Exploration of critical raw materials in deep land deposits (RIA)
Summary
Cluster 4 promotes investments that will shape competitive and trusted technologies for a European industry enabling production and consumption to respect the planet’s boundaries and maximising the benefits for all parts of society in the variety of social, economic and territorial contexts in Europe. This will build a competitive, digital, low-carbon and circular industry, ensure sustainable supply of raw materials, develop advanced materials and provide the basis for advances and innovation in global challenges to society.
Programme Name
Programme Description
Horizon Europe is the European Union (EU) funding programme for the period 2021 – 2027, which targets the sectors of research and innovation. The programme’s budget is around € 95.5 billion, of which € 5.4 billion is from NextGenerationEU to stimulate recovery and strengthen the EU’s resilience in the future, and € 4.5 billion is additional aid.
Call
Detailed Call Description
Actions should map Europe’s primary raw materials potential and raw materials production, using geoscientific approaches and refining capacities in a harmonised form, using UNFC (United Nations Framework Classification for Resources) and UNRMS (United Nations Resource Management System).
- Develop and deploy new or improved highly efficient, sustainable exploration technologies, such as UAV assisted geological exploration in remote areas, geophysics, 3D modelling, new drilling techniques, models of whole mineral systems related to critical raw materials, high resolution laboratory techniques, artificial intelligence and data processing to identify deep seated mineral deposits of critical raw materials.
Actions should also contribute to improving the awareness of the general public across the EU about:
- The importance of raw materials for a successful transition to a climate-neutral and digitised economy and society; and
- The ensuing need for a secure, sustainable, and responsibly-sourced supply of raw materials, including from domestic sources to strengthen EU open strategic autonomy and reduce over-dependence on third countries.
Actions should envisage clustering activities with other relevant selected projects for cross-projects co-operation, consultations and joint activities on cross-cutting issues and share of results as well as participating in joint meetings and communication events. To this end proposals should foresee a dedicated work package and/or task, and earmark the appropriate resources accordingly.
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
100%
Expected EU contribution per project: €5.00 million
Eligibility For Participation Notes
To increase EU resilience in raw materials supply chains and thus reduce the serious risks to the Union’s strategic assets, economic and societal interests, autonomy, and security associated with the current EU reliance on a few third countries for critical raw materials, by increasing sustainable and responsible sourcing of primary and secondary raw materials necessary to enable the green and digital transition and in alignment with the Communication (2020) 474 on Critical Raw Materials Resilience, participation in this topic is limited to legal entities established in Member States, associated countries, OECD countries, African Union Member States*, MERCOSUR, CARIFORUM, Andean Community and countries with which the EU has concluded strategic partnerships on raw materials. The choice of these countries was made taking into consideration the development of strategic international partnerships on raw materials and avoidance of reinforcing existing over-dependencies, as well as the importance of involving partners committed to pursuing open trade in such materials.
Proposals including legal entities which are not established in the countries that fall under the criteria above will be ineligible.
Any activity aimed at deploying subliminal techniques beyond a person’s consciousness, exploiting any of the vulnerabilities of a specific group of persons and at using emotion recognition systems will be ineligible.
* “African Union member states” includes countries whose membership has been temporarily suspended.
If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used).
Programme Category
EU Competitive ProgrammesTotal Budget
€20 000 000Thematic Categories
- Environment and Climate Change
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
Eligibility for Participation
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
Call Opening Date
19/09/2023Call Closing Date
07/02/2024National Contact Point(s)
Research and Innovation Foundation
29a Andrea Michalakopoulou, 1075 Nicosia,
P.B. 23422, 1683 Nicosia
Telephone: +357 22205000
Fax: +357 22205001
Email: support@research.org.cy
Website: https://www.research.org.cy/en/
Contact Persons:
Dr Angelos Ntantos
Scientific Officer
Telephone: +357 22 205 033
Email: antantos@research.org.cy
Mr George Christou
Scientific Officer
Telephone: +357 22 205 030
Email: gchristou@research.org.cy