Deadline Date: April 21, 2026
The Accelerating the discovery and development of chemicals and innovative advanced materials through digitalisation and artificial intelligence Europe is advancing its capabilities in chemicals and innovative advanced materials by leveraging digitalisation and artificial intelligence to accelerate discovery and development.
The focus areas include accelerating the discovery and development process for innovative advanced materials and chemicals through digital tools developed in Europe, innovation workflows which include design of experiment and/or design of simulation, supporting the operationalisation of the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework, and making a step change in the risk assessment of chemicals and advanced materials in Europe.
Proposals are expected to accelerate the pathway to market for new substances with superior or novel functionalities using digital tools and proofs of concept. Collaborative initiatives such as the Materials Commons for Europe or DIGIPASS should be explored, contributing data, modelling, and digital tools applicable across the design, development, production, manufacturing, use, and end-of-life phases. The integration of artificial intelligence, self-driving labs, and design of experiment/design of simulation methods should help drive innovation in risk assessment, support operationalisation of the SSbD framework, and include demonstrators that validate materials development in realistic conditions.
Digital feedback loops from production requirements to manufacturing and integration into products are essential to accelerate market uptake, while interoperable workflows based on shared standards and dedicated ontologies aim to reduce costs for industry and enable modular tools extendable to new applications. FAIR data principles and well-structured digital workflows will foster high-quality primary data reuse, academic and industrial collaboration, and AI integration. Synergies with SSbD toolboxes, adaptation of test methods, and collaboration with the EU Innovation and Substitution Hub(s) are also encouraged.
Proposals should include a clear business case and exploitation strategy to demonstrate expected impacts on market opportunities and deployment in the EU. This strategy should address obstacles, requirements, and actions to reach higher Technology Readiness Levels, secure investments, access necessary skills, match value chains, enhance product robustness, and achieve user acceptance. Training material for workers should be developed to support deployment of innovative products and processes, scalable through instruments such as the European Social Fund Plus.
Eligible participants include any legal entity, regardless of establishment, including entities from non-associated third countries and international organisations, in compliance with Horizon Europe regulations. Proposals may also involve the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) to enhance the operationalisation of the SSbD framework. Total budget: 50,000,000; minimum allocation: approximately 13,000,000.
For more information, visit European Commission.
