Open calls for proposals

• Call identifier: HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025
• Call launch: 3 April 2025
• Call deadline: 18 September 2025 17:00 CET
• Call budget: €172 million

CBE JU calls follow the rules and procedures of Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation programme. Find more information about Horizon Europe’s funding opportunities.

Innovation actions – flagship (IA-flagship)

• Urban-industrial symbiosis for bio-waste valorisation - €20 million
• Bio-based drop-ins/smart drop-in platform chemicals, via cost-effective, sustainable and resource-efficient conversion of biomass - €20 million
• Circular-by-design fibre-based packaging with improved properties - €20 million
• Retrofitting of (bio)refineries industrial plants towards higher-value bio-based products - €20 million

Innovation actions (IA)

• Sustainable macroalgae systems for innovative, added-value applications: cultivation and optimised production systems - €14 million
• Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) bio-based solutions to replace hazardous conventional chemicals for textiles production - €14 million
• Scaling-up nutritional proteins from alternative sources - €14 million
• Cost-effective and robust continuous biotech bio-based processes - €14 million
• SSbD bio-based polymers/copolymers unlocking new market applications - €14 million

Research and innovation actions (RIA)

• Valorisation of untapped forest biomass - €7 million
• Bio-based and biodegradable delivery systems for fertilising products to reduce microplastics pollution & promote soil health - €7 million
• Alternative biomanufacturing routes for natural and synthetic rubber - €7 million

Coordination and support actions (CSA)

• Develop and deploy new curricula and knowledge exchange practices relevant to bio-based systems - €1 million

Check the Annual Work Programme 2025 for the complete topic text, conditions and requirements. FAQ for applicants will be published by the end of March and updated continuously based on the questions from applicants. Please send your questions to info [at] cbe.europa.eu. 

The topics for submission will be published on the EU’s Funding & tender opportunities portal.

The Horizon Online Manual provides more information about the different application steps. Please also check the How to apply section on the CBE JU website.

Read the updated FAQ for applicants for the 2025 call for proposals.

CBE JU funds three types of actions:

• Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) establish new knowledge or explore the feasibility of a new or improved technology, product, process, service or solution. These may include basic and applied research, technology development and integration, testing, demonstration, and validation on a small-scale prototype, in a laboratory or simulated environment.
• Innovation Actions (IAs) scale up activities from prototype to product validation and market replication. Flagships, an important and specific type of IAs, in particular deploy a first-of-its-kind innovation on the European market.
• Coordination and Support Actions (CSAs), among other, structure stakeholder communities, support technological visions and outreach, as well as disseminate and exploit research results.

Expand CBE JU types of action infographic

Are you an expert in the circular bio-based industries fields but are not planning to submit a proposal? Consider applying as an evaluator to help CBE JU select the best proposals in future calls:

• Create or update your expert profile via the European Commission’s Funding & tenders portal  
• E-mail experts [at] cbe.europa.eu by the end of May 2025, mentioning your expert profile number (format EX20XX1234567).