Air pollution is the top environmental risk factor of premature death in Europe causing nearly half a million deaths every year. The exposure to the pollutants in early life can significantly affect childhood development and trigger diseases like allergies, asthma, lung cancer, or diabetes later in life.
Particulate matter, along with other pollutants, made up of combustion particles, organic compounds, metals, dust, pollen, mould and other materials from electricity generation and industry are the root of the problem. Transport especially is responsible for the large number of emissions. There are approximately 250 million passenger cars on the road in Europe and only about 5% of them are using alternative powertrains.
With around 90% of Europe’s growing urban population exposed to levels of particulates over the World Health Organization’s air quality guidelines, urgent action is needed. European Commission is therefore allocating €8 million in three prizes to tackle air pollution problem:

1. Horizon Prize for the Engine Retrofit for Clean Air
Engine Retrofit for Clean Air prize aims at reducing the pollution produced by the existing car fleet by spurring the development of retrofittable technology (i.e. additional devices and/or modification) applicable to their diesel engines.
Challenge: to demonstrate an innovative solution delivering the lowest emission of NOX, PN/PM and other pollutants combined with improved fuel efficiency, good driving performance and driveability, durability, maintenance and usability, safety, noise and acceptable costs.
Opening: 20 April 2016
Deadline: 12 September 2017
EC-ENGINE-RETROFIT-PRIZE@EC.EUROPA.EU

2. Horizon Prize for Materials for Clean Air
Materials for Clean Air prize aims at developing material solutions that can effectively remove or prevent the formation of particulate matter in the atmosphere (vehicle exhaust systems will be excluded) and works in the environment targeted for application.
Challenge: to come up with materials solutions to reduce the concentration of particulates in urban areas. The solution could come in the form of any material – plastic, cement, concrete, asphalt – but must be affordable, sustainable, well designed and innovative.
Opening: 26 January 2017
Deadline: 23 January 2018
EC-CLEAN-AIR-PRIZE@EC.EUROPA.EU

3. Horizon Prize for the Cleanest Engine of the Future
Cleanest Engine of the Future prize aims at stimulating innovation to reduce to sustainable levels the excessive polluting emissions currently produced in real driving conditions by internal combustion engines used on cars.
Challenge: to develop an internal combustion engine, demonstrating the lowest emission of NOX, PN/PM and other pollutants under real-driving conditions on the road, as well as under standardized conditions in the laboratory combined with improved fuel efficiency, good driving performance and driveability, durability, maintenance and usability, safety, noise and acceptable costs.
Opening: 20 April 2016
Deadline: 20 August 2019
EC-FUTURE-ENGINE-PRIZE@EC.EUROPA.EU