Harnessing the unique properties of marine organisms to deliver sustainable blue bio-based products

The Horizon Europe call for proposals, identified as HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-11, focuses on harnessing the unique properties of marine organisms to develop sustainable blue bio-based products. This initiative falls under the Horizon Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) framework, with a total budget of €10 million split across two expected grants of €5 million each.

Eligible applicants include universities, research institutions, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), large enterprises, public organizations, non-profits, and public-private partnerships. Crucially, a consortium of multiple independent legal entities is required, generally comprising at least three partners from different EU member states or associated countries.

Geographic eligibility aligns with standard Horizon Europe rules, allowing participation from all EU member states and associated countries, with an encouragement for international cooperation, particularly with Latin America and Caribbean nations. The focus sectors include marine biotechnology, bioeconomy, circular bio-based economy, and various applications such as construction materials, bioplastics, and chemicals, but notably exclude areas like health biotechnology and biofuels to prevent overlaps with other funding clusters.

The projects should span the full innovation chain, emphasizing research through early development stages and proof of concept. The applications are required to demonstrate not only technical and commercial viability but also adherence to environmental sustainability practices and regulatory pathways.

The submission process is a single-stage open call, scheduled to open on April 17, 2026, and close on September 17, 2026. Proposals must be submitted electronically through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. The nature of support is in the form of lump sum grants to cover eligible project costs, aimed at providing direct financial assistance and reducing administrative burdens.

While specific success rates are not detailed, historical context suggests moderate competition given the substantial funding allocated. Co-funding is not mandatory, although participation from private sector stakeholders is strongly encouraged.

Overall, this funding opportunity supports the transition toward a sustainable circular bioeconomy, leveraging the potential of marine resources to create environmentally friendly alternatives across diverse industries while ensuring ethical considerations are addressed in the use of marine organisms. This aligns with broader EU policies aimed at fostering innovation in the bioeconomy and sustainability sectors.

The EU Funding and Tenders Portal presents a call for proposals under the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically focusing on "Harnessing the unique properties of marine organisms to deliver sustainable blue bio-based products" with topic ID HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-11. This call is a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-RIA) and utilizes a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] Model Grant Agreement (MGA).

The call is forthcoming with a single-stage deadline model. The planned opening date is April 17, 2026, and the deadline for submission is September 17, 2026, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcomes of the projects funded under this call are: increased support on green bioprocessing, safe and sustainable blue bio-based products; increased understanding of safety, effectiveness and regulatory bottlenecks of blue bio-based products; increased commitment to biodiversity preservation and conservation ensuring that the biodiscovery of new compounds does not lead to unsustainable harvesting from the wild and promoting sustainable use of genetic diversity.

The scope of this call is centered around the European industry's transition to a greener, more sustainable model by leveraging biological processes to create novel high-value sustainable products. It emphasizes the largely untapped diversity of marine organisms as a valuable source of biomolecules for various applications, including construction materials, chemical processes, bioplastics, and textiles. The call aims to support research and innovation in blue biotechnology to foster the transition toward greener, high-performance products across multiple industries.

Proposals should address the following key areas: development of safe and sustainable blue bio-based products by exploring the unique properties of biomolecules from marine organisms, including novel adhesion agents, biochemicals to replace hazardous chemicals, antifouling paintings and coatings, replacement for synthetic surfactants, biomarkers, biosensors, and enzymes. Applications in health biotechnology and biofuel/bioenergy are excluded. Incorporation of synthetic and engineering biology approaches, linking them with digital technologies and tools (AI/ML, bioinformatics). Assessment of costs and benefits compared to conventional alternatives, addressing regulatory, market, and value chain bottlenecks. Assessment of the safety, environmental sustainability, and effectiveness of developed bio-based products compared to equivalent materials on the market. Development of recommendations for policymakers and industrial actors based on scientific assessments of risks and benefits.

Proposals should cover the innovation chain from research to development and proof of concept. They should also consider legal aspects related to access to marine resources, sustainable use, and benefit-sharing. Ethical considerations regarding the harvesting or utilization of sentient marine animals must be addressed.

Applicants are encouraged to utilize data, expertise, and services from European research infrastructures like EMSO ERIC, EU-OPENSCREEN, ELIXIR, EMBRC ERIC, and IBISBA. Data produced should adhere to FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Re-usable). Proposals should involve relevant stakeholders to maximize impact and use of developed products, including economic and financial actors. International cooperation, particularly with Latin America and Caribbean countries, is encouraged.

Synergies and links with relevant projects funded under Horizon Europe CL6 Work Programmes 2021-2025, the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), and the Sustainable Blue Partnership (SBEP) are expected to be established to avoid overlaps.

This call is relevant to EU policies such as the new EU bioeconomy strategy, the European Life Sciences Strategy, the EU Biotech Act, the EU Algae Initiative, the European Ocean Pact, the EU strategy on research and technology infrastructures, and the new approach for a sustainable blue economy.

General conditions for participation include admissibility conditions related to proposal page limits and layout, eligible countries, financial and operational capacity, and exclusion criteria, all detailed in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Evaluation and award processes, submission guidelines, and indicative timelines are also specified in the annexes and online manual. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum.

Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme. Application forms, evaluation templates, model grant agreements, and call-specific instructions are available in the Submission System. Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027, HE Programme Guide, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, and various guidance documents related to legal entity validation, financial capacity assessment, and grant agreements.

The budget overview lists several topics under Call 01 - single stage (2026) with varying budgets and indicative numbers of grants. The topic described above, HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-11 - HORIZON-RIA, has a budget of 10,000,000 EUR and aims to award around 2 grants.

Partner search announcements can be viewed and edited on the portal. The submission system will open on the date stated in 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, and CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call seeks to foster a greener European industry by funding research and innovation that utilizes marine organisms to create sustainable, bio-based products. It encourages projects that span the entire innovation chain, address legal and ethical considerations, and align with EU bioeconomy and sustainability policies. The call provides a lump sum grant and encourages international cooperation and stakeholder involvement. The overall goal is to support the transition to a circular bioeconomy by harnessing the potential of marine resources for a range of industrial applications, excluding health biotechnology and biofuel/bioenergy.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated but can be inferred to include a variety of entities such as research organizations, universities, SMEs, large enterprises, and other stakeholders involved in the bioeconomy, biotechnology, and marine sectors. The call encourages the involvement of economic and financial actors, suggesting that for-profit entities are also eligible. Given the Horizon Europe framework, eligibility extends to entities from EU member states, associated countries, and potentially specific non-EU countries as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, under the HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and HORIZON Innovation Actions (IA). There are also HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) available.

Consortium Requirement: While not explicitly stated, the call encourages the involvement of all relevant stakeholders, including economic and financial actors, suggesting that consortia are preferred to ensure comprehensive coverage of the innovation chain and maximize impact. Partner search tools are available, further implying that collaborative projects are welcome.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The primary geographic eligibility includes EU member states and associated countries participating in the Horizon Europe program. The call also encourages international cooperation, specifically mentioning Latin America and Caribbean countries, implying that entities from these regions may be eligible for funding or participation in projects. 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. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: blue biotechnology, bioeconomy, marine biotechnology, circular bio-based economy, sustainable products, materials science, chemical processes, bioplastics, textiles, construction materials, and related industries. It aims to foster greener, high-performance products across multiple industries by leveraging marine-derived biomolecules.

Mentioned Countries: Latin America and Caribbean countries are explicitly mentioned as regions for potential international cooperation. The primary focus is on EU member states and associated countries participating in the Horizon Europe program.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project for this opportunity spans the innovation chain, from research to development and proof of concept. Proposals should cover activities from early-stage research to demonstration and validation of developed products.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic and type of action (RIA, IA, CSA). The budget overview provides the following ranges:
HORIZON-RIA: around EUR 3,000,000 to around EUR 10,000,000
HORIZON-IA: EUR 5,000,000 to EUR 6,000,000
HORIZON-CSA: around EUR 3,000,000

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 research and innovation activities.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage, meaning applicants submit a full proposal by the deadline.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants for each topic provides some insight into the potential success rate. For example, topics with a budget of EUR 10,000,000 and an indicative number of 2 grants suggest a more competitive environment than topics with a similar budget but fewer expected grants.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required. However, Horizon Europe grants typically fund a significant portion of the project costs, implying that co-funding may not be mandatory but could strengthen a proposal.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, under the Circular Bio-based Europe (CIRCBIO) initiative, aims to harness the unique properties of marine organisms to develop safe and sustainable blue bio-based products. It seeks to transition European industry towards a greener, more sustainable model by leveraging biological processes to create novel, high-value products that mitigate climate change and reduce environmental impact. The call encourages proposals that cover the entire innovation chain, from research and development to proof of concept, and emphasizes the importance of sustainable resource use, ethical considerations, and international cooperation. Projects should explore the use of marine-derived biomolecules in various applications, such as construction materials, chemical processes, bioplastics, and textiles, while excluding applications in health biotechnology and biofuel/bioenergy to avoid overlaps with other Horizon Europe clusters. The funding is provided as a lump sum grant, and proposals are evaluated based on their potential to support green bioprocessing, address regulatory bottlenecks, and promote biodiversity preservation. Applicants are encouraged to involve all relevant stakeholders, including economic and financial actors, and to establish synergies with existing projects and EU policies related to the bioeconomy and blue economy. The call is structured as a single-stage submission, with a planned opening date of April 17, 2026, and a deadline of September 17, 2026.