Scope:

The existing and rapidly progressing knowledge in this domain, in terms of characterisation of material properties and of possible adverse effects from their applications, is expected to allow for classification of ENMs based on morphology, composition, complexity/functionality, and by bio or eco-interactions. The classification approaches should aim to support grouping of ENMs for further risk analysis, to help in developing intelligent testing strategies and identifying "ENMs properties of concern" that need to be tested more thoroughly. Methods for grouping and for read-across within or between groups, should be defined to reduce unnecessary efforts in testing. Grouping can take into account quantification of possible adverse effects depending on the use on ENMs in specific applications. Results from these studies should be collected and combined in a consistent and progressive system enabling both the integration of newer data and the use of raw and aggregated data for regulatory purposes. Particular attention should be paid to supporting safer-by-design practices, so that novel products containing ENMs provide the benefits originally claimed by maintaining fullest possible intended functionality and at the same time pose the least possibly risks to humans, the environment and ecosystem services. The proposed projects should include appropriate data curation expertise, modelling (including development of theoretical models if appropriate) and input into the possible development of Q(n)SP/AR approaches in order to develop user friendly interfaces to enable data driven predictions from other ENMs with similar properties or behaviour, and predictive risk assessment tools.

Activities are expected to focus on Technology Readiness Levels 5 to 7

This topic is part of the open data pilot.

This topic is particularly suitable for international cooperation.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU between EUR 5 and 7 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

No more than one action will be funded.

Expected Impact:

• The research approach should be innovative and represent a significant advance beyond the current state-of-the-art in the whole area of nanomaterials hazard and exposure assessment;
• Sustainable solutions to the long-term challenge of nanosafety at a level that will allow both consistent integration of newer data and regulatory application of scientifically sound concepts;
• Cutting-edge progress towards a framework and methods for groupings and read-across useable in a regulatory environment;
• Demonstration of consistent, applicable and scientifically sound grouping and read-across strategies in specific value chains, ready for use by industry and regulators, enabling predictive hazard and exposure modelling for risk analysis, and including the input towards safer-by-design guidance;
• Outputs should be tailored to address the needs of each of the stakeholder communities, including the modelling community. Delivered predictive models and tools should be disseminated through publically available, ready-to-use applications.

Topic conditions and documents

Please read carefully all provisions below before the preparation of your application.
 

LIST OF COUNTRIES and APPLICABLE RULES FOR FUNDING
described in part A of the General Annexes of the General Work Programme.

Note also that a number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon 2020 projects (follow the links to Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Hong Kong &Macau, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Taiwan).
 

ELIGIBILITY and ADMISSIBILITY CONDITIONS
described in part B and C of the General Annexes of the General Work Programme.

Proposal page limits and layout: Please refer to Part B of the standard proposal template.

 

EVALUATION

3.1  Evaluation criteria and procedure, scoring and threshold: described in part H of the General Annexes of the General Work Programme , with the following exceptions:

For single-stage and second-stage evaluations, the threshold for the criteria Excellence and Impact will be 4.
The overall threshold, applying to the sum of the three individual scores, will be 12.

In case of equal overall scores in the ranked list, the priority order of proposals will be established in accordance with part H of the General Annexes, except that proposals will be ranked on the basis of individual scores for the Impact criterion before the Excellence criterion.

In case of equal overall scores in the ranked list, the priority order of proposals will be established in accordance with part H of the General Annexes, except, when comparing ex aequo proposals of different topics, the proposals will be ranked first according to the position in the topic ranked lists

3.2 Submission and evaluation process: Guide to the submission and evaluation process
    

INDICATIVE TIMETABLE for EVALUATION and GRANT AGREEMENT

Information on the outcome of two-stage evaluation:
      For stage 1: maximum 3 months from the deadline for submission.
      For stage 2: maximum 5 months from the deadline for submission.
Signature of grant agreements: maximum 8 months from the deadline for submission.

 

PROVISIONS, PROPOSAL TEMPLATES and EVALUATION FORMS
for the type of action under this topic

Research and Innovation Action:

Specific provisions and funding rates
Standard proposal template
Standard evaluation form
H2020 General MGA -Multi-Beneficiary
Annotated Grant Agreement
 

ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS

• Horizon 2020 budget flexibility
• Classified information
• Technology readiness levels (TRL) – where a topic description refers to TRL, these definitions apply.
• Financial support to Third Parties – where a topic description foresees financial support to Third Parties, these provisions apply.

OPEN ACCESS
must be granted to all scientific publications resulting from Horizon 2020 actions, and proposals must refer to measures envisaged. 

Where relevant, proposals should also provide information on how the participants will manage the research data generated and/or collected during the project, such as details on what types of data the project will generate, whether and how this data will be exploited or made accessible for verification and re-use, and how it will be curated and preserved.
 

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS

• Legal basis: Horizon 2020 - Regulation of Establishment
• Legal basis: Horizon 2020 Rules for Participation
• Legal basis: Horizon 2020 Specific Programme
• H2020 Work Programme 2016-17: Introduction
• H2020 Work Programme 2016-17: Introduction to Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies (LEITs)
• H2020 Work Programme 2016-17: Nanotechnologies, advanced materials, advanced manufacturing and processing, biotechnology
• H2020 Work Programme 2016-17: Cross-cutting activities (Focus Areas)
• H2020 Work Programme 2016-17: Dissemination, Exploitation and Evaluation
• H2020 Work Programme 2016-17: General Annexes

The deadline for the second stage is 4 May 2017.