Deadline Date: October 08, 2026
The Transnational Eureka Lightweighting Call – 2026 invites collaborative research and development projects focused on innovative lightweighting solutions that support resource efficiency, emission reduction, and the transition towards a climate-neutral and circular economy.
The call focuses on the development and testing of lightweighting design and manufacturing concepts, including Safe-and-Sustainable by-Design approaches, joining technologies, and additive manufacturing across sectors such as construction, energy, and mobility. It also supports the development and use of novel or alternative advanced lightweight materials with optimised manufacturing processes, the substitution of conventional raw materials with sustainable lightweight alternatives, innovative approaches for disassembly, reparability, recyclability, and reuse of lightweight components, the use of digital technologies such as digital twins and machine learning for lifecycle assessment and material tracking, and the development of scalable business models for circular lightweighting design and manufacturing.
The European Lightweighting Network (ELN), together with participating countries worldwide, aims to encourage international cooperation in application-oriented research and development projects. The initiative seeks to accelerate the deployment and demonstration of advanced materials, innovative design methods, and digital technologies that integrate lightweighting with circular value creation.
Funding support varies by country, with national budgets ranging from €1 million to €2.5 million and maximum project funding between €150,000 and €750,000. Grants are available for R&D, development, and research projects involving SMEs, large companies, research organisations, and universities. Funding rates generally cover 25% to 70% of eligible project costs, depending on the project type and organisation. Some countries also specify consortium requirements and minimum project budgets.
Projects supported under this call must focus on the research or development of innovative products, processes, or services intended for commercialisation and must have a civilian purpose. The programme welcomes participation from all sectors requiring lightweighting technologies, including automotive, railway, aerospace, maritime, energy, construction, infrastructure, health, farming, forestry, and mechanical engineering.
To be eligible, consortia must include at least two independent legal entities from a minimum of two participating Eureka countries. Organisations from non-participating countries may also join if they secure their own funding before the application deadline. Additionally, no single organisation or country may account for more than 70 percent of the total project budget.
Projects are expected to provide clear benefits to all participating partners and demonstrate strong added value through technological cooperation between countries. Supported projects should be innovative and show significant potential for impact. The maximum project duration is 36 months, and selected applicants will be required to sign a consortium agreement covering matters such as intellectual property rights and the ownership and use of know-how before the official project start.
For more information, visit Eureka Network.
