CONNECT-NM Open call 2025

The CONNECT-NM Open Call 2025 is an EU funding opportunity under the Euratom Research and Training Programme, designed to advance nuclear materials research to improve safety and sustainability within the nuclear energy sector. The total funding available for this call is 13.5 million EUR, with a maximum grant of 900,000 EUR per project, covering 50% of eligible costs. The initiative emphasizes EU-wide collaboration, requiring projects to be carried out by consortia consisting of at least three members from different EU Member States or associated countries. Single applicants can participate as specific partners in a consortium.

Eligible applicants include research institutions, universities, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and industry partners focused on nuclear materials. The program fosters collaboration between academia and industry, particularly in areas such as digital technologies and advanced manufacturing processes. The call seeks to drive forward R&D efforts on materials designed for extreme conditions, utilizing modern digital techniques such as machine learning and data analytics for materials design, testing, and modeling.

The application process consists of two phases: the submission of project ideas followed by detailed project proposals for those selected in the first phase. There are two submission deadlines, one on March 21, 2025, and another on July 7, 2025. The expected duration for successful projects is from January 2026 to September 2029.

The program aims to shift nuclear materials research from traditional methods to a more innovative approach, utilizing advanced digital tools and manufacturing techniques. The focus is on ensuring high safety standards in nuclear energy applications and accelerating the development and qualification of materials used in nuclear systems.

Overall, CONNECT-NM is a strategic initiative aimed at reinforcing Europe’s position in nuclear energy innovation while addressing essential climate and energy security challenges.

The CONNECT-NM Open Call 2025 is a funding opportunity focused on strengthening the safety and sustainability of nuclear energy through innovation in materials used in extreme conditions. These conditions include high temperature, high irradiation dose, and chemically aggressive environments. The goal is to ensure high safety standards in power generation and accelerate the development, improvement, and qualification of nuclear materials, reducing the time it takes for these materials to reach the market.

The general objective is to foster the joint and coordinated use of European national resources, facilities, and infrastructure for research, development, and innovation in nuclear materials. This aims to shift nuclear materials research from a traditional "observe and qualify" approach to a modern "design and control" paradigm.

Enabling this shift are modern digital techniques such as: Machine Learning (ML), Data analytics, Semantic technologies, High-performance computing, Block-chain, Robotics. These technologies are central to data-driven modeling, high-throughput calculations and experiments, and the development of digital twins. Advanced manufacturing techniques and lifecycle sustainability assessment tools are also important.

The call uses Open Calls for Projects to align top-down requirements from the Strategic Research Agenda with bottom-up formation of consortia around specific case studies related to nuclear systems, materials, or components. The activities of CONNECT-NM cover reactors of all current and future generations. Projects must explain how they align with the ambition and general objective of CONNECT-NM and how they will use the listed enablers to achieve their goals.

Key Details:

Opening Date: 20 January 2025

Deadline Model: Multiple cut-off

Deadline Dates: 21 March 2025 17:00 (Brussels time) and 07 July 2025 17:00 (Brussels time)

Expected Duration of Participation: January 2026 - 30 September 2029

Total Funding Available: 13,500,000.00 EUR

Project Acronym: CONNECT-NM

Full Name of the EU Funded Project: Coordination of the European Research Community on Nuclear Materials for Energy Innovation

Grant Agreement Number: 101165375

Topic: HORIZON-EURATOM-2023-NRT-01-04 - Co-funded European partnership for research in nuclear materials

Submission Process:

The submission process involves two phases: Project Ideas and Project Proposals, with a Brokerage Event in between. Applications must be submitted electronically via the CONNECT-NM repository using provided templates. To enter the second phase, a proposal must have been submitted in the first phase.

Phase 1:

Opening: 20/01/2025

Cut-off date: 21/03/2025

Phase 2:

Opening: 28/04/2025

Cut-off date: 07/07/2025

Funding Details:

Funding Rate: 50% of eligible costs for which reimbursement will be claimed. Consortia or partners may opt for a lower amount if they have sufficient national, regional, or institutional funding.

Maximum EC Grant per Project: 900,000 EUR. A higher amount may be granted for outstanding proposals if the Partnership's financial situation allows.

Total Call Budget: 13,500,000 EUR (EC contribution).

Contact Information:

Research Line Leaders (for Project proposal objectives and scope):

Research Line 1: Knowledge and Data Management

Michal Pecelerowiccz (NCBJ) michal.pecelerowicz@ncbj.gov.pl

Research Line 2: Advanced Materials Development and Manufacturing

Marialuisa Gentile (Newcleo) marialuisa.gentile@newcleo.com

Research Line 3: Materials and Component Qualification: Testing, Standardization and Design Rules

Massimo Angiolini (ENEA) Massimo.angiolini@enea.it

Research Line 4: Non-Destructive Examination and Materials Health Monitoring

Madalina Rabung (Fraunhofer) madalina.rabung@izfp.fraunhofer.de

Research Line 5: Advanced Materials Modelling and Characterization

Maria Oksa (VTT) Maria.Oksa@vtt.fi

Financial Matters: silvia.degrandis@sintec-nt.it

Other Aspects of Project Proposals: info@connect-nm.eu

In summary, the CONNECT-NM Open Call 2025 seeks to advance nuclear energy safety and sustainability by funding innovative projects focused on nuclear materials. It encourages the use of modern digital technologies and advanced manufacturing techniques to accelerate materials development and qualification. The call is structured in two phases, with specific deadlines, and offers a 50% funding rate up to 900,000 EUR per project, with a total budget of 13.5 million EUR. The call targets research in knowledge and data management, advanced materials development and manufacturing, materials and component qualification, non-destructive examination and materials health monitoring, and advanced materials modeling and characterization.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity explicitly mentions "Project consortia or specific partners in consortia," indicating that both single entities and consortia are eligible. The types of organizations that can form these consortia are not explicitly defined but can be inferred to include research organizations, universities, and potentially industrial partners, given the focus on research, development, and innovation in nuclear materials. The mention of national, regional, or institutional funding suggests that national research organizations, regional development agencies, and research institutions are likely eligible.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, as indicated by the terms "EC grant," "funding rate," and "reimbursement." The call is part of the CONNECT-NM project, which is a "Co-funded European partnership for research in nuclear materials," further solidifying the grant nature of the funding. It is also described as cascade funding.

Consortium Requirement: While single applicants might be eligible as "specific partners in consortia," the emphasis on "open consortia" and the project's objective to nurture the joint exploitation of competences suggests that a consortium is strongly preferred, if not implicitly required, to effectively address the call's objectives. The call aims to match top-down requirements with bottom-up formation of open consortia.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The opportunity is part of the Horizon-Euratom program, suggesting that eligibility is primarily focused on entities within the European Union (EU) and potentially associated countries participating in the Euratom Research and Training Programme. The mention of "European Research Community" further reinforces this focus on European entities. While not explicitly stated, it is likely that entities from EU member states and associated countries are eligible.

Target Sector: The primary target sector is nuclear energy, specifically focusing on materials science and engineering for nuclear applications. The call aims to strengthen the safety and sustainability of nuclear energy. The specific areas of focus include: materials for operation under extreme conditions (high temperature, high irradiation dose, chemically aggressive environments), advanced materials development and manufacturing, materials and component qualification, non-destructive examination and materials health monitoring, and advanced materials modelling and characterization.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are explicitly mentioned. However, the affiliations of the Research Line Leaders provide some geographic context: Poland (NCBJ), Italy (Newcleo, ENEA), Germany (Fraunhofer), and Finland (VTT). These countries are where some of the key organizations involved in the CONNECT-NM project are located. The overall scope is European.

Project Stage: The expected project stage appears to be in the research, development, and validation phases, with an emphasis on accelerating materials development, improvement, and qualification, thereby reducing time-to-market. The call aims to shift the paradigm in nuclear materials research from "observe and qualify" to "design and control," suggesting a focus on more advanced stages of research and development. The inclusion of advanced manufacturing techniques and lifecycle sustainability assessment tools indicates a move towards demonstration and potential commercialization.

Funding Amount: The maximum EC grant per Project is 900,000 EUR. However, proposers can ask for a higher amount if the proposal's quality is outstanding and compatible with the Partnership's financial possibilities. The total funding available for this call of CONNECT-NM is 13,500,000 EUR (EC contribution). Therefore, the funding range is variable, but generally under 1 million EUR, with potential for higher amounts in exceptional cases.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, specifically referred to as the "Open Call for Projects (OCP) of CONNECT-NM." The submission process occurs in two phases: Project Ideas and Project Proposals.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants to cover eligible costs. The funding rate is 50% of the eligible costs for which reimbursement will be claimed.

Application Stages: The application process consists of two stages: Phase 1 (Project Ideas) and Phase 2 (Project Proposals). A Brokerage Event is mentioned as an intermediate turning point between the two phases. Therefore, there are two formal application stages.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: Yes, there is a co-funding requirement. The funding rate is 50% of eligible costs, meaning that project consortia or partners need to secure the remaining 50% from national, regional, or institutional funding sources.

Summary:

The CONNECT-NM Open Call 2025 is a funding opportunity within the Horizon-Euratom program, aimed at strengthening the safety and sustainability of nuclear energy through innovation in nuclear materials. The call seeks to promote research, development, and innovation in materials for operation under extreme conditions, with the goal of accelerating materials development and qualification. The call encourages a shift from traditional materials research methods to a more modern "design and control" approach, leveraging digital techniques like machine learning, data analytics, and high-performance computing.

The call is structured around five research lines: Knowledge and Data Management, Advanced Materials Development and Manufacturing, Materials and Component Qualification, Non-Destructive Examination and Materials Health Monitoring, and Advanced Materials Modelling and Characterization.

The application process involves two phases: an initial submission of Project Ideas (Phase 1) followed by a more detailed Project Proposal (Phase 2) for those who pass the first phase. A Brokerage Event is planned between the two phases to facilitate networking and consortium building.

The funding is provided as a grant, covering 50% of eligible costs, up to a maximum of 900,000 EUR per project, although higher amounts may be considered for exceptional proposals. The total budget for the call is 13,500,000 EUR. Applicants must form consortia, although single applicants participating in a consortium are also eligible, and secure co-funding for the remaining 50% of their project costs. The call is targeted at European research organizations, universities, and potentially industrial partners involved in nuclear materials research and development. The expected project duration is from January 2026 to September 2029.