Innovative Advanced Materials (IAMs) for robust, fast curing sealants and coatings for manufacturing and final assembly

The main goal of this opportunity is to develop innovative coatings, functionalized surfaces, and sealants based on advanced materials. These solutions should improve recyclability, promote circularity, and enhance safety, while also reducing the need for raw materials and lowering production and disassembly costs. The opportunity targets projects that extend the lifespan and performance of products, decrease maintenance and ownership costs, and minimize environmental impact. Key focus areas include combining multiple functionalities such as fast curing and durability, addressing sectors like electronics, energy, automotive, and construction, and supporting industrial scalability and sustainability. Projects should align with the principles of safe and sustainable by design, and international collaboration is encouraged, especially with Japan, but not with China.

• Projects must develop new or improved coatings, functionalised surfaces, or sealings based on innovative advanced materials (IAMs)
• Must contribute to recyclability, circularity, and safety while reducing resource consumption and manufacturing costs
• Must address at least two of the following: accelerated performance evaluation, functionalised surfaces, energy-efficient application methods, scalable IAM synthesis, or material degradation modeling
• Must apply digital technologies and ensure use of FAIR data and SSbD framework across the material lifecycle
• Must include a business case and exploitation strategy, and demonstrate potential for cross-sectoral application

• Must ensure full value chain coverage from development to end-of-life, including tools and technologies needed to support this chain

Example Projects:

• A project developing a fast-curing, environmentally friendly coating for automotive parts that extends their lifespan and simplifies recycling.
• An initiative creating functionalized sealants for electronics that reduce hazardous substance use and allow easier disassembly at end-of-life.
• A partnership designing advanced surface treatments for construction materials that lower maintenance needs and support circular use of resources.

• Personnel costs related to research and innovation activities
• Purchase of materials and consumables for project development
• Costs for testing and validation of new coatings, surfaces, or sealants
• Equipment and infrastructure necessary for prototyping and scaling up
• Travel and subsistence for project meetings and international collaboration
• Subcontracting of specific tasks or studies within the project scope
• Costs for dissemination, communication, and exploitation of results
• Project management and administrative expenses
• Training and capacity-building activities related to project objectives

Restrictions: All expenses must fit the lump sum funding model under the Horizon Europe Programme. Applicants should consult the specific provisions in the Work Programme General Annexes for further details.

• Budget for this Call: 30,000,000€
• Number of Grants attributed: 5
• Budget per grant: 6,000,000€

• The applicant must be a legal entity established in an EU Member State or an Associated Country.
• Entities from China are not eligible to participate in Innovation Actions.
• Applicants must comply with the blind evaluation pilot requirements in the application process.
• The proposal must align with the scope of developing advanced materials-based coatings, surfaces, or sealants.
• Projects should demonstrate potential for industrial scalability and practical application.
• Applicants may include international partners, with cooperation with Japan encouraged.
• All eligibility requirements described in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes must be met.