Project description
Driving the circular transformation of the European automotive industry
The EU-funded AutoCE project addresses the European automotive industry’s urgent transition towards full life-cycle circularity by overcoming fragmented standards, skills gaps and the slow adoption of digital tools through its Circularity Compass Framework. At the heart of AutoCE lies a suite of deeply connected innovations. An auto-circular sandbox brings together diverse stakeholders to model scenarios and build consensus. Digital product passports and digital twins create a living record of each vehicle's life cycle. An AI-powered circular economy assistant guides users with role-specific advice and matchmaking support. A circularity monitor tracks environmental and social performance in real time. Real-world validation sits at the core of AutoCE, with all tools tested and proven in a lighthouse recycling factory, producing a blueprint ready for industry-wide adoption.
Objective
The European automotive sector faces urgent challenges in achieving life-cycle circularity due to fragmented standards, limited end-of-life integration, skills gaps, and slow adoption of digital tools. AutoCE addresses these barriers through its Circularity Compass Framework, which unites stakeholders, data, and interoperable solutions to accelerate systemic transformation.
AutoCE will deliver four core building blocks: the Auto-Circular Sandbox for multi-stakeholder modelling and consensus building; interoperable Digital Product Passports and Digital Twins for lifecycle optimisation; an AI-powered Circular Economy Assistant that provides role-specific guidance, matchmaking, and onboarding; and an Integrated Circularity & Sustainability Monitor to track environmental, economic, and social performance. These innovations will be validated in a Lighthouse Recycling Factory, producing an investment-ready blueprint for advanced disassembly, remanufacturing, and material recovery.
Aligned with initiatives such as Catena-X and contributing to CEN/CENELEC pre-standards, AutoCE ensures interoperability, SME accessibility, and policy relevance. Co-creation workshops, training, and policy briefs will build stakeholder capacity and foster inclusivity.
By delivering harmonised tools and frameworks, AutoCE directly supports the call’s expected outcomes: a shared understanding of circularity, improved resource sovereignty, adoption of DPPs and Digital Twins, harmonised ecosystem requirements, and a roadmap for visible industrial lighthouses. In doing so, AutoCE strengthens Europe’s competitiveness, reduces reliance on virgin resources, advances climate neutrality, and ensures a just and inclusive transition for workers and SMEs.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering waste management waste treatment processes recycling
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering vehicle engineering automotive engineering
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- social sciences economics and business economics sustainable economy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.5 - Climate, Energy and Mobility
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.5.7 - Clean, Safe and Accessible Transport and Mobility
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HORIZON.2.5.8 - Smart Mobility
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HORIZON.2.5.6 - Industrial Competitiveness in Transport
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-CSA - HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL5-2025-04
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
2614 JZ Delft
Netherlands
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.