CFPs: Advanced Manufacturing Technologies for Leadership of EU Manufacturers in Products for the Net-Zero Industry

Scope

• The net-zero industry relies on manufactured products, components and equipment.
• The focus is on advanced discrete manufacturing processes for such products, components and equipment, which enable new product features (in terms of geometry, weight, robustness, functional integration, re-use-potential); advanced production processes including automation; or the use of innovative materials. The processes should improve productivity and upscaling, decrease waste, and shorten time-to-market and process integration times.
• Proposals should address manufacturing technologies applicable to products for at least one of the strategic net-zero technologies listed in Annex I of the Net-Zero Industry Act
• Proposals should address the key manufacturing technologies that generate cross-sectoral impact among the chosen net-zero technology sectors.
• While operating in synergy with initiatives that focus on the design and engineering of strategic products and solutions, research and innovation should focus on the innovative development and application of one or more of the following manufacturing technologies and associated systems:
  • Additive manufacturing or cladding for manufacturing and/or repair;
  • Advanced joining technologies;
  • Advanced forming and material shaping technologies;
  • Surface processing technologies, functionalisation, nano- or micromanufacturing; and
  • High-precision machining and assembly.
• Proposals should consider integrating:
  • Innovative metrology and inspection methods, aiming at first-time right manufacturing;
  • Advanced and flexible automation approaches, for instance for large components, complex assembling or handling of hazardous materials;
  • Digital twins and data mining for fast ramp-up, scale-up and real-time optimisation of production;
  • Circular manufacturing approaches and reduced reliance on Critical Raw Materials, in view of increasing the options for re-manufacturing, disassembly, recycling, etc.; and
  • Relevant skills and standards.

Funding Information

• Budget (EUR) – Year 2025: 42 000 000
• Contributions: 5000000 to 7000000

Expected Outcomes

• The European Union’s manufacturing industry should benefit from the following outcomes:
  • Enhanced capabilities in the areas of strategic and high-value-added products for the net-zero industry; and
  • Increased production capacity for clean technologies in the Member States and Associated Countries, diversifying supply sources, and ensuring high environmental standards.
  • Contributions to reaching the targets set by the Net Zero Industry Act, in ensuring the reduction of strategic dependencies.

Eligibility Criteria

• Entities eligible to participate:
  • Any legal entity, regardless of its place of establishment, including legal entities from nonassociated third countries or international organisations (including international European research organisations) is eligible to participate (whether it is eligible for funding or not), provided that the conditions laid down in the Horizon Europe Regulation have been met, along with any other conditions laid down in the specific call/topic.
  • A ‘legal entity’ means any natural or legal person created and recognised as such under national law, EU law or international law, which has legal personality and which may, acting in its own name, exercise rights and be subject to obligations, or an entity without legal personality.
• To become a beneficiary, legal entities must be eligible for funding.
• To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the following countries:
  • the Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions:
    • Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
  • the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States:
    • Aruba (NL), Bonaire (NL), Curação (NL), French Polynesia (FR), French Southern and Antarctic Territories (FR), Greenland (DK), New Caledonia (FR), Saba (NL), Saint Barthélemy (FR), Sint Eustatius (NL), Sint Maarten (NL), St. Pierre and Miquelon (FR), Wallis and Futuna Islands (FR).
  • countries associated to Horizon Europe;
    • Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom.

For more information, visit EC.