European Union26 days leftNon-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution, Other
Waste-to-value devices - circular production of renewable fuels, chemicals and materials
Horizon Europe European Innovation Council Pathfinder Challenges
Funding Amount
€500K - €4.0M
Deadline
29/10/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution, Other
Trusted by
What is the Waste-to-value devices - circular production of renewable fuels, chemicals and materials Call?
Grant Description
This call invites ambitious research and innovation actions to develop next generation technologies for converting non- or hard-to-recycle waste streams into high-value fuels, chemicals and materials. It addresses problematic waste such as mixed plastics, composites, micro-/nanoplastics, flue gases, wastewater and desalination brines. Proposals must deliver scalable, integrated, renewable energy-driven waste-to-value devices (solar reforming, synthetic biology, brine mining, microbial/photocatal...
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
• Scalable, renewable-energy-driven technologies that valorise problematic waste into high-value fuels, chemicals and materials.
• Remediation of micro-/nanoplastics, trace metals and noxious substances from waste streams.
• Localized, decentralized energy and resource supply reducing dependency on critical raw material imports.
• Increased recycling rates, minimized landfill/incineration and associated environmental impacts.
• Micro-/nanoplastic removal from brines aiming for zero-brine discharge.
• Decentralized circular production systems enabling on-site replacement of fossil feedstocks.
• Contribution to EU policy goals (REPowerEU, Fit for 55, Renewable Energy Directive, Waste Framework Directive, Critical Raw Materials Act, Circular Economy Action Plan, Plastics Strategy).
• Synergistic project portfolio accelerating innovation through cross-project collaboration.
• Long-term reductions in CO₂ and pollutant emissions by substituting fossil resources and improving resource efficiency.
• Remediation of micro-/nanoplastics, trace metals and noxious substances from waste streams.
• Localized, decentralized energy and resource supply reducing dependency on critical raw material imports.
• Increased recycling rates, minimized landfill/incineration and associated environmental impacts.
• Micro-/nanoplastic removal from brines aiming for zero-brine discharge.
• Decentralized circular production systems enabling on-site replacement of fossil feedstocks.
• Contribution to EU policy goals (REPowerEU, Fit for 55, Renewable Energy Directive, Waste Framework Directive, Critical Raw Materials Act, Circular Economy Action Plan, Plastics Strategy).
• Synergistic project portfolio accelerating innovation through cross-project collaboration.
• Long-term reductions in CO₂ and pollutant emissions by substituting fossil resources and improving resource efficiency.
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
• Target real-life industrial or household waste streams facing insurmountable recycling barriers (impurities, additives, inseparable mixtures):
• Non- or hard-to-recycle synthetic polymers (mixed plastics, composite materials, micro-/nanoplastics, untreated plastic waste, diapers, rubber)
• Flue gases
• Industrial wastewater
• Seawater desalination brines
• In-scope low-TRL technologies: solar reforming, synthetic biology devices, integrated capture & conversion, brine mining (membrane-based and electrochemical), microbial/enzymatic and photocatalytic remediation.
• Key enablers: computational materials science & AI, bottom-up synthetic biology.
• Out-of-scope: thermochemical (pyrolysis, gasification), dark chemical recycling, food/biomass waste, bulk metal waste, glass, paper, cardboard, mono-PET.
• For Area 1: end-to-end devices (no half-reactions), renewable-energy-driven, holistic chain optimization (pre-treatment to separation and storage), recyclable-by-design, energy/material-efficient, sustainable operating conditions, robust independent operation on minimally sorted waste.
• Benchmark required against established recycling methods (mechanical, composting, biogas fermentation, waste-to-energy) and emerging approaches (chemical or thermochemical recycling).
• Non- or hard-to-recycle synthetic polymers (mixed plastics, composite materials, micro-/nanoplastics, untreated plastic waste, diapers, rubber)
• Flue gases
• Industrial wastewater
• Seawater desalination brines
• In-scope low-TRL technologies: solar reforming, synthetic biology devices, integrated capture & conversion, brine mining (membrane-based and electrochemical), microbial/enzymatic and photocatalytic remediation.
• Key enablers: computational materials science & AI, bottom-up synthetic biology.
• Out-of-scope: thermochemical (pyrolysis, gasification), dark chemical recycling, food/biomass waste, bulk metal waste, glass, paper, cardboard, mono-PET.
• For Area 1: end-to-end devices (no half-reactions), renewable-energy-driven, holistic chain optimization (pre-treatment to separation and storage), recyclable-by-design, energy/material-efficient, sustainable operating conditions, robust independent operation on minimally sorted waste.
• Benchmark required against established recycling methods (mechanical, composting, biogas fermentation, waste-to-energy) and emerging approaches (chemical or thermochemical recycling).
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
• Proposals must address one and only one focus area (1, 2 or 3).
• Area 1 projects: duration 3–4 years, achieve TRL 4 by project end.
• Maximum one proposal funded from each of Areas 2 and 3; Area 1 aims to cover as many device categories as possible.
• Submission is single-stage under the Horizon Europe Lump Sum Grant model by 29 Oct 2025, 17:00 Brussels time.
• Budget per grant: EUR 0.5–4 million; total call budget EUR 120 million.
• Eligibility: single legal entities or consortia established in EU Member States/Associated Countries; consortia of ≥3 independent entities from ≥3 different countries (≥1 MS + ≥2 MS/AC); single-beneficiary projects exclude mid-caps and large companies.
• Standard admissibility and eligibility conditions (Annex 2 EIC WP 2025); proposals limited to 30 pages for Part B (Excellence, Impact, Implementation).
• Use Lump Sum Model Grant Agreement; no proposals on European communication networks (5G/post-5G).
• Ex-situ remediation devices must operate in reactors (not open field).
• Area 1 projects: duration 3–4 years, achieve TRL 4 by project end.
• Maximum one proposal funded from each of Areas 2 and 3; Area 1 aims to cover as many device categories as possible.
• Submission is single-stage under the Horizon Europe Lump Sum Grant model by 29 Oct 2025, 17:00 Brussels time.
• Budget per grant: EUR 0.5–4 million; total call budget EUR 120 million.
• Eligibility: single legal entities or consortia established in EU Member States/Associated Countries; consortia of ≥3 independent entities from ≥3 different countries (≥1 MS + ≥2 MS/AC); single-beneficiary projects exclude mid-caps and large companies.
• Standard admissibility and eligibility conditions (Annex 2 EIC WP 2025); proposals limited to 30 pages for Part B (Excellence, Impact, Implementation).
• Use Lump Sum Model Grant Agreement; no proposals on European communication networks (5G/post-5G).
• Ex-situ remediation devices must operate in reactors (not open field).
Important dates
Open from: 24/07/2025
Deadline:29/10/2025
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