01.12.2025 – 31.05.2026 | Online
The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) supports the internationalization activities of German SMEs with transnational R&D calls for proposals in the Central Innovation Program for SMEs (ZIM). In addition to regular information events, cooperation exchanges are also offered as part of these calls for proposals. Interested companies and research institutions are cordially invited to register now for the long-term matchmaking event organized by the international funding networks IraSME and CORNET. Participation is free of charge.
Event link: https://www.b2match.com/e/irasme-cornet-partnering-2025
July 24, 2025
Cornet Call – Deadline September 24, 2025.
Within the program for Industrial Collective Research (IGF) of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), international research projects benefiting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are also funded. These projects are carried out as part of the transnational network CORNET (COllective Research Networking) in collaboration with the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA). For more information about CORNET, you can visit the IGF website of the BMWK, CORNET-online, and the BAFA website.
40th CORNET Call is open.
From 23 July 2025, the 40th call for proposals under CORNET is open to realize further international research projects for the benefit of SMEs in different countries and regions. Project submission is possible until September 24, 2025, 12:00 noon (CET).
You can find the most important information at the following link CORNET – Network News – 40th CORNET Call for Proposals OPEN.
The following CORNET partners will be involved in this call for proposals: DLR PT (Germany), EMBRAPII (Brazil), MPO (Czech Republic), SFOE (Switzerland), SPW (Wallonia), TÜBITAK (Turkey), VLAIO (Flanders), NSTC (Taiwan).
June 18, 2025
May 12, 2025
Destination 2 – Achieving technological leadership for Europe’s open strategic autonomy in raw materials, chemicals and innovative materials industry
The tender topics of this destination are intended to contribute to a paradigm shift with regard to the availability, development, use and disposal of chemicals and materials.
This is necessary to ensure Europe’s technological sovereignty and ability to cope with the twin green and digital transitions. A total budget of €293 million is available for the 13 call topics for Destination 2 in the current Horizon Europe work program.
One thematic area of this destination deals with the extraction, processing and recycling of raw materials. The aspects to be addressed in the 2025 call topics include technologies for critical raw materials and strategic raw materials from end-of-life products, innovative approaches for the sustainable production of critical raw materials and innovative solutions for the sustainable production of raw materials for the semiconductor industry.
The research and development of innovative advanced materials will focus on materials for product monitoring, smart maintenance and repair strategies in the construction sector and the creation of a European digital infrastructure that provides data for materials research and development. In addition, new materials will be developed for robust, fast-curing sealants and coatings, for telecommunication applications with low power consumption and ultra-broadband performance, and for adaptable, flexible or stretchable electronics.
The call topics in the “Safe and Sustainable by Design” thematic area deal with the development of safe and sustainable alternatives to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and the acceleration of the introduction of life cycle analyses (LCA).
In the field of textiles, the tender topic is aimed at digitally supported local textile and clothing production. The following framework conditions apply to the calls for proposals in this destination with submission deadlines in 2025:
• Topics – HORIZON-CL4 INDUSTRY 2025-01-MATERIALS-xx
Budget: € 178 million
Call opening: May 22, 2025
Submission deadline: September 23, 2025
• Topics – HORIZON-CL4 2025-03-MATERIALS-xx
Budget: € 25 million
Call opening: June 10, 2025
Submission deadline: October 02, 2025
• Topics – HORIZON-CL4 2025-05-MATERIALS-xx-two-stage
Budget: € 90 million
Call opening: May 22, 2025
Submission deadline stage 1 (project outline): September 23, 2025
Submission deadline stage 2 (full proposal): April 14, 2026
On May 13 and 14, 2025, the EU Commission held the Horizon Europe Info Days on the 2025 calls for proposals in Cluster 4.
In the various sessions on the six destinations, the individual call topics were presented by the responsible scientific staff of the EU Commission and the participants in the Info Days were able to ask their questions.
The recordings are available on the NCP DIT website in the sections on the destinations via the following link:
https://www.nks-dit.de/indtech_25
Contact person:
Ingo Rey
NKS DIT/Projektträger Jülich
Tel.: 02461/61-2623
E-mail: i.rey@fz-juelich.de
May 12, 2025
Current calls for funding have been published as part of the EU funding program HORIZON EUROPE. Cluster 5 “Climate, Energy and Mobility” in particular includes topics that can be decisively advanced through developments and innovations in the field of thin-film technology. This opens up opportunities for you to help shape projects and ideas in the field of surface technology.
To give you an overview and help you get started, here is an overview of 3 current calls from the European Commission relating to climate, energy and mobility – including deadlines, topics and links to the official call pages.
We will be happy to advise you in the selection of your calls, in the search for suitable project partners and during the application process.
Further important information on the individual calls can be found at
https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2023-2024/wp-8-climate-energy-and-mobility_horizon-2023-2024_en.pdf
The European Surface Networking Summit (11 June 2025 | 9:00 – 12:00 | Online) will take place shortly, at which experts from the National Contact Points and funding advisory services will explain the program once again. Afterwards, international networks and surface technology scientists can introduce themselves. This gives you the opportunity to find international partners for your EU project.
If you have any questions or need support, please do not hesitate to contact us.
European Society of Thin Films e.V. (EFDS)
Gostritzer Str. 63
01217 Dresden
E-Mail: info@efds.org
Tel. 0351 8718370
Web: www.efds.org
January 23, 2025
Cornet Call – Deadline March 26, 2025
Within the program for Industrial Collective Research (IGF) of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), international research projects benefiting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are also funded. These projects are carried out as part of the transnational network CORNET (COllective Research Networking) in collaboration with the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA). For more information about CORNET, you can visit the IGF website of the BMWK, CORNET-online, and the BAFA website.
39th CORNET Call is open.
From 22 January 2025, the 39th call for proposals under CORNET is open to realize further international research projects for the benefit of SMEs in different countries and regions. Project submission is possible until March 26, 2025, 12:00 noon (CET).
June 28, 2024
CORNET Call – Deadline September 25, 2024
Within the program for Industrial Collective Research (IGF) of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), international research projects benefiting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are also funded. These projects are carried out as part of the transnational network CORNET (COllective Research Networking) in collaboration with the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA). For more information about CORNET, you can visit the IGF website of the BMWK, CORNET-online, and the BAFA website.
38th CORNET Call is now open.
From June 27, 2024, the 38th call for proposals under CORNET is open to realize further international research projects for the benefit of SMEs in different countries and regions. Project submission is possible until September 25, 2024, 12:00 CEST (Central European Summer Time).
June 04, 2024
The IGF’s “Lead Technologies” funding option is entering the next round: particularly systemically relevant, broad-based projects on the topic of the energy transition can be submitted. In particular, they should sustainably strengthen the international competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the respective sector(s). The projects must deal with one or more lead technology(ies) in the field of the energy transition. In particular, the topics “energy supply”, “energy infrastructure for transportation and storage”, “energy use”, “energy efficiency”, “energy system and system integration” are in demand.
As part of the current announcement, you can submit applications for funding in the area of “Leading technologies of the energy transition” from 03.06.2024 to 26.07.2024 (8 weeks).
All further information can be found on the IGF portal at https://portal.industrielle-gemeinschaftsforschung.de/antragstellende/leittechnologien. Over this link you can also find further downloads and frequently asked questions.
EFDS is happy to support projects relating to thin-film technologies for the energy transition. If you would like to submit a project for this funding program, please contact us and submit your project outline to the EFDS office at info@efds.org by 14.06.2024.
Europäische Forschungsgesellschaft Dünne Schichten e.V.
Gostritzer Straße 63
01217 Dresden, GERMANY
