Project description
Circular solution for sustainable thermoplastic materials
Green transition efforts have been accelerating in recent years, achieving significant gains and breakthroughs through the introduction of key solutions, technologies, and policies. Unfortunately, entire sectors and industries remain unaffected, continue to produce significant amounts of waste, or require critical raw materials. The EU-funded AIM-PACE project will develop a key solution for transforming many underutilised industrial side streams and biogenic CO2 into high-performance bio-based thermoplastics. It will combine multidisciplinary experience in fields including advanced computer simulation and microbial engineering with an agentic AI platform to introduce key circularity solutions, improve and optimise current PHAs, enhance key properties, and encourage their use in a variety of applications.
Objective
AIM-PACE will transform underutilized industrial side-streams and biogenic CO2 into high-performance, bio-based thermoplastics. The project combines microbial engineering, advanced computer simulations, and an agentic AI platform with multi-objective optimization to evolve current PHAs into materials with unprecedented combination of properties. These next-generation PHAs will make possible monomaterial packaging that replaces multilayer fossil-based structures, as well as wearable electronics that avoid the need for high filler-loaded plastics, cutting electronic waste at its source. Four demonstrators will validate both performance and manufacturability up to TRL 7: disposable electrodes, sensor housings, pill organizers, and industrial films/trays. Circularity is embedded from the start: material reduction, reuse, and mechanical recycling will be prioritized, while compostability will be confirmed for applications where recycling is not feasible. To further improve efficiency, Bayesian-guided process optimization will reduce energy and material inputs across the entire value chains. In total, AIM-PACE will establish seven new technologies and four fully integrated EU-based value chains, spanning from feedstock valorization to end-use applications. The project will surpass fossil-based benchmarks by achieving cradle-to-grave greenhouse gas emissions that are 30–50% lower, primary energy demand that is 15% lower, and 15% lower water consumption per kilogram of material produced. At least 80% of feedstocks will be sourced from agri-food residues and industrial side-streams, while at least 80% of material performance will be retained after three recycling loops. All processes will comply with DNSH criteria. From the outset, stakeholders, including end users, recyclers, waste managers, and policymakers, will be actively engaged to ensure regulatory readiness, infrastructure alignment, and accelerated market uptake.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering waste management waste treatment processes recycling
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
- natural sciences mathematics applied mathematics mathematical model
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.2.6 - Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.6.6 - Bio-based Innovation Systems in the EU Bioeconomy
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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-JU-IA - HORIZON JU Innovation 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-JU-CBE-2025
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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.
02150 Espoo
Finland
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.