How do you make smartwatches, phones, and electric cars work better? Unique design features of special substances called advanced materials can do the trick, securing European technological leadership and strategic autonomy in the process. The European Commission is working on the Advanced Materials Act to that end.
With a public consultation now open until 13 January 2026, the legislation is likely to see a formal proposal in 2026. It will establish a comprehensive framework for the development, production, and deployment of advanced materials.
“We want Europe to be at the forefront of developing advanced materials that are key to today’s and tomorrow’s innovations,” Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva (Startups, Research and Innovation) said on Wednesday. “We want to hear from everyone—researchers, businesses, small and medium enterprises, and policymakers—to build a strong framework that supports industrial innovation and competitiveness.”
The desired success of the act hinges on a robust competitiveness check and impact assessment, DigitalEurope noted. “Now is the time to simplify and untangle the existing spaghetti bowl of regulation, rather than adding new layers of complexity,” the continent’s leading industrial trade association said in a statement. “At the same time, we must take stock of the current framework and ensure a thorough evaluation of existing rules, resilience, and supply chains through detailed competitiveness assessments.”
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A strategic framework
The upcoming legislation is central to the EU’s Competitiveness Compass, the Commission’s blueprint to enhance Europe’s industrial and technological base. The Advanced Materials Act is to include a €500m public–private partnership fund (originally announced in February 2024), to which the EU would contribute €250m.
By leveraging matching private investment, the fund is to help companies scale innovation and accelerate market deployment. The partnership should support research and innovation in key applications such as energy, mobility, electronics and construction. It also aims to promote the uptake of sustainable materials and reduce dependence on critical raw materials.
The Commission also intends to create a Technology Council on Advanced Materials. The body is to unite EU and national authorities, researchers and industry stakeholders in order to coordinate research priorities, promote international cooperation, and oversee the creation of a “materials commons”. The latter is a to be a digital platform using AI to help innovators design and test new materials more efficiently.
The European Advanced Materials Academy
Alongside the Act, the Commission and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) have launched the European Advanced Materials Academy in October. The Academy hopes to train 200,000 people by 2029 to equip Europe’s workforce with the advanced skills needed for high-tech sectors like energy, mobility, electronics and construction.
The bloc is suffering from a persistent mismatch between the skills its institutions teach and the skills labour markets require in the field of advanced materials. According to the EIT, one in four European companies report difficulty hiring adequately qualified workers. Moreover, the new hires often lack industry-ready training. The academy should help close that gap.
“By engaging 200,000 learners across Europe, we are building the skills and sovereignty needed to turn science into industry and innovation into impact,” Bernd Schäfer, CEO of EIT said. “With the launch of the European Advanced Materials Academy, we are not only preparing for the future, we are shaping it. From AI-driven design to circular manufacturing, this Academy will equip Europe’s workforce to lead the next generation of materials innovation.”
Public consultation
The Commission is currently collecting evidence and feedback to shape the final version of the act. Stakeholders have demanded that, beyond funding for research and innovation, resources be also directed toward scaling up production. Interested parties have until 13 January 2026 to submit their input before the Commission formally announces the legislation.
