Summary
- Profile Type
- Research & Development Request
- POD Reference
- RDRLV20260720026
- Term of Validity
- 20 July 2026 - 20 July 2027
- Company's Country
- Latvia
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
General information
- Short Summary
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A Latvian organisation is preparing a proposal under the I3-2026-INV2a – for the production of large rotationally moulded products for marine applications.
The organisation is seeking a research institution, university, technology centre or other qualified organisation with strong practical experience in the use of HDPE granulate and powder in rotational moulding. Expertise in the processing, formulation, testing and industrial application of recycled HDPE is particularly important. - Full Description
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A Latvian non-profit innovation and technology organisation is coordinating the preparation of a project proposal under the I3-2026-INV2a – Financial and advisory support for investments in interregional innovation projects for the development of value chains in less developed regions call.
The planned project will establish an interregional European value chain for the development and production of large rotationally moulded products intended primarily for demanding marine applications. The investment concept includes the development and demonstration of rotational moulding processes for large components, using high-density polyethylene in granulate and powder form.
An important project objective is to increase the use of recycled materials while maintaining the mechanical properties, processability, durability and product safety required for demanding industrial applications. The project will therefore investigate the technically and economically viable integration of post-industrial and post-consumer recycled HDPE into rotational moulding production.
The project is expected to address the complete pathway from material preparation and formulation to processing, prototype production, testing and industrial demonstration. Potential activities include:
* selection and characterisation of virgin and recycled HDPE feedstock;
* evaluation of HDPE granulate and powder suitable for rotational moulding;
* preparation and modification of recycled-HDPE formulations;
* optimisation of particle size, powder flow, melt behaviour and sintering performance;
* assessment of material contamination, degradation and batch variability;
* optimisation of blends containing virgin and recycled HDPE;
* investigation of additives, pigments, antioxidants and UV stabilisers;
* development of single-layer and multilayer rotational moulding solutions;
* process optimisation for large and geometrically complex moulded components;
* mechanical, impact, creep, fatigue and environmental durability testing;
* evaluation of UV exposure, temperature variation, moisture and saltwater resistance;
* analysis of weldability, repairability, recyclability and end-of-life options;
* development of quality-control procedures and specifications for recycled-HDPE feedstock;
* demonstration of selected formulations in full-scale or near-full-scale rotationally moulded components.
The project will not focus only on laboratory research. The selected materials and formulations should be suitable for validation in an industrial environment and should support progression towards commercial production.
The planned applications include large, durable and potentially buoyant structures for marine environments. Nevertheless, the developed recycled-HDPE formulations and manufacturing methods may also be transferable to other sectors using large rotationally moulded products, including infrastructure, transport, aquaculture, energy, agriculture and environmental technologies.
The project is being prepared under the I3 Strand 2a programme, which supports interregional investments, innovation diffusion, demonstration, industrial deployment and market uptake. Projects are expected to begin at a minimum of TRL 6 and progress towards demonstration, commercialisation and scale-up. The programme applies a 70% EU funding rate for standard eligible project costs, while the remaining 30% must be provided as the partner’s own contribution or through other eligible non-EU resources.
The planned project duration is expected to be approximately 36 months. The call deadline is 12 November 2026, and the consortium is currently being developed. - Technical Specification or Expertise Sought
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The consortium is seeking a partner with demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following areas:
* recycled HDPE material development;
* post-consumer or post-industrial HDPE recycling;
* preparation of polyethylene powder for rotational moulding;
* grinding, pulverisation, compounding or pellet-to-powder conversion;
* characterisation of recycled polymer feedstock;
* rotational moulding of HDPE granulate or powder;
* formulation of virgin/recycled HDPE blends;
* polymer additives, antioxidants, pigments and UV stabilisers;
* prevention of oxidation, embrittlement and environmental stress cracking;
* melt-flow, rheological and sintering behaviour of polyethylene powders;
* multilayer rotational moulding;
* mechanical, impact, creep and fatigue testing of HDPE;
* industrial scale-up and validation of recycled polymer formulations.
The most important selection criterion is practical and research-based knowledge of recycled HDPE, particularly its preparation, formulation and use in rotational moulding.
General expertise in plastics or composites without demonstrated experience in recycled polyethylene would be considered less relevant. - Stage of Development
- Available for demonstration
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
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The selected partner is expected to:
* contribute to the technical design of the project;
* define material-development and testing methodologies;
* identify suitable sources and grades of recycled HDPE;
* characterise recycled and virgin HDPE feedstock;
* develop and optimise recycled-HDPE formulations;
* recommend suitable stabilisers, compatibilisers, pigments and processing additives;
* determine technically realistic recycled-content levels for different applications;
* support preparation of rotational-moulding powder;
* evaluate powder morphology, flow, melt behaviour and processability;
* support pilot and industrial rotational moulding trials;
* define testing and validation procedures;
* conduct or coordinate mechanical and environmental durability testing;
* compare recycled, virgin and blended HDPE formulations;
* support failure analysis and optimisation following prototype testing;
* contribute to quality-control specifications and production guidelines;
* participate in technical reporting, dissemination and exploitation activities;
* contribute to follow-up investment and commercial scale-up planning.
The partner should be willing to participate as a funded project beneficiary and must have the operational and financial capacity to provide its required 30% co-financing contribution. - Type and Size of Partner
- Big company
- R&D Institution
- SME 50 - 249
- University
- SME <=10
- SME 11-49
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
Call details
- Framework program
- International cooperation
- Call title and identifier
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I3-2026-INV2a - Interregional Innovation Investments Strand 2a
- Coordinator required
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No
- Deadline for EoI
- Deadline of the call
- International cooperation
Dissemination
- Market keywords
- 08001001 - Plastic fabricators
- 08001018 - Polymer (plastics) materials
- 08001005 - Other fabricated plastics
- 08001023 - Other chemicals and materials (not elsewhere classified)
- Targeted countries
- All countries