Open Call: De & Remanufacturing for Circular Economy Investments in the Composite Industry

With a focus on precision and effectiveness, DeremCo. seeks to establish demand-driven Circular Economy solutions for fiber-reinforced plastics, emphasizing cost-effective reuse for the creation of high-value products. To meet consumer requirements DeremCo employs two circular pilot strategies:

• mechanical demanufacturing and hybrid reprocessing, and
• thermo-chemical demanufacturing and textile reprocessing.

It plans to implement 14 composite re-use cases in various regions Austria (Upper, Lower and Carinthia), Basque Country (Spain), Centro (Portugal), Italy (Lombardy, Lazio, Umbria), Flanders (Belgium), Länsi-Suomi (Finland), Slovenia (Estern and Western), testing their sustainability in economic, social, and environmental aspects.

Objectives

• The FSTP reinforces DeremCo demonstration activities through the following specific objectives:
  • developing new circular business models in the composite sector by leveraging DeremCo’s inter-regional prototypes, combining different Key Enabling Technologies (KETs);
  • fostering new technological solutions driven by SMEs.

Purpose

• The purpose of financial support to third parties (FSTP) under I3 is to:
  • meet further testing, validation and demonstration needs emerged during the implementation of the project;
  • explore opportunities for cross sectorial replication (use of the same material in different application sectors)
  • maximise the exploitation of project results in the same sector (including cross border exploitation and commercialisation)
  • attract SMEs to participate in cross border value chains, completing the value chains of the companies belonging to the consortium
  • define the expected results of the sub-projects funded via cascading funding
  • complete the investment portfolio of DeremCo project

Funding Information

• The overall amount of the DeremCo budget dedicated to the 2nd open call of the FSTP mechanism corresponds to EUR 600.000.
• A maximum amount of EUR 60.000 (Euro sixty thousand) per legal entity. This means that in case of projects submitted by a consortium of two applicants, the total budget of the project can be up to EUR 120.000; in case of three applicants, the total budget of the project can be up to EUR 180.000
• The maximum duration of each project is 6 months with no extensions. Projects with a duration of more than 6 months will be considered as not eligible.

Eligible Activities

• Activities need to be coherent with EU priorities defined by the I3 call and must contribute to DeremCo objectives.
• The DeremCo 2nd Open call will support projects, proposing innovative solutions in line with the overarching goals of DeremCo, showing high Technology Readiness Level (TRL>7).
• Projects including activities not in line with the DeremCo objectives or with low TRL will be considered as not eligible.
• In particular the project are expected to focus on one of the 3 main areas: advancement of materials treatment (input), process improvement (process), and the development of novel solutions for diverse applications (output).
  • Input:
    • New/improved materials to be treated with DeremCo technologies, including PA, rGF matt, technical fibers (glass, carbon, aramid, etc.), Carbon fiber, and components made by Polyester resin filled with Long glass fiber, Natural fiber composites.
  • Processes:
    • Complementary technologies, incorporating IT solutions. Specific parts of the process targeted for improvement include Waste processing and preparation for recycling, Reprocessing processes, Injection molding, Mixing technology, RTM/Vacuum Infusion/Closed Molding Processes, rCF yarn, Weaving, Compounding methods, and Plasticization processes.
    • Some DeremCo facilities will be accessible for testing purposes.
  • Output:
    • Novel products or solutions utilizing DeremCo materials, with applications in High performance products (mechanical, thermal, etc.), Furniture sector (private and public), Exhibit and retail sector, Caravaning, Building, outdoor furniture and Construction. The most promising areas for implementing these new solutions are identified as Nautical, Furniture, Automotive (including micro-mobility), Medical, Electromechanical, and Construction.
• A non-exhaustive list of potential activities that can be included in the projects presented by the FSTP beneficiaries is:
  • trial and testing endeavors,
  • the acquisition and testing of raw materials other than those supplied by DeremCo partners,
  • market research,
  • demonstration in real/operational environment, small and/or large scale;
  • exploitation activities in new application sectors (cross-fertilisation).

Eligibility Criteria

• Beneficiaries of the 2nd Open Call are SMEs participating individually or in small consortia (maximum 3 SMEs) with legal headquarters or operative offices in one of the following EU regions and countries:
  • Austria: Carinthia, Upper, Lower Austria),
  • Belgium: Flanders
  • Finland: Länsi-Suomi
  • Italy: Lombardy, Lazio and Umbria
  • Slovenia: Estern and Western Slovenia
  • Spain: Basque Country,
  • Portugal: Centro
• Legal entities willing to participate to the 2nd Open Call must be officially established in one of the eligible Regions at the moment of the submission of their application. A specific document proving their establishment will have to be submitted together with the application.
• In view of promoting synergies, cross fertilization and exploitation, DeRemCo encourage the participation of SMEs involved in other I3 projects. Evidence on similar of complementary S3 priorities in involved regions will justify the relevance of the application. In this case at least one entity must be established in the regions belonging to DeRemCo consortium.
• DeremCo consortium partners or any other entity with potential conflict of interest are not considered as eligible.
• Legal entities can participate to the 2nd Open Call individually or in consortia (up to 3 legal entities). In case of consortia, all members must be an SME.

For more information, visit European Commission.