European Commission logo
European Commission

Improving availability of secondary raw materials through recycling

Funds around four projects, each worth up to EUR 7.5 million, to build higher-quality metal-recycling systems from collection through to renaturing old mine sites.

ClosedEuropean CommissionEU

This Innovation Action funds new or improved EU-based systems that recycle and re-use metals, focusing on critical raw materials, across the full chain from collection, disassembly and sorting through refining, purification and final renaturation of urban mines or waste deposits. Downcycling, where the recovered material ends up lower quality than the original, is out of scope, and projects should…

The Commission wants demonstrator systems, based in the EU, that improve the whole metals-recycling chain — collection, disassembly, sorting, refining — while cutting biodiversity impact and renaturing urban mines or waste deposits afterward. Downcycling, where the recycled material ends up lower quality than the original, is explicitly out of scope.

CycleiHow often this grant runs - e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.No fixed schedule
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.-
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.-
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.-
Award typeiThe form of funding - grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Grant
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.-
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.€28M

Sign up free to see the funding breakdown

Sign up free to see the industries in scope

Sign up free to see the full eligibility

Sign up free to see how to apply

Sign up free to see what you submit

Sign up free to see the timeline

Sign up free to see where teams trip up

Guides for this application

All guides →

More from European Commission

All grants from this funder →
European Commission logo
Open

Digital Europe Programme

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds Europe-wide digital capability development in AI, cybersecurity, semiconductors, hardware, and IoT.

AICybersecurity+3
Oct'26
European Commission logo
Open

Crime prevention approaches, online and off-line, tackling the nexus between addictions and crime

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds research and pilot collaboration between police authorities and civil-society groups to prevent addiction-linked crime across the EU.

€3MNov'26
European Commission logo
Open

Horizon Border Security: Accessible Travel Facilitation

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds two €4M border-crossing tech projects, run with Border or Coast Guard Authorities, built for travelers with disabilities or low digital skills.

DefenseAI
€4MNov'26
European Commission logo
Open

Horizon Border Security: Age Assessment Reliability

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds a €1.33M project, run with border and coast guard authorities, that compares how reliable different ways of estimating a young migrant's age really are.

Defense
€1.3MNov'26
European Commission logo
Open

Horizon Border Security: Surveillance & Drone Detection

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds two €6M projects that build border detection and surveillance tech, run jointly with national Border and Coast Guard authorities.

DefenseIoT & Edge
€6MNov'26
European Commission logo
Open

Horizon Civil Security: Bioterrorism Prevention

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds a €3M project that reviews how synthetic biology could be misused for bioterrorism and pinpoints where monitoring and regulation fall short.

Synthetic BiologyDefense
€3MNov'26
Innovate UK logo
Open

National Materials Innovation Programme: CR&D Rd1

🇬🇧Innovate UK · United Kingdom

Funds UK-registered businesses collaborating on industrial research into advanced materials, covering up to 70% of project costs from a £12 million pool.

Advanced MaterialsMedtech+1
£500K – £1MOct'26
European Innovation Council logo
Open

EIC Pathfinder Challenge: Advanced Materials for Miniaturised Energy Harvesting Systems

🇪🇺EIC · European Union

Supports developing advanced materials for miniaturised energy harvesters to power IoT and sensor networks autonomously.

Climate TechEnergy Tech+2
€4MOct'26
Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) logo
Open

KIAT EUREKA Network Strategic Call — Lightweight Materials

🇰🇷KIAT · South Korea

Funds Korean-led teams and international partners on lightweight materials for transport and manufacturing.

Advanced MaterialsAdvanced Manufacturing+1
₩200M – ₩3B
VLAIO (Agentschap Innoveren & Ondernemen) logo
Open

ICON (Interdisciplinary Cooperative Research)

🇧🇪VLAIO · Belgium

Supports cooperative demand driven research bridging Flemish strategic research centres clusters and at least independent Flemish companies.

AISemiconductors+4
€100K – €3M
TÜBİTAK — Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye logo
Open

TÜBİTAK 1509 — International Industrial R&D Grant (Seed)

🇹🇷TÜBİTAK · Türkiye

Supports Turkish participants in international research consortia through joint development partnerships with overseas programmes.

AIBiotech+6
₺80M
Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) logo
Open

KIAT Regional Industry Strategic R&D Program

🇰🇷KIAT · South Korea

Funds Korean regional teams with coordinated support for collaborative innovation in economic zones and parks.

Advanced ManufacturingAdvanced Materials+3
₩300M – ₩2B