ExpectedOutcome:
Projects are expected to contribute to the following outcomes:
The Commission initiative for Safe and Sustainable by Design [8] sets a framework for assessing safety and sustainability of chemicals and materials and which should be considered as a reference in the proposal.
Proposals should develop one or more new chemical substances or materials to replace existing substances of concern with surfactant, flame retardant or plasticising functionalities for a chosen application. Proposals should address at least one industrial application. The new substances or materials shall be aligned with the Safe and Sustainable by Design framework, and demonstrate improved sustainability and a contribution to lower the impact on climate. The selected industrial application(s) should be in areas where substitution with safer and more sustainable solutions is not yet in place, or in progress.
Proposals should address all of the following:
Proposals should indicate to which chapters of the Strategic Research and Innovation Plan for chemicals and materials[10] they will contribute.
Proposals submitted under this topic should include a business case and exploitation strategy, as outlined in the introduction to this Destination.
Proposals should involve appropriate expertise in Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH), in particular in the socio-economic analysis of the relevant substance or application.
Projects should build on or seek collaboration with existing projects and develop synergies with other relevant European, national or regional initiatives, funding programmes and platforms. For example, with projects resulting from the topic, HORIZON-CL4-2021-RESILIENCE-01-08 as well as other relevant projects from the topic HORIZON-CL6-2023-ZEROPOLLUTION. Proposals should allocate the necessary resources for collaboration with other relevant projects.
Synergies with Horizon Europe missions as relevant are encouraged.
Specific Topic Conditions:Activities are expected to start at TRL 4-5 and achieve TRL 6-7 by the end of the project – see General Annex B.
[1]See documents defining the SSbD framework on: https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/research-area/industrial-research-and-innovation/key-enabling-technologies/advanced-materials-and-chemicals_en
[2] See Article 2 of the Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for setting Ecodesign requirements for sustainable products and repealing Directive 2009/125/EC; https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12567-Sustainable-products-initiative_en
[3]https://ec.europa.eu/clima/eu-action/european-green-deal/2030-climate-target-plan_en
[4]https://ec.europa.eu/environment/publications/proposal-ecodesign-sustainable-products-regulation_en
[5]https://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecolabel/the-ecolabel-scheme.html
[6]https://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/reach/reach_en.htm
[7]https://echa.europa.eu/regulations/clp/legislation
[8]See documents defining the SSbD framework on: https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/research-area/industrial-research-and-innovation/key-enabling-technologies/advanced-materials-and-chemicals_en
[9]https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/research-area/industrial-research-and-innovation/sustainable-production-processes_en
[10]https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/research-area/industrial-research-and-innovation/key-enabling-technologies/advanced-materials-and-chemicals_en