Accelerating the discovery and development of chemicals and innovative advanced materials through digitalisation and artificial intelligence (IA) (Inn...

Overview

The EU funding opportunity HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-23, titled "Accelerating the discovery and development of chemicals and innovative advanced materials through digitalisation and artificial intelligence," is part of the Horizon Europe program, specifically classified as a Horizon Innovation Action. The planned opening date for applications is January 6, 2026, with a submission deadline of April 21, 2026. The total budget for this initiative amounts to EUR 50,000,000, aiming to fund approximately four projects, each with expected contributions of around EUR 13,000,000.

The primary goals of this funding opportunity are to enhance the discovery and development processes for advanced materials and chemicals using digital methodologies and artificial intelligence. Proposals must focus on accelerating the pathway to market for new substances that showcase superior or novel functionalities, leveraging digital tools to speed up the development and validate properties effectively. Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with initiatives like the Materials Commons for Europe, and DIGIPASS, fostering interoperability and driving innovation in risk assessment methodologies.

Key areas of focus include the development of novel tools, proofs of concept, and digital workflows, driven by artificial intelligence and self-driving labs. These proposals should also include demonstrators to validate materials under realistic conditions and incorporate a comprehensive business case with an exploitation strategy. Importance will be placed on the operationalization of the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework and facilitating data sharing for chemical risk assessment.

Eligible applicants encompass a wide range of entities from EU member states and associated countries, including universities, research institutes, private companies, and SMEs. However, entities controlled by China are ineligible to apply. The call requires a single-stage application process, and the nature of support is in the form of monetary grants, with a standard reimbursement rate of 70% of eligible costs, necessitating a typical 30% co-funding contribution from the project partners.

The success rates, while not explicitly provided, are anticipated to be in the 10–39% range, reflecting the competitive landscape of funding. Successful projects should demonstrate high-quality standards in digital tools and workflows, supporting improved risk assessment frameworks and fostering innovation in the chemicals and advanced materials sectors.

The initiative aims not only at advancing technological capabilities in Europe but also at enhancing sustainability and competitiveness within the materials landscape, aligning with broader strategic priorities set out by the European Union. Comprehensive application instructions, evaluation criteria, and additional documentation will be provided through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Potential applicants should consult the Horizon Europe Programme Guide and liaise with National Contact Points for further guidance.

Detail

The EU funding opportunity HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-23, titled "Accelerating the discovery and development of chemicals and innovative advanced materials through digitalisation and artificial intelligence (IA) (Innovative Advanced Materials for the EU partnership)", is a Horizon Innovation Action (HORIZON-IA) under the Horizon Europe (HORIZON) program, specifically the INDUSTRY (HORIZON-CL4-2026-01) call. The call adopts a single-stage deadline model. The planned opening date is January 6, 2026, and the deadline for submission is April 21, 2026, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The total budget allocated to this topic is EUR 50,000,000, with individual contributions expected to be around EUR 13,000,000. The indicative number of grants to be awarded is 4.

The expected outcomes of this funding opportunity are:
Accelerating the discovery and development process for innovative advanced materials and chemicals through digital tools developed in Europe.
Innovation workflows which include design of experiment and/or design of simulation.
Supporting the operationalisation of the SSbD framework.
Making a step change in the risk assessment of chemicals and advanced materials in Europe.

The scope of the proposals should focus on accelerating the pathway to market of new substances, specifically chemicals or advanced materials, that possess superior or novel functionalities. This acceleration should be achieved through novel tools or proofs of concept that leverage digital methods to expedite the development of new materials and demonstrate their properties effectively.

Key areas of focus include:
Collaboration with initiatives like the Materials Commons for Europe or DIGIPASS, contributing data, modelling, and digital tools applicable to the design, development, production, manufacturing, use, and end-of-life phases.
Development of repeatable workflows that connect to these phases.
Integration of artificial intelligence, self-driving labs, and design of experiment/design of simulation methods into these workflows and tools.
Driving innovation in risk assessment and new test methods.
Supporting and facilitating the operationalisation and use of the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework.
Inclusion of demonstrators to validate materials development in realistic conditions.

The proposals should aim to achieve the following:
More rapid development of new innovative advanced materials (IAMs) with superior or novel functionalities and alternatives to substances of concern in Europe.
Development of digital feedback loops ranging from requirements and information from production processes and scale-up, to manufacturing and integration into products, to accelerate market uptake.
Development of innovative digital tools to speed up risk assessment and thereby market access of chemicals and advanced materials.
Development of interoperable workflows based on shared standards and dedicated ontologies, in particular through collaboration with the Materials Commons for Europe, to help reduce the cost of the digital transition for industry with respect to circularity and safe and sustainable by design.
Fostering workflows that ensure high-quality, well-structured, and documented primary FAIR data and FAIR digital tools and workflows, enabling the re-use and/or streamlining of large data sets, facilitating academic and industrial collaborations, and integrating AI and other digital technologies.
Creating synergies with the SSbD toolboxes, including the adaptation and validation of test methods for advanced materials.
Facilitating the generation of relevant data and where relevant sharing of data with the Common Data Platform for Chemicals.
Actively contributing to and cooperating with the EU Innovation and Substitution Hub(s).

Proposals must include a business case and exploitation strategy. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission could be involved to add value to the operationalisation of the SSbD framework. This topic implements the co-programmed European Partnership Innovative Advanced Materials for the EU (IAM4EU).

The admissibility conditions require adherence to the proposal page limit and layout as described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. Admissibility conditions are further detailed in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.

Eligible countries are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific provisions are available for non-EU/non-Associated Countries, as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Other eligible conditions include restrictions on entities controlled by China, as delineated in General Annex B of the General Annexes. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as a member of the consortium with zero funding or as an associated partner, but will not participate in proposal preparation and submission.

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Evaluation and award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are detailed in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

The legal and financial set-up of the grants allows the granting authority to object to a transfer of ownership or exclusive licensing of results for up to 4 years after the end of the action, as set out in Annex 5. General information on legal and financial aspects is described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

Application and evaluation forms, as well as the model grant agreement (MGA), are available in the Submission System. The standard application form for HE RIA and IA is to be used. Evaluation form templates will be used with necessary adaptations.

Guidance documents include the HE Programme Guide, HE MGA, Operating Grants MGA, and Framework Partnership Agreement FPA. Call-specific instructions and information on financial support to third parties and clinical studies are also available.

Additional documents include:
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 7. Digital, Industry and Space
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 14. Horizontal Activities
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes
HE Programme Guide
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions
Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement

A partner search function is available on the portal for LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants. The submission system is planned to open on January 6, 2026.

Applicants are advised to carefully read all provisions before preparing their application. The Online Manual serves as a guide for procedures from proposal submission to grant management. The Horizon Europe Programme Guide provides detailed guidance on the structure, budget, and political priorities of Horizon Europe. The Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ addresses frequently asked questions. The Research Enquiry Service can answer questions about European research. National Contact Points (NCPs) offer guidance and practical information. The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) provides advice to businesses, especially SMEs. The IT Helpdesk addresses technical questions. The European IPR Helpdesk assists with intellectual property issues. CEN-CENELEC and ETSI Research Helpdesks advise on standardisation. The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment outline the roles and responsibilities of researchers.

This funding opportunity aims to accelerate the development and market entry of innovative and safe chemicals and advanced materials by leveraging digital tools and AI. It encourages collaboration, data sharing, and the adoption of sustainable design principles, ultimately enhancing Europe's competitiveness and sustainability in the materials sector. The call seeks to fund projects that can demonstrate tangible results through demonstrators and contribute to the broader goals of the Innovative Advanced Materials for the EU (IAM4EU) partnership.

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Breakdown

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but based on the Horizon Europe framework and the nature of Innovation Actions (IA) and Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), eligible applicants could include startups, SMEs, large enterprises, universities, research institutes, nonprofit organizations, and other legal entities capable of conducting research and innovation activities. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission can participate as a member of the consortium with zero funding or as an associated partner. However, entities directly or indirectly controlled by China or legal entities established in China are not eligible.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically through HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) and HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA). These are budget-based action grants.

Consortium Requirement: A consortium of multiple applicants is generally required, as the Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as a member of the consortium. The call specifies collaboration with initiatives such as Materials Commons for Europe or DIGIPASS, implying a consortium approach.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU member states and associated countries as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. Non-EU/non-Associated Countries may also be eligible if they have specific provisions for funding participants in Horizon Europe projects, as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. However, entities controlled by China are not eligible.

Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: chemicals, advanced materials, digital technologies, artificial intelligence, risk assessment, manufacturing, and innovation. It focuses on accelerating the development and market uptake of new substances and innovative advanced materials (IAMs) through digitalization and artificial intelligence.

Mentioned Countries: China (entities controlled by China are ineligible), EU member states, and non-EU associated countries.

Project Stage: The project stage ranges from development to demonstration and market uptake. Proposals should include demonstrators to validate materials development in realistic conditions and should include a business case and exploitation strategy.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call:
HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-01: €6,000,000 to €8,000,000 (6 grants)
HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-04: €5,000,000 to €8,000,000 (9 grants)
HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-05: €5,000,000 to €6,500,000 (7 grants)
HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-11: €5,000,000 to €7,000,000 (3 grants)
HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-12: €5,000,000 to €7,000,000 (3 grants)
HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-13: around €4,000,000 (1 grant)
HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-14: around €7,500,000 (4 grants)
HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-23: around €13,000,000 (4 grants)
HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-24: around €800,000 (1 grant)
HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-31: €5,000,000 to €7,000,000 (7 grants)
HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-41: around €1,000,000 (2 grants)
HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-44: around €3,000,000 (1 grant)
HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-45: €1,500,000 to €2,500,000 (2 grants)
HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-46: around €2,000,000 (1 grant)
HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-48: around €2,000,000 (25 grants)

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants to support their research and innovation activities.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants for each topic provides some insight into the potential success rates.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required. However, Horizon Europe grants typically fund a percentage of the total eligible costs, implying that applicants may need to secure additional funding from other sources.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, part of the INDUSTRY (HORIZON-CL4-2026-01) call, aims to accelerate the discovery, development, and market uptake of new chemicals and innovative advanced materials (IAMs) through the use of digital tools and artificial intelligence. The call encourages projects that develop novel tools, proofs of concept, and digital methods to enhance material development and demonstrate their properties. It emphasizes collaboration with initiatives like the Materials Commons for Europe and DIGIPASS, promoting interoperable workflows, FAIR data principles, and the operationalization of the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework. Projects should include demonstrators to validate materials in realistic conditions and a business case with an exploitation strategy. The call is structured into several topics, each with a specific budget and indicative number of grants, ranging from Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) to Innovation Actions (IA) and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA). Eligible applicants include a wide range of entities from EU member states and associated countries, with specific restrictions for entities controlled by China. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) can participate in consortia. The application process is a single-stage open call, and funding is provided in the form of grants.

Short Summary

Impact
Accelerating the discovery and development of innovative advanced materials and chemicals through digital tools and artificial intelligence, leading to faster market entry and improved risk assessment methodologies.
Applicant
Applicants should possess expertise in advanced materials, digital technologies, and artificial intelligence, with capabilities in research, development, and commercialization.
Developments
Funding will support projects focused on the development, validation, and demonstration of advanced materials and chemicals, leveraging digital transformation and AI.
Applicant Type
This funding is designed for a broad range of applicants including private companies, SMEs, research institutions, universities, and public organizations from eligible countries.
Consortium
The funding requires a consortium approach, necessitating collaboration among multiple entities to achieve project goals.
Funding Amount
The total budget for this funding opportunity is €50,000,000, with approximately €13,000,000 allocated per project.
Countries
Eligible countries include EU member states, EEA countries, and associated countries, while entities controlled by China are ineligible.
Industry
This funding targets the advanced materials and chemicals sector, emphasizing digital technologies and innovation.

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