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

The main goal of this opportunity is to support the development and demonstration of innovative technologies for the sustainable extraction, processing, and refining of critical raw materials. It aims to reduce environmental and social impacts while strengthening cooperation between the EU and partner countries that have signed strategic agreements on raw materials. The focus is on improving industrial viability, environmental safety, and diversifying the EU's sources of critical raw materials. Projects should address the entire value chain, foster circular business models, and encourage solutions that can be adopted by the market. Activities related to sea mining are excluded.

• Develop and demonstrate technologies for extraction, processing or refining of primary critical raw materials.

• Prove reduced environmental and social impact of the proposed solution, including impact assessments.

• Focus on one Strategic Partnership country group and include industrial partners from both the EU and that group.

• Ensure the relevance of targeted minerals/metals (EU Critical Raw Materials only; sea mining excluded).

• Demonstrate the technology on mineral resources from the partner country selected.

• Include clustering activities with other projects (dedicated task and resources).

• Facilitate market uptake through full value chain consortia, including standardisation and financial viability.

• Provide a solid business case and exploitation strategy, including scalability and replication potentia

Examples:

• A project that partners with Namibia to pilot a cleaner extraction method for cobalt, including a plan for commercial rollout.
• A consortium working with Australia to demonstrate an environmentally friendly refining process for lithium, with a detailed market entry strategy.
• A collaboration with Chile to develop a technology for processing critical minerals that minimizes water usage and includes a pathway to industrial adoption.

• Personnel costs
• Subcontracting
• Travel and subsistence
• Equipment (depreciation or rental)
• Consumables and materials
• Dissemination and communication
• Access to research infrastructure
• IPR and certification
• Audit costs
• Indirect costs (25% flat rate)
• Internally invoiced services

• Budget for this Call: 30,000,000€
• Number of Grants attributed: 4
• Budget per grant: 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 with the EU.
• Entities from countries with strategic partnerships on raw materials with the EU are eligible for funding.
• Entities from China are not eligible for this call.
• Applicants must meet all requirements outlined in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide and relevant annexes.
• Only proposals that adhere to the specified application format and guidelines will be considered.
• Collaboration with at least one eligible strategic partnership country is required.