Boosting biorefinery competitiveness through biotech

Flagship innovation action HORIZON-JU (Circular Bio-based Europe JU) to deploy first-of-a-kind industrial-scale biorefineries where biotechnology is the key enabling technology. Indicative budget €20 million; single-stage submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal, opening 23 April 2026 and closing 22 September 2026 at 17:00 CET. Projects must demonstrate a biomanufacturing route at TRL 8 and at least one end-product validated at TRL 6+, apply the EU Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework, perform regulatory and human/ecosystem risk assessments, and adopt a multi-actor value-chain approach. Eligible applicants follow Horizon Europe rules (EU Member States and associated countries) and should present consortium-based proposals with industrial deployment capacity and a business plan annex.

Call HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026 — IA Flagship

High-level summary

Innovation Action (IA Flagship) funding to demonstrate full industrial-scale biorefinery value chains where biotechnology is the key enabling technology. Projects must deliver a biomanufacturing route at TRL 8 and at least one end-product validated at TRL 6+ in relevant market applications. Food and feed ingredients as main application are out of scope.

Who can apply:Consortia of organisations eligible under Horizon Europe (industry, research organisations, SMEs, public bodies, etc.) with multi-actor involvement across the value chain including feedstock providers, end users and relevant policy/regulatory stakeholders.

1. 1Focus on biotech-driven processes (chemicals, intermediates, polymers, ingredients, enzymes; food/feed main use excluded).
2. 2Starting TRL for biological optimization must be at least 6; demonstration at TRL 8 required.
3. 3Include SSbD assessment for production and derived end-products and a risk assessment on human and ecosystem safety.
4. 4Address regulatory compliance, identify gaps and provide recommendations; avoid overlaps with past CBE/BBI/Horizon projects.

Indicative funding and scale:this topic has an indicative contribution of around €20,000,000. The full CBE JU 2026 call budget is €170,760,699 across multiple topics.

How to apply:submit via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using the HORIZON JU Innovation Actions [HORIZON-JU-IA] submission route and follow the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026 topic requirements and Horizon Europe application templates. For SSbD guidance refer to the EU Safe and Sustainable by Design resources SSbD resources.

Call identifier:HORIZON-JU. Programme: Horizon Europe implemented by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU). Type of action: Innovation Action Flagship (HORIZON-JU-IA HORIZON JU Innovation Actions). Type of grant: HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG]. Opening date: 23 April 2026. Deadline date: 22 September 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. Deadline model: single-stage submission. Submission channel: Funding & Tenders Portal electronic submission system (start submission from the topic page).

Objective, expected outcomes and scope

Objective:Demonstrate and deploy at industrial scale (TRL 8) sustainable biomanufacturing routes in which biotechnology is the key enabling technology, integrated in a full biorefinery and related value chains to produce bio-based products and at least one derived end-product which drives the business case (end-product validated at TRL 6+). Expected contribution to EU policy goals: implementation of the EU initiative on Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing, EU Life Sciences Strategy, updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy, EU Biotechnology Act, Clean Industrial Deal, European Chemical Industry Action Plan and the upcoming EU Circular Economy Act.

Expected outcomes:1) Full industrial scale biorefinery and related value chain(s) demonstrated for sustainable production of bio-based products using biotechnology as the key enabling technology. 2) Availability of bio-based products meeting market and technical performance requirements. 3) Improved sustainability, circularity and resource efficiency against relevant benchmarks. 4) Increased EU strategic autonomy, resilience and competitiveness.

Scope and in-scope products:Biorefineries that integrate biotechnologies underpinned by sustainably sourced bio-based feedstock. Processes where biotechnology is the key enabling technology are in scope; upstream or downstream unit operations that are not biotechnological may be integrated. Products in scope include chemicals, intermediates, polymers, ingredients and enzymes. Food and feed ingredients as the main application are explicitly out of scope. Optimization of cells, enzymes and/or microorganisms is acceptable provided the starting TRL is at least 6.

Specific technical and non-technical requirements

1. 1Demonstrate a sustainable and robust biomanufacturing route at TRL 8 to obtain target bio-based product(s).
2. 2Demonstrate further conversion or use of the biorefinery product(s) into at least one end-product that supports the business case; the end-product must be validated at TRL 6 or above. Additional end-products with high market potential may be targeted at TRL 6+.
3. 3Starting biological optimisations (cells, enzymes, microorganisms) must commence from at least TRL 6.
4. 4Implement a multi-actor approach (MAA): involve all key actors across the value chain including feedstock providers, policymakers and end users to ensure uptake and market fit.
5. 5Address compliance with EU regulatory frameworks relevant for the targeted products and applications; identify regulatory gaps and provide recommendations to overcome them.
6. 6Perform risk assessments on human and ecosystem safety deriving from the use of biotechnology in the proposed process; propose mitigation measures and assess adequacy of policy/regulatory means to manage identified risks.
7. 7Include application of the EU Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework to assess both the production process and the derived end-product(s).
8. 8Demonstrate complementarity and avoid overlap with past and ongoing R&I projects (e.g., BBI JU/CBE JU, Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe projects).

Eligibility and applicant requirements

Eligible countries and participants:The general eligibility rules of Horizon Europe apply. Eligible countries are described in Annex B of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes; this typically includes EU Member States and Horizon Europe associated countries. Certain non-EU/non-associated countries may have national arrangements allowing participation. Applicants must consult Annex B and national contact points for country-specific funding rules.

Eligible applicant types:The call does not restrict specific legal types beyond Horizon Europe general rules. Typical eligible applicant types appropriate for this topic include: startups, SMEs, large enterprises, universities, research institutes, non-profit organisations, public bodies, public-private partnerships, industry consortia, technology providers, infrastructure managers and investors participating as beneficiaries. Given the flagship IA nature and industrial-scale demonstration requirement, strong participation from industrial partners (large companies or consortia including SMEs and mid-caps), technology integrators, feedstock suppliers and end-users is expected.

Other eligibility conditions:Proposals must comply with the admissibility rules (page limits and layout as set in Annex A and Annex E of Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form in the Submission System). Financial and operational capacity, exclusion and supporting documentation follow Annex C and LEAR/Legal Entity Validation rules for Horizon Europe. Specific conditions for types of action are described in section 2.2.3.1 of the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026 ¹.

Funding, budget and award

Indicative budget for the 2026 CBE JU call cluster:Total CBE JU 2026 call budget across all topics: €170,760,699. The Innovation Action Flagship topic 'Boosting biorefinery competitiveness through biotech' has an indicative contribution of around €20,000,000.

Indicative grant sizes and number of grants:The Budget overview for the full CBE JU 2026 call lists multiple topics with individual indicative contributions. For IA flagship topics the typical award sizes indicated in the budget overview range around €20,000,000 for flagship IAs. Applicants should expect flagship projects to be large-scale and to require substantial work packages, capital expenditure planning and co-financing strategy.

Funding type:Direct grant (grant funding under Horizon Europe through the CBE JU). This is a grant award using HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based model (budget-based reimbursement).

Consortium, project stage and expected maturity

Consortium requirement:The topic is a flagship Innovation Action and expects multi-partner consortia. A single beneficiary is highly unlikely to meet the scale and value-chain coverage requirements. The proposal must demonstrate multi-actor involvement across the value chain (feedstock suppliers, technology providers, industrial offtakers, regulatory/policy stakeholders and end users) indicating that consortia should include industry, research/technology organisations and relevant stakeholders. Therefore the requirement is consortium-based.

Project stage and TRL expectations:Projects must demonstrate technologies at TRL 8 for the biomanufacturing route. Further conversion/use of products into at least one end-product should be validated at TRL 6 or higher. Optimization activities of biological components must start from TRL 6 or above. Overall aim: deployment-scale demonstration and near-market validation.

Application, evaluation and selection process

Application type and submission process:Single-stage open call. Submission must be completed electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal Submission System using the Application Form available there. Applicants must choose the correct type of action (HORIZON JU Innovation Actions [HORIZON-JU-IA] with HORIZON-AG MGA) when starting submission; this choice cannot be changed after confirmation.

Evaluation and award:The evaluation criteria, scoring, thresholds and process follow the Horizon Europe general annexes (Annex D for award criteria, Annex F for submission and evaluation processes). Evaluation will use adapted standard evaluation forms (HE RIA, IA) and follow the indicative timeline described in Annex F. Applicants should consult the Online Manual and Programme Guide for procedural details. The topic page lists no Topic Q&A items at the moment.

Application stages and indicative timeline:Single-stage submission (one formal proposal submission). After the call closure, proposals will be evaluated in accordance with Horizon Europe evaluation processes; grant preparation and signature follow successful evaluation. The CBE JU and Horizon European annexes provide indicative timelines for evaluation and grant agreement.

Assessment criteria and mandatory tasks to include in proposals

1. 1Technical readiness: clear evidence of TRL 8 demonstration for the biomanufacturing route and TRL 6+ validation of derived end-product(s).
2. 2Value-chain integration: demonstrable engagement of feedstock providers, process integrators, downstream users, and end-market partners as part of the multi-actor approach.
3. 3Market and business case: a robust business plan (business plan annex is required for IA-Flagships) showing commercial viability, market adoption path and scaling plan.
4. 4Environmental and sustainability assessment: life cycle analysis, circularity metrics and demonstrable improvements vs benchmarks.
5. 5Regulatory and safety assessment: compliance mapping with EU regulatory frameworks, risk assessment for human and ecosystem safety, mitigation measures, and regulatory gap analysis with recommendations.
6. 6SSbD application: an explicit task to apply the EU Safe and Sustainable by Design framework to production and end-product assessment.
7. 7Exploitation and dissemination: clear plans for uptake, exploitation, standardisation and replication across the EU and alignment with CBE JU Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda.

Co-funding, financial and legal requirements

Co-funding requirement:Horizon Europe grants typically do not require co-funding in the sense of matching EU contributions by beneficiaries for activities eligible under the grant model (the grant finances a share of eligible costs). However, flagship IAs with large industrial deployment often require significant additional investments, capital expenditures and in-kind contributions from partners to reach industrial-scale demonstration; applicants should therefore plan for co-financing either as additional national/industry funds or in-kind contributions. Exact reimbursement rates and financial rules follow the HE rules and the Model Grant Agreement (HE MGA) and the CBE JU call-specific instructions.

Legal and financial set-up:Grants will follow the legal and financial arrangements described in Annex G of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and the HE Model Grant Agreement. Legal Entity Validation, LEAR appointment and financial capacity assessments apply as per Horizon Europe rules.

Evaluation success rates and competition

Success rates:The call does not publish explicit success rates for this specific topic. Flagship innovation actions are competitive and target a few large projects; the budget allocation for this topic is around €20 million, so successful proposals will need to be large, high-quality and closely aligned with topic expectations. Applicants should assume low to moderate success probability and design robust, high-quality proposals that clearly demonstrate TRL requirements, value-chain engagement and market impact.

Application forms, templates and supporting documents

Application form templates and model documents:Use the Application Form provided in the Submission System. Additional templates and guidance include: Application form: business plan annex (mandatory only for IA-Flagships), evaluation form templates (standard evaluation forms adapted for HE RIA/IA), HE Programme Guide, HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 documents, HE General Annexes (including Annex A-E), HE Model Grant Agreement (HE MGA) and the CBE JU Annual Work Programme and Budget 2026. Applicants should also consult the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual and the CBE JU call-specific instructions.

Structure to expect in the application form: Part A (administrative information and participants), Part B (technical description, including excellence, impact and implementation sections), Part B annexes (Gantt, budget, ethics, conflict of interest), Business Plan annex for IA-Flagships (market analysis, financial plan, capex/opex needs, scaling and investment plan), CVs of key personnel, Letters of Support/Memoranda of Understanding from value-chain partners, and risk assessment and SSbD assessment reports.

Support, helpdesks and further reference documents

• Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual and IT helpdesk (for submission issues).
• Horizon Europe Programme Guide (procedural and eligibility guidance).
• CBE JU Annual Work Programme and Budget 2026 (call-specific rules and eligibility) ¹.
• EU SSbD resources: Safe and Sustainable by Design methodological guidance, JRC resources and SSbD Bootcamps for applying the SSbD framework.
• National Contact Points (NCPs) and Enterprise Europe Network for partner identification and national support.
• European IPR Helpdesk for intellectual property guidance.
• CEN-CENELEC and ETSI Research Helpdesks for standardisation advice.

Mentioned countries and geographic eligibility

Mentioned countries:The topic text does not list individual countries; it uses Horizon Europe eligibility rules which cover EU Member States and associated countries. Geographic beneficiary scope: EU and Horizon Europe associated countries as described in Annex B of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Specific third-country participation may be allowed under particular conditions or national arrangements—applicants should check Annex B and the Horizon Europe Programme Guide for details.

Summary of key facts (quick reference table)

Detailed answers to the requested categorisation questions

Eligible Applicant Types:Eligible applicant types under Horizon Europe rules: startups, SMEs, large enterprises, universities, research institutes, non-profit organisations, public bodies, public-private partnerships, investors and NGOs. For this flagship IA topic, consortia are expected to include industrial partners (large or SME), research and technology organisations, feedstock providers and end users to fulfil the multi-actor approach.

Funding Type:Primary financial mechanism: Grant funding (Horizon Europe grant, budget-based reimbursement under the Horizon Model Grant Agreement HORIZON-AG).

Consortium Requirement:Consortium required: yes. The topic is a flagship Innovation Action and expects multi-partner consortia covering value-chain actors. Single-entity submissions are not aligned with the multi-actor and industrial deployment requirements.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Geographic eligibility: EU Member States and Horizon Europe associated countries as specified in Annex B of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Some third countries may participate under specific conditions or national funding arrangements.

Target Sector:Primary sectors targeted: biotechnology / industrial biotechnology, bio-based chemicals and materials, manufacturing (biorefineries), advanced processing and industrial processes, environment and circular economy, and related value-chain sectors (chemicals, polymers, enzymes). Cross-cutting relevance to policy, regulation and sustainability.

Mentioned Countries:No individual countries explicitly listed in the topic text; regionally the call is for EU and Horizon Europe associated countries (see Annex B).

Project Stage:Expected maturity: demonstration / deployment stage. Required TRL: demonstrate biomanufacturing route at TRL 8; end-product validation at TRL 6 or above.

Funding Amount:Indicative contribution for this flagship IA: around €20,000,000. The full CBE JU 2026 call has a total indicative budget of €170,760,699 across topics.

Application Type:Single-stage open call submitted via the Funding & Tenders Portal (electronic submission).

Nature of Support:Beneficiaries will receive monetary support (grant funding covering eligible costs under Horizon Europe rules) and non-monetary support via dissemination, networking and policy engagement channels offered by CBE JU. The primary modality is monetary grant funding.

Application Stages:Number of formal application stages to be awarded: 1 (single-stage submission). Post-evaluation there will be grant preparation steps prior to signature, consistent with Horizon Europe processes.

Success Rates:No topic-specific success rates provided. Given the flagship scale and limited budget (approx. €20 million for this topic), competition is expected to be strong and success rates likely low to moderate. Success depends on meeting stringent TRL, multi-actor and market deployment requirements.

Co-funding Requirement:Horizon Europe grants reimburse eligible costs rather than requiring an EU matching contribution for those costs; however, for large-scale industrial demonstration projects applicants should plan for additional co-investment, capital expenditure and in-kind contributions by industry partners. The grant finances a portion of eligible project costs per HE rules; applicants must ensure financial capacity and may need to demonstrate co-investment in the business plan annex for flagship projects.

Templates and application structure:Use the Application Form in the Submission System. Expect Part A administrative sections and Part B with structured sections: Excellence (objectives, TRL, methodology), Impact (market potential, business plan, exploitation and scaling), Implementation (work packages, timeline, resources, capital expenditure and procurement), Consortium (roles, capacities, letters of support), Ethics and Safety, SSbD assessment task, Regulatory compliance and risk management, Budget and financial plan, Business plan annex for IA-Flagships. Include Gantt chart, detailed budget table per beneficiary and work package, and CVs of key personnel. The business plan annex is mandatory for IA-Flagships and should detail market analysis, capex/opex, investment needs, financing strategy and replication plan.

Applicants should consult the CBE JU call-specific instructions, the Application Form in the Submission System and the HE Programme Guide for exact formatting and page limits (Annex A and Part B of the application form). The CBE JU provides a pre-check proposal service via NCP_WIDERA.NET for eligible countries to get a professional pre-check.

Concluding summary

This CBE JU flagship Innovation Action call topic funds large-scale industrial demonstration projects that use biotechnology as the central enabling technology to build and operate biorefineries producing bio-based chemicals, polymers, intermediates, ingredients or enzymes (excluding food/feed as primary application). Projects must demonstrate a production route at TRL 8 and validate at least one end-product at TRL 6+, apply the SSbD framework, perform regulatory and safety risk assessments, and adopt a multi-actor approach engaging the full value chain. The topic has an indicative budget of around €20 million, requires consortium-based proposals with strong industrial participation and a business plan annex, and follows Horizon Europe rules for eligibility, evaluation and grant management. Proposers must submit a single-stage electronic application by 22 September 2026 via the Funding & Tenders Portal and should prepare detailed technical, regulatory, safety, environmental and commercial evidence to support industrial-scale deployment and market uptake.

For full legal, administrative and procedural details applicants must consult the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026, the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes (Annexes A-G) and the model grant agreement (HE MGA) available from the Funding & Tenders Portal and the CBE JU reference documents page ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026 and reference documents available at cbe.europa.eu and the specific call topic page on the Funding & Tenders Portal: ec.europa.eu

Opportunity Overview

This is a flagship innovation action under the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) 2026 call for proposals. The opportunity targets the deployment of first-of-their-kind industrial-scale biorefineries that integrate biotechnology as a key enabling technology to produce bio-based products. The call is part of a broader €170.7 million investment across 13 topics designed to accelerate Europe's transition to a sustainable and competitive bioeconomy. ¹

Funding Details

Total Budget Available:€20 million for this specific topic HORIZON-JU

Funding Rate:Standard Horizon Europe rates apply. Specific rates depend on the type of beneficiary and are detailed in the Horizon Europe Model Grant Agreement.

Grant Type:HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based (HORIZON-AG)

Indicative Number of Grants:Approximately 1 grant expected, though this may vary based on proposal quality and budget allocation decisions

Call Timeline

Opening Date:23 April 2026

Submission Deadline:22 September 2026 at 17:00 CET (single-stage submission)

Submission Model:Single-stage process. Proposals are submitted once and evaluated in a single round.

Eligibility and Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants include research organisations, universities, public entities, non-governmental organisations, and private companies from EU Member States and associated countries. Specific eligibility conditions are detailed in Annex B of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. A number of non-EU and non-associated countries have made specific provisions for funding availability for their participants. ²

Applicants must demonstrate financial and operational capacity to implement the project. Exclusion criteria apply as per Annex C of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.

Project Scope and Requirements

Proposals must demonstrate industrial-scale biomanufacturing routes at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 8, meaning the technology is ready for deployment in real-world operational environments. ³

Core Technical Requirements

• Demonstrate a sustainable and robust biomanufacturing route to obtain bio-based products at TRL 8, where biotechnology is the key enabling technology
• Focus on processes where biotechnology is central; integration of supporting unit operations using other technologies is permitted
• Target products include chemicals, intermediates, polymers, ingredients and enzymes. Food and feed ingredients as main applications are excluded
• Optimisation of cells, enzymes and/or microorganisms is in scope provided starting TRL is at least 6
• Demonstrate further conversion or use of biorefinery products into at least one end-product at TRL 8, validated at TRL 6 and above in relevant market applications
• Additional end-products with high market potential may be targeted, reaching at least TRL 6

Mandatory Cross-Cutting Requirements

• Multi-actor approach: Ensure involvement of all key value chain actors including feedstock providers, policymakers and end users across the sustainable circular bio-based system
• Regulatory compliance: Address compliance with EU regulatory frameworks for targeted products and applications, identify gaps and provide recommendations
• Risk assessment: Perform comprehensive risk assessment on impacts from biotechnology use on human and ecosystem safety, identify mitigation measures, and assess adequacy of policy and regulatory means
• Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework: Apply the European Commission SSbD framework to assess production processes of biorefinery products and derived end-products
• Complementarity: Seek complementarities and avoid overlaps with past and ongoing R&I projects funded by BBI JU/CBE JU and Horizon 2020/Horizon Europe

Expected Outcomes and Impact

Successful projects are expected to deliver full industrial-scale biorefinery value chains and related value chains for sustainable production of bio-based products using biotechnology as a key enabling technology. Projects must demonstrate availability of bio-based products meeting market and technical performance requirements, improvement of sustainability, circularity and resource efficiency compared to relevant benchmarks, and contribution to increasing EU strategic autonomy, resilience and competitiveness. ⁴

Results are expected to contribute to implementation of multiple EU strategic initiatives including the EU initiative on Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing, the EU Life Sciences Strategy, the updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy, the EU Biotechnology Act, the Clean Industrial Deal, the European Chemical Industry Action Plan and the upcoming EU Circular Economy Act.

Strategic Context and Priorities

This opportunity aligns with the CBE JU's Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for 2022-2030, which identifies strategic priorities in feedstock, processing, products, and cross-cutting aspects of communication and environmental sustainability. The CBE JU is a €2 billion public-private partnership between the European Union and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC), operating under Horizon Europe rules. ⁵

The flagship topic addresses a critical gap in Europe's bioeconomy:while Europe is strong in life sciences and industrial biotechnology, research results often struggle to reach market deployment. Scale-up typically requires de-risking and overcoming challenges in large-scale process and reactor design, cell productivity, efficient feedstock use, operative condition stability, reactor sterility and efficient downstream operations integration.

Application Process and Support

Proposals must be submitted through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using the application form available in the submission system. Applicants must select the HORIZON JU Innovation Actions (HORIZON-JU-IA) type with HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based (HORIZON-AG) model grant agreement. ⁶

Pre-call support activities include an online info day held on 12 March 2026 and a networking event in Brussels on 21 April 2026. Applicants from eligible countries can use the pre-check proposal service offered by the NCP_WIDERA.NET project for professional proposal review.

Evaluation and Award Criteria

Proposals are evaluated according to standard Horizon Europe criteria detailed in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. Evaluation covers excellence, implementation, and impact dimensions. Award decisions follow the submission and evaluation processes described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Horizon Online Manual.

Key Documentation and Guidance

• CBE JU Annual Work Programme and Budget 2026 - complete topic descriptions and specific requirements
• CBE JU Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) - strategic framework and priorities
• Horizon Europe Programme Guide - detailed guidance on structure, budget and political priorities
• Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes - eligibility, evaluation and award procedures
• Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) Framework and Methodological Guidance - framework for assessing production processes
• Horizon Europe Model Grant Agreement (MGA) - legal and financial terms
• EU Grants Annotated Model Grant Agreement (AGA) - detailed guidance on grant agreement implementation

Important Considerations for Applicants

This is a highly competitive flagship topic targeting industrial-scale deployment. Proposals must demonstrate clear pathways to market viability and commercial competitiveness. The requirement for TRL 8 demonstration means projects should involve industrial partners with deployment capacity. The multi-actor approach requirement necessitates engagement across entire value chains from feedstock providers through to end-users. ⁷

Applicants should carefully review the SSbD framework requirements, as this is a mandatory element. The framework assesses safety and sustainability considerations across the entire product lifecycle. Proposals must also demonstrate how they avoid duplication with existing or ongoing projects in the bioeconomy space.

The call operates under standard Horizon Europe rules and procedures. All general conditions regarding admissibility, eligibility, financial and operational capacity, and exclusion criteria apply as specified in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.

Footnotes

1. 1CBE JU 2026 work programme announces €170.7 million funding across 13 topics to accelerate sustainable and competitive bio-based solutions. The 2026 call for proposals opened on 23 April 2026 and closes on 22 September 2026.
2. 2Eligible countries are described in Annex B of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Non-EU and non-associated countries with specific provisions for participant funding should consult the Horizon Europe Programme Guide for details.
3. 3TRL 8 represents a technology ready for deployment in real-world operational environments. This is the highest technology readiness level for innovation actions, indicating the technology has been validated in operational environments and is ready for commercial deployment.
4. 4Expected outcomes include full industrial-scale biorefinery value chains, market-ready bio-based products meeting technical performance requirements, improved sustainability and resource efficiency compared to benchmarks, and contribution to EU strategic autonomy and competitiveness.
5. 5CBE JU is a €2 billion public-private partnership between the European Union and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC). It operates under Horizon Europe rules and builds on the success of its predecessor, the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU).
6. 6Proposals must be submitted through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. The application form, evaluation form templates, and model grant agreement are available in the submission system. Applicants should consult the Horizon Online Manual for detailed submission procedures.
7. 7The flagship topic targets first-of-their-kind innovations at industrial scale. Successful proposals typically involve strong consortia with industrial deployment capacity, research expertise, and value chain representation. The multi-actor approach requirement ensures engagement of feedstock providers, policymakers, and end-users.