Deadline: The call remains open until the available grant funding has been allocated, or until 14.06.2028, 13:00 CEST (Oslo Time) at the latest. Proposals may be submitted at any time during the call period.
Available Budget: up to 24 600 000 NOK
Maximum amount of funding that may be applied for: Up to 1 000 000 NOK per project, with a project duration of up to one year.
Background
The transition towards a sustainable and digital economy in Europe necessitates a resilient and responsible raw materials value chain. This shift is driven by increasing demand for critical metals and minerals, essential for technologies such as electric vehicles, renewable energy systems and digital infrastructure. Projections indicate a dramatic rise in the consumption of key raw materials, notably energy transition minerals, underscoring the importance of securing sustainable access while minimising negative environmental impacts, such as pollution, and conflicts relating to land use.
Europe's reliance on imports from limited third-country sources presents a strategic vulnerability that the European Union aims to address through comprehensive policy initiatives. The Critical Raw Materials Act sets ambitious targets for extraction, processing and recycling, complemented by the Circular Economy Action Plan and the Clean Industrial Deal, all aimed at reducing dependency and fostering circularity.
The Raw Materials Partnership for the Green and Digital Transition (RAMP), launched in late 2025, will support research and innovation projects across the raw materials value chain over its 11-year lifespan. RAMP will facilitate seven annual transnational calls, aiming to fund well over 100 projects, and will complement Horizon Europe and other initiatives such as EIT RawMaterials. The partnership is coordinated by Vinnova (Sweden) and involves agencies representing all Nordic countries.
Aim and scope of the call
This call aims to catalyse research and innovation co-operation among Nordic stakeholders in the metals and minerals sector.
The thematic scope of the call encompasses the entire raw materials value chain, from exploration and mining to efficient processing, design and manufacture, recycling, and effective use. It also considers the socio-ecological impacts associated with raw material extraction and processing, aligning with broader EU policies aimed at sustainability and circularity. Projects should focus on strategic planning, stakeholder engagement and capacity building, with an emphasis on fostering innovation, knowledge exchange and regional integration.
Projects funded under this call are expected to:
- actively seek information on calls for proposals launched by RAMP or complementary organisations or programmes such as EIT or Horizon Europe;
- design a strategy and action plan for submitting competitive proposals to such calls, also beyond the period of the project;
- contribute to aligning and creating synergies between Nordic research efforts in areas of particular importance to the raw materials sector in the Nordic region;
- build on the strengths of Nordic research and innovation and address needs that are particular to the Nordic countries;
- operate across Nordic countries, topics and sectors;
- distil insights and findings from ongoing projects and research and draw on existing knowledge to develop cutting-edge research ideas and proposals in response to RAMP and other relevant calls;
- involve a wide range of stakeholders (research institutes, companies, public-sector bodies, NGOs and other relevant actors) in the preparatory actions to develop proposals to RAMP and complementary calls;
- generate new expertise that is expected to enhance the long-term competitiveness of Nordic companies and the sustainability of the Nordic raw materials sector.
In addition, projects are encouraged to address issues related to land use and the rights of Indigenous and local communities as relevant.
Funding
This call is announced as a collaborative effort between Innovaatiorahoituskeskus Business Finland, Nordic Innovation, the Research Council of Norway, Vinnova, and NordForsk.
Webinar
NordForsk will host a webinar for researchers and stakeholders interested in the call on 2 September 2026 at 10.00 (CEST).
Questions and answers
Do you have questions related to the call? Please contact: prepRAMP26-QA@nordforsk.org
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