BIO-INSPIRE Teaming & Knowledge Exchange Programme Open Call

The BIO-INSPIRE Teaming & Knowledge Exchange Programme Open Call offers cascade funding with a total budget of €300,000 to fund 30 subprojects, each receiving a €10,000 lump sum and participation in a structured six-month Plan and Exchange programme. Applications must be submitted by a consortium of up to three legal entities established in Horizon Europe eligible countries, with the Guest coordinator based in one of the BIO-INSPIRE regions (Greece, Hungary, Slovakia, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria or Poland) and a Host partner from a different region. The programme runs in two stages (up to two months for the Research & Innovation Plan and four months for exchange activities including an on-site visit), proposals are evaluated against profile, team, implementation and impact criteria, and applications must be submitted via the F6S platform by 26 August 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time.

What it funds

Summary

Grants to support short-term teaming and knowledge exchange between bio-based actors across European regions to build innovation capacity and long-term R&I collaboration. Projects run across a 6-month programme split into a Plan Phase (up to 2 months) and an Exchange Phase (4 months).

Budget and awards:Total call budget €300,000 to fund 30 projects; each selected project receives €10,000 plus participation in the 6-month programme ¹.

1. 1Who can apply: any legal entity established in a Horizon Europe eligible country, applying as a consortium (maximum 3 partners).
2. 2Consortium structure: must include a Guest entity (Coordinator) established in a BIO-INSPIRE region (Greece, Hungary, Slovakia, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria or Poland) and at least one Host entity from a different region; all partners must be based in different regions.
3. 3Project duration: 6 months (Plan Phase up to 2 months; Exchange Phase 4 months).
4. 4Deadline: 26 August 2026, 17:00 UTC.
5. 5Submission route: applications submitted through the F6S Open Call tool ¹.
6. 6Evaluation: remote evaluation by two evaluators and consensus panel; criteria include applicant profile and motivation, team skills, implementation, and impact/scalability.

This call supports cross-regional exchanges, study visits and development of an R&I Plan and a 2-year collaboration plan to foster sustained cooperation beyond the funded exchange. Apply via the official Open Call page on the project website and F6S ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Apply and find full applicant guidelines at the Open Call platform: f6s.com and the project website: bio-inspire.eu.

Opportunity Summary

Key facts

Funding programme name:BIO-INSPIRE Teaming & Knowledge Exchange Programme Open Call. Framework and identifier: HORIZON-JU. Total call budget: €300,000. Number of projects to be funded: 30. Grant per project: €10,000. Programme duration per subproject: 6 months. Call deadline for submission: 26 August 2026, 17:00 UTC. Submission portal: F6S platform at f6s.com. Full documentation and guidelines: bio-inspire.eu.

Objective:The initiative aims to boost innovation capacity and foster knowledge transfer among bio-based actors from BIO-INSPIRE less advanced regions by enabling exchanges and study visits with organisations from other European regions sharing common thematic and technological interests. The call supports mobilising inclusive participation in bio-based systems and contributes to the CBE JU widening strategy and its action plan ¹.

Detailed Eligibility and Applicant Requirements

General eligibility:Any legal entity established in a Horizon Europe eligible country may apply, subject to the detailed eligibility rules in section 2 of the Guidelines for applicants available on the project website. Applications must be submitted as a consortium of up to three partners maximum, and all participating entities must be established in different NUTS/administrative regions to ensure cross-regional collaboration.

1. 1Consortium composition: Minimum two roles must be present in each application: Guest entity (Coordinator) and Host entity. A third partner may be included as a maximum, provided that all entities are in different regions.
2. 2Guest entity (Coordinator) requirement: The coordinating organisation must be established in a BIO-INSPIRE region. BIO-INSPIRE regions explicitly listed are Greece, Hungary, Slovakia, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria and Poland. The coordinator carries out the main guest activities.
3. 3Host entity requirement: Host organisations must be established in different regions (can be advanced or less represented regions) and will host the exchange activities, including on-site visits.
4. 4All consortium members must be established in different regions to ensure genuine cross-regional exchange.
5. 5Eligible legal entities: The call text indicates any legal entity in Horizon Europe eligible countries. Typical eligible types (per guidance and Horizon practice) include SMEs, startups, large enterprises, universities, research institutes, non-profits, public bodies and NGOs; the Guidelines for applicants should be consulted for exact permitted legal forms and any exclusions.

Eligible Applicant Types:The call is open to any legal entity established in a Horizon Europe eligible country. Based on the call text and standard Horizon eligibility practice, acceptable applicant types include startups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), large enterprises, universities, research institutes, non-profit organisations, public authorities and NGOs. The call explicitly expects consortia composed of organisational entities rather than individuals; therefore natural persons acting alone are not the intended applicants. Applicants should consult the Guidelines for applicants for any specific exclusions or required legal statuses.

Funding Type:Primary financial mechanism: grant. Each selected subproject (Third Party) receives a fixed lump sum grant of €10,000 and access to the 6-month collaboration and knowledge exchange programme.

Consortium Requirement:Consortium required. Applications must be submitted as a consortium of up to three partners maximum. Each application must define at minimum two distinct roles: Guest entity (Coordinator) from a BIO-INSPIRE region and a Host entity from a different region. All parties must be based in different regions.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Geographic eligibility: entities established in Horizon Europe eligible countries. Coordinators must be established in one of the BIO-INSPIRE target regions: Greece, Hungary, Slovakia, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria or Poland. Host entities may be in other European regions (advanced or less represented). The call aims to promote cross-regional collaboration within the EU/HE eligible area; consult the Guidelines for applicants for the definitive list of eligible countries.

Target Sector:Thematic focus: bio-based innovation and bioeconomy. Target sectors include bio-based systems, circular bio-based products and technologies, sustainable bio-based value chains, and cluster mobilisation and collaborative governance in bio-based industries. The call supports actors across research, technology development and innovation in bio-based sectors and related enabling technologies.

Mentioned Countries:Countries explicitly mentioned as BIO-INSPIRE regions: Greece; Hungary; Slovakia; Lithuania; Romania; Bulgaria; Poland.

Project Stage:Expected maturity: The programme targets projects at development, validation and demonstration stages of bio-based innovation where knowledge exchange, practice transfer and collaborative planning can accelerate capability and partnerships. The first Plan Phase requires developing a Research & Innovation Plan; the Exchange Phase focuses on implementation and on-site visits and concludes with a 2-year R&I Collaboration Plan to enable longer-term cooperation.

Funding Amount:Total budget allocated to this open call is €300,000. Thirty projects will be funded. Funding per selected subproject is €10,000 plus access to programme activities and support.

Application Type and Submission Method:Open call. Applications must be submitted through the Open Call submission tool hosted on F6S (f6s.com). The application consists of two parts: an administrative/statistical form and a proposal document describing the planned subproject. The call uses a single-stage deadline model.

Nature of Support:Beneficiaries receive monetary support in the form of a €10,000 grant per selected subproject. In addition, beneficiaries receive non-monetary services: access to a structured 6-month Teaming & Knowledge Exchange Programme including mentoring, exchanges, on-site visits, and participation in programme activities that culminate in deliverables (Research & Innovation Plan, Technical Report, and a 2-year R&I Collaboration Plan).

Application Stages and Evaluation Procedure:The programme is implemented in two operational stages for beneficiaries: Stage 1 Plan Phase (up to 2 months) and Stage 2 Exchange Phase (4 months). The call evaluation and selection process comprises multiple administrative/evaluation steps prior to contractualisation and programme start: proposals reception (F6S entry), eligibility filter by consortium, remote evaluation by two evaluators (one internal BIO-INSPIRE evaluator and one external evaluator), preparation of an Evaluation Summary Report, possible consensus meeting in case of divergent scores, and final decision panel approving the ranking list.

1. 1Step 1: Proposals reception using F6S. Application includes administrative/statistical form and proposal document.
2. 2Step 2: Eligibility filter performed by the consortium; non-eligible proposals are rejected with a rejection letter stating reason; no further feedback provided.
3. 3Step 3: Remote evaluation. Each eligible proposal evaluated independently by two evaluators (one BIO-INSPIRE consortium member, one external). Scores and comments compiled into an Evaluation Summary Report (ESR).
4. 4Step 4: Consensus meeting if significant discrepancies exist between evaluators; final decision panel to approve ranking and selection.

Evaluation Criteria and Weights:Four evaluation criteria are used with the following weighting: Criterion 1 Applicant Profile, Concept and Motivation 25%; Criterion 2 Team Skills and Expertise 25%; Criterion 3 Implementation 30%; Criterion 4 Impact and Scalability Potential 20%. An Evaluation Summary Report with scores and comments will be produced for each assessed proposal.

Success Rates:Planned number of awards: 30 out of all eligible applicants. The exact success rate cannot be determined from the call text because the total number of applicants is unknown. Given 30 awards and an open call format, projected success rate depends on applicant interest but may be low if many consortia apply. No historical success-rate data are provided in the call documentation.

Co-funding Requirement:The call text does not explicitly state that co-funding by applicants is required. Each selected subproject receives a €10,000 grant. Applicants should consult the Guidelines for applicants and the model contract to confirm whether co-funding, contribution in kind, or other matching resources are expected during implementation.

Application Templates and Structure:Submission consists of an administrative/statistical form and a proposal document. The Guidelines for applicants and the official call documentation available on the project website provide templates and official formats. Based on the scraped content, applicants should prepare at minimum the following sections in their proposal document: 1) Project title and acronym; 2) Consortium description and roles (Guest/Coordinator, Host, optional third partner) with addresses and region identifications; 3) Background and motivation; 4) Objectives and expected outcomes; 5) Research & Innovation Plan (to be developed in Stage 1) including key challenges, planned bio-based innovation activities, methodology and milestones; 6) Implementation plan and timeline (showing Plan Phase and Exchange Phase activities including on-site visit); 7) Budget justification for the €10,000 requested and allocation of funds across partners/activities; 8) Team skills, expertise and track record; 9) Impact, scalability and sustainability plan including a 2-year R&I Collaboration Plan outline; 10) Ethics, IPR and data management considerations if relevant; 11) Annexes such as letters of support, CVs, legal entity forms. The F6S submission tool will also collect administrative and statistical data.

Recommended Next Steps for Applicants:1) Confirm legal eligibility as defined in the Guidelines for applicants (check Horizon Europe eligible country list). 2) Identify and secure at least one Host entity established in a different region to the Guest/Coordinator. Ensure all proposed partners are established in different regions. 3) Register and prepare the administrative data on F6S well ahead of the deadline. 4) Prepare a concise proposal document covering the required sections including an initial Research & Innovation Plan outline, detailed team expertise, implementation plan for the two stages, budget allocation of the €10,000 and expected impact and scalability. 5) Review scoring weights and align the proposal to score highly on Applicant Profile & Motivation (25%), Team Skills & Expertise (25%), Implementation (30%) and Impact & Scalability (20%). 6) Consult the BIO-INSPIRE open calls webpage and the Guidelines for applicants for templates, official rules, and clarifications: bio-inspire.eu.

Apply through the F6S open call page:f6s.com. For full call documentation, templates and the definitive eligibility list, consult the BIO-INSPIRE open calls page: bio-inspire.eu ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Call reference and further documentation are available on the project website: bio-inspire.eu and on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal entry for this competitive call: ec.europa.eu.

Opportunity Overview

This open call offers cascade funding to boost innovation capacity and foster knowledge transfer among bio-based actors in less advanced BIO-INSPIRE regions through cross-regional exchanges and study visits [1][3]. The call allocates a total budget of €300,000 to fund 30 projects, with each project receiving a €10,000 grant and access to a 6-month collaboration programme [1][7].

Key Facts:Total Budget: €300,000 | Number of Projects: 30 | Grant per Project: €10,000 | Duration: 6 months [1][7].

Who Can Apply

Applications must be submitted by a consortium of up to three legal entities established in Horizon Europe eligible countries, with all partners located in different regions to ensure genuine cross-regional collaboration [1][7].

Consortium Roles

1. 1Guest entity (Coordinator): Must be established in a BIO-INSPIRE region (Greece, Hungary, Slovakia, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria, or Poland) and carries out main guest activities [1][18].
2. 2Host entity: Must be established in a different region (advanced or less represented) and hosts the exchange activities [1][18].

All participating entities must be independent legal entities, and the consortium must include at least two partners (Guest and Host) from different regions [1][7].

Programme Structure

The programme is implemented in two stages:a 2-month Plan Phase followed by a 4-month Exchange Phase [1].

1. 1Stage 1 – Plan Phase (up to 2 months): Beneficiaries develop and submit a Research & Innovation Plan outlining key challenges, planned bio-based innovation activities, and budget [1].
2. 2Stage 2 – Exchange Phase (4 months): Implementation of planned activities including an on-site visit at the hosting organisation, concluding with a Technical Report and a 2-year R&I Collaboration Plan [1].

Eligibility & Geographic Scope

The Guest entity must be from one of the seven BIO-INSPIRE widening regions:Greece, Hungary, Slovakia, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria, or Poland [1][3]. The Host entity must be from a different region, which can be an advanced EU region or another less represented region [1].

Horizon Europe Eligible Countries:Includes EU Member States, Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs), Horizon Europe associated countries (e.g., UK, Switzerland, Norway, Ukraine, Türkiye), and eligible low- and middle-income countries [2][5][11].

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals are evaluated by two evaluators (one BIO-INSPIRE consortium member and one external) to ensure fairness and alignment with project aims [1].

Submission Details

Deadline:26 August 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time (single-stage deadline model) [1][7].

Submission Platform:Applications must be submitted via the F6S platform at BIO-INSPIRE Open Call Apply [1].

The application includes an administrative/statistical form and a proposal document with the full description [1].

Funding Conditions

This is cascade funding (Type of grant:Cascade funding) under the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) programme [1][7].

• Funding Rate: 100% of eligible costs (typical for CSA/cascade actions, though specific rate not explicitly stated in summary) [1][7].
• Award Ceiling: €10,000 per project [7].
• No co-funding required mentioned for this specific cascade grant, but standard Horizon Europe rules apply for eligible costs [1].

Additional Resources

Full Guidelines for Applicants and further information are available on the project website at BIO-INSPIRE Open Calls [1].

An information webinar titled "Scaling up bioeconomy innovation in Southeastern Europe" was held on 5 June 2026 to support applicants [1][19][23].

Footnotes

1. 1The BIO-INSPIRE project (Grant Agreement ID: 101214256) started on 1 May 2025 and runs for 36 months with a total budget of €2,999,180, aiming to connect regional bioeconomy clusters in Eastern and Southeastern Europe [1][3].
2. 2Host entities can be from advanced regions (e.g., Sweden, Netherlands as mentioned in project framework) or other less represented regions, ensuring cross-regional knowledge exchange [1][4].