Mecat · Mechanocatalysis for sustainable synthesis
Horizon Europe — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2026-12-01 → 2030-11-30
- EU contribution
- €4,590,980
- Participants
- 22
- Scheme
- HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-DN
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners. CORDIS does not always give exact coordinates for projects before 2014. These points are placed at city or country level.
Project objective
Mecat is a Doctoral Network aiming to revolutionise chemical synthesis and polymer circularity through the development of predictive, energy-efficient mechanocatalytic technologies. By integrating catalyst design, operando monitoring, data-driven modelling, and scalable processing, MECAT will establish mechanochemistry as a reliable and sustainable alternative to solvent-based transformations. The project brings together leading academic groups and industrial partners across the European value chain to create a unified scientific and technological platform capable of understanding, optimising, and scaling mechanocatalytic reactions. Fifteen Doctoral Candidates will address four core objectives: (1) design and characterisation of innovative mechanocatalysts for organic synthesis and polymer depolymerisation; (2) development of operando analytical tools to access real-time mechanistic information inside milling environments; (3) creation of predictive kinetic and process models enabling rational optimisation and digital process control; and (4) demonstration of scalable, low-energy, solvent-free processes using twin-screw extrusion, RAM technology, and pilot-scale milling systems. Environmental and economic performance will be quantified through integrated Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA).Mecat will train a new generation of interdisciplinary researchers equipped with advanced scientific, digital, and sustainability competencies, supported by a comprehensive network-wide training programme and strong intersectoral secondments. The project will deliver open, FAIR data resources, new mechanocatalytic methodologies, operando technologies, validated scale-up protocols, and comparative sustainability benchmarks. Altogether, Mecat will provide the scientific foundations and human capital needed to accelerate Europe’s transition toward safe, circular, and solvent-free chemical manufacturing, in line with the Green Deal and industrial decarbonat
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSITE DE POITIERS · Poitiers CedexCoordinatorFrance
- AGRO INDUSTRIE RECHERCHES ET DEVELOPPEMENT · PomacleCountry levelFrance
- BUNDESANSTALT FUER MATERIALFORSCHUNG UND -PRUEFUNG · BerlinGermany
- ECOLE NORMALE SUPERIEURE DE LYON · LyonFrance
- FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV · MunchenGermany
- HTE GMBH THE HIGH THROUGHPUT EXPERIMENTATION COMPANY · HeidelbergGermany
- HUMBOLDT-UNIVERSITAET ZU BERLIN · BerlinGermany
- IFP Energies nouvelles · Rueil MalmaisonFrance
- INSTITUT TECHNOLOGIQUE FCBA (FORETCELLULOSE BOIS-CONSTRUCTION AMEUBLEMENT) · Champs Sur MarneFrance
- JOHNSON MATTHEY PLC · LONDONUnited Kingdom
- MICROTRAC RETSCH GMBH · HaanCity levelGermany
- RUHR-UNIVERSITAET BOCHUM · BochumGermany
- Retsch GmbH · HaanCity levelGermany
- SAINT GOBAIN RECHERCHE · AubervilliersFrance
- SAINT-GOBAIN CENTRE DE RECHERCHES ET D'ETUDES EUROPEEN · CourbevoieFrance
- SPECIALTY OPERATIONS FRANCE · LYONFrance
- THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM · BirminghamUnited Kingdom
- UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI CAGLIARI · CagliariItaly
- UNIVERSITE DE BORDEAUX · BordeauxFrance
- UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT · UtrechtNetherlands
- WAB-Group® · MuttenzCity levelSwitzerland
- WELOOP · LambersartFrance
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union