Biotechnology driven low emission food production systems

The Horizon Europe EIC Accelerator 2025 call, particularly focused on biotechnology-driven low-emission food production systems, is identified as HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-02. This call aims to support innovative projects aimed at creating sustainable food systems. It utilizes a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant mechanism and is set to open for applications on November 26, 2024, with deadlines on March 12, 2025, and October 1, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time.

The total budget allocated for this call is EUR 634 million, with individual project funding ranging from EUR 500,000 to EUR 17.5 million. The call anticipates awarding approximately 65 grants across various topics including HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-05, HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-04, and others.

Eligible applicants include startups and SMEs from EU member states and associated countries, with some provisions allowing participation from non-EU/non-associated countries. The projects are expected to target technologies at the late development stage, including validation, demonstration, or commercialization, particularly in the biotechnology, food, and bioeconomy sectors.

The application process requires adherence to guidelines specified in the Horizon Europe Work Programme and involves multiple stages, including a short proposal followed by a full proposal. The program does not mandate co-funding, offering significant financial and non-financial support, such as business acceleration services and access to external networks.

Support resources for applicants include the Enterprise Europe Network, the European IPR Helpdesk, and various guidance documents. The evaluation process focuses on the innovation potential and impact of the proposals, with specific scoring criteria outlined in the program documentation. Overall, this grant opportunity is aimed at fostering breakthrough innovations that can substantially contribute to environmental sustainability in food production.

This is a description of the Horizon Europe EIC Accelerator 2025 call, specifically focusing on the Biotechnology driven low emission food production systems topic, identified as HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-02. The call falls under the Horizon Europe (HORIZON) program and is a HORIZON EIC Accelerator (HORIZON-EIC-ACC) type of action. The Model Grant Agreement (MGA) is a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS]. The call is forthcoming and uses a multiple cut-off deadline model. The planned opening date is 26 November 2024, with deadline dates on 12 March 2025 and 01 October 2025, both at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The total budget for the HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02 call is EUR 634,000,000. The contributions for individual projects can range from EUR 500,000 to EUR 17,500,000. The indicative number of grants to be awarded across all topics within the call is 65. The topics include: HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-05, HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-04, HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-02, HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-OPEN-01, HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-03, and HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-01.

The general conditions for admissibility include proposal page limits and layout as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form. Eligible countries are detailed in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries outlined in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. Other eligible conditions are also described in Annex B. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are described in Annex C. Evaluation and award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in Annex D. Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in Annex F. The legal and financial setup of the grants is described in Annex G. Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

Application form templates available in the Submission System include: Standard application form (HE RIA, IA), Standard application form (HE RIA IA Stage 1), Standard application form (HE CSA), Standard application form (HE CSA Stage 1), Standard application form (HE RI), Standard application form (HE PCP), Standard application form (HE PPI), Standard application form (HE COFUND), Standard application form (HE FPA), Standard application form (HE MSCA DN), Standard application form (HE MSCA PF), Standard application form (HE MSCA SE), Standard application form (HE MSCA COFUND), Standard application form (HE ERC STG), Standard application form (HE ERC COG), Standard application form (HE ERC ADG), Standard application form (HE ERC POC), Standard application form (HE ERC SYG), Standard application form (HE EIC PATHFINDER CHALLENGES), Standard application form (HE EIC PATHFINDER OPEN), and Standard application form (HE EIC TRANSITION).

Evaluation form templates include: Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA), Standard evaluation form (HE CSA), Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA and CSA Stage 1), Standard evaluation form (HE PCP PPI), Standard evaluation form (HE COFUND), Standard evaluation form (HE FPA), Standard evaluation form (HE MSCA), Standard evaluation form (HE EIC PATHFINDER CHALLENGES), Standard evaluation form (HE EIC PATHFINDER OPEN), Standard evaluation form (HE EIC TRANSITION), Standard evaluation form (HE EIC Accelerator stage 1 - short proposal), and Standard evaluation form (HE EIC Accelerator stage 2 - full proposal).

Guidance documents include the HE Programme Guide, HE MGA, HE Unit MGA, Lump Sum MGA, Operating Grants MGA, Framework Partnership Agreement FPA, Detailed budget table (HE LS), Information on financial support to third parties (HE), Information on clinical studies (HE), and Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?".

Additional documents include: HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 1. General Introduction, HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 2. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 3. Research Infrastructures, HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 4. Health, HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 5. Culture, creativity and inclusive society, HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 6. Civil Security for Society, HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 7. Digital, Industry and Space, HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 8. Climate, Energy and Mobility, HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 9. Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment, HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 10. European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE), HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 11. Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area, HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 12. Missions, HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 13. General Annexes, HE Programme Guide, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, EU Financial Regulation 2018/1046, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

There are partner search announcements available, and LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests. The submission system is planned to open on the date stated on the topic header.

Support is available through the Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network, IT Helpdesk, European IPR Helpdesk, CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk, ETSI Research Helpdesk, the European Charter for Researchers, and Partner Search.

In summary, this Horizon Europe grant opportunity, part of the EIC Accelerator program, aims to fund projects focused on biotechnology-driven solutions for low-emission food production. It provides substantial funding, ranging from 500,000 to 17,500,000 EUR, to innovative projects that can significantly contribute to sustainable food systems. The application process involves multiple cut-off dates, and applicants must adhere to specific guidelines regarding proposal format, eligibility, and evaluation criteria. The program offers extensive support resources to guide applicants through the process, from partner search to proposal submission and grant management. This call is designed to support projects that are at a stage where they require significant investment to scale up and bring their innovations to market.

Eligible Applicant Types: While the specific eligible applicant types are not explicitly listed in the provided text, the EIC Accelerator program typically targets innovative startups, SMEs, and occasionally larger companies that are developing breakthrough technologies and innovations with the potential for significant impact. The program is designed to support single applicants.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS]. The EIC Accelerator also offers the possibility of equity investment alongside the grant component.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity appears to be primarily aimed at single applicants, as indicated by the focus on individual projects and the EIC Accelerator's general structure. However, collaborations might be possible through financial support to third parties.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU member states and associated countries as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. The opportunity also mentions that a number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Target Sector: The program targets a wide range of sectors, including but not limited to biotechnology, food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture, environment, digital technologies, industry, and space. The specific call HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-02 focuses on "Biotechnology driven low emission food production systems".

Mentioned Countries: The text refers to EU member states, associated countries, and non-EU/non-associated countries that have specific provisions for funding participation in Horizon Europe projects.

Project Stage: The EIC Accelerator primarily targets projects that are at the late development, validation, demonstration, or commercialization stage. The focus is on scaling up breakthrough innovations.

Funding Amount: The funding ranges from €500,000 to €17,500,000. The total budget allocated to the topics listed is EUR 634,000,000.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with multiple cut-off dates.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant. Equity investment may also be available. Non-monetary services are also available, such as access to the Enterprise Europe Network and the European IPR Helpdesk.

Application Stages: The application process involves multiple stages, including a short proposal (stage 1) and a full proposal (stage 2).

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding requirements are not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Summary:

This is a Horizon Europe EIC Accelerator call for proposals, specifically the HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02 call, which includes topics addressing various challenges and an open topic. A total budget of 634 million EUR is available for the 2025 call, with funding ranging from 500,000 EUR to 17.5 million EUR per project. The call aims to support innovative startups and SMEs (and in some cases larger companies) in scaling up their breakthrough innovations. The application process involves multiple cut-off dates, with deadlines on March 12, 2025, and October 1, 2025. The call utilizes a lump sum grant agreement. Eligible applicants include those from EU member states, associated countries, and potentially non-EU/non-associated countries with specific funding provisions. The call provides access to support services such as the Enterprise Europe Network and the European IPR Helpdesk. The specific topic HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-02 targets biotechnology-driven low-emission food production systems. The call is managed through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, where applicants can find application forms, guidance documents, and submit their proposals. Partner search tools are also available on the portal to facilitate the formation of collaborative projects.