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CO2-neutral steel production with hydrogen, secondary carbon carriers and electricity OR innovative steel applications for low CO2 emissions (Research Innovation Action) HORIZON-CL4-2024-TWIN-TRANSITION-01-46

Source of Funding: Horizon Europe

HORIZON-CL4-2024-TWIN-TRANSITION-01-46: CO2-neutral steel production with hydrogen, secondary carbon carriers and electricity OR innovative steel applications for low CO2 emissions (Research Innovation Action) – Portfolio topic covering two independent technology areas, with an overall available budget of 20 M€.

Enhance CO2-neutral steel production with hydrogen, secondary carbon carriers and electricity

Expected Outcomes:

  • Introduce the use of secondary carbon sources in the steelmaking process.
  • Combine the reduction of fossil carbon-related emissions with improvements in the materials and energy flows.
  • Adapt to the use of low-CO2 hydrogen for heating in rolling, shaping, and heat treatment, considering also a coupling between hydrogen and/or electrical heating and fuel-flexibility concepts.
  • Valorisation of non-conventional ores, e.g., in (photo)electrolysis processes.
  • Substitution of fossil sources as carburiser and slag foaming agent in electric arc furnaces (EAF).
  • Pre-reduction or reduction smelting with hydrogen and/or electricity for residues.
  • Identify and analyse the amount of European existing technologies that could be efficiently retrofitted to CO2 neutral solutions (e.g. H2 DRI).

OR

Contribute to innovative steel applications for low CO2 emissions

Expected Outcomes:

  • New or modified alloying concepts, downstream processing and manufacturing processes for new clean steel grades.
  • Manufacture steels with improved life cycle contributions to CO2 emissions reduction.
  • Clean steel grades with improved in-use properties.
  • Innovative simulation methods and tools to accelerate development of clean steel grades.
  • Advanced grades of steel for use in efficient high temperature processes.
  • Advanced grades of steel for use in the railway's systems of high-speed trains.
  • High-performance structural steels not containing critical strategic elements and/or characterized by increased tolerance to the content of contaminants in the scrap.
  • Steel grades with increased use of low-quality input materials.

Call Opening Date: 19 September 2023

Application Deadline: 7 February 2024

Visit the below link for further details.

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Research Fund for Coal and Steel Call (RFCS)

Source of Funding: European Commission

Under the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS), the European Commission funds research on:

  • New, sustainable and low-carbon steelmaking and finishing processes
  • Advanced steel grades and applications
  • The conservation of resources, protection of the environment and circular economy
  • The management of workforce and working conditions

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Interconnected Innovation Ecosystems

Source of Funding: European Commission

In line with the New European Innovation Agenda’s flagship on accelerating and strengthening innovation in European Innovation Ecosystems across the EU and addressing the innovation divide, this action is intended to create connected Regional Innovation Valleys (RIVs) across the European Union (EU), involving regions with lower innovation performances, by building on strategic areas of regional strength and specialisation (defined in their smart specialisation strategies), in support of key EU priorities.

The European Commission dedicated EUR 122 million under Horizon Europe (European Innovation Ecosystems) and under the European Regional Development Fund (Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument).

Continue reading on the below link.

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New Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument calls

Source of Funding: European Commission

The New Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument calls has been published; the I3 instrument, as part of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), aims at promoting innovation and interregional collaboration providing financial and advisory support for projects and the development of value chains.

Deadline for applications is: 17th October 2023.

More information on the open calls can be found via the below link:

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Fusion Commercialisation Voucher Programme (CVP) 2023 Call

Source of Funding: Malta Council for Science and Technology

The Commercialisation Voucher Programme is a formidable instrument aimed at bridging the existing gap in the R&I framework as well as improving the overall development and commercialization potential of innovative ideas. This Programme acts as a demand side measure, enticing user driven innovation, with an aim to increase research, technological development, and innovation activities, which could eventually be implemented in industry. The Vouchers are primarily intended to assist prospective applicants of the FUSION Technology Development Programme to prepare themselves better in terms of project proposal and validation. In some cases, it may also assist beneficiaries of previous or current R&I Programmes as well as projects funded through the European Programmes. Submission, evaluation, and selection of application will be in the form of a one-stage process in which a legal representative of the applicant will be asked to submit all the necessary information, to enable a decision on acceptance or rejection. The Commercialisation Vouchers are subject to a Scientific Evaluation and priority will be given to the Smart Specialisation Areas. State Aid rules apply.

Interested parties should submit their application form electronically to voucher.mcst@gov.mt with “CVP 2023 Call Application” as a subject. The Application must be dated and signed by the applying entity’s legal representative. It shall be the responsibility of the applicant to ensure the timely submission of the application within the timeframes provided for in the call. Emails larger than 6MB shall be automatically rejected by the system. File sharing software is limited to WeTransfer or Dropbox.  All received applications shall be acknowledged by email and provided with a reference number.   Additional notes to applicants:

  • Altering the parameters of the application template might lead to disqualification. Inputted text should not exceed the printable area of the text boxes.
  • Annex I is to be used to include a clear diagrammatic representation of how the project will go beyond the state-of-the-art. Annex I should be stamped or signed by the applicant and scanned together with the application form.
  • Annex 2 is to be used to include a reference list with full citations for each item. Annex 2 should be stamped or signed by the applicant and scanned together with the application form.
  • Additional information pertaining to guidelines, rules, procedures, and the application form can be found in the documents attached with this call.

Visit the below link to download guidelines and application forms.

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Technology Extension Support Programme Call Now Open

Source of Funding: Malta Council for Science and Technology

The Technology Extension Support Programme will form part of FUSION, the National Funding Programme, administered by the R&I Unit at MCST. The Technology Extension Support Programme will incentivise industry to seek technical support from Higher Education Institutes (HEI), to ensure incremental product or process improvement. This programme aims to accelerate the application of technological innovation to the industry, in a low-risk environment. This support measure is designed to incorporate R&I at all stages of product or process development and support collaborations between private and public entities. Maltese private entities can benefit from up to €40,000 per project of 15-months. Get in touch by contacting us on rtdi.mcst@gov.mt keeping abigail.aquilina@gov.mt in copy further information or assistance.

Visit the below link to acess the call specifications.

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SynergistEIC Call 1 for GreenTech Statups

Source of Funding: SynergistEIC (EU-funded Project)

 

SynergistEIC is an EU-funded project that started in January 2023 with an overall budget of €1,986M to help European deep tech startups, scaleups and SMEs from the GreenTech sector to scale in the EU and globally. Throughout its 2-year duration SynergistEIC will hold 2 Open Calls selecting and supporting 30 companies, providing them with a combination of financial support, advisory services, and connections with the broader innovation ecosystem.

Up to € 50,000 per startup will be distributed in Open Call 1. The first Open Call will provide grants to 15 startups (5 EIC-applicants and 10 non-EIC applicant companies) along with a 6-months tailored support which includes a 3-month acceleration programme to increase scalability, as well as series of workshops on EU funding and procurement topics, and networking opportunities with EU innovation ecosystem players.

Who can apply?

SynergistEIC welcomes applications from deeptech startups developing innovative solutions addressing ClimateTech, CleanTech, Circular economy and AgriFood challenges with a preference on certain technological focus (notably using AI, Machine learning and language processing, Big Data, Advanced Computing, Bioengineering, Next Generation Internet, Blockchain, IoT).

Application deadline: 14th of June 2023, 17:00 CET!
Companies can apply on the F6S platform SynergistEIC Open Call 1.

What do companies get? 

15 GreenTech companies will be selected in the first SynergistEIC Open Call to receive up to €50k grant to refine their technology, engage with users, and improve commercial metrics. Also, they will be enrolled in a 6-month tailored support programme addressing the startup’s needs and challenges.

What are the other programme benefits that the companies get:

  • Connections to peer-companies, investors, national and European innovation ecosystem actors.
  • Boost scalability and business performance.
  • Increase of market coverage or market readiness of developed products. .
  • Raise companies’ awareness of EU funding and procurement opportunities.
  • Wide promotion & visibility.

How does it work?

The Open Call process is composed of different phases:

  • Phase 1: Application submission 
  • Phase 2: Admissibility & eligibility check
  • Phase 3: Proposals evaluation
  • Phase 4: Tailored Growth programme begins with selected companies.

The evaluation will be performed by external evaluators (external experts with expertise and experience corresponding to the open call topic). Detailed information on the evaluation process could be also found in the Guide for applicants available on the SynergistEIC webpage

Selection criteria: 

  • Companies that have applied or are interested in applying for EIC Accelerator
  • Seal of Excellence (SoE) holders (for EIC-applicants) or 
  • Minimum TRL4 level companies that have received funding up to 500k Euro (for non-EIC applicants)
  • Female Entrepreneurs and / or with women in high management positions (C-level)
  • Companies coming from the EU member states or Associated Countries with preference given to companies from Widening Countries

Additional information: 

Detailed information would be provided to candidate applicants on a dedicated SynergistEIC Open Call Info Webinar which will take place on 17 May 2023, 15:00 - 16:00 CET. Register here.

Answers to the most common questions related to the SynergistEIC Open Call 1 are provided in the FAQ section of our website, as well. 

Applicants are also welcome to ask their questions also by contacting us via email at info@synergisteic.eu 

Official press release and flyer:

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Horizon Europe Hop-on Facility

Source of Funding: Horizon Europe

The Hop On Facility allows for legal entities from low R&I performing countries to join already selected collaborative R&I actions, subject to the agreement of the respective consortium and provided that legal entities from such countries are not yet participating in it. The scheme aims to improve the inclusiveness of Horizon Europe by involving more research institutions from Widening countries under Horizon Europe Pillar 2 and EIC Pathfinder actions.

Main selection criteria are excellence and added value of the new partner performing a relevant additional task in the project. All consortium partners need to agree on the accession of the new partner whereas the R&I relevance and complementarity needs to be demonstrated. The accepted application will trigger a GA amendment with the service in charge of the related topic.

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IPAS+ 2023 (Option A + B)

Source of Funding: Malta Council for Science and Technology

The Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) is receiving proposals under the Internationalisation Partnership Awards Scheme Plus (IPAS+). The Scheme is divided into two options. Applicants are to fill in the appropriate sections of the form; they may select either Option A or Option B, or both:

Option A: opportunities for collaborative initiatives between Maltese entities and at least one foreign entity of proven track record of excellence. Proposals should describe the nature of the joint activities that would be funded through the Award. Applicants are to demonstrate how the proposed activities contribute towards and align with achieving the goals of the National R&I Strategy, and to describe the potential of any activities to become self-sustaining or generate longer-term outcomes.

Option B: opportunities for Maltese entities intending to submit a Horizon Europe proposal as the coordinator of the consortium to engage a service provider (local or foreign) who will be supporting the applicant through proposal writing and submission.

The amount of the Award available to any one successful applicant is capped at €6000 per Option. Some exceptions regarding the financial capping for Option B can be found in the rules for participation. All projects are evaluated by a selection panel set up by MCST on the basis of evaluation criteria outlined in the Call text.

Visit the below link to read further and download the required application forms.

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Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership Call

Source of Funding: Malta Council for Science and Technology

The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership is a Horizon Europe co-funded partnership. It constitutes a network of 60 partner institutions from 25 countries and the European Commission that enables an unprecedented effort to pool research and innovation investments and align national programmes at pan-European scale.

MCST together with 35 other Research Funding Organisations from 23 countries launched the 1st Joint Transnational Co-funded Call and will be financially supporting R&I projects addressing challenges on the following priority areas:

1. Ocean Digital Twins at sub- sea-basin scale
2. Blue generation marine structures
3. Planning and managing sea uses
4. Healthy ‘Blue Food’ under a ‘One Health’ approach
5. Enabling the green transition of ‘Blue Food’ production

Entities residing in Malta are eligible for funding, with the option of requesting up to € 500,000 to participate in a SBEP proposal consortium (N.B. if more than one National partner is present in one consortium, the total amount of funding for the participating National partners cannot exceed the € 500,000 capping).

Visit the below link to download the call specifications.

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