Research
Are you researching high-quality applications for recycled rubber? Apply for a grant of between €50,000 and €200,000, with 30% co-financing.
What kind of research do we fund?
Basic research
- New applications for rubber granules
- Material properties and optimization
- Chemical and/or physical processes for upcycling
- Life cycle analyses and impact studies
Applied research
- Proof-of-concept for new product applications
- Test setups and validation experiments
- University-industry collaboration
- Pre-competitive technology development
What types of research do we not fund?
These projects fall outside our scope:
- purely academic publications with no potential for application;
- research with no connection to rubber;
- projects primarily focused on patents without implementation.
Evaluation criteria
We evaluate your application based on eight criteria. A total score of at least 60/100 is required, with a minimum of 12/20 for environmental and economic impact.
- Scientific merit & innovation (15%)
What is the scientific innovation, and how does it relate to existing research? - Technical feasibility (10%)
Is the research plan realistic within the timeframe and budget? - Environmental & economic impact (20%)
What is the potential for CO₂ reduction, waste reduction, and cost efficiency? You must score at least 12 out of 20 here. - Scalability & industrial relevance (15%)
Can this research lead to market-oriented applications, and is there industrial interest? - Funding leverage (10%)
Is there co-funding from the government, industry, or other grants? - Team & expertise (10%)
Does the team have a track record in this field, and are there strong collaborations? - Regulatory & IP (10%)
Have compliance risks been identified, and is the IP strategy clear? - Complexity & timeline (10%)
Is the timeline realistic, and have risks been acknowledged?
Do you have questions about these criteria? Feel free to contact us; we’d be happy to help.
Co-financing & partnerships
Strong projects rarely emerge on their own. That is why we encourage collaborations between:
- research institutions & companies
A university conducts research, while an industry partner provides materials and tests results in a real production environment. - public & private funders
Combine Green’er grants with VLAIO, EU Horizon, or SBO (minimum 30% co-funding is required). - various disciplines
Materials science, chemistry, and environmental impact together create a stronger business case.
Application Process
A complete application consists of four parts. Below, you can read what we expect for each part.
1. Project Proposal
- Research question and scientific rationale
- Methodology and work plan
- Expected output and impact
- Team and expertise
Keep the project proposal to a maximum of 5 pages.
2. Budget and timeline
- Detailed cost estimate
- Phasing and milestones
- Co-financing (confirmed or pending)
3. Impact Assessment
- Circular impact (quantitative where possible)
- Scalability
- Industrial relevance
4. References
- Previous publications or projects
- Collaboration partners
- Letters of intent (if available)
Upon approval
Has your project been approved? Congratulations! Here are the guidelines for the duration of your project:
- Reporting – You will submit interim reports at each milestone, every three to six months.
- Publications – You are free to publish, provided you credit Green'er as the funder.
- Intellectual property – In the event of commercial success, Green'er obtains a limited intellectual property right proportional to the investment. This allows us to raise new funds for further investments in the circular economy.
- Is your project going well? – Follow-up funding is available through our development track.
Apply for financing
Do you have a research question that aligns with our mission? Submit your proposal and get your research off the ground.