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INNOVATION
Compositionally Complex Alloys for RE-free permanent magnets applications
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Market Maturity: Exploring
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Market Creation Potential
This innovation was assessed by the JRC’s Market Creation Potential indicator framework as having a Very high” level of Market Creation Potential. Only innovations that are showing multiple signals of market creation potential are assigned a value under this indicator system. Learn more
Women-led innovation
A woman had a leadership role in developing this innovation in at least one of the Key Innovator organisations listed below.
Go to Market needs
Needs that, if addressed, can increase the chances this innovation gets to (or closer to) the market incude:
  • Prepare for Market entry
  • Secure capital
  • Scale-up market opportunities
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Key Innovators
UN Sustainable Development Goals(SDG)
This innovation contributes to the following SDG(s)
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 7
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

The UN explains: "Energy is central to nearly every major challenge and opportunity the world faces today. Be it for jobs, security, climate change, food production or increasing incomes, access to energy for all is essential.

Transitioning the global economy towards clean and sustainable sources of energy is one of our greatest challenges in the coming decades. Sustainable energy is an opportunity – it transforms lives, economies and the planet."

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 9
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

The UN explains: "Investments in infrastructure – transport, irrigation, energy and information and communication technology – are crucial to achieving sustainable development and empowering communities in many countries. It has long been recognized that growth in productivity and incomes, and improvements in health and education outcomes require investment in infrastructure."

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 12
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

The UN explains: "Sustainable consumption and production is about promoting resource and energy efficiency, sustainable infrastructure, and providing access to basic services, green and decent jobs and a better quality of life for all. Its implementation helps to achieve overall development plans, reduce future economic, environmental and social costs, strengthen economic competitiveness and reduce poverty.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 13
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

The UN explains: "Affordable, scalable solutions are now available to enable countries to leapfrog to cleaner, more resilient economies. The pace of change is quickening as more people are turning to renewable energy and a range of other measures that will reduce emissions and increase adaptation efforts."

The EU-funded Research Project
This innovation was developed under the Horizon Europe project CoCoMag with an end date of 31/05/2026
  • Read more about this project on CORDIS
Description of Project CoCoMag
Converting energy efficiently from renewable sources is crucial; however, the large-scale implementation of technologies such as e-mobility and wind turbine but also magnetic refrigeration will increase drastically the material intensity of strategic metals like rare-earths (RE) and cobalt. Magnets are key enablers of a net-zero emission scenario. As conversion technologies become more advanced, the required attributes of the magnets are now much more demanding and multifunctional, additionally required mechanical, thermal, mechanical stabilities will increase efficiency and lifetime of the devices. We live now in a cryogenic age and gas-compression cooling has not been changed for a century, with only incremental efficiency improvements over time. Magnetic refrigeration uses not only Nd-based permanent magnets, the same as used for the e-motor, to drive the magnetic heat pump but also heavy REs such as Gd for the magnetocaloric heat exchanger. In the CoCoMag proposal, we are targeting these two main applications, e-mobility and magnetic refrigeration, by implementing a disruptive approach for magnet design. Our idea is the use of compositionally complex alloys (CCA) based on hexagonal Fe2P- and MM´X-type compounds, derived from high entropy alloys, for the development of both permanent magnet and magnetocaloric materials without critical elements. With CCA, we can fully utilize the large degrees of freedom in the compositional space in a multi-element approach, leaving behind traditional metal alloying practised since Bronze Age. Using CCA, we address the primary magnetic properties AND the above equally important secondary engineering properties. We will use the theoretical predictions, experimental validation and machine learning cycle to reach our goals fast. Being successful with CoCoMag, we will be give answers to challenges on the path to the decarbonization and electrification of mobility and energy sectors using new magnets free of critical elements.

Innnovation Radar's analysis of this innovation is based on data collected on 14/06/2024.
The unique id of this innovation in the European Commission's IT systems is: 127100