(AMBIENT) ADVANCED MATERIALS FOR NEB-INSPIRED ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC PROCUREMENT

Project details

Funding: HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-MATERIALS-44
Project coordinator: SCIENCE & INNOVATION LINK OFFICE SL (SILO)
Project period: 01/06/2026– 31/05/2028

IMDEA Materials' researchers

Dr. Carlos González

Abstract

AMBIENT (Advanced Materials for NEB-Inspired ENvironmenTal Public Procurement) responds to the growing challenges posed by
extreme climate events, which place increasing pressure on European cities, infrastructure, and citizens’ well-being interms of energy
demand. Rising heatwaves, cold spells, and energy demand are reshaping urban life, creating urgent needs for climate-resilient, energy
efficient, and inclusive solutions. The New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative provides the guiding framework, linking sustainability,
aesthetics, and social inclusion with advanced material innovations. AMBIENT will establish a Europe-wide consortium of public
procurers and advanced material experts to i) Identify unmet procurement needs in climate resilience, energy efficiency, and public
welfare ; ii) Foster market dialogue through Open Market Consultation, matchmaking events, and demand–supply gap analysis; iii)
Promote innovative advanced materials with functional, circular, and aesthetic qualities aligned with NEB values ; iv) Enable knowledge
sharing and capacity building for public buyers, supported by training, guidelines, and digital tools; and v) Prepare future PCP/PPI
procedures that integrate sustainability, circularity, and standardisation pathways into procurement strategies. The methodology integrates
needs assessment, market analysis, and procurement strategy design, validated by an NEB Observer Committee of municipalities, experts,
and policymakers. By de-risking innovation procurement and aligning it with EU policy priorities AMBIENT will empower public
authorities to act as catalysts for market transformation. SMEs, startups, and research institutions will gain clearer routes to market, while
citizens will benefit from more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable public spaces. Ultimately, AMBIENT will create a scalable European
ecosystem for advanced materials procurement, strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy.

Coordinator

Partners

Funded by

Funded by the European Union through the AMBIENT grant (101294242). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.