Advanced manufacturing for key products (IA) (Made in Europe partnership)

This topic addresses technologies and machinery for advanced manufacturing, focusing on manufacturing excellence and on increasing circularity, including through the better use of innovative advanced materials and secondary raw materials. The focus is on key manufactured components and products that are competitive and have enhanced performance, and contribute to Europe’s technological leadership in manufacturing, but which are at risk of being lost to Europe or rely on raw materials or parts whose supply is mostly coming from outside Europe.

Proposals should develop technologies and machinery to enable the manufacturing of these components with a minimal use of critical raw materials [reference to overall targets] or imported materials. This includes an increased use of secondary raw materials or biobased materials or revalorised components.

Where appropriate to enhance performance and quality, proposals should target the use of innovative advanced materials (such as lightweight, functionalised or self-healing materials). In this case, the development of the advanced materials should not be the main focus of proposals, nevertheless the necessary steps to adapt such innovative advanced materials to the needs of the manufacturing application should be included. These can include digital twins for materials as well as SSbD-design steps.

Examples of advanced manufacturing technologies and machinery include, but are not restricted to:

• Innovative additive manufacturing;
• Hybrid manufacturing (additive, subtractive);
• Photonics;
• Advanced joining technologies;
• Polymer composite manufacturing;
• Advanced technologies for surface treatment and structuring, to tailor surface properties for specific applications;
• Manufacturing of components with lightweight materials; and
• In-line testing.

Proposals should include a business case and exploitation strategy, as outlined in the introduction to this Destination.

The portfolio approach will be used, to ensure that at least one proposal focusing on the automotive industry is funded. However, the production of batteries is not within the scope of this topic.[[The production of batteries (including for automotive use) is addressed by topic HORIZON-CL5-2026-05-D2-03: Integrated Production and Product Development for Next-Generation Lithium-based Batteries for Mobility.]]

International cooperation is encouraged, especially with Japan or Taiwan.

This topic implements the co-programmed European Partnership Made in Europe.