Strategic Partnerships for Raw Materials Innovative Approaches for sustainable production of Critical Raw Materials (IA)

The main goal of this opportunity is to develop and demonstrate new technologies for extracting, processing, or refining critical raw materials such as minerals and metals. The focus is on increasing recovery, minimizing environmental and social impacts, and ensuring responsible supply in line with EU sustainability principles. Priority is given to projects that support cooperation between the EU and countries with which it has signed Strategic Partnerships on Raw Materials. Projects should also promote market uptake, circular business models, and collaboration with other initiatives. Sea mining activities are not included in this opportunity.

• Projects must follow the required page limits and layout as set by the application guidelines.
• Applicants must be legal entities from eligible countries, including those with EU strategic partnerships on raw materials.
• Projects should focus on innovative extraction, processing, or refining technologies for primary critical raw materials, excluding sea mining.
• Collaboration with at least one country from the specified partnership groups is required.
• Each proposal must include a business case and a clear exploitation strategy for scaling up in the EU.
• Projects should plan for joint activities and cooperation with other relevant projects, including dedicated resources for clustering.

Example projects:

• Developing a new, low-impact process for extracting lithium in partnership with Chilean organizations.
• Demonstrating advanced refining technology for cobalt with partners from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• Testing environmentally friendly mineral processing methods in collaboration with Australian research institutes.

A. Personnel

• Staff costs based on actual time worked (hourly or unit costs).

• Includes employees, seconded personnel, SME owners, and volunteers (conditions apply).

B. Subcontracting

• External work is eligible if necessary, clearly described, and awarded fairly.

• Must avoid conflict of interest.

C. Purchases

• Eligible if used for the action and procured properly.

• Includes travel, equipment, goods, services, and other direct costs.

D. Specific Cost Categories

• D.1 Financial Support to Third Parties: Allowed if capped (usually ≤ €60k), with clear rules.

• D.2 Internal Invoicing: Based on real internal costs using usual accounting practices.

• D.3–D.4 Research Infrastructure Access: Virtual or transnational unit costs allowed under strict conditions.

• D.5 PCP/PPI Procurement: Innovation-related public procurements are eligible with proper procedures.

• D.6–D.8 ERC/Euratom/Additional Funding: Extra funding for specific actions allowed if conditions are met.

E. Indirect Costs

• Flat rate of 25% of eligible direct costs (A–D), excluding volunteers, subcontracting, FSTP, and other exempt items.

Total budget of the grant: 30 000 000 EUR

Number of grants: 4 

Co-financing rate: 70%

Maximum value per company: 7 500 000 EUR

Minimum value per company: 7 500 000

• Applicants must be legal entities established in EU Member States, associated countries, OECD countries, African Union Member States, MERCOSUR, CARIFORUM, Andean Community, or countries with relevant trade agreements or partnerships.
• Entities from countries with which the EU has signed Strategic Partnerships on Raw Materials are also eligible.
• Proposals must include at least one partner from a country in the specified strategic partnership groups.
• Legal entities from China are not eligible for Innovation Actions under this call.
• Projects must focus on minerals and metals, with sea mining excluded.
• Applicants must comply with all proposal formatting and submission requirements.
• Proposals must meet all thresholds and criteria set out in the application guidelines.