Facilitating knowledge management, networking and coordination in the field of formulated products

Proposals should focus on and facilitate the exchange of non-competitive “know-how” in formulation technologies which will benefit the innovative potential and capabilities of diverse industrial sectors, relevant in both SMEs and large corporations in the following domains:

• Technologies for better delivery of active ingredients in products through innovative design of combined formulation and high throughput technologies to achieve an optimal use of ingredients;
• State-of-the-art modelling and high throughput metrology methods to better predict, measure, control and at an early stage, optimize the stability of formulated products, leading to higher sustainability, better regulatory compliance, better supply chain management, improved shelf-life properties and an exact correlation between lab-scale and production-scale properties;
• Intensification methodologies for better process design that utilize formulation technologies via a scalable and industrially relevant integrated digital platform in order to reduce the number of steps and use less energy than what is currently employed.

Activities may include the identification of the common scientific and industrial cross sectorial research and innovation challenges through the development of a shared vision and common roadmap.

Proposals should involve at least three sectors, such as Chemical, Pharmaceutical, Agrochemical, Food Science and Medical Technology, etc. Proposals should also involve at least three internationally recognized research establishments within the European Union.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU between EUR 300 000 to 500 000 would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

Complex formulated products such as pharmaceuticals, medicines, cosmetic creams and gels, detergent powders, processed foods, paints, adhesives, lubricants and pesticides are ubiquitous in everyday life. The design and manufacture of formulated products is a highly significant value-adding step, with a value multiplier ranging from around 3 – 100. There is an estimated emerging global market of around € 1400 bn. The EU has a strong, competitive advantage in formulation and within the EU there are many significant centres for the industrial manufacture and R&D of formulated products.

In order for Europe to avail this opportunity, there is a need to share in a targeted manner, the diverse skills and expertise from different sectors and how this shared complementary expertise can enrich each of the partners’ innovative capabilities through cross-learning and research at the precompetitive level.

• Rational development of sustainable developed products and processes;
• Structuring and integration of value chains in the field of design and manufacturing of formulated products as a significant value added step leading to reduction of costs and time to market;
• Mobilisation of European industries to achieve global leadership in delivering innovatively formulated products within the context of Industry 4.0 and the Circular Economy.