This funding call supports projects that aim to increase access to critical raw materials for semiconductors within the EU, reducing dependency on imports and improving supply chain resilience. Projects should focus on sustainable, competitive extraction and processing of key materials (e.g. gallium, silicon, indium), boost recovery from complex sources, and foster collaboration across the value chain. Proposals must include a business case, plans for industrial deployment, and actions to raise public awareness of the importance of sustainable raw materials for Europe’s green and digital transitions.

Projects are expected to contribute to the following outcomes:

• Decreased dependency of the EU on imported raw materials for semiconductor production and decreased risk in European semiconductor supply chains. The actions targeting strategic raw materials should contribute to the benchmarks as set out in the Critical Raw Materials Act.Raw materials for semiconductors competitively produced and refined in the EU in a sustainable and socially acceptable way improving the competitiveness of European industry.
• Increase recovery rates of particularly raw materials from low grade or complex ores and/or from residues and/or by-products and/or extractive waste and/or manufacturing waste.
• Increase the competitiveness and sustainability of mineral processing and refining processes in terms of cost-effectiveness, higher material-, water-, energy-efficiency, emission reduction and flexibility. This may also include the development of more sustainable solvents, reagents, and low-carbon manufacturing processes.
• Foster collaboration among industry stakeholders along the value chain, research institutions, and technology providers to accelerate the development and adoption of sustainable production solutions.
• Improve responsible supply of raw materials to Europe in line with the EU principles for sustainable raw materials, which are a non-regulatory set of principles based on the EU acquis. They set out requirements for sustainable raw materials and extraction and processing in Europe in terms of social, environmental, and economic performance.