Description

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-17

Expected Outcomes

Projects funded under this topic are expected to deliver the following outcomes:

• Enhanced EU expert capacity across the raw materials value chain, covering a broad range of primary and secondary raw materials.
• More informed and effective policymaking at EU and national levels, enabling producers and users of raw materials to better assess supply, demand, environmental impacts, and social implications.
• Improved EU official statistics and knowledge systems, strengthening the evidence base for both primary and secondary raw materials.

Scope

This topic aims to reinforce and expand an EU-wide expert network covering all raw materials screened in the upcoming 2027 Critical Raw Materials (CRM) assessment, with added value for flexibility in assessing additional materials where relevant.

The consortium should build and coordinate a comprehensive expert community addressing:

• Primary and secondary raw materials resources
• Exploration, mining, processing, refining, and recycling
• Substitution of critical raw materials
• Market dynamics, future supply and demand forecasting
• Supply risk management and stress testing
• Materials flow analysis
• Standardisation
• Environmental footprint and socio-economic analysis
• Strategic value chains and key end-use sectors, including batteries, e-mobility, renewable energy, electronics, security, aerospace, and dual-use applications

Policy Support and Strategic Alignment

Actions should directly support EU policymaking related to critical raw materials, particularly the implementation of the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA). This includes contributing to:

• The development of updated lists of critical raw materials
• Identification of sector-specific applications
• Strategic value chain prioritisation

Close coordination with the European Commission is expected, including alignment with policy timelines and participation in relevant events.

Data, Analysis and Knowledge Development

Projects should significantly enhance the EU knowledge base by:

• Updating and validating data and information factsheets from previous criticality exercises for all screened raw materials
• Improving analysis of future supply-demand scenarios, environmental footprints, innovation potential, and technology gaps across value chains
• Ensuring high data quality through expert validation

Factsheets must be finalised by the end of 2029, with potential refinements ahead of publication in 2030.

The action must also:

• Organise two expert validation workshops in 2029 to support the EU criticality assessment process
• In coordination with the Commission, host in-depth workshops on strategic metals relevant to renewable energy, e-mobility, aerospace, security, and dual-use sectors, engaging recognised commodity and industry experts

All data and information generated must be shared with the European Commission free of charge.