General Information
Innovative Advanced Materials (IAMs) are positioned as a key enabling factor across many strategic technology fields, particularly in CleanTech and DeepTech, and directly support major EU policy frameworks such as the Net-Zero Industry Act, the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). The strategic importance of IAMs is also clearly emphasized in high-level policy documents such as the Draghi Report and the EU Competitiveness Council’s “Competitiveness Compass”.
In this context, the “Innovative Advanced Materials for Europe” (IAM4EU) Partnership aims to reinforce Europe’s leadership in advanced materials by establishing an international, cross-sectoral, and interdisciplinary R&I ecosystem based on strong public-private collaboration. This holistic effort supports the General Objective of the Partnership: strengthening Europe’s technological sovereignty and industrial competitiveness. It also advances the Specific Objectives, such as developing the IAMs required for the green and digital transitions and accelerating the innovation cycle. At the Operational Objective level, it contributes to the uptake of IAMs in industry, the implementation of the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) approach, the expansion of collaborative efforts, and the development of new circular business models. The Partnership initially targets key industrial ecosystems including energy, mobility, construction, and electronics.
The IAM4EU approach includes improving the properties of existing materials, developing new materials with lower environmental impact, and integrating these materials into strategic value chains across their entire lifecycle—from production to recycling. The key priorities underpinning this effort are safety, sustainability, carbon footprint reduction, circularity, strategic autonomy, and the efficient use of natural resources. The Partnership has structured its priority areas under three main categories.
INNOVATIVE ADVANCED MATERIALS AND ASSOCIATED TECHNOLOGIES
P#1 - CRM-free/lean and efficient catalysts for energy conversion and CO2 reduction
P#2 - High-conductivity and durable membranes for efficient H2 production and conversion
P#3 - Innovative concepts, designs & components for efficient H2 and thermal energy storage
P#4 - CRM-free/lean magnetic phases for high-performance permanent magnets in circular value chains
P#5 - Innovative electrodes, electrolytes, binders and separators for electrochemical energy storage.
P#6 - Responsive IAMs and smart surfaces & interfaces for multifunctional components & products
P#7 - Innovative surfaces, interfaces and composites for lightweight, durable and sustainable structural systems
P#8 - IAMs to reduce use of CRM and other environmentally harmful materials in electronic devices and their manufacturing processes
P#9 - IAMs for energy efficient, multi-functional photonic and optoelectronic and quantum technologies
P#10 - IAMS based on (Design for) recyclable polymers/polymeric composites
P#11 - IAMS based on PFAS alternatives
CROSS-ENABLING TOOLS AND METHODOLOGIES
P#12 - Fair and semantic interoperable digital materials data space
P#13 - Predicting life cycle of materials
P#14 - Valid test methods supporting the implementation of SSbD
P#15 - Data management & curation for efficient SSbD
ECOSYSTEM ENABLERS AND SYNERGIES
P#16 - New business models
P#17 - Augment by an ‘incentive system’
P#18 - Synergy with the “advanced materials academy”
P#19 - Networking and widespread use of technology infrastructures
P#20 - LRI, OITB and MAP integration
P#21 - Contribution to further development of standards & norms
The Innovative Advanced Materials for Europe Partnership is a Co-Programmed European Partnership implemented by the Innovative Advanced Materials Initiative (IAM-I) in collaboration with the European Commission, with IAM-I serving as the private side coordinator. IAM-I is an international non-profit association that operates with the mission of coordinating advanced materials and innovation activities across Europe.
With the responsibility of bringing together all stakeholders—from universities to industry, from public authorities to citizens—under a common umbrella, IAM-I works to provide a shared solution framework addressing the needs and challenges encountered throughout the lifecycle of Innovative Advanced Materials. More information about the IAM-I Initiative and details about its membership system can be found on the IAM-I official website.
The information on this page is compiled from the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) of the Innovative Advanced Materials for Europe Partnership and the Concept Paper available on the IAM-I website.
