What is it?
Advanced Materials is a relatively new term that covers novel substances, mixtures and products and as such does not fit neatly into the regulatory lexicon. The OECD describe them as “ materials that are rationally designed to have
(1) new or enhanced properties, and/or
(2) targeted or enhanced structural features
with the objective to achieve specific or improved functional performance.
They can be completely novel materials or existing materials with a new use.
Several types of materials were identified as fitting under this description, including
Biopolymers; Composites; Porous and Metamaterials; Advanced polymers, alloys and fibres; Smart nanomaterials and nanoenabled materials.
The EU has identified Advanced Materials as being a key strategic area of research, with a target of being world-leaders and maintaining strategic autonomy. As such, a significant amount of funding has been committed to supporting EU-based researchers to help achieve this goal.
One of the key concerns that regulators have around Advanced Materials is that an emerging risk to human health / environment or an unsustainable supply chain might become apparent after a novel material reaches widespread use in Europe. Whilst new safety regulations around Advanced Materials appear to be unlikely, the European Commission is looking to put in place mechanisms by which they can identify emerging products and are keen that researchers and product developers employ the principles of Safe and Sustainable by Design so that unsafe or unsustainable new products never reach the market.
What you get
Client-focused delivery
Expert consultants
Support in the identification, drawing up and execution of tenders for funded research
What we offer
Yordas offers a range of services which can be useful throughout the entire lifecycle of Advanced Materials, from early-stage research and regulatory scoping through to safety, sustainability, and funded project support.
Regulatory Navigation for Advanced Materials
Advanced Materials can span the breadth of regulatory definitions meaning it is not always easy to identify which regulations apply to a product. The disparity of regulations from a global perspective means that an Advanced Material might have completely different regulatory obligations from one jurisdiction to another. We can help with this sometimes nuanced decision.
Safety and Sustainability Expertise
We have been working in EU-funded research projects for over 10 years and have demonstrated our sector-leading experience in safety and sustainability assessments, being at the cutting edge of progress in SSbD through projects such as SUNSHINE and SUNRISE.
Funded Research & Tender Support
We are ideal partners to support in the identification, drawing up and execution of tenders for funded research.
Our Process
Research projects
Identify tender calls
Identify project partners
Assign work in tender to most appropriate organisations.
Collaborate in constructing the tender
Project management
Regulatory support
Ensure full understanding of the composition, properties and uses of the Advanced material.
Identify which regulations apply and what they apply to.
SSbD
Hazard, risk and sustainability screening of research options to prioritise research and to identify datagaps
Use NAM approaches to fill datagaps.
Use NAM results to minimise the cost of regulatory submissions.