Novel circular business models to enable the just transition to a sustainable and circular economy

The grant opportunity HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-01 aims to enhance the circular economy through innovative business models. The eligible applicants include startups, SMEs, large enterprises, universities, research institutes, NGOs, public-private partnerships, and government entities involved in circular economy initiatives. The funding type is a grant under the HORIZON program, specifically utilizing a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based model.

A consortium is required for applications, promoting transnational collaboration among various stakeholders. Geographic eligibility extends to EU Member States and associated countries within the Horizon Europe framework. The target sectors include circular economy, bioeconomy, sustainable production and consumption, and ecodesign.

Though specific countries are not mentioned, the scope remains focused on regions within the EU and associated countries. The project stage focuses on development and demonstration, particularly targeting scaling solutions beyond the research phase. While exact funding amounts are not stated, Horizon Europe projects typically range from €1M to €5M. The application is a single-stage process, with a deadline set for September 17, 2025.

The nature of support is monetary, providing funds for project development. Applications undergo a single-stage review, and success rates are typically between 10% and 39%. Co-funding may be required, especially for specific Innovation Actions.

In summary, this grant seeks to develop novel circular business models that contribute to the European Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan, encouraging collaboration across various sectors to promote sustainability and innovation through a competitive, single-stage funding process. The call emphasizes social innovation, stakeholder collaboration, and societal impact, aligning with broader EU initiatives toward a sustainable circular economy.

This is a summary of several Horizon Europe Cluster 6 calls for proposals, all with a single-stage submission process, an opening date of May 6, 2025, and a deadline of September 17, 2025. These calls aim to support the European Green Deal, the circular economy action plan, the Waste Framework Directive, and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. The overarching goal is to foster sustainable competitiveness by promoting novel circular business models and eco-designed products, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and mitigating the impact on resource use.

The calls are divided into three main areas: Biodiversity (BIODIV), Circular Bioeconomy (CIRCBIO), and Zero Pollution (ZEROPOLLUTION). Each area includes different types of actions: Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), and Innovation Actions (IA), as well as Cofund actions.

Biodiversity (BIODIV) Calls:

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-01: Aims to implement the European Green Deal and support the circular economy. It is a HORIZON-COFUND action with a total budget of 60,000,000 EUR and an indicative one grant to be awarded. The budget is distributed as 20,000,000 EUR per year from 2025 to 2027.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-02: A HORIZON-CSA action with a budget of 4,000,000 EUR and an indicative one grant to be awarded.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-03: A HORIZON-RIA action with a budget of 24,000,000 EUR and an indicative two grants to be awarded, each around 12,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-04: A HORIZON-RIA action with a budget of 22,000,000 EUR and an indicative two grants to be awarded, each around 11,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-05: A HORIZON-RIA action with a budget of 18,000,000 EUR and an indicative three grants to be awarded, each around 6,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-06: A HORIZON-RIA action with a budget of 16,000,000 EUR and an indicative three grants to be awarded, each between 5,000,000 and 6,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-07: A HORIZON-RIA action with a budget of 12,000,000 EUR and an indicative two grants to be awarded, each around 6,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-08: A HORIZON-RIA action with a budget of 14,000,000 EUR and an indicative two grants to be awarded, each around 7,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-09: A HORIZON-RIA action with a budget of 6,000,000 EUR and an indicative two grants to be awarded, each around 3,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-10: A HORIZON-RIA action with a budget of 11,000,000 EUR and an indicative two grants to be awarded, each between 5,000,000 and 6,000,000 EUR.

Circular Bioeconomy (CIRCBIO) Calls:

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-01: A HORIZON-IA action with a budget of 10,000,000 EUR and an indicative two grants to be awarded, each around 5,000,000 EUR. This call specifically targets novel circular business models.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-02: A HORIZON-RIA action with a budget of 8,000,000 EUR and an indicative two grants to be awarded, each around 4,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-03: A HORIZON-RIA action with a budget of 8,000,000 EUR and an indicative two grants to be awarded, each around 4,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-04: A HORIZON-IA action with a budget of 10,000,000 EUR and an indicative two grants to be awarded, each around 5,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-05: A HORIZON-IA action with a budget of 12,000,000 EUR and an indicative two grants to be awarded, each around 6,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-06: A HORIZON-RIA action with a budget of 8,000,000 EUR and an indicative two grants to be awarded, each around 4,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-07: A HORIZON-IA action with a budget of 18,000,000 EUR and an indicative two grants to be awarded, each around 9,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-08: A HORIZON-IA action with a budget of 11,000,000 EUR and an indicative two grants to be awarded, each around 5,500,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-09: A HORIZON-IA action with a budget of 10,000,000 EUR and an indicative two grants to be awarded, each around 5,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-10: A HORIZON-CSA action with a budget of 2,000,000 EUR and an indicative one grant to be awarded.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-11: A HORIZON-IA action with a budget of 11,000,000 EUR and an indicative two grants to be awarded, each around 5,500,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-12: A HORIZON-CSA action with a budget of 2,000,000 EUR and an indicative one grant to be awarded.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-13: A HORIZON-RIA action with a budget of 8,000,000 EUR and an indicative two grants to be awarded, each around 4,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-14: A HORIZON-IA action with a budget of 12,000,000 EUR and an indicative two grants to be awarded, each around 6,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-15: A HORIZON-COFUND action with a budget of 70,000,000 EUR and an indicative one grant to be awarded. The budget is distributed as 30,000,000 EUR in 2025, 30,000,000 EUR in 2026 and 10,000,000 EUR in 2027.

Zero Pollution (ZEROPOLLUTION) Calls:

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-01: A HORIZON-RIA action with a budget of 10,000,000 EUR and an indicative one grant to be awarded, each around 10,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-02: A HORIZON-CSA action with a budget of 2,000,000 EUR and an indicative one grant to be awarded, each around 2,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-03: A HORIZON-RIA action with a budget of 8,000,000 EUR and an indicative two grants to be awarded, each around 4,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-04: A HORIZON-RIA action with a budget of 6,000,000 EUR and an indicative one grant to be awarded, each around 6,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-05: A HORIZON-RIA action with a budget of 12,000,000 EUR and an indicative two grants to be awarded, each around 6,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-06: A HORIZON-IA action with a budget of 8,000,000 EUR and an indicative one grant to be awarded, each around 8,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-07: A HORIZON-IA action with a budget of 12,000,000 EUR and an indicative two grants to be awarded, each around 6,000,000 EUR.

Common Requirements and Focus Areas:

Expected Outcomes: All calls share common expected outcomes, including providing consumers with access to circular products and services, offering economic operators successful examples of circular business models, and creating reskilling programs and job opportunities in areas related to circular economy practices.

Scope: The scope of these calls involves transformative changes in material usage and corporate operations, innovative business models, assessment of environmental, social, and economic impacts, development of sustainable consumption patterns, and exploration of self-sufficiency approaches. Synergies with initiatives like the New European Bauhaus and the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI) are encouraged.

Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH): The calls emphasize the importance of SSH disciplines and expertise to enhance the societal impact of research activities.

Eligible Countries: Eligibility is defined 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.

Evaluation and Award: The evaluation and award processes are detailed in Annexes D and F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. The legal and financial aspects are covered in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Application and Guidance: Application forms are available in the Submission System. Guidance is provided through the HE Programme Guide, Model Grant Agreements, and specific instructions for each topic.

In summary, these Horizon Europe Cluster 6 calls aim to drive the transition to a sustainable and circular economy by supporting innovative business models, promoting sustainable consumption, and fostering collaboration across various sectors and disciplines. The calls cover a wide range of activities, from research and innovation to coordination and support, and are designed to contribute to the goals of the European Green Deal and the EU’s climate neutrality targets.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but the call is open to a wide range of stakeholders including consumers, social partners, private companies with a focus on SMEs, municipalities, regions, social economy entities, social enterprises, actors involved in raw material sourcing, material processing and manufacturing, intermediate production, end-product manufacturing, brand owners, retailers, enterprises, re-use and repair organisations, and civil society/consumers. This suggests that startups, SMEs, large enterprises, research institutes, nonprofits, governments, public-private partnerships, NGOs, and other relevant organizations could be eligible.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Innovation Action (HORIZON-IA) under the Horizon Europe program, utilizing a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG] model grant agreement. There are also HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA). Additionally, HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions (HORIZON-COFUND) are mentioned.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity appears to favor consortia, as it involves addressing different perspectives of various actors across the value chain. Partner search announcements are explicitly mentioned, suggesting that collaboration is encouraged, although the possibility of single applicants cannot be ruled out.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is primarily focused on EU member states and associated countries within the Horizon Europe framework. The text mentions "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," indicating some flexibility for third-country participation under specific conditions.

Target Sector: The program targets the circular economy, bioeconomy, environment, and related industry sectors. Specific areas include waste management, sustainable products, ecodesign, resource efficiency, climate action, biodiversity, and the development of innovative business models within these sectors. The program also emphasizes the importance of social innovation and the inclusion of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the geographic scope is the EU and associated countries.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of projects ranges from development to demonstration and large-scale implementation. The focus on Innovation Actions suggests a preference for projects that are ready to move beyond the research phase and demonstrate tangible results in real-world settings. The inclusion of Research and Innovation Actions also allows for projects in earlier stages of development.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic and type of action (RIA, IA, CSA, COFUND). The indicative grant amounts range from €2,000,000 for Coordination and Support Actions to €6,000,000, €7,000,000, €8,000,000, €9,000,000, €10,000,000, €11,000,000, €12,000,000, €16,000,000, €18,000,000, €22,000,000, €24,000,000, €30,000,000 and even €60,000,000 and €70,000,000 for co-funded actions. Some topics specify a funding range (e.g., €5,000,000 to €6,000,000).

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 grants to support their projects.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly stated, but the indicative number of grants for each topic provides some insight into the competitiveness of the call.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding is specifically required for HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions (HORIZON-COFUND). For other types of actions, co-funding requirements are not explicitly mentioned in the provided text, but it is common practice in Horizon Europe for projects to require some level of co-funding from the applicants or other sources.

Summary: This Horizon Europe Cluster 6 call focuses on supporting the European Green Deal through various funding instruments aimed at promoting biodiversity, circular bioeconomy, and zero pollution. The call encourages projects that develop and demonstrate innovative business models, research and innovation actions, and coordination and support activities. The goal is to foster a just transition to a sustainable and circular economy by addressing environmental, social, and economic impacts, promoting sustainable consumption patterns, and creating new job opportunities. Eligible applicants include a wide range of stakeholders from across the EU and associated countries, with a particular emphasis on SMEs and social enterprises. The funding amounts vary depending on the type of action, with a single-stage application process and a deadline of September 17, 2025. The call seeks to align with the New European Bauhaus and the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative, encouraging synergies and clustering activities to maximize impact and avoid double-funding. The call also emphasizes the importance of social innovation and the inclusion of SSH expertise to enhance the societal impact of the related research activities.