Topic 3
Innovative surfaces, coatings and interfaces

Surface and coating technologies are key enablers for new solutions across numerous industrial sectors worldwide. This call will stimulate application-driven development of innovative surfaces, thin films, coatings, interfaces, and related process technologies. The scope covers a broad spectrum of industry needs and applications, in various fields (e.g. health, transport, construction, packaging, energy, electronics, etc.).

Projects that increase the synergy between industry and academia are encouraged. Potential topics include, but are not limited to: stimuli-responsive and adaptive coatings, catalytic properties, adhesive properties, optical, electrical and magnetic surface properties, surfaces with antimicrobial properties, biocompatibility, anti-icing, anti-slip, anti-wear, changing stress distribution, anticorrosion, self-healing properties, thermal barrier and high-temperature coatings applications, tribological coatings and/or surface modification for energy saving and/or noise mitigation and barrier coatings.

The proposals should consider the energy efficient development, processing or production aspects including modelling and circular economy. Safe and sustainable processing, use of materials in an environmentally friendly manner with special attention to critical raw materials (CRM) and recyclability should be considered.

The proposals should address at least one of the following items:

• Development and optimization of advanced surfaces technologies and multifunctional coatings, including thin films, interfaces and/or interphases.
• Development of surface texturing to achieve targeted performance
• Development of surface modification and recovery by additive manufacturing
• Development of new or improved processing technologies considering circular economy (repair, reuse, recycle) and energy efficiency to enable deposition of new coatings and/or surface modification
• Engineered functional interfaces between artificial and biological systems.

• Development of thin films and coatings for sensing applications, including biosensing

Inclusion of one or more of the following cross-cutting aspects would be considered a strength:

• Considering aspects such as mechanistic understanding and experimental verification of the novel properties of the developed material or device. Where relevant, including prototyping, up-scaling, and manufacturing, with validation and demonstration in a relevant operational environment with a view to end-user applications
• Addressing complementary characterisation techniques (including New Approach Methods (NAMs)) and/or, where relevant, modelling techniques, AI and Machine Learning (ML).
• Development of in-lab protocols to replicate the failure mechanism of the surface/coating interface in order to predict and improve lifetime and formulate future standards.
• Addressing the impact of how coatings and/or thin films on the recyclability of the core material
• Ensuring relevance for different links in the value chain by stating clear concepts for application(s) in targeted industrial sector(s).
• Including (in accordance with the project’s scope and ambition) lifecycle, environmental, economic, and/or social assessments to address sustainability 

Proposals should address how they will contribute to the expected impact of the topic, addressing at least two of the following aspects:

• Innovative energy-efficient process technologies for interface optimisation, coating development and application, as well as surface modification
• Availability of high-end components, products with tailored properties or functionalities by innovative surfaces, coatings and interfaces. All addressed technologies and/or products should ensure having a minimal negative impact on health and safety
• Achieving a positive ecological outcome and improved energy performance by developing processes, coating materials, and thin film technologies following a circular economy and CRM strategies in accordance with SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy)
• Innovative products or technologies with tailored properties or functionalities enabled by innovative surfaces, coatings and interfaces, that generate positive societal impacts, on e.g. safety, economic, competitiveness employment, quality of life, and avoid the release of hazardous substances
• The possibility to develop innovative characterization protocols as guidelines for future standards

The proposal impact should be substantiated with key performance indicators. All proposals should address environmental aspects, including reuse, remanufacturing or recycling considerations, and broader social or ethical impacts, when relevant. All proposals should clearly state the TRL at the project start and at the project end. The proposals should include a plan for the transition to higher TRLs at a later stage (i.e. after the project end date). Establishing an industrial and societal advisory board or the participation of one or more companies in the project consortium is encouraged. 

M-ERA.NET requires that all proposers explain how their projects demonstrate a commitment to RRI by investigating and addressing the environmental, social, ethical, political, or cultural dimensions of the proposed research.

In line with the M-ERA.NET RRI annex, proposals should consider the following points:

• Resources: the use of resources should be considered at design phase, to minimize or substitute the use of harmful materials for the health and environment, or the use of critical raw materials.
• Green-production-processes: use of environmentally friendly solvents, avoiding hazardous elements, substances of concern, minimizing energy and water consumption during production and preserving worker’s health.
• Use phase: the reduction of energy consumed or wear during use phase, the sustainability of the conditions under which the material can be used (avoiding wear and releases to the environment, increasing life span, etc.)
• End-of-life: the entry of the material into the circular economy, including repairing, reuse, remanufacturing or recycling considerations.
• Involvement of relevant societal stakeholders as appropriate.

Proposals should describe potential trade-offs between sustainability burdens and benefits, and include an activity where relevant aspects are further investigated, potentially with corresponding impacts on the design of the material(s).

This topic is targeted at all groups in the innovation chain: basic research, applied research, industrial research, as well as at the end-user industry. The topic is particularly suitable for the establishment of a strong collaboration between research entities and industry, including Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Interdisciplinary/transdisciplinary projects along the value chain are encouraged and should enable a broader cross-sectorial use. In proposals targeting TRL 4 and higher, industrial partners and at least one project partner specialised on customer or end-user demands should be involved in the project consortium. Collaboration between research entities and industrial partners is encouraged also at lower TRLs.

Projects submitted to this Topic should choose at least 2 keywords from the following list:

Adaptive coatings; Adhesive properties; Advanced coatings; Anticorrosion; Anti-icing; Antimicrobial surfaces; Anti-slippery; Anti-wear; Barrier coating; Bio-based or Bioinspired coatings; Biocompatibility; Bio-interfaces; Biomimetic surfaces; Catalytic properties; Energy saving; Functionalisation; High temperature coating applications; Innovative surfaces; Interfaces; Interphases; Modelling / simulations; Multifunctional coatings; Nano-engineered coatings; Noise mitigation; Optical, Electrical and magnetic surface properties; Residual stresses; Self-healing properties; Sensing surfaces; Smart coatings; Structured surfaces; Surface characterisation techniques; Surface modification by Additive Manufacturing; Surface technologies; Textured surfaces; Thermal barrier; Thin films; Tribological coatings; Tribology; Upscaling of surface treatments.

General keywords (KWs) (such as Additive manufacturing / 3D printing; Durability; Nanomaterials; Recyclability…) and Additional KWs (free text) can also be chosen in the submission platform. The ensemble of the keywords should allow for an overview of the scope of the project (consider describing different aspects of the project such as: main scientific area / domain, system / property / material of interest, applications / objectives and pertinent procedures / techniques).