Advanced Materials are considered key building blocks for future technologies, clean energy, and Europe's technological sovereignty. They are used in applications like Cleantech, mobility, electronics, energy generation, construction, or space travel. The EU Commission aims to strengthen the development, market introduction, and recyclability of such materials – but should adapt the planned framework from DIHK's perspective.
Whether it's new battery materials for electromobility, recyclable composites in construction, or bio-based plastics in industry – so-called "Advanced Materials" are embedded in and behind many innovations shaping Europe’s economy today. At the same time, practice shows that significant hurdles often exist between research, market introduction, and widespread application. This is precisely where the European Commission intends to intervene with an "Advanced Materials Act" planned for the fourth quarter of 2026.
The DIHK has contributed to the preparations for this EU legislation with an advance position paper. It supports the goal of fostering innovations in the advanced materials sector and reducing regulatory barriers but emphasizes: The specific design is crucial. The new framework must create real value for businesses and avoid additional complexity or delayed market introductions.
Advanced Materials play a central role in Cleantech, mobility, energy, electronics, or space travel. The planned EU legislation aims to improve development, scaling, and recyclability. From DIHK's perspective, this can be an essential building block for competitiveness and technological sovereignty – provided that the existing regulations are thoughtfully complemented and not overlapped.
DIHK Key Demands
In its advance position paper on the planned Advanced Materials Act, the DIHK outlines key requirements across the entire innovation and lifecycle of advanced materials:
Practical, technology-open research and innovation support
Funding measures should be cross-sectoral, streamlined, and accessible to companies of all sizes. A better transfer of research to application is crucial – for instance, through simplified use of publicly funded patents and stronger networking between science and business.
Avoidance of innovation-inhibiting over-regulation
The DIHK explicitly warns against creating new and complex requirements that delay market introductions. Experiences from strongly regulated areas such as medical technology show how quickly excessive regulation can hinder innovation. The planned legislation should therefore remain lean and practice-oriented.
Strengthening and recognizing new recycling technologies
Innovative recycling processes must be approved more quickly and integrated into material developments at an early stage. Existing technologies must not be preferred if they displace newer, more efficient solutions. Only in this way can a genuine circular economy for advanced materials be created.
Accelerated procedures and reduced bureaucracy
Approval, licensing, and testing processes should be significantly simplified and accelerated. Instruments such as real-world laboratories and regulatory sandboxes can help bring new materials to market faster under real conditions.
Market-oriented design of supply security
Measures to strengthen European production capacities and reduce dependencies should be competition-neutral and avoid additional reporting obligations. Companies must continue to be able to design their investment and risk strategies independently.
FAQ
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Welche Unternehmen sind vom Advanced Materials Act betroffen?
Adressiert werden Stakeholder entlang der gesamten Wertschöpfungskette – von Forschungseinrichtungen und Start-ups über Hersteller und Verarbeiter bis hin zu Anwenderindustrien wie Energie, Halbleiter, Mobilität oder Bau. Auch Unternehmen, die innovative Materialien anderweitig einsetzen oder recyceln, könnten je nach Ausgestaltung einbezogen werden.
Welche Chancen bietet der geplante Rechtsakt für kleine und mittlere Unternehmen?
Kleine und mittlere Unternehmen könnten insbesondere von verbesserten Förderstrukturen, stärkerem Wissenstransfer und schnelleren Verfahren profitieren. Voraussetzung ist jedoch, dass Programme einfach zugänglich sind und bürokratische Hürden in der Praxis spürbar abgebaut werden.
Worin sieht die DIHK die größten Risiken?
Die DIHK warnt vor zusätzlicher regulatorischer Komplexität, Überschneidungen mit bestehenden EU-Regeln und neuen Anforderungen etwa bei Nachhaltigkeit, Transparenz oder Sicherheit, die Innovationsprozesse verlangsamen könnten.
Was bedeutet der Fokus auf Kreislaufwirtschaft konkret?
Unternehmen sollen "Advanced Materials" stärker wiederverwenden und recyclingfähig gestalten können. Dafür sind jedoch unter anderem eine funktionierende Rückhollogistik, Zugang zu hochwertigen Rezyklaten und die schnelle Anerkennung neuer Recyclingverfahren entscheidend.
Wie bewertet die DIHK Maßnahmen zur Versorgungssicherheit?
Die DIHK unterstützt das Ziel, Abhängigkeiten bei innovativen Werkstoffen zu reduzieren, betont jedoch: Instrumente wie gemeinsame Beschaffung oder Vorratshaltung müssen freiwillig, marktwirtschaftlich und ohne zusätzliche Bürokratie ausgestaltet werden.
Download
The complete DIHK position from January 7, 2026, with details is available for download here:
DIHK Position on the planned Advanced Materials Act (PDF, 132 KB)(only available in German)
- Relevant im Themenfeld:
- Innovation
- Schwerpunkte:
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- Digitalisierung
- Bürokratie
Veröffentlicht 07.01.2026
Aktualisiert 02.04.2026
Ansprechpartner
Lorenz Kramer
Referatsleiter Wirtschaft in Europa