EIT RawMaterials - Circular Economy Investment Calls

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Enriched EU · Found: 2026-03-11 13:18

Up to EUR 2.5M per project for extraction, processing, and recycling innovation. EUR 100M invested in raw materials projects. ERMA Booster Call for startups/scale-ups. Supports plastic recycling and low-carbon circular recovery.

Source: https://eitrawmaterials.eu/invest

Funding Details

Funder: EIT RawMaterials (European Institute of Innovation and Technology)
Funding Goal: To boost Europe's raw materials sector through investment in extraction, processing, and recycling innovation, advancing circular economy practices and strengthening critical raw materials supply chains.
Funding Amount: KAVA Call: €500K–€2.5M per project. ERMA Booster: up to €0.5M (startups), €1.5M (scale-ups/SMEs), €2.5M (mining/recycling projects). (500.000 € – 2.500.000 €)
Deadline: Currently closed. KAVA Call 13 expected to reopen with new dates from February 2026. (Rolling)
How to Apply: Applications are submitted through the SeedBook platform. Prospective applicants can sign up for updates on the EIT RawMaterials website. For the ERMA Booster Call, detailed guidelines are available for download. Interested parties can also contact contact.a2f@eitrawmaterials.eu for inquiries.
Target Region: Europe (Horizon Europe eligible countries)
Contact: ERMA Booster inquiries: contact.a2f@eitrawmaterials.eu
Last Checked: 2026-03-11 22:25

Application Checklist

Eligibility

Consortium must include at least 2 partners from different Horizon Europe-eligible countries
Consortium must represent at least 2 elements of the knowledge triangle (education, research, industry)
Technology must be at minimum TRL 5 (validated in relevant environment) for KAVA Call
ERMA Booster startups need TRL 4+; scale-ups need TRL 8, CRL 8 and minimum €200K commercial revenues

Required Documents

Proposal must include commercialization plan and financial sustainability plan (e.g. equity, revenue sharing)
Applications submitted via SeedBook platform

Constraints

Minimum 30% co-funding of total project budget required (KAVA Call)
Project duration maximum 2.5 years; technology should reach market within 2 years after project completion

Summary

EIT RawMaterials is an EU body mandated by the European Commission that provides funding for innovation across the raw materials value chain — from mining and extraction to processing and recycling. The organization runs multiple investment calls, most notably the KAVA Upscaling Call (currently Call 13) offering €500,000 to €2.5 million per project, and the ERMA Booster Call offering tiered funding up to €2.5 million for mining and recycling projects. Both calls are currently closed but operate as recurring programs expected to reopen. The KAVA Call targets consortia of at least two partners from different Horizon Europe-eligible countries, requiring technologies at minimum TRL 5 with a path to market readiness (TRL 8). Projects must include a commercialization plan and financial sustainability plan. A minimum 30% co-funding is required. The ERMA Booster Call targets startups (up to €0.5M), scale-ups and SMEs (up to €1.5M), and mining/recycling projects (up to €2.5M), each with specific maturity and revenue requirements. The overall focus is on critical and strategic raw materials for Europe — rare earth magnets, battery materials, metals, and minerals — with circular economy and recycling as key themes. The European Raw Materials Alliance (ERMA) managed by EIT RawMaterials mobilizes over 150 industrial stakeholders and aims to diversify Europe's supply chains. While the program supports recycling innovation broadly, its primary emphasis is on mineral and metal raw materials rather than plastic waste specifically.

Historical Context

EIT RawMaterials has invested over €100M in raw materials projects. The KAVA Call is in its 13th iteration, indicating a long-running annual program. ERMA was mandated by the European Commission with 150+ industrial stakeholders. Recent investments include €0.6M in Nordic Bio-Graphite (Jan 2026), €0.9M in Sofi Filtration (Nov 2025), and €0.5M in Greenland Resources.

Why it was added

EU innovation body investing in recycling and circular economy, includes plastic recycling projects

Sources

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