The German Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) has amended its call to support projects under the Material‑Hub Initiative “Resource Sovereignty through Material Innovation” (MaterialNeutral), Module 3 – Life‑Cycle Optimised Material Design. The amendment clarifies eligibility, cost categories, and funding intensity limits in line with the AGVO provisions.

Eligible applicants are research organisations based in Germany, including universities (academia) and non‑university research institutions (RTO). Projects may also involve SMEs that contribute to industrial research or experimental development, provided they meet the economic activity requirement. International partners can collaborate, but the principal applicant must be located in Germany.

Funding is directed toward two core categories: industrial research and experimental development. The grant covers a range of cost types: personnel costs for researchers and technicians; instrument and equipment costs that are used exclusively for the project (with depreciation considered if not fully utilised); contract research, knowledge transfer, and licensing fees under arm’s‑length principles; and indirect operating costs such as materials and consumables directly generated by the project.

The maximum grant intensity is capped at 50 % of eligible costs for industrial research and 25 % for experimental development. These limits can be increased to a maximum of 80 % if certain conditions are met, such as collaboration between SMEs and larger firms or between industry and research institutions, multi‑state participation within the EU/EWR, open dissemination of results, or commitment to non‑exclusive licensing in the EWR.

Applications must be submitted electronically via the BMFTR portal. While no specific submission deadline is listed in the amendment, applicants should prepare their proposals promptly as funding will be allocated on a first‑come, first‑served basis within the available budget. The call remains open until further notice; however, the amendment takes effect one day after publication (2026‑05‑23).

The overarching goal of this initiative is to foster resource sovereignty by advancing life‑cycle optimised material design. By supporting industrial research and experimental development that reduces material consumption, enhances recyclability, and promotes circularity, the call aims to strengthen Germany’s position in sustainable materials innovation.

Applicants are encouraged to align their projects with open‑access dissemination and to commit to timely licensing of intellectual property within the EWR to maximise societal impact.