Technologies for innovative processing of raw materials (IA)

¿De qué trata esta convocatoria?

The topic funds innovation actions that build and test EU-based pilot facilities for processing and refining raw materials, recovering more critical raw materials from low-grade ores and mining waste.

¿Qué financia esta convocatoria?

Scope

The topic funds the development and validation or demonstration of a pilot-scale facility located in the EU that integrates processing and refining technologies. The aim is to recover more raw materials from low-grade and/or complex ores and from extractive waste, while cutting waste, water and air pollution, improving energy efficiency and reducing land and sea-use change and habitat loss. Actions should target minerals and metals, particularly critical raw materials, and may also reduce toxic elements in the resulting materials, with proper management of the hazardous substances removed.

What actions should do

• Offer solutions flexible enough for variable ore grades and waste streams, supported by robust process control.
• Develop intelligent production systems that minimise losses in waste-rock separation and reduce water use.
• Facilitate market uptake through industry- and user-driven multidisciplinary consortia covering the value chain, and consider standardisation.
• Analyse financing options for exploiting and replicating the business model.
• Cluster with other relevant projects through a dedicated work package or task.

Expected outcomes

• Higher recovery rates of valuable and critical raw materials.
• Better material, water, energy and cost efficiency in minerals processing and metallurgy.
• Improved health, safety and environmental performance across the life cycle.

Further conditions

Recycling of end-of-life products is excluded. EU-based industry and users of recovered secondary raw materials should play a prominent role. Proposals should include a business case and exploitation strategy. International cooperation is encouraged with countries that have Strategic Partnerships on raw materials with the EU, especially Ukraine. Activities are expected to start at TRL 5 and reach TRL 7.

¿Cuándo termina el plazo?

2 de febrero de 2027 (89 días)

2 February 2027 (single-stage submission).