Innovative Advanced Materials (IAMs) for photonics, enabling low-power and ultra-broadband performance for telecommunication (RIA) (Innovative Advanced Materials for Europe partnership) (HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation ActionsType of MGAHORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG]Open For SubmissionDeadline modelsingle-stageOpening date10 June 2025Deadline date02 October 2025 17:00:00 Brussels timeTopic descriptionExpected Outcome:Project results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes:Demonstrated added value of Innovative Advanced materials (IAMs) such as Two-dimensional materials and EO polymers for integrated photonic devices and systems, with focus on low power consumption, enabling future telecommunication networks in which Europe can build competitive value chains.IAMs for miniaturized and outperforming photonic integrated technologies e.g. in terms of performance, power, cost, novel functionality enabling the development of future-proof, scalable, low-power and high-bandwidth devices. Scope:IAMs can be the ideal candidate for several applications in photonics and optoelectronics. These include ultrafast integrated photonic circuits, with modulators, waveguides, detectors, emitters and switches, which play a crucial role in the ongoing quest to increase the speed of data transmission in telecommunications networks. In addition, they find utility in high-frequency transmitter modulators and receiver demodulators, which are essential for advancing wireless telecommunications technologies. They can also serve as integral components in optical interconnects for data centers, high-performance computing (HPCs), and artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) computing systems.The main objective of this topic is to explore innovative solutions based on IAMs, including 2DMs, that offer state-of-the-art performance and low power consumption, while demonstrating scalability for volume production, thus exploiting the semiconductor manufacturing infrastructure. The envisioned compact devices are expected to be designed to be compatible with low-power driving electronics and thus reduce energy consumption. Solutions should be compatible with existing photonic integrated platforms and low-voltage electronics.Proposals are expected to integrate the value chain and include relevant manufacturing technologies required to bring the developed devices to market. Prototypes are expected to be developed using packaged devices, including electronics, to enable testing in relevant environments.Efforts should be focused on envisioning optimized routes for electronic and photonic design, fabricating photonic circuits, producing IAMs, conducting testing, executing wafer-scale fabrication, and performing co-integration and co-packaging, ultimately leading to demonstrations of the developed technologies and their added values.Where relevant, proposers are encouraged to take advantage of and connecting to European analytical research infrastructures and services such as the ones in the ARIE network [1].Proposals should also consider building their innovations on top of relevant existing standards and consider standardisation as part of innovation and dissemination activities.In this topic the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement.This topic implements the co-programmed European Partnership Innovative Advanced Materials for Europe (IAM4EU). Proposals funded under this topic are part of the IAM4EU partnership portfolio and are expected to develop synergies with the related stakeholder community and contribute actively to the objectives of the partnership. Proposals should seek collaboration, with existing projects and develop synergies with other relevant European, national, or regional initiatives, funding programmes such as the Graphene Flagship [2] for proposals investigating 2D materials. In addition, outreach to relevant national projects in EU Member States and Associated Countries is encouraged. Adequate resources for all these synergies should be foreseen in the proposal.[1] https://arie-eu.org/[2] Graphene Flagship: https://graphene-flagship.eu/Show moreTopic updates11 June 2025Please note that due to a technical issue, during the first days of publication of this call, the topic page did not display the description of the corresponding destination. This problem is now solved. In addition to the information published in the topic page, you can always find a full description of the Destination 6 ("Digital and industrial technologies driving human-centric innovation") that are relevant for the call in the Work Programme 2025 part for "Digital, Industry and Space". Please select from the work programme the destination relevant to your topic and take into account the description and expected impacts of that destination for the preparation of your proposal.10 June 2025The submission session is now available for: HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-DIGITAL-EMERGING-02, HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-HUMAN-14, HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-HUMAN-16, HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-DATA-09, HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-DIGITAL-EMERGING-03, HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-MATERIALS-47, HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-DIGITAL-EMERGING-01, HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-DIGITAL-EMERGING-07, HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-DATA-08, HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-HUMAN-19, HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-DIGITAL-EMERGING-08, HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-DATA-12, HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-DATA-13, HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-HUMAN-18, HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-HUMAN-15, HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-DATA-10, HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-DIGITAL-EMERGING-04, HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-DIGITAL-EMERGING-09, HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-DATA-11, HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-MATERIALS-46, HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-HUMAN-17Show moreTopic destinationAchieving technological leadership for Europe’s open strategic autonomy in raw materials, chemicals and innovative materials (2025)The research and innovation under this Destination will contribute to a paradigm shift, as regards the availability, development, use and disposal of chemicals and materials. This is necessary to guarantee Europe’s technological sovereignty and capacity to deliver on the twin green and digital transitions (it is thus strongly linked to the objectives of the Destination ‘Achieving global leadership in climate-neutral, circular and digitised industrial and digital value chains’).To enable such a shift, an innovative, strong European R&I ecosystem for circular chemicals and materials is needed, working across different technology readiness levels. Bringing knowledge and skills together across the materials’ value chains is key to ensuring that this shift can materialise.The requirements of the European Green Deal for safety, sustainability and circularity should be considered across the life cycle of a chemical or material. The 2022 Commission Recommendation on ‘Safe and Sustainable by Design’ (SSbD) sets out a new framework on how to achieve these objectives.R&I activities should contribute to strengthen EU’s critical raw materials capacities along all stages of the value chain, increasing our resilience by reducing dependencies, increasing preparedness and promoting supply chain sustainability and circularity, in line with the Critical Raw Materials Act. It is necessary to improve the energy and process efficiency of extractive and processing activities and minimise their environmental impact, including GHG emissions. Advancements need to be made on finding options for replacing critical raw materials with other (advanced) materials offering at least the same functionality and taking into account the existing environmental concerns.Advanced materials (including amongst others nano- and 2D materials) and chemicals are designed with functionality in mind. Compared to conventional materials, they have novel properties that significantly step-up performance. New digital tools are needed such as common data spaces, digital twins, industrial virtual worlds, as well as novel (autonomous) design, synthesis, development, characterisation and fabrication tools as well as continuous training of scientists on these new tools.To secure unimpeded market entry, appropriate test methods are needed. New chemicals and materials should be developed using the SSbD framework and with the efficiency and circularity of materials in mind, also for their inclusion in products. This calls for tools, models and data for robust SSbD, including animal-free new approach methodologies and systematic life-cycle assessments. Bio-based advanced materials/chemicals and the integration and interaction of biological and artificial materials and components offer new opportunities to reduce resource dependencies and maintain sustainability.Achieving the circularity of both raw materials and advanced materials is a key future challenge. Establishing new material flows, recovery, recycling and upcycling of materials from waste are challenges in themselves, but they also require information sharing along and across value chains and development of new business models allowing to foster innovative solutions related to technological progress, such as in materials design.Uptake of advanced materials as well as a more efficient use of materials should be fostered in product and materials-based technology developments. This also requires new business models to be developed for the deployment of circular technologies and value chains as well as for providing product-as-a-service models, on-demand manufacturing, take-back-schemes and other service-based businesses. Strong support to SMEs is required so they can thrive in this materials ecosystem.Business cases and exploitation strategies for industrialisation:This section applies only to those topics in this Destination, for which proposals should demonstrate the expected outcomes by including a business case and exploitation strategy for industrialisation.A business case and a credible initial exploitation strategy are essential components in the ultimate success of an industry-based project, as well as its prospects to attract further investments for deployment. They will both be decisive factors under the impact criterion, and proposers are encouraged to use the extended page limit to present a carefully considered business case and exploitation strategy, backed by the management of the companies involved.The business case should demonstrate the expected impact of the proposal in terms of enhanced market opportunities for the participants and deployment in the EU, in the short to medium term. It should describe the targeted market(s); estimated market size in the EU and globally; user and customer needs; and demonstrate that the solutions will match the market and user needs in a cost-effective manner; and describe the expected market position and competitive advantage.The exploitation strategy should identify obstacles, requirements and necessary actions involved in reaching higher TRLs (Technology Readiness Levels), for example: securing the required investments, including through possible synergies with other programmes; accessing the required skills; matching value chains; enhancing product robustness; securing industrial integrators; and user acceptance.For TRLs 6 and 7, a credible strategy to achieve future full-scale deployment in the EU is expected, indicating the intentions of the industrial partners after the end of the project.Where relevant, in the context of skills, it is recommended to develop training material to endow workers with the right skillset in order to support the uptake and deployment of new innovative products, services, and processes developed in the different projects. This material should be tested and be scalable, and can potentially be up-scaled through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+). This will help the European labour force to close the skill gaps in the relevant sectors and occupational groups and improve employment and social levels across the EU and associated countries.For topics in this destination, consortia (if selected for funding) could consider voluntary contributions in terms of data, indicators and knowledge to relevant Joint Research Centre (JRC) platforms for capitalising the knowledge developed in their projects and become more policy relevant:INnovation Centre for Industrial Transformation and Emissions (INCITE) (https://innovation-centre-for-industrial-transformation.ec.europa.eu/).The Energy and Industry Geography Lab: EIGL (https://energy-industry-geolab.jrc.ec.europa.eu/). Innovation Actions — Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in Innovation Actions in any capacity. Please refer to the Annex B of the General Annexes of this Work Programme for further details.Show moreTopic conditions and documentsGeneral conditions1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layoutare 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.2. Eligible Countriesare 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.3. Other Eligible ConditionsSubject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks.Described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusionare described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholdsare described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processesare described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreementis described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.6. Legal and financial set-up of the grantsDescribed in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.) — €85.0M • Deadline October 2025 • Eligibility & How to Apply

Horizon Europe RIA Scoring (0-15)

1. Excellence (0-5)

* Novelty of IAM integration strategy.

* Soundness of methodology incl. SSbD, wafer-scale process flows.

2. Impact (0-5)

* Strength of business case & exploitation plan (mandatory).

* Contribution to EU telecom value chain & strategic autonomy.

* Credible KPIs: power/bit, bandwidth density, manufacturing cost.

3. Quality & Efficiency of Implementation (0-5)

* Coherent work plan, risk management, gender balance in the team.

* Consortium completeness and access to pilot lines.

* Resources allocation vs. objectives.

Innovative Advanced Materials (IAMs) for photonics, enabling low-power and ultra-broadband performance for telecommunication (RIA) (Innovative Advanced Materials for Europe partnership)

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