Fast Track to Innovation for breakthroughs in the Chemical Industry Action Plan (Research and Innovation Action)

The EU Funding & Tenders Portal presents a call for proposals under the Horizon Europe program, specifically the INDUSTRY-FTRI (HORIZON-CL4-2027-06) initiative. This initiative is titled "Fast Track to Innovation for breakthroughs in the Chemical Industry Action Plan" and aims to accelerate the market uptake of groundbreaking innovations in the chemical industry, focusing on decarbonization and the development of alternatives to harmful substances.

The opportunity functions under the framework of Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-RIA) with a HORIZON Action Grant budget-based model. It entails a single-stage application process with a planned opening date of September 22, 2026, and a submission deadline of February 2, 2027.

Eligible projects must be at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 or higher, emphasizing innovations that have completed initial validation and are ready for market adoption. The targeted sectors include decarbonization of energy-intensive industries, the circular economy, and the development of alternatives to substances of concern, specifically new chemical substances or advanced materials that address environmental and health safety.

The funding available for HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-62 is €15 million, with approximately six grants expected, placing the maximum funding per project at €2.5 million. The program aims to support small collaborative consortia, comprised of a maximum of six independent entities, including universities, research institutions, and private enterprises.

Constitutional eligibility includes EU member states, associated countries, and certain non-EU/non-associated countries that may have specific provisions for funding. The evaluation process follows standard guidelines laid out in the Work Programme, with a streamlined timeline aimed at reducing bureaucratic delays.

Potential applicants are urged to familiarize themselves with the funding and tendering guidelines, proposal structures, and eligibility criteria detailed in the relevant annexes of the Work Programme. This Horizon Europe call reflects a strategic focus on enhancing the competitiveness of the chemical industry through innovative technologies geared toward sustainability and market readiness.

The EU Funding & Tenders Portal presents a call for proposals under the Horizon Europe (HORIZON) program, specifically the INDUSTRY-FTRI (HORIZON-CL4-2027-06) call. This initiative, titled "Fast Track to Innovation for breakthroughs in the Chemical Industry Action Plan," aims to accelerate the market uptake of groundbreaking innovations in the decarbonization of chemical industries and the development of alternatives to substances of concern.

The call is structured as a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-RIA) and utilizes a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG] Model Grant Agreement (MGA). It follows a single-stage deadline model with a planned opening date of 22 September 2026 and a deadline of 02 February 2027 at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The scope of this open topic is to speed up the adoption of new, groundbreaking innovations, starting at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4, as part of the Chemical Industry Action Plan. The focus areas include decarbonization of energy-intensive industries, circular economy, and breakthrough production technologies. It also encompasses the development of alternatives, such as new chemical substances, advanced materials, or technologies, to substances of concern. The application of the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) Framework is strongly encouraged where appropriate.

The expected outcome of the projects funded under this call is to demonstrate a clear and credible pathway from project results to the expected impact of the Horizon Europe Destination, specifically enabling the acceleration of market uptake for innovations in decarbonizing chemical industries and finding alternatives to harmful substances.

The general conditions for admissibility include adherence to proposal page limits and layout guidelines as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, and Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. Eligible countries are detailed in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for funding participants from certain non-EU/non-Associated Countries as outlined in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Additional eligibility criteria stipulate that consortia may include a maximum of 6 independent eligible entities as participants. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

The evaluation and award process will follow the guidelines described in Annex D, Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes, and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline includes a maximum of 4 months for informing applicants of the evaluation outcome and a maximum of 6 months for signing grant agreements from the final submission date. To facilitate faster access to funds for small collaborative consortia, grants under this topic will be funded under a Fast Track to Research and Innovation Procedure (FTRI).

The legal and financial setup of the grants is described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. The granting authority retains the right to object to the transfer of ownership or exclusive licensing of results for up to 4 years after the action's end, as specified in Annex 5. Specific conditions are detailed 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 actions will be used. Evaluation form templates will be adapted as necessary. Guidance documents include the HE Programme Guide and the HE MGA. Call-specific instructions, information on financial support to third parties, and information on clinical studies are also provided.

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

The budget overview indicates two specific topics for the year 2027: HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-61, with a budget of EUR 20,000,000 and an indicative number of 8 grants, and HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-62, with a budget of EUR 15,000,000 and an indicative number of 6 grants. Both topics are single-stage actions with an opening date of 22 September 2026 and a deadline of 02 February 2027.

The portal facilitates partner searches, allowing Legal Entity Appointed Representatives (LEARs), Account Administrators, and self-registrants to publish partner requests for open and forthcoming topics. The submission system is planned to open on the date stated in the topic header.

Applicants are advised to carefully read all provisions before preparing their application, utilizing the Online Manual for guidance on 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, and the Research Enquiry Service can answer questions about European research and the EU Research Framework Programmes. National Contact Points (NCPs) offer guidance and practical assistance, and the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) provides advice to businesses, especially SMEs, on EU research funding. The IT Helpdesk addresses technical questions, while the European IPR Helpdesk assists with intellectual property issues. The CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk advise on standardisation in project proposals. The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment outline the roles, responsibilities, and entitlements of researchers, employers, and funders.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call aims to foster innovation in the chemical industry by supporting projects that advance decarbonization, circular economy, and the development of safer chemical alternatives. It targets projects at TRL 4 and above, encouraging the application of the SSbD framework. The call provides funding through a Fast Track to Research and Innovation procedure for small collaborative consortia, with a focus on accelerating the market uptake of groundbreaking technologies. Applicants should consult the various annexes, guides, and helpdesks provided by the EU to ensure their proposals meet all eligibility and evaluation criteria.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but the information suggests that consortia are eligible. The text mentions that consortia may include a maximum of 6 independent eligible entities as participants. This implies that SMEs, large enterprises, universities, research institutes, and other legal entities are potentially eligible, provided they meet the general eligibility criteria outlined in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-RIA). The type of Model Grant Agreement (MGA) is a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG]. The grants under this topic will be funded under a Fast Track to Research and Innovation Procedure (FTRI).

Consortium Requirement: A consortium is required, with a maximum of 6 independent eligible entities as participants.

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. The text also mentions that a number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. The Horizon Europe Programme Guide provides further details.

Target Sector: The target sector is the chemical industry, with a focus on decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries, circular economy, breakthrough production technologies, and development of alternatives to substances of concern. This includes areas such as new chemical substances, advanced materials, and technologies. The Chemical Industry Action Plan is a key framework for this opportunity.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity mentions EU member states and associated countries. It also refers to "non-EU/non-Associated Countries" that may have specific provisions for funding participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Project Stage: The project stage should be at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 or higher, indicating that the innovations should already have undergone some initial validation. The call aims to speed up the adoption of new, groundbreaking innovations.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic. For HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-61, the budget is EUR 20,000,000, and for HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-62, the budget is EUR 15,000,000.

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

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant.

Application Stages: The application process is a single-stage process.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants provides some context. For HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-61, the indicative number of grants is 8, and for HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-62, it is 6.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

This Horizon Europe call, part of the INDUSTRY-FTRI (HORIZON-CL4-2027-06) initiative, aims to accelerate the market uptake of groundbreaking innovations within the chemical industry. The focus is on projects that address the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries, promote the circular economy, develop breakthrough production technologies, and create alternatives to substances of concern. The call is structured as a Research and Innovation Action (RIA) and utilizes a Fast Track to Research and Innovation (FTRI) procedure to expedite access to funds for smaller collaborative consortia.

Eligible applicants must form a consortium of no more than 6 independent entities and should have innovations at TRL 4 or higher. The geographic scope includes EU member states, associated countries, and potentially some non-EU/non-associated countries with specific funding provisions.

The call includes two specific topics: HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-61 with a budget of EUR 20 million and an indicative 8 grants, and HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-62 with a budget of EUR 15 million and an indicative 6 grants. The application process is single-stage, with a planned opening date of September 22, 2026, and a deadline of February 2, 2027.

Applicants are advised to consult the Horizon Europe Programme Guide, the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, and the various annexes and guidelines provided to prepare their proposals. The call seeks to support projects that demonstrate a clear pathway to market and contribute to the broader goals of the Chemical Industry Action Plan.