Advanced manufacturing for key products (IA) (Made in Europe partnership)

The HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-02 grant opportunity under Horizon Europe targets funding projects focused on advanced manufacturing technologies aimed at producing key, high-performance products. It encourages participation from a broad range of eligible applicants, including SMEs, large enterprises, research institutions, and universities. Legal entities based in China are excluded from participating in research and innovation actions.

The funding, which ranges from €6 million to €8 million per project, is dedicated to innovation actions designed to support the development and demonstration of technologies at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 6 and 7. This means that projects should be nearing market readiness. The initiative emphasizes improving resource efficiency through advanced materials and promoting circular economy principles, particularly concerning critical and strategic raw materials.

Applicants are required to form consortia, emphasizing cooperation and the integration of diverse expertise. The call explicitly encourages international collaboration, especially with Japan and Taiwan. The application process is a single-stage submission, with a deadline set for February 2, 2027, and opens on September 22, 2026.

The expected success rates are estimated to be between 10% and 39%, given the competitive nature of Horizon Europe funding, with only six projects anticipated to receive grants from a significant number of proposals. While co-funding is not explicitly required, further financial commitment from partners is encouraged to enhance proposals' viability.

This opportunity aligns with broader EU policies aimed at achieving technological leadership, promoting sustainable industrial practices, and enhancing the overall competitiveness of European manufacturing. Proposals must incorporate robust business cases and exploitation strategies and demonstrate potential impacts within the European market.

In summary, the call invites innovative projects that will revolutionize European manufacturing, enhancing sustainability and reducing reliance on imported resources through cutting-edge technologies, while fostering international cooperation. The initiative supports various ongoing EU strategies focused on ensuring industrial resilience and autonomy.

This is a summary of several Horizon Europe funding opportunities related to advanced manufacturing, new materials, and circular economy. These opportunities fall under the INDUSTRY (HORIZON-CL4-2027-01) call of the Horizon Europe program, specifically targeting "Achieving technological leadership for Europe’s open strategic autonomy in raw materials, chemicals and innovative materials (2026-27)". The central theme revolves around enhancing European industrial competitiveness through advanced manufacturing technologies, increased circularity, and the innovative use of materials.

Here's a breakdown of the key aspects:

Overall Objectives:

The primary goal is to make advanced manufacturing technology and machinery readily available within Europe. This aims to support the production of key, high-performance products, bolster the circular economy through the reuse of secondary raw materials, and incorporate innovative advanced materials to improve product performance and quality. A significant emphasis is placed on increasing resource efficiency, particularly in materials and energy usage, and enhancing the overall resilience of European industry.

Scope of the Funding:

The funding targets technologies and machinery for advanced manufacturing, with a strong focus on manufacturing excellence and increased circularity. This includes better utilization of innovative advanced materials and secondary raw materials. The focus is on key manufactured components and products that are competitive and have enhanced performance, and contribute to Europe’s technological leadership in manufacturing. The program aims to reduce reliance on critical raw materials and imported materials by promoting the use of secondary raw materials, bio-based materials, and revalorized components. Where appropriate, the use of innovative advanced materials, such as lightweight, functionalized, or self-healing materials, is encouraged to enhance performance and quality. The development of these advanced materials should not be the primary focus, but the necessary steps to adapt them to manufacturing applications should be included, such as digital twins for materials and Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) steps.

Examples of Targeted Technologies and Machinery:

Innovative additive manufacturing
Hybrid manufacturing (additive, subtractive)
Photonics
Advanced joining technologies
Polymer composite manufacturing
Advanced technologies for surface treatment and structuring
Manufacturing of components with lightweight materials
In-line testing

Application Details and Requirements:

Proposals must include a comprehensive business case and a detailed exploitation strategy. Applications in the automotive industry are welcome, but the production of batteries is explicitly excluded from the scope of these topics. International cooperation, especially with Japan or Taiwan, is strongly encouraged. The program implements the co-programmed European Partnership Made in Europe.

Destination and Strategic Alignment:

These funding opportunities are designed to contribute to Europe's technological leadership and open strategic autonomy in raw materials, chemicals, and innovative materials. This destination aims to foster a globally competitive European industry through the green and digital transition, emphasizing the sustainable use and disposal of chemicals, advanced materials, and critical raw materials. The program aligns with several key initiatives, including the Clean Industrial Deal, the Critical Raw Materials Act, the Advanced Materials Communication, the Circular Economy Act, the Steel and Metals Action Plan, the European Chemicals Industry Action Plan, and the Industrial action plan for the European automotive sector.

General Conditions:

The proposal page limit is extended by 3 pages to accommodate the business case and exploitation strategy. Admissibility conditions are 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. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are outlined in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes. Evaluation and award criteria, submission and evaluation processes, and the indicative timeline are described in Annex D and Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. Legal and financial aspects of the grants are covered in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Specific Conditions:

Specific conditions are detailed within the specific topic descriptions of the Work Programme. Application forms are available in the Submission System. Standard application forms (HE RIA, IA) and evaluation form templates will be used.

Budget Overview:

The total budget allocated for these topics in 2027 is substantial, with individual project contributions ranging from approximately 1 million EUR to 12.5 million EUR, depending on the type of action (Innovation Actions, Research and Innovation Actions, or Coordination and Support Actions).

Specific Funding Opportunities:

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-02: Advanced manufacturing for key products (IA) (Made in Europe partnership). Budget: 36,000,000 EUR. Contribution: 6,000,000 to 8,000,000 EUR. Indicative number of grants: 6.
HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-03: Advanced manufacturing for key products (RIA) (Made in Europe partnership). Budget: 36,000,000 EUR. Contribution: 5,000,000 to 6,500,000 EUR. Indicative number of grants: 6.
HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-06: New approaches for the design and manufacturing of high-performance materials (RIA) (Made in Europe partnership). Budget: 36,000,000 EUR. Contribution: 5,000,000 to 6,500,000 EUR. Indicative number of grants: 7.
HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-08: Novel assembly and disassembly technologies for circularity by design (IA) (Made in Europe partnership). Budget: 16,000,000 EUR. Contribution: 4,000,000 to 6,000,000 EUR. Indicative number of grants: 3.
HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-16: Digital product passports for increased circularity (IA) (Processes4Planet partnership). Budget: 49,000,000 EUR. Contribution: 10,000,000 to 12,500,000 EUR. Indicative number of grants: 4.
HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-17: Supporting the coordination of national and regional programmes and policies for advanced materials (CSA). Budget: 3,000,000 EUR. Contribution: around 3,000,000 EUR. Indicative number of grants: 1.
HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-22: Manufacturing technologies for sustainable and circular composite materials (IA) (Made in Europe partnership). Budget: 36,000,000 EUR. Contribution: 6,000,000 to 7,500,000 EUR. Indicative number of grants: 6.
HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-42: Strengthening the network of pilot production facilities and testing infrastructures for advanced materials (CSA). Budget: 2,000,000 EUR. Contribution: around 1,000,000 EUR. Indicative number of grants: 2.
HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-47: Supporting standardisation in the field of sustainable and circular materials (CSA). Budget: 5,000,000 EUR. Contribution: 1,500,000 to 2,500,000 EUR. Indicative number of grants: 2.
HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-49: Demonstration of innovative solutions for the substitution of critical raw materials (IA). Budget: 5,000,000 EUR. Contribution: around 2,000,000 EUR. Indicative number of grants: 25.

Overall, this funding opportunity aims to drive innovation and sustainability in European manufacturing by promoting the development and adoption of advanced technologies, circular economy practices, and innovative materials. It seeks to enhance the competitiveness and resilience of European industries while reducing their environmental impact and reliance on critical raw materials.

In simpler terms, this is a call for projects that will make European manufacturing more advanced, eco-friendly, and less dependent on resources from outside Europe. The EU wants companies and researchers to come up with new ways to manufacture products using less raw materials, reusing materials, and using innovative materials that are better for the environment. They are particularly interested in technologies like 3D printing, hybrid manufacturing, and advanced surface treatments. If you have a project that can help achieve these goals, especially if it involves working with partners from Japan or Taiwan, the EU is offering significant funding to help make it a reality. The EU is investing in projects that will help European companies lead the way in sustainable and innovative manufacturing.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity is open to various types of legal entities, including but not limited to industry players (startups, SMEs, large enterprises), research organizations, and other stakeholders involved in the manufacturing sector. The program encourages participation from entities across the European Union and associated countries. Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in both Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) falling under this destination.

Funding Type: The funding primarily consists of grants, specifically HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) and HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA). These grants are budget-based and aim to support projects that drive innovation and research in advanced manufacturing.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity appears to favor collaborative projects, suggesting a consortium of multiple applicants is expected. The call specifies cooperation with the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and encourages international cooperation, particularly with Japan or Taiwan, implying that a consortium approach is beneficial.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The primary geographic focus is the European Union (EU) and its associated countries. While international cooperation is encouraged, the core activities and deployment should be centered within the EU. Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in both Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) falling under this destination.

Target Sector: The program targets the advanced manufacturing sector, with a focus on technologies and machinery that enhance manufacturing excellence, circularity, and resource efficiency. Key areas include innovative advanced materials, secondary raw materials, biobased materials, additive manufacturing, hybrid manufacturing, photonics, advanced joining technologies, polymer composite manufacturing, surface treatment, lightweight materials, and in-line testing. The automotive industry is also a potential target, excluding battery production.

Mentioned Countries: European Union, Japan, Taiwan, China

Project Stage: The program targets projects that are at the Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 6 and 7, requiring a credible strategy to achieve future full-scale deployment in the EU. This suggests the program is geared towards demonstration and validation projects that are close to market uptake.

Funding Amount: The funding varies depending on the specific topic within the call, with individual contributions ranging from around €1,000,000 to €12,500,000. The total budget allocated to the different topics is substantial, indicating a significant investment in the advanced manufacturing sector.

Application Type: The application type is a single-stage call, meaning applicants must submit a full proposal by the deadline. The planned opening date for submissions is 22 September 2026, and the deadline for submission is 02 February 2027.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants to support their research, development, and innovation activities. The grants are intended to cover eligible costs associated with the projects, including personnel, equipment, and other operational expenses.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage, where applicants submit a comprehensive proposal that undergoes evaluation based on predefined criteria.

Success Rates: The indicative number of grants varies per topic, ranging from 1 to 7, suggesting a competitive selection process. The success rates can be inferred to be relatively low, given the high demand for EU funding.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This Horizon Europe call, under the INDUSTRY pillar, aims to bolster advanced manufacturing in Europe by funding projects that develop innovative technologies and machinery. The focus is on enhancing manufacturing excellence, promoting circularity through the use of secondary and biobased materials, and improving resource efficiency. The call encourages the incorporation of advanced materials to enhance product performance and quality. The scope includes a wide array of manufacturing technologies, such as additive manufacturing, hybrid manufacturing, photonics, and advanced joining techniques.

The call is structured around several specific topics, each with its own budget and expected number of grants, ranging from Innovation Actions (IA) to Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA). These topics address various aspects of advanced manufacturing, from developing technologies for key products to fostering coordination and support activities within the sector.

Applicants are expected to form consortia and develop comprehensive proposals that include a strong business case and exploitation strategy, demonstrating the potential impact of their projects on the European market. International cooperation, particularly with Japan and Taiwan, is encouraged. However, legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in both Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) falling under this destination.

The call aligns with the broader goals of achieving technological leadership for Europe’s open strategic autonomy in raw materials, chemicals, and innovative materials, as well as promoting the twin green and digital transition. It supports various policy initiatives, including the Clean Industrial Deal, the Critical Raw Materials Act, and the Circular Economy Action Plan.