There is a need for new technologies and solutions that make it possible to recycle plastic at the highest possible quality by improving a specific step in the sorting or recycling process.
If your company has a sensor technology, robotic tool, process technology or a new recycling solution, you can apply for support to develop and test the solution together with a knowledge institution.
It is not necessary to develop an entire recycling facility. The solution may be a component, software, a module for existing equipment or a new process for a specific plastic stream.
What matters is that the project addresses a specific need, includes genuine development activities and has the potential to create new business opportunities for the company.
Danish companies already have strong capabilities in areas such as optical, NIR and hyperspectral sorting, robotics, shredding, compaction and EPS handling. This call aims to turn these capabilities into concrete development and testing projects for SMEs.
There is significant potential to improve both the quality and economics of recycling by supporting innovation across several process steps – particularly where purity, efficiency and automation determine quality and economic viability. Danish companies have strong capabilities in optical, NIR and hyperspectral sorting, robotics, shredding, compaction, EPS handling and traceability. This call turns these capabilities into targeted development projects for SMEs.
What can you receive support for?
The funding can be used for a defined development and testing project in which the company collaborates with a knowledge institution to address a significant technical challenge.
For example, you can receive support to:
- develop and test a prototype
- carry out laboratory tests
- test the technology on relevant plastic fractions
- collect test data
- validate a critical step in a sorting or recycling process.
The aim is to achieve a concrete result that the company can use to take the next step with a customer, partner or investor.
The project must address a significant technical uncertainty within the project’s timeframe and budget. The underlying technology may already be known from another industry, but the project must involve genuine development and cannot consist solely of installing a standard solution.
Which projects can receive support?
We are looking for projects within sensor technology, automation and process technology for recycling and traceability. The project must address one or more of the following areas:
1. Sensors, NIR scanners and intelligent quality control
New solutions for identifying, sorting or controlling specific types of plastics and products.
This may include NIR scanners, hyperspectral cameras, image recognition or software that converts data into improved sorting and process control.
For example, a project could develop and test a classification model for a specific material stream and document its recognition accuracy using representative samples.
2. Robots, grippers and automated handling
Solutions capable of gripping, orienting, separating, feeding or sorting plastic items.
This may include robotic tools, control solutions and automation modules.
For example, a project could test a robotic tool for sorting, with a focus on improving gripping reliability and cycle time.
3. Recycling and process equipment
Methods or modules for the pre-treatment and processing of a specific plastic fraction.
This may include solutions for:
- air-based separation
- gentle shredding
- washing and drying
- filtration
- compaction
- subsequent recycling.
For example, a project could test a water-saving cleaning module on one type of plastic film and compare purity, material loss and water consumption with the existing process.
4. Digital traceability for improved recycling
Solutions that make information about plastic type, packaging use or material composition available during sorting and recycling. This may include digital watermarks, reading technologies or software that uses the information to separate plastic fractions more accurately and document the material’s journey into a new raw material.
For example, a project could test digital watermarks on one type of plastic packaging and investigate whether the information can be read on a sorting line and used to distinguish food packaging from non-food packaging.
The examples are not exhaustive.
Who can apply?
The project must include, as a minimum:
- one Danish SME
- one approved knowledge institution.
The call is particularly relevant for specialised technology and equipment suppliers, software and automation companies, as well as smaller companies developing new processes or services within plastic recycling.
A larger recycling facility, manufacturing company or public-sector organisation may participate as a test site, material supplier or potential customer.
The project must focus on the SME’s own solution and business opportunity and cannot be used to finance a larger facility.
How much funding can you apply for?
You can apply for:
- up to DKK 100,000 for the company
- up to DKK 100,000 in total for the knowledge partner or knowledge partners.
This means that up to DKK 200,000 in total support can be provided for the collaboration.
The company’s co-financing consists of its own working hours.
The funding is intended for development and testing and cannot be used for ordinary operations, the purchase of standard equipment or the establishment of new full-scale facilities.
Each company may submit only one application.
How are applications assessed?
Applications are assessed according to the following criteria:
Level of innovation – 40%: What is new about the solution, which technical challenge must be solved, and why are the knowledge partner’s competences necessary?
Development potential – 30%: Who can buy or use the solution, and how can it be scaled to additional customers, installations or markets?
Value creation – 30%: What improvement can the project document, for example cleaner material, higher material yield, less manual work or lower water and energy consumption?
A niche is not considered too small simply because the initial test involves limited quantities of material. The application must describe the plastic fraction, customer need, test objective and expected result, as well as the potential for applying the solution at additional sites and to other plastic fractions.
Practical information
Application deadline: 1 December 2026
Project period: 1 January – 1 August 2027
Projects are typically expected to run for approximately four months.
How to apply
Do you have a solution that you would like to develop and test together with a knowledge institution?
Submit your application no later than 1 December 2026 here.
In the application, you will be asked to describe, among other things, the plastic fraction, customer need, test objective and expected result, as well as the potential for applying the solution at additional sites and to other plastic fractions.
State aid
The grant is provided as de minimis aid. Companies receiving support must therefore submit the required de minimis declaration.
Download the De Minimis Declaration
Approved knowledge institutions
The project must be carried out in collaboration with at least one approved knowledge institution.
The following knowledge institutions may participate as knowledge partners:
- Aalborg University (AAU)
- Aarhus School of Marine and Technical Engineering (AAMS)
- Aarhus University (AU)
- CBS – Copenhagen Business School
- Cphbusiness
- DAMRC – Danish Advanced Manufacturing Research Center
- DBI – Danish Institute of Fire and Security Technology
- DFM – Danish Fundamental Metrology Institute
- DHI
- DTU – Technical University of Denmark
- Business Academy Aarhus (EAAA)
- FORCE Technology
- University of Copenhagen (KU)
- University College Absalon
- Roskilde University (RUC)
- SEGES Innovation
- University of Southern Denmark (SDU)
- Danish Technological Institute (TI)
- UCL University College
- VIA University College
- Zealand – Academy of Technologies and Business.
Do you need a knowledge partner?
If you have a relevant project idea but need a knowledge partner or access to relevant materials, you can contact Clean for guidance on the project and potential collaboration partners.
Sean Coogan
Project Manager, Clean
Phone: +45 23 91 76 72
De minimis declaration
*De minimis declaration: The initiative is co-financed by the Danish Board of Business Development, and the value of the support has been assessed at DKK 230,000. A company in Denmark may receive up to EUR 300,000 in state aid (approximately DKK 2.2 million) over a three-year period. The amount will therefore count towards your state aid allocation for 2026–2028. You will therefore be required to sign a de minimis declaration if your company is selected.
