Demonstrating and deploying innovative collection, sorting-for-reuse and repair systems for textiles at city/region level (Circular Cities and Regions...

The HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-04 is a Horizon Europe funding opportunity that emphasizes the demonstration and deployment of innovative textile collection, sorting, and repair systems at the city and regional levels. The initiative is part of the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI), with a total budget of €10 million allocated for 2026, expecting to finance two grants of €5 million each.

Eligible applicants must form a multi-actor consortium comprising at least nine distinct regional or local authorities, which should include a minimum of three from demonstration cities or regions and six from replication cities or regions. Other eligible participants include research institutions, social enterprises, small businesses, civil society organizations, and private companies focused on circular solutions.

The application process will be single-stage, allowing complete proposals to be submitted electronically between April 17, 2026, and September 17, 2026. Funding will be granted in the form of a lump sum, streamlining financial management for beneficiaries. The focus is on projects that validate and implement systems for enhancing the reuse and repair of textiles, promoting behavioral changes toward sustainable consumption, and generating new economic opportunities in the textile sector.

Projects should integrate various thematic areas such as emotional inclusivity and transparency in the supply chain, emphasizing practical, real-world applications and scalability. The evaluation will consider the excellence of the proposals, their potential impact, and the quality and efficiency of their implementation.

While co-funding is not explicitly required, applicants are encouraged to demonstrate sustainability beyond the EU grant by leveraging additional funding sources. The expected success rate is likely in the 10-39% range, reflecting the competitive nature of the call. The opportunity aligns with major EU policy frameworks targeting sustainability and circular economy practices, including the European Green Deal.

This grant targets those ready to engage in transformative circular economy projects, specifically in the textile sector, by involving citizens and leveraging local authority partnerships to enhance waste management systems.

This is a Horizon Europe call, specifically HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-04, focusing on demonstrating and deploying innovative collection, sorting-for-reuse, and repair systems for textiles at the city/region level, as part of the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI). It is a HORIZON Innovation Action (HORIZON-IA) with a lump sum grant type. The planned opening date is 17 April 2026, and the deadline is 17 September 2026, 17:00:00 Brussels time. The budget for this topic is 10,000,000 EUR.

The expected outcomes of the projects funded under this topic include: local/regional authorities adopting optimized textile waste collection and sorting systems prioritizing reuse and repair; social economy entities and society benefiting from favorable conditions for reuse and repair practices; increased citizen awareness and behavioral change towards sustainable consumption; availability of innovative circular textile methodologies for large-scale replication; and stimulation of businesses to advance repair strategies and circular business models, creating new jobs.

The scope of the proposals should include: developing, testing, and validating innovative solutions for textile reuse and repair; involving citizens, local businesses, and social enterprises; improving data capture on textile waste flows and ensuring supply chain transparency; developing solutions for sorting and preparing for reuse, including digital solutions and AI; incentivizing manufacturers to provide spare parts and extended guarantees; and developing actionable recommendations for replication.

Proposals must use a multi-actor approach and consider gender sensitivity and inclusivity. Collaboration between retailers/manufacturers and small repair businesses/social enterprises is encouraged. Cooperation with the CCRI is also encouraged, as well as joint activities and clustering with other related projects. Feasibility, effectiveness, and impact of solutions should be evaluated using robust methods, including lifecycle assessments. The topic requires the contribution of SSH disciplines and expertise. It supports the European Green Deal, the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, the Circular Economy Act, the Start-ups and Scale-ups strategy, the Waste Framework Directive, and EPR for textiles.

The admissibility conditions 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 described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Other eligible conditions include applying the multi-actor approach and having at least nine distinct regional or local authorities as beneficiaries, with at least three from different demonstration cities/regions and six from other replication cities/regions. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Evaluation and award criteria, submission and evaluation processes, and the indicative timeline are described in Annex D and Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. Legal and financial aspects are governed by the lump sum funding model as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021, with eligible costs taking the form of a lump sum.

Application forms are available in the Submission System, with standard forms for HE RIA and IA actions. Evaluation form templates will be used with necessary adaptations. Guidance is provided in the HE Programme Guide, Lump Sum MGA, call-specific instructions, detailed budget table, and the "Lump sums - what do I need to know?" document.

Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 sections 1, 9, and 15, the HE Programme Guide, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, the Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

Partner search announcements can be viewed and edited by LEARs, Account Administrators, or self-registrants after logging into the Portal. The submission system is planned to open on the date stated on the topic header.

This funding opportunity is part of the Horizon Europe program and aims to foster innovation in textile waste management at the city and regional levels. It encourages projects that develop and implement circular economy solutions for textiles, focusing on reuse, repair, and recycling. The goal is to reduce environmental impact, promote sustainable consumption, and create new economic opportunities in the textile sector. Successful projects will involve collaboration between local authorities, businesses, social enterprises, and citizens, and will demonstrate measurable improvements in textile waste management practices. The funding supports the European Green Deal and related policies, contributing to a more sustainable and circular economy in Europe.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types include regional or local authorities, retailers, manufacturers, small repair businesses, social enterprises, research institutions, and citizens. The call requires a multi-actor approach, suggesting a broad range of stakeholders can be involved.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, under the HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) funding scheme.

Consortium Requirement: A consortium is required. Specifically, the eligibility criteria state that at least nine distinct regional or local authorities must be part of the consortium as beneficiaries, with at least three from different demonstration cities/regions and another six from different replication cities/regions.

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. Non-EU/non-Associated Countries may also be eligible if they have specific provisions for funding participants in Horizon Europe projects, as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Target Sector: The program targets the circular economy, specifically focusing on textiles, waste management, and the implementation of circular systemic solutions at the city/region level. It also touches on sectors like retail, manufacturing, social economy, and digital solutions (AI, digital product passports).

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the opportunity is open to EU member states and associated countries. The call also references non-EU/non-Associated Countries that have made specific provisions for funding.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on demonstration and deployment of innovative solutions, suggesting a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of validation and demonstration. The call aims to develop, test, and validate solutions, and scale-up successful practices.

Funding Amount: The budget for the HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-04 topic is EUR 10,000,000. The indicative funding range per grant is around EUR 5,000,000.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant to support their projects.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: There is no information about success rates.

Co-funding Requirement: There is no explicit mention of a co-funding requirement.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-04, focuses on "Demonstrating and deploying innovative collection, sorting-for-reuse and repair systems for textiles at city/region level" as part of the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI). The call aims to support projects that develop, test, and validate innovative solutions for textile reuse and repair, involving local authorities, citizens, businesses, and social enterprises. The goal is to optimize textile waste management, promote circular business models, and stimulate behavioral change towards sustainable consumption.

Eligible applicants must form a consortium that includes at least nine distinct regional or local authorities, with a focus on demonstration and replication in different cities and regions. The funding is provided as a lump sum grant, with a total budget of EUR 10,000,000 for the topic and an indicative grant amount of around EUR 5,000,000 per project. The call supports the European Green Deal, the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, the Circular Economy Act, and other relevant EU policies. The application process is a single-stage open call with a deadline of September 17, 2026.