Call will support ambitious transnational research and technological development projects addressing materials research and innovation.

The ERA-NET for Materials Research and Innovation (M-ERA.NET 3) is an EU funded network, established to support and increase the coordination of European research programmes in materials research and innovation.

M-ERA.NET 3 has launched the 2026 joint call for proposals to fund ambitious transnational research and technological development (RTD) projects addressing materials research and innovation supporting the European Green Deal and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A total of 34 funding organisations are participating in the call, which has an indicative total call budget of €39 million.

The horizontal objectives for the Call 2026 are:

• Supporting the European Green Deal by increasing attention to clean energy technologies and future batteries.
• Supporting the achievement of SDGs.
• Creating socio-ecological benefits in the context of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI).
• Supporting the Innovation chain, strengthening interdisciplinarity and widening.
• Digitalisation and data management.

Horizontal objectives must be integrated into the project’s concept, expected outcomes, and delivery strategy. Their implementation should be evidenced through concrete measures, clearly assigned responsibilities, and verifiable deliverables.

Applicants should address one of the following six thematic areas:

1. Materials for energy storage and distribution systems.
2. Materials for energy conversion.
3. Innovative surfaces, coatings and interfaces.
4. Innovative functional materials with defined architectures.
5. Materials addressing environmental challenges.
6. Next generation materials for electronics.

Eligible applicants include SMEs, large companies, academic research groups, universities, public research organisations and other research organisations. Project consortia must consist of at least three partners (all requesting funding) from at least three different countries participating in the call. At least two of these must be from an EU Member State or Associated Country.

The participating countries are: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada (Québec), Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Türkiye.

Eligibility requirements, national/regional topics of interest, eligible costs and funding provisions may vary according to the respective funding organisation’s regulations. Project partners must therefore refer and adhere to their own regional/national regulations and scientific remits, as detailed in the relevant regional/national announcements.

Projects will start over February-May 2027. The maximum duration of projects is 36 months.