This grant aims to strengthen the expert capacity in the EU regarding critical raw materials, enhancing informed decision-making among policymakers and improving data on raw materials. The project seeks to build an expert network, coordinate with the Commission, and ensure quality of information on raw materials until 2030, including validating factsheets and organizing workshops.
General information
- Programme
- Horizon Europe (HORIZON)2021–2027
- Call
- INDUSTRY HORIZON-CL4-2027-01
- Programme part
- Pillar II · Global Challenges & CompetitivenessCluster 4 · Digital, Industry and Space
- Destination
- Achieving technological leadership for Europe’s open strategic autonomy in raw materials, chemicals and innovative materials (2026-27)
- Type of action
- HORIZON-CSA Coordination and Support Actions
- Type of MGA
- HORIZON-AG-LS HORIZON Lump Sum Grant
- Status
- Open
- Deadline model
- Single-stage
- Opening date
- 13.10.2026
- Deadline date
- 02.02.2027, 17:00 Brussels time 95 days left
- Cross-cutting priorities
Budget overview
| Type of action | Budget 2027 | EU contribution per project | Grants | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HORIZON-CSACoordination and Support Actions | €3M | €3M | 1 | 02.02.2027 |
Expected outcome
- Strengthening the expert capacity in the EU in a wide range of raw materials along the whole value chain;
- Better informed and more effective decision-making by the EU and National policy makers and the producers and users of raw materials regarding the supply and demand of raw materials and the associated environmental and social aspects;
- Improved EU official statistics and building the EU knowledge base of primary and secondary raw materials.
Scope
Actions should strengthen an EU expert network and community covering all raw materials screened in the critical raw materials assessment of 2027. Flexibility in screening additional raw materials will be an added value.
The consortium should build the EU expert community covering each screened raw material with expertise on primary and secondary resources; production, including exploration, mining, processing, recycling and refining; substitution of critical raw materials; raw materials markets; future demand and supply; supply risk management and stress tests; materials flows; raw materials standardisation; environmental footprint, socio-economic analysis, and strategic value chains and end-use sectors, including batteries, e-mobility, renewable energy, electronics, security and aerospace.
The actions should contribute to the EU policy making related to critical raw materials, in particular to the implementation of the Critical Raw Materials Act, including the development of the new list of critical raw materials and their specific applications or sectors. The action is expected to coordinate with the Commission regarding the events and reflect the EU policy planning.
The actions should also improve data and knowledge on all screened raw materials and the analysis of the future supply and demand of raw materials, their environmental footprint, technology gaps and innovation potential along the raw materials value chains.
The action should update the data and information fact sheets from the previous criticality exercise for all screened raw materials, and ensure their quality by relevant raw material experts. Factsheets are to be finalised by the end of 2029, and could be fine-tuned before publication expected in 2030.
The action is expected to organise two expert validation workshops in 2029 to support the EU criticality assessment, and validate draft factsheets for all screened materials. In coordination with the Commission, organise in-depth workshops on several strategic metals for renewable energy, e-mobility and aero-space and security / dual use, with recognised commodity experts from industry and other organisations.
The data and information produced by the action shall be shared with the Commission at free of charge basis.
The action should envisage clustering activities with other relevant selected projects for cross-projects co-operation, consultations and joint activities on cross-cutting issues and share of results as well as participating in joint meetings and communication events. To this end proposals should foresee a dedicated work package and/or task, and earmark the appropriate resources accordingly.
Who can apply
- A single organisation from an EU Member State or Associated Country (Ukraine is associated) is enough unless the topic requires a consortium.
- Universities, research organisations, companies, public authorities and NGOs can take part.
Topic-specific condition: 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.
Applicant types in our database: All participants.
How to apply
- Register your organisation on the Funding & Tenders portal and get a PIC (9 digits).
- Check the topic text for consortium requirements and who can apply.
- Download the proposal template (Part A forms, Part B narrative) in the submission system on the topic page.
- Submit by 02.02.2027, 17:00 Brussels time. The system opens on 13.10.2026.
The official topic text, templates and submission are on the Funding & Tenders topic page.
Frequently asked questions
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