areas for exploration and resource estimation;
- promote the utilisation of UNFC (United Nations Framework Classification for Resources) and UNRMS (United Nations Resource Management System) reporting standards in the raw materials sector;
- accelerate development of EU domestic raw materials exploration projects integrating innovative technologies that can form the basis for new EU SMEs.
Detailed Call Description
Actions should develop new knowledge and conceptual models, supported by innovative technologies to strengthen and secure the EU’s supply of primary raw materials by:
- Generating better geological understanding (i.e. characterization, modelling, mapping) of known mineral deposits to identify critical minerals resources and inform discovery of new resources
- Developing new genetic models for ore deposit types that host critical minerals in order to identify areas for exploration, especially in previously overlooked regions
- Deploying innovative geological, geophysical, geochemical, and data analysis approaches including modelling techniques (e.g. data analysis, remote sensing) to elucidate the geological history and structure and models of targeted spatial areas of targeted areas and to guide more environmentally friendly exploration for critical minerals, limiting impacts on biodiversity.
Actions should map EU and third countries’ primary and secondary raw materials potential and raw materials production and refining capacities in a harmonised form, using UNFC (United Nations Framework Classification for Resources) and UNRMS (United Nations Resource Management System).
Actions should also contribute to improving the awareness of the general public across the EU about the importance of raw materials for a successful transition to a climate-neutral and digitised economy and society, as well as about the ensuing need for a secure, sustainable, and responsibly-sourced supply of raw materials, including from domestic sources to strengthen EU open strategic autonomy and reduce over-dependence on third countries.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
100%
EU contribution per project: €7,50 million
Thematic Categories
- Environment and Climate Change
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
Eligibility for Participation
- Other Beneficiaries
- Producer Associations
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
Eligibility For Participation Notes
In order to achieve the expected outcomes, and safeguard the Union’s strategic assets, interests, autonomy, or security, namely to increase EU resilience in raw materials supply chains for EU industrial value chains and strategic sectors to enable their green and digital transition and to reduce current EU over-dependence on a few third countries for critical raw materials by boosting domestic production of primary raw materials,and to strengthen EU autonomy as well as socially and environmentally acceptable sourcing, participation to the topic is limited to legal entities established in Member States, associated countries, OECD countries, African Union Countries, and MERCOSUR, CARIFORUM, and Andean Community.
Proposals including legal entities which are not established in these countries will be ineligible.
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
National Contact Point(s)
Research and Innovation Foundation
29a Andrea Michalakopoulou Street, 1075 Nicosia
T.Th. 23422, 1683 Nicosia
+357 22205000
Email: support@research.org.cy
Dr Angelos Ntantos
Scientific Officer
Telephone: 35722205033
Email: antantos@research.org.cy
Dr Ioannis Theodorou
Scientific Officer
Telephone: 35722205038
Email: itheodorou@research.org.cy
(Publish Date: 17/09/2021-for internal use only)
EU Contact Point
European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation
https://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/research-and-innovation_en#contact