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This funding call aims to enhance the European Union's supply security of critical raw materials by fostering strategic partnerships with select countries. Projects should focus on developing and demonstrating innovative extraction, processing, and metallurgical technologies that optimize the recovery of critical raw materials, ensuring minimal environmental and social impacts. Collaborations must involve countries with which the EU has established strategic partnerships, specifically targeting one of the following groups:
- Group 1: Argentina, Chile
- Group 2: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Rwanda, Zambia
- Group 3: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan
- Group 4: Australia, Greenland
Consortia are required to include at least one raw material producer from the chosen group and downstream users from the EU. The initiative supports the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act by promoting responsible sourcing and sustainable practices in raw material supply chains.
Opening: 22 May 2025
Deadline(s): 23 Sep 2025
Expected Outcome
Projects are expected to:
- Strengthen EU cooperation with countries having strategic partnerships on raw materials.
- Improve industrial viability, safety, and environmental performance in raw material operations.
- Diversify and responsibly source critical raw materials for the EU.
- Align with EU principles for sustainable raw material extraction and processing.
- Contribute to the implementation of the EU Critical Raw Materials Act.
Scope
The call seeks projects that:
- Develop and demonstrate technologies for the sustainable extraction, processing, and metallurgy of critical raw materials.
- Collaborate with countries in the specified groups, including raw material producers and EU downstream users.
- Assess and minimize environmental and social impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, soil health, and biodiversity.
- Facilitate market uptake through industry-driven consortia and consider standardization aspects.
- Include a business case and exploitation strategy, outlining commitments for full-scale deployment within the EU.