Capacity building for extending product lifecycles through repair and refurbishment - European Commission
Funds research to develop and test innovative training and services that expand repair and refurbishment capacity for key products, supporting the EU's circular economy and sustainability goals.
Funder: European Commission
Due Dates: September 22, 2027
Funding Amounts: Total budget: €9,000,000; typical grant: €4,000,000–€5,000,000; 2 projects funded; lump sum grants.
Summary: Supports development and testing of innovative training and services to build repair and refurbishment capacity, advancing circular economy goals in the EU.
Key Information: Requires strong social sciences and humanities (SSH) expertise and multi-actor involvement.
Description
This grant funds collaborative research and innovation projects to advance repair and refurbishment skills, services, and strategies across key product value chains—specifically electronics (including household appliances), furniture, textiles, and footwear. The initiative seeks to reduce waste, environmental impacts, and emissions by extending product lifecycles, in line with the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Act.
Projects should:
- Develop and test innovative, modular, and scalable training programs for professionals, consumers, local partners, social economy actors, and educators.
- Create and evaluate new services and strategies for repair and refurbishment, focusing on accessibility, affordability, and environmental impact.
- Ensure engagement and capacity-building for all societal groups, including those with disabilities or limited resources.
- Use robust evaluation methods (e.g., lifecycle assessment, Product Environmental Footprint) to demonstrate economic, environmental, and social impacts.
- Integrate social sciences and humanities (SSH) expertise to maximize societal impact.
The action type is Horizon Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), with funding provided as lump sum grants.
