The national funding agencies (NFB) of Austria, Belgium (Flanders and Wallonia), Canada, Chile, Estonia, France, Germany, Israel, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, South Korea, Spain and Turkey will be promoting a call for funding for international R&D projects in the area of Lightweighting technologies.

The project consortium must include organisations based in at least two of the countries/regions listed in this call.

To this end, a Matchmaking platform has been created that will make it possible to exchange ideas and facilitate the creation of consortia.

Lightweight technology is the solution that will allow technology to reduce weight, save materials and increase recycling, while maintaining or improving its functionality. Intelligent and lightweight design, bio-based raw materials, reuse, remanufacturing and recycled material flows are crucial parameters to take into account in this area. Digital solutions for calculation models, production processes and the like are essential tools for driving the success of lightweight innovation. Weight reduction technology provides ecological solutions while adding commercial value in all sectors.

The main effects of using Lightweight technologies are:

• Resource optimisation and energy efficiency;
• Creating sustainable value chains;
• Integration of Lightweight technologies in more areas.

Relevant industrial sectors include (but not limited to):

Regardless of the focus of national priorities in participating in the competition, all sectors with a need for lightweighting technologies are welcome, for example automotive, rail, aerospace, space, maritime, mechanical engineering, energy, construction, infrastructure, health, agriculture, forestry, among others.

Relevant weight reduction technologies to be developed include (but not limited to):

• Optimisation of lightweight design approaches;
• New lightweight materials, including optimised manufacturing;
• Recycling of lightweight materials;
• Joining technology – (adhesives, joints, welding);
• Additive manufacturing;
• Digitisation;
• Life cycle assessment/circular economy.

Basic requirements for projects:

• offer contributions that are relevant to the scope of the call;
• address at least one of the fields mentioned in the call description;
• focus on experimental development (technology readiness levels 4-6), thus demonstrating the potential to research or develop a product, process or service for commercialisation.

See the call for proposals page here and the full information here.

Register on the matchmaking platform here.

For further information contact the Eureka team.