Horizon Europe is supporting early-stage development of future technologies (e.g. various activities at low TRL 1-3), up to proof of concept, through the EIC Pathfinder programme. This programme is divided into challenges and under the challenge “Nature inspired alternatives for food packaging and films for agriculture”, six projects, from 0.5 to 4 M€ each, will be funded.
Deadline: 16 October 2024
The EIC Pathfinder is a funding programme under Horizon Europe that offers support to research teams by:
- funding research to develop the scientific basis to underpin breakthrough technologies;
- supporting the earliest stages of scientific, technological or deep-tech R&D;
- aiming to build on new, cutting-edge directions in science and technology to disrupt a field and a market or create new opportunities;
- realising innovative technological solutions to identify, develop and scale up breakthrough technologies and disruptive innovations in Europe.
This Pathfinder Challenge “Nature inspired alternatives for food packaging and films for agriculture” aims to support ambitious interdisciplinary research that will lead to the development and production of sustainable nature inspired alternatives for food packaging and agricultural production such as, but not limited to, greenhouse and mulch films. These materials must have a reduced environmental impact, through design and production, while delivering the functional characteristics of plastics.
Proposals should look to bring forward ideas that span the product lifecycle from the development of novel sustainable materials, their design and production through to end of life, while maximising the time and extent of use. Abundant, naturally occurring materials that display properties to be optimized for food related applications with a reduced environmental footprint in production and enhanced scope for re-use recycling and biodegradability, including in extreme environments, will be encouraged.
Applicants are encouraged to develop synergies with relevant activities under Horizon Europe Cluster 6, and its partnerships, in particular Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU).
More information and applications can be found in the EU Funding & Tender Portal (HORIZON-EIC-2024-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01). If you want to apply you should analyse the abstracts of awarded applications (in your research area) and watch the video of the info session about this programme and of this specific challenge, organized by the European Commission.
If you are considering to apply, please get in touch with us (cesam-gesciencia@ua.pt).