Development of safe and sustainable by design alternatives to Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

The main goal of this opportunity is to develop safe and sustainable alternatives to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). It aims to make these alternatives available to industries, supporting their competitiveness and providing valuable knowledge to regulatory agencies and policymakers. The focus is on applying the "Safe and Sustainable by Design" (SSbD) framework, overcoming barriers to substitution, adapting production processes, and ensuring that new alternatives meet or exceed the performance of PFAS-based solutions. Projects should also consider health, environmental, and socio-economic impacts. This opportunity is open to participants from EU and associated countries, with some exceptions for certain non-EU countries.

• Projects must develop PFAS-free substances or technologies aligned with the “Safe and Sustainable by Design” (SSbD) framework
• Proposals must focus on at least one industrial application sector: electronics, construction, technical textiles, or automotive
• Demonstration of properties of the PFAS alternatives under relevant operational conditions is required
• Proposals must involve value chain actors and include technological and socio-economic justification for chosen alternatives
• Identification of substitution and production barriers, along with proposed solutions, must be included
• Proposals must include communication strategies and user acceptance analysis with involvement of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) expertise

Examples:

• A consortium develops a new coating material to replace PFAS in food packaging, ensuring it meets safety and environmental standards.
• An industrial partnership adapts its manufacturing line to use a non-PFAS alternative in textile production.
• A research group creates an open-access database on the performance and safety of PFAS alternatives for use by policymakers and industry.

• Personnel costs for researchers, engineers, and technical staff
• Costs for laboratory materials and supplies
• Equipment expenses related to the project
• Subcontracting of specialized research or testing services
• Travel and accommodation for project meetings or dissemination events
• Costs for data management and open access publication
• Communication and dissemination activities
• Project management and administrative expenses
• Costs for adapting or upgrading production lines

Restriction: All eligible expenses must fit within the lump sum funding model as defined by the Horizon Europe Programme.

• Budget for this Call: 30,000,000€
• Number of Grants attributed: 4
• Budget per grant: 7,000,000€

• Applicants must be legal entities established in EU countries or associated countries.
• Some non-EU/non-associated countries may participate if they have made special provisions for Horizon Europe projects.
• Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in Innovation Actions for this opportunity.
• Applicants must follow all eligibility requirements as described in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
• Proposals must adhere to the rules of the blind evaluation pilot, including anonymity in the first-stage application.
• Eligibility may depend on forming consortia or partnerships, as typical for Horizon Europe Innovation Actions.
• All application documents must be submitted according to the official guidelines and deadlines.