Converting Facilities Network for accelerating uptake of climate neutral materials in innovative products

Informations projet

Convert2Green

N° de convention de subvention: 101092347

DOI

10.3030/101092347

Projet clôturé

Date de signature de la CE 26 Novembre 2022

Date de début 1 Janvier 2023

Date de fin 31 Mars 2026

Financé au titre de

• Digital, Industry and Space

Coût total

€ 12 471 935,00

Contribution de l’UE

€ 11 383 136,63

Coordonné par

ETHNICON METSOVION POLYTECHNION
Greece

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Convert2Green (Converting Facilities Network for accelerating uptake of climate neutral materials in innovative products)

Période du rapport: 2024-07-01 au 2026-03-31

Résumé du contexte et des objectifs généraux du projet

The overall objective of Convert2Green was to establish a sustainable, business-oriented open innovation ecosystem that provides upgraded technical facilities and specialized business development services to accelerate market entry of novel circular and carbon-neutral material solutions in the following European key value chains. (1) flexible electronics (printed and silicon-based) for Industrial Internet of Things and Smart Health Use Scenarios; (2) Smart and eco-friendly textiles for Smart health & medical Application; Clean and autonomous vehicles and Clean energy solutions; (3) Process chains for bioplastic and plastic recyclates for clean and autonomous vehicles, clean energy solutions, and eco-friendly packaging solutions across value chains. Facilities for Surface functionalisation (coating) and electron beam crosslinking are required to improve the functional properties of circular and/or bioplastics as these usually fall behind the properties of their petrol-based counterparts.
Το achieve that, Convert2Green set technical, business and organisational objective, which included:
1. Set-up a lean, flexible and effective organisational structure and contract framework for a sustainable Open Innovation Test Bed with a for-profit single entry point that allows easy access for SME and Industry from the whole European Single Market to the Convert2Green and partner OITB Facilities and Services
2. Upgrade and make available connected TRL4 - TRL7 technical pilot facilities and testing, characterisation and validation services to support SME in bringing novel climate neutral materials to the EU Key value chains and to reduce time-to-market by > 30% by more efficient prototyping and development
3. Establish a sustainable business model and market-oriented service portfolio of the Convert2Green OITB
4. Establish and integrate SME-targetedbusiness services; establish novel funding solutions for SME to accelerate innovation and market entry; and support 20 SME through an open call for pre-commercial pilot cases.
5. Validate and demonstrate the Technical Facilities of the Convert2Green OITB in 5 industrial use cases
6. Interconnect the European Open Innovation Ecosystem and establish local access strategies

Travail effectué depuis le début du projet jusqu’à la fin de la période considérée dans le rapport et principaux résultats atteints jusqu’à présent

During the project lifetime, a lean structure has been established based on a framework collaboration agreement between all partners and individual marketing/sales partnership agreements between individual partners and SEP. Convert2Green has created a set of 116 dedicated R&D, innovation and business services (available at https://ketmarket.eu/convert2green) that target SMEs in need of replacing established materials with circular solutions (e.g. recycled materials) and SMEs offering such materials helping them to bring their solution to the market.
Facilities for Circularity Design, Re-Use and Compounding, Materials Design and Modelling, were successfully upgraded and commissioned, resulting in very promising results related to critical metals recovery, batteries recycling, and recycled plastics re-using and compounding. Converting and Application Integration Facilities were equipped with inline monitoring systems resulting in efficient resource utilisation and waste minimization.
Targeted SME support activities were implemented through open calls, resulting in the completion of 18 pilot cases across three cut-offs, with high customer satisfaction and several follow-up activities and projects initiated as a direct outcome.
At system level, the Convert2Green technical facilities were validated through five industrial use cases, each delivering a final demonstrator. These demonstrators confirmed the feasibility and effectiveness of circular and climate-neutral material solutions, achieving measurable improvements such as reduced carbon footprint, improved material performance, extended product lifetime, and enhanced resource efficiency.
Finally, Convert2Green contributed to the interconnection of the European Open Innovation ecosystem, supporting collaboration across Open Innovation Test Beds and enabling shared service access frameworks, common repositories, and scalable access strategies for technology infrastructures.

Progrès au-delà de l’état des connaissances et impact potentiel prévu (y compris l’impact socio-économique et les conséquences sociétales plus larges du projet jusqu’à présent)

The major advancement achieved during the project is the implementation of a fully operational Single Entry Point (SEP), enabling the Convert2Green ecosystem to function as an integrated Open Innovation Test Bed accessible across Europe. This model supports flexible service delivery through multiple operational modes and facilitates SME access to distributed facilities and services. In total, 18 pilot case projects were successfully implemented across three open call cut-offs, demonstrating high user satisfaction and leading to several follow-up activities. The ecosystem is accessible to users across Europe through the SEP and supporting structures, significantly improving access to innovation services for circular materials.
Convert2Green has established a comprehensive portfolio of 116 R&D, innovation, and business services, targeting SMEs seeking to replace conventional materials with circular solutions and supporting market uptake. This integrated service offering, combined with digital tools such as an AI-based funding and technology finder, simplifies access to expertise, funding opportunities, and innovation support. The adopted approach contributes to reducing development complexity and accelerating innovation processes, supported by growing datasets related to materials, processes, and validation activities.
At technical level, major advancements have been achieved through the deployment of connected TRL4–TRL7 facilities, which were upgraded, commissioned, and validated across use cases and pilot cases. These facilities demonstrated efficient recovery of critical raw materials, battery recycling, and reuse and compounding of recycled plastics, improving resource efficiency and reducing waste. The integration of verification and testing services, fully mapped and utilised within the ecosystem, further supports the validation of circular material solutions.
Finally, the project advanced the state of the art through the validation of five industrial demonstrators, covering key value chains such as automotive, packaging, printed electronics, smart textiles, and bio-based materials. These demonstrators confirmed the feasibility and performance of climate-neutral solutions, achieving reduced carbon footprint, improved material performance, enhanced durability, and extended product lifetime, while strengthening the integration of the European Open Innovation ecosystem.