Europe sets up new €385M research partnership on raw materials
News
At Raw Materials Week in Brussels, we sat down with Tobias Kampmann from Vinnova to discuss one of the biggest shifts in Europe’s raw materials landscape: the preparation of RAMP, a new research and innovation partnership expected to mobilise up to €385 million.
– RAMP is expected to be five times larger than ERA-MIN in terms of budget, says Tobias Kampmann.
As he put it right away:
– When Raw Materials Week was launched ten years ago the focus was on building the ecosystem and structures. Today the focus is on implementation and making sure that the considerable investments lead to real change.
The partnership is currently being evaluated by the European Commission, and in the meantime, Vinnova together with partners from across Europe and beyond are preparing its launch.
The design of RAMP targets, but is not limited to, idea-driven research and innovation across TRL 1–6/7, which is an area not sufficiently covered in larger EU instruments.
– We’ve been looking at individual parts of the value chain for too long. RAMP instead supports the full loop, from geology and processing to design, circularity, and societal benefits.
Typical RAMP projects will be:
- 3 years long
- Around €1-2M per consortium
- Involving at least three countries, drawn from the more than 30 countries participating in the RAMP preparation
It’s the opposite of heavy, bureaucratic Horizon projects. Smaller, smarter, faster, and focused on system innovation.
– We want smaller, idea-driven projects that can be scaled up further in international contexts, says Kampmann.
The first RAMP call is planned for April–June 2026, with projects starting in 2027.
– It is expected to broadly follow the structure in RAMP’s SRIA, covering supply, circularity, product design, resource efficiency, policy support, and societal perspectives, he says.
He also points to the link between RAMP and national initiatives such as Swedish Metals & Minerals:
– If Swedish interest is strong as in ERA-MIN, we may also be able to scale up our national funding. We want Swedish actors to be well-positioned early on, he says.
How to prepare for the new programme:
1. Start identifying partners!
– Stakeholders across Europe are already looking for Swedish partners.
2. Explore RAMP’s SRIA!
– Read the SRIA. The first call will have a broad scope
3. Watch for upcoming planning grants!
– We want to support strong consortia from the start.
–The key is to start now! What happens with raw materials research and innovation in the next 10 years will determine Europe’s industrial future for the next 50 years, Tobias Kampmann emphasises.
Keep an eye out on Swedish Metals & Minerals web for updates on RAMP, calls, timelines, and practical guidance for applicants!