Innovative technologies and tools for exploration and data modelling of raw materials (RIA)

Opened

Programme Category

EU Competitive Programmes

Programme Name

Horizon Europe (2021-2027)

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.

Programme Details

Identifier Code

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-11

Call

Innovative technologies and tools for exploration and data modelling of raw materials (RIA)

Summary

Actions should develop and validate advanced geological modelling and mineral system analysis using multi-source data (geological, geophysical, and geochemical) from ground-based and remote-sensing techniques to develop high-resolution 3D models of mineral deposits.

The integration of new (AI and machine learning) and conventional methods will be necessary to predict with the greatest accuracy the location of mineral deposits of critical raw materials and their carrier minerals. Actions contributing to the National exploration programmes under the article 19 of CRMA is encouraged.

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 facilitate discovery of new resources, including mineral systems carrying critical raw materials;
  • Collecting new geological, geophysical, and geochemical data and developing ore genetic models and mineral system analysis to build a broad understanding of EU’s deposit type, including critical raw materials in order to identify areas for exploration, especially in previously underexplored regions;
  • Advancing mineral prospectivity modelling processes;
  • Facilitate the integration of existing multi-datasets with newly acquired data.

Proposals should include a business case and exploitation strategy, as outlined in the introduction to this Destination.

Call Total Budget

€18.500.000

Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan

100%

Expected contribution per project: between €5.00 million and €7.00 million.

Thematic Categories

  • Environment and Climate Change
  • Industry
  • Processing

Eligibility for Participation

  • Businesses
  • Large Enterprises
  • Other Beneficiaries
  • Private Bodies
  • Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
  • Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

Eligibility For Participation Notes

To increase EU resilience in raw materials supply chains and thus reduce the serious risk to the Union’s strategic assets, economic and societal interests, autonomy and security associated with the current EU reliance on a few third countries for critical raw materials, by increasing sustainable and responsible sourcing of primary and secondary raw materials necessary to enable the green and digital transition and in alignment with the objectives of the Critical Raw Materials Act[[Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and amending Regulations (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1724 and (EU) 2019/1020

]], participation in this topic is limited to legal entities established in Member States, associated countries, OECD countries, African Union Member States, MERCOSUR, CARIFORUM, Andean Community and countries with which the EU has concluded strategic partnerships on raw materials[[https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/raw-materials/areas-specific-interest/raw-materials-diplomacy_en

]] as well as trade agreements (or association/economic partnership or equivalent agreements, including the new Clean Trade and Investment Partnerships) containing raw materials cooperation provisions (i.e. Energy and Raw materials chapters)[[https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/eu-trade-relationships-country-and-region/negotiations-and-agreements_en]]. The choice of these countries was made taking into consideration the development of strategic international partnerships on raw materials and avoidance of reinforcing existing over-dependencies, as well as the importance of involving partners committed to pursuing open trade in such materials.

Proposals including legal entities which are not established in the countries that fall under the criteria above will be ineligible.

For the duly justified and exceptional reasons listed above, in order to guarantee the protection of the strategic interests of the Union and its Member States, entities established in an eligible country listed above, but which are directly or indirectly controlled by a non-eligible country or a non-eligible country entity, shall not participate in the action.

Call Opening Date

06/01/2026

Call Closing Date

21/04/2026

National Contact Point(s)

Research and Innovation Foundation
29a Andrea Michalakopoulou, 1075 Nicosia,
P.B. 23422, 1683 Nicosia
Telephone: +357 22205000
Fax: +357 22205001
Email: support@research.org.cy
Websitehttps://www.research.org.cy/en/

Persons to Contact:

Dr Angelos Ntantos
Scientific Officer
Email: antantos@research.org.cy

Mr. George Christou
Scientific Officer
Email: gchristou@research.org.cy