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Strategic Analysis
To secure a winning proposal under HORIZON-CL4-2026-05-MAT-PROD-25, the consortium must demonstrate a seamless transition from material design (TRL 3) to industrial-scale manufacturing (TRL 6) of Innovative Advanced Materials (IAM) enabled sensors. The strategic core must center on the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework, proving that the proposed sensing surfaces eliminate critical raw materials while maintaining low-cost, high-performance environmental and health monitoring capabilities.
TRL 3 → 6
Develop IAM-enabled multifunctional surfaces able to detect and respond to changes in the environment, such as temperature, pH, moisture, microbiological or chemical pollutants, concentration of chemical species in air, gases and liquids, and converting these signals into measurable outputs.
Develop enhanced IAM-based sensor demonstrators that enable miniaturization and integration into application systems e.g. into portable IoT devices, lightweight wearables and wearable systems.
Integrate the value chain and incorporate the relevant manufacturing technologies needed to bring the developed devices towards the market.
Demonstrate technology in an industrially relevant environment.
Include activities aiming at facilitating future exploitation of results.
Consider circularity and recyclability, and comply with the safe and sustainable by design framework.
New technological solutions with improved performance and reduced energy and environmental impact consumption providing significant advances towards the emergence of competitive value chains in IAM-based sensing components in Europe.
Widespread adoption of low-cost IAM-based sensing solutions in e.g. environmental monitoring, industrial safety, and next-generation smart sensing applications including health monitoring.
Clean Industrial Deal adopted in February 2025
Critical Raw Materials Act
Advanced Materials Communication and future Advanced Materials Act planned for 2026
Future Circular Economy Act planned for 2026
Steel and Metals Action Plan adopted in March 2025
European Chemicals Industry Action Plan adopted in July 2025
Industrial action plan for the European automotive sector adopted in March 2025
Strategy on research and technology infrastructures, with regard to technology infrastructures and the valorisation of knowledge
Advanced Materials Communication
highThe "Advanced Materials Communication" refers to the European Commission's communication on advanced materials, which typically outlines a strategic vision and actions to foster the development, production, and uptake of advanced materials in the EU. It emphasizes their importance for the green and digital transitions, industrial competitiveness, and strategic autonomy, often highlighting the need for a supportive regulatory framework, investment, and innovation ecosystems.
Proposals should demonstrate a clear understanding of the strategic importance of advanced materials as outlined in the Communication. They should show how their project contributes to the EU's leadership in advanced materials, supports key industrial value chains, and aligns with the objectives of the green and digital transitions, potentially by addressing challenges in scaling up, market access, or sustainability.
Advanced Materials Act
highThe proposed Advanced Materials Act aims to establish a comprehensive framework to accelerate the development, testing, and deployment of advanced materials in the EU. It seeks to streamline regulatory processes, foster investment, and create a more predictable environment for innovation in advanced materials, crucial for strategic industries and the green and digital transitions.
Proposals should demonstrate how their advanced manufacturing activities align with the objectives of fostering innovation and industrial uptake of advanced materials. This could involve addressing regulatory hurdles, contributing to standardization, or showcasing pathways for rapid deployment and scaling of new materials and their manufacturing processes.
Safe and Sustainable by Design framework
highThe Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSBD) framework promotes the development of materials and products that are safe for humans and the environment while maintaining high performance. It integrates safety, circularity, and functionality throughout the entire lifecycle of materials.
Evaluators expect explicit application of the SSBD principles in the design and development of new materials, including clear methodologies for safety and sustainability assessments at early stages of research.
Clean Industrial Deal
mediumThe "Clean Industrial Deal" refers to the industrial dimension of the European Green Deal, aiming to make European industry more sustainable, competitive, and resilient. It focuses on decarbonization, circularity, resource efficiency, and the development of clean technologies and products, while ensuring a level playing field and supporting innovation.
Proposals should demonstrate how their advanced manufacturing solutions contribute to the green transition of industry, for example, by reducing emissions, improving resource efficiency, enabling circularity, or developing clean technologies. Alignment with the EU's climate and environmental objectives and enhancing industrial competitiveness are key.
Critical Raw Materials Act
mediumThe Critical Raw Materials Act aims to secure the EU’s supply of critical raw materials by diversifying imports, improving recycling, and reducing dependence on single suppliers. It emphasizes domestic sourcing and circular economy principles.
Proposals must show how the project reduces reliance on imported critical raw materials, either through recovery from waste streams or substitution with alternative materials. Demonstrating scalability and economic viability is key.
Circular Economy Act
mediumThe "Circular Economy Act" refers to the legislative and policy framework stemming from the EU's Circular Economy Action Plans. It aims to accelerate the transition to a circular economy by promoting sustainable product design, reducing waste, increasing recycling and reuse, and fostering circular business models across key value chains.
Proposals should clearly demonstrate how their advanced manufacturing processes contribute to circularity. This includes aspects like resource efficiency, waste reduction, use of secondary raw materials, design for longevity, repairability, or recyclability, and the development of circular business models within the manufacturing context.
European Chemicals Industry Action Plan
mediumThe European Chemicals Industry Action Plan targets safe and sustainable chemicals management, aligning with the EU's Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. It is highly relevant for proposals addressing hazardous substances in circular manufacturing and advanced materials development.
Evaluators expect proposals to demonstrate the integration of safe chemical management practices, ensuring that any advanced materials or chemical processes developed do not introduce hazardous substances into the circular economy.
Strategy on research and technology infrastructures
mediumThis strategy aims to strengthen the European Research Area by developing, integrating, and optimizing world-class research and technology infrastructures. It focuses on providing researchers with access to cutting-edge facilities, fostering collaboration, and supporting the translation of research results into innovation and industrial applications.
Proposals should demonstrate how they leverage existing research and technology infrastructures or contribute to their development and accessibility, particularly for advanced manufacturing. This could involve using shared facilities for testing, piloting, or scaling up innovative manufacturing processes, or contributing to the infrastructure's capabilities.
Steel and Metals Action Plan
lowThe Steel and Metals Action Plan (or similar initiatives) focuses on supporting the competitiveness and sustainability of the EU's steel and metals industries. It addresses challenges such as decarbonization, raw material supply, energy efficiency, and the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies to ensure the sector's long-term viability and contribution to the green transition.
If the advanced manufacturing project involves steel or other metals, proposals should highlight how it contributes to the objectives of this action plan, such as reducing the carbon footprint of metal production, improving resource efficiency in metal processing, or developing innovative metal products and processes.
Industrial action plan for the European automotive sector
lowThis action plan aims to support the European automotive sector in its twin green and digital transitions, enhancing its competitiveness and resilience. It addresses challenges such as electrification, connectivity, automation, and the need for new skills, while fostering innovation in manufacturing processes and supply chains.
If the advanced manufacturing project specifically targets the automotive sector, proposals should demonstrate how their solutions contribute to the sector's transformation, for example, by enabling new production methods for electric vehicles, improving supply chain resilience, or supporting the development of autonomous driving components.
No specific eligibility rules extracted from this call.
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described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
Subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks.
Described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
To ensure a balanced portfolio covering the two areas described below, grants will be awarded to applications not only in order of ranking but at least also to one proposal that is the highest ranked within each area, provided that the applications attain all thresholds. For the purposes of the ranking the main area declared by the proposal will be considered.
Described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
The granting authority may, up to 4 years after the end of the action, object to a transfer of ownership or to the exclusive licensing of results, as set out in the specific provision of Annex 5.
Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025) [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf]].
Described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.
Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE RIA, IA)
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
Guidance
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Call-specific instructions
Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?"
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 7. Digital, Industry and Space
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Evaluators will prioritize proposals that present a highly integrated value chain (from material synthesis to IoT/wearable end-users) and address the portfolio balance requirement by clearly declaring their primary application area (e.g., environmental monitoring or smart health). They will look for concrete evidence of circularity compliance under the future Circular Economy Act and a robust, quantifiable methodology for the SSbD framework rather than generic sustainability claims.
Everything the call asks for, seen from the call's point of view. Each line shows what answers it, and which partner carries it.
This matrix lists everything the call asks for: outcomes, impacts, scope, the requirements buried in the call text, and policy alignment. Sign up free and GrantForge tracks each line against the concept you build.
| Requirement | Covered by | Carried | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope activities | |||
| SC1Develop IAM-enabled multifunctional surfaces able to detect and respond to changes in the environment, such as temperature, pH, moisture, microbiological or chemical pollutants, concentration of chemical species in air, gases and liquids, and converting these signals into measurable outputs. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC2Develop enhanced IAM-based sensor demonstrators that enable miniaturization and integration into application systems e.g. into portable IoT devices, lightweight wearables and wearable systems. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC3Integrate the value chain and incorporate the relevant manufacturing technologies needed to bring the developed devices towards the market. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC4Demonstrate technology in an industrially relevant environment. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC5Include activities aiming at facilitating future exploitation of results. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC6Consider circularity and recyclability, and comply with the safe and sustainable by design framework. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected outcomes | |||
| EO1New technological solutions with improved performance and reduced energy and environmental impact consumption providing significant advances towards the emergence of competitive value chains in IAM-based sensing components in Europe. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO2Widespread adoption of low-cost IAM-based sensing solutions in e.g. environmental monitoring, industrial safety, and next-generation smart sensing applications including health monitoring. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Other requirements | |||
| No other requirements in this call. | |||
| Expected impacts | |||
| EI1Clean Industrial Deal adopted in February 2025 | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI2Critical Raw Materials Act | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI3Advanced Materials Communication and future Advanced Materials Act planned for 2026 | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI4Future Circular Economy Act planned for 2026 | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI5Steel and Metals Action Plan adopted in March 2025 | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI6European Chemicals Industry Action Plan adopted in July 2025 | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI7Industrial action plan for the European automotive sector adopted in March 2025 | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI8Strategy on research and technology infrastructures, with regard to technology infrastructures and the valorisation of knowledge | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Underlying policies | |||
| POL1advanced materials communicationThe "Advanced Materials Communication" refers to the European Commission's communication on advanced materials, which typically outlines a strategic vision and actions to foster the development, production, and uptake of advanced materials in the EU. It emphasizes their importance for the green and digital transitions, industrial competitiveness, and strategic autonomy, often highlighting the need for a supportive regulatory framework, investment, and innovation ecosystems. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| POL2advanced materials actThe proposed Advanced Materials Act aims to establish a comprehensive framework to accelerate the development, testing, and deployment of advanced materials in the EU. It seeks to streamline regulatory processes, foster investment, and create a more predictable environment for innovation in advanced materials, crucial for strategic industries and the green and digital transitions. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| POL3safe and sustainable by design frameworkThe Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSBD) framework promotes the development of materials and products that are safe for humans and the environment while maintaining high performance. It integrates safety, circularity, and functionality throughout the entire lifecycle of materials. | · | · | Sign up to track |
The binding rules of this call. Items marked auto are verified by GrantForge from the call and the template. The others are yours to confirm.
LMIC entities auto-eligible
Low/middle-income country entities are automatically eligible for funding.
EU space data infrastructures
If the project uses satellite-based Earth observation, positioning, navigation or timing data/services, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS. Other sources may be added but not substitute EU infrastructures.
Civil applications only
Horizon Europe funds exclusively civil applications. Research with exclusive military or dual-use application is excluded.
Gender Equality Plan
Having a Gender Equality Plan (GEP) is an eligibility criterion for public bodies, research organisations, and higher education institutions from Member States and Associated Countries.
Open Science
Mandatory open access to peer-reviewed scientific publications and responsible management of research data (FAIR principles, DMP required).
4 key insights you must internalise before writing. Each is grounded in the call text and tells you what evaluators will actually look for. Share these with your consortium before drafting.
The call guarantees funding for at least one proposal in each of the two R&I areas (multifunctional surfaces or sensor demonstrators). Consortia must unambiguously identify their main area to qualify for this portfolio balance mechanism. Failing to explicitly declare the primary track risks disqualification from this dedicated funding pool during ranking.
Source: Eligibility rules
Evaluators are explicitly instructed to penalize generic sustainability claims. Proposals must include a robust, quantifiable methodology for the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework and provide concrete evidence of compliance with the future Circular Economy Act. Treat these frameworks as core engineering constraints rather than optional environmental impact narratives.
Source: Evaluation criteria (pre-award)
Scoring heavily favors a highly integrated value chain that spans the entire TRL 3 to TRL 6 journey. The consortium must include both upstream material synthesis experts and downstream IoT or wearable end-users. A proposal that stops at lab-scale demonstration without industrial validation partners will fail the primary evaluation directive.
Source: Evaluation criteria (pre-award)
The granting authority retains the right to object to any transfer of ownership or exclusive licensing of results for up to four years after the project ends. Consortia must formally notify the authority before any such transfer. Exploitation plans and consortium agreements must explicitly account for this commercialization bottleneck to ensure industrial partners remain committed.
Source: Scope
Talk to the Grant Coach to build your concept. The steps below fill in as it takes shape, and your coverage tracks the progress. You can refine everything once your project workspace is created.
Step 1 of 2 · Build your concept
The problems this call frames, and who they affect. Your concept and plan address them.
Existing sensor technologies rely heavily on critical raw materials and toxic chemicals, making them difficult to recycle and incompatible with the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework.
While many advanced materials show excellent sensing properties in laboratory environments (TRL 3), integrating them into reliable, low-cost, and scalable manufacturing processes (TRL 6) remains a major barrier.
Current environmental and health monitoring systems require complex, power-hungry components, limiting their widespread deployment in portable IoT devices and lightweight wearables.
SMEs and large enterprises in Europe developing next-generation smart sensing systems, consumer wearables, and industrial IoT hardware.
Entities responsible for monitoring air/water quality, chemical pollutants, and occupational safety in industrial plants.
Researchers in materials science, nanotechnology, sensor engineering, and sustainable chemistry who benefit from open-access data and methodological advances.
European and national regulators working on the implementation of the Advanced Materials Act, Critical Raw Materials Act, and SSbD standards.
Step 2 of 2 · Build your concept
The long-term impacts your project should drive — this shapes the objectives next.
By applying the SSbD framework and circular design principles, the project will minimize waste and eliminate hazardous substances from the sensor lifecycle, supporting the transition to a circular economy.
Strengthening European value chains in IAM-based sensing components, reducing reliance on imported critical raw materials, and aligning with the Clean Industrial Deal.
Enabling widespread, low-cost deployment of sensors to detect air and water pollutants, thereby mitigating public health risks and industrial hazards.