Deadline Date: April 21, 2026
This opportunity aims to strengthen the European Union’s strategic autonomy by improving intelligence, sustainability assessment, and commercial exploitation of secondary raw materials within a circular and climate-neutral economy.
A resilient and secure supply of raw materials is essential for the European Union’s transition towards a climate-neutral, biodiversity-friendly, circular and digitised economy. To reduce over-dependency and reinforce open strategic autonomy, this action focuses on strengthening domestic sourcing and improving understanding of both primary and secondary raw materials, with particular emphasis on anthropogenic resources.
Enhanced knowledge base of secondary raw materials in the EU and third countries, including their potential, resource estimation, production and refining processes and biodiversity footprint; accelerated development of projects leading to commercial exploitation of secondary raw materials in the EU; development of reports analysing future trends in raw materials markets; identification of supply and demand bottlenecks of future secondary raw materials supply; improved EU raw materials intelligence, strategic planning and foresight capacity.
The action supports the development of a common understanding of terminology, codes and classification systems for secondary raw materials, enabling transparent, consistent and objective assessment of recovery projects. Establishing a comprehensive resource classification approach contributes to coherent planning and informed decision-making across the EU.
Biodiversity considerations are embedded throughout the action by requiring the inclusion of biodiversity footprints of primary and secondary raw materials in reports and foresight activities, using natural capital accounting frameworks. This ensures that environmental sustainability is fully integrated into raw materials intelligence and long-term strategic planning.
The action focuses on key secondary raw material streams, particularly critical raw materials, including waste batteries, waste electrical and electronic equipment, mining waste, slags and ashes, and construction and demolition waste, while also anticipating future developments of the WEEE Directive to ensure continued relevance. The indicative funding available for this action is 4,000,000 euros per project.
For more information, visit European Commission.
