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European Commission

Waste-to-value devices - circular production of renewable fuels, chemicals and materials

Funds research turning hard-to-recycle waste streams like plastics, flue gases and desalination brine into fuels, chemicals and materials, with EU contributions up to EUR 4 million per project.

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The Commission wants next-generation technology that turns problematic waste, hard-to-recycle mixed plastics, polymer composites, micro- and nanoplastics, flue gases, wastewater and seawater desalination brine, into higher-value fuels, chemicals and materials, reducing reliance on fossil feedstocks and imported critical raw materials. Proposals can come from a single legal entity or a consortium o…

This EIC Pathfinder Challenge looks for early-stage technology that converts problematic waste streams — mixed plastics, flue gases, wastewater and seawater desalination brine — into fuels, chemicals or materials, using approaches such as solar reforming, brine mining, microbial or photocatalytic remediation, and bottom-up synthetic biology. Proposals must pick exactly one of three focus areas: integrated waste-to-value devices, computational material science and AI for the underlying mechanisms, or synthetic-biology cell factories for waste valorisation. Thermochemical recycling, food and biomass waste, and bulk metal, glass or paper waste are 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.36–48 months
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.€120M

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