Building innovative value chains from raw materials to sustainable products (IA)

Actions should develop innovative and sustainable technology and business solutions finishing at the level of Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 6-7 for new high value added and sustainable products with enhanced functional properties based on the EU produced raw materials. The industrially- and user-driven multidisciplinary consortia should cover industry players along the relevant value chains starting from raw materials to products. The focus is on raw materials necessary for the e-mobility and renewable energy ecosystems including battery raw materials; strategic sectors, such as aero-space and dual-use applications; or on critical raw materials[[Reference to the list of CRMs2020COM (2020) 474 final]], such as rare earths elements for highly performant permanent magnets.

Proposals submitted under this topic should include a business case and exploitation strategy, as outlined in the introduction to this Destination. For TRLs 6-7, a credible strategy to achieve future full-scale manufacturing in the EU is expected, indicating the commitments of the industrial partners after the end of the project.

Actions should also contribute to improving the awareness of relevant external stakeholders and the general public across the EU about the importance of raw materials for society, the challenges related to their supply within the EU and about proposed solutions which could help to improve society's acceptance of and trust in sustainable raw materials production in the EU.

In this topic the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement.