Open Call 3.1: Enhancing CIRCULOOS Pilot Cases

The CIRCULOOS Open Call 3.1 is a funding opportunity under the Horizon Europe program, specifically targeting the enhancement of existing circular economy pilot projects. The initiative aims to strengthen value chains in circular manufacturing through the integration of innovative solutions. The total budget allotted for this call is €360,000, with applications open from April 30, 2025, to a submission deadline of June 11, 2025, at 18:00 Brussels time. The expected duration of the funded projects is nine months.

Eligible applicants are single entities including manufacturing European mid-caps and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) defined by EU recommendation 2003/361. Other eligible applicants include recycling and processing companies introducing new recovery technologies and entities providing technological solutions for automation, sorting, and data management. Notably, consortia are not permitted; only single entities may apply.

Key activities for successful applicants involve collaborating with existing pilot stakeholders, introducing new R-strategies like remanufacturing, enhancing existing processes in sectors like leather, wood, and plastics, and validating digital tools for measuring sustainability and lifecycle assessments. The funding will be allocated based on eligible costs such as personnel, equipment, and subcontracting, capped at 30% of total project costs.

The application must be submitted via the F6S platform, with all required documentation needing to be included, specifically referencing the Annex III Application Form for OC3.1. It is crucial for applicants to adhere to submission guidelines and deadlines strictly, as late or incomplete applications will lead to automatic disqualification.

Overall, this Open Call represents a critical opportunity for businesses in the manufacturing and recycling sectors to further their involvement in enhancing circular economy strategies within existing industrial frameworks, thereby supporting the EU's transition towards more sustainable manufacturing practices.

The CIRCULOOS Open Call 3.1 is a funding opportunity aimed at strengthening existing circular economy pilot projects by integrating new solutions. The call focuses on enhancing the CIRCULOOS project's pilot value chains through the incorporation of innovative circular economy approaches.

The opening date for submissions is April 30, 2025, and the deadline for submission is June 11, 2025, at 18:00 Brussels time. The call follows a single-stage submission model. The expected duration of participation is 9 months. The total funding available is 360,000.00 EUR. The project acronym is CIRCULOOS, and the full name of the EU-funded project is Circular and Dynamic Manufacturing Supply Chain Orchestration and Optimisation. The grant agreement number is 101092295. The topic is HORIZON-CL4-2022-TWIN-TRANSITION-01-06 - ICT Innovation for Manufacturing Sustainability in SMEs (I4MS2) (Made in Europe Partnership) (IA).

Eligible applicants are single entities, specifically:

Manufacturing European mid-caps and MSMEs (as defined in EU law – EU recommendation 2003/3619) with a commercial activity in the manufacturing industry as a producer, or a technology/service supplier for applications in the manufacturing industry.

Recycling & Processing Companies that add new recovery solutions.

Any necessary technical role for integration or technical development to offer automation, sorting, or data management solutions, etc., should be assumed by the entity above with or without external support via sub-contracting, which has to be clearly justified.

Applications from single entities are only permitted under OC3.1, which contribute to the extension of the existing CIRCULOOS pilot cases.

To apply, interested entities must register on the F6S platform, which serves as the main interface for managing the submission and evaluation process.

Applicants must follow these steps:

Create an F6S account (or log in if they already have one).

Navigate to the CIRCULOOS open call page and review all provided information. The Open Call 3.1 page is located at https://circuloos.eu/open-calls/.

Complete the online application form on the F6S platform and provide all mandatory information.

Attach all required documentation, ensuring that OC3.1 applicants submit Annex III (Application Form for OC3.1) in PDF format with the naming convention: [Applicant_Name]_OC3.1_Application.pdf.

Review contractual obligations in advance. Applicants are strongly advised to review Annex IV (Sub-Grant Agreement) and the relevant Declarations of Honour before submission, as they will be mandatory for selected applicants.

Ensure timely submission. It is highly recommended that applicants submit their proposal well before the deadline to avoid last-minute issues. Late submissions will not be accepted under any circumstances.

Resubmission requests: If an error is discovered before the deadline, applicants may contact the CIRCULOOS team via support@f6s.com to request a correction. However, resubmissions may not be possible if requested within 48 hours of the deadline.

Deadline extensions: Extensions will only be granted in the case of significant technical issues affecting the F6S platform. If an extension is applied, all applicants will be notified accordingly.

Failure to submit a complete proposal before the deadline will result in automatic disqualification from the Open Call.

The F6S platform allows applicants to edit and save drafts before final submission. However, once submitted, applications cannot be modified. Applicants are strongly advised to review their entries carefully before clicking submit.

Detailed information about the Open Call application process and all relevant documentation can be found at the CIRCULOOS Open Call page on the CIRCULOOS website.

Applicants are required to apply online by filling in the CIRCULOOS online application form on the F6S Platform and to answer all mandatory questions with no exception. This is the only way of applying to the CIRCULOOS Open Call.

Only submissions before the deadline will be accepted. After the official CIRCULOOS Open Call closure (June 11, 2025, at 17:00 CET.), no additions or changes to the submitted application form will be considered.

Requests or inquiries about the submission process or the Open Call itself, received after the closure of the Open Call will neither be considered nor answered.

It is strongly recommended not to wait until the last minute to fill in and submit your application form.

Be specific and concise when answering the questions – they have character limitations.

Applicants that do not accept the CIRCULOOS Open Call terms and conditions listed in the online application form will be declared non-eligible.

The CIRCULOOS application form is self-contained. Additional materials and/or hyperlinks to additional information, which have not been specifically requested in the online application form, will not be considered by the evaluators.

Please do not consider the limit of the characters under each section as a target! It is in your interest to keep your text as concise as possible since evaluators rarely view unnecessarily long applications in a positive light.

If the applicant discovers an error in the application form, and if the Open Call deadline has not passed, the applicant may request support to open again, and/ or re-submit the proposal at: support@f6s.com

The platform also enables applicants to receive notifications and updates regarding their application status.

For any other inquiries related to the Open Call, the applicants can send email at: circuloos.eu@gmail.com

All applications must be submitted before the deadline on June 11, 2025, at 17:00 CET. Late submissions, incomplete applications, or non-compliant proposals will be automatically disqualified.

The objective of the Open Call is to strengthen CIRCULOOS pilot value chains by integrating new circular economy solutions into existing projects. Participants will collaborate with pilot stakeholders to:

Introduce new R-strategies – Expanding recovery and reuse options within pilot industries.

Enhance existing processes – Improving sorting, remanufacturing, or recycling efficiency.

Validate & refine CIRCULOOS digital tools – Using real-world data to optimize lifecycle tracking and sustainability assessment.

CIRCULOOS is establishing three pilot cases as testbeds for circular manufacturing solutions, focusing on innovative concepts for leather scrap reuse, circular using reclaimed wood (introducing the "wood as a service" concept), and plastic recovery by increasing the percentage of recycled materials.

OC3.1 invites individual entities—such as technology providers, material innovators, recyclers, upcyclers, waste collectors, complementary manufacturing factories, designers, etc.—to join the CIRCULOOS pilot cases. These participants will bring specialized expertise and solutions to enhance existing processes, extend them, offer more sourcing options for reclaimed materials, or design and produce new products that increase circularity. Unlike OC2, which supports the formation of new supply chains, OC3.1 focuses on strengthening pre-existing pilots. It emphasizes regional collaboration to validate, optimize, and scale circular strategies for industrial adoption.

Key activities required for OC3.1 experiments include collaboration with pilot stakeholders and technical teams to test, refine, and integrate the tools developed within the project. These tools address critical areas such as:

Data Sharing and Value Chain Formation: Facilitating seamless data exchange and value chain development for specific indicators improvement.

Orchestration/Optimization and Execution Tools: Improving supply chain management and factory workflow based on specific indicators through advanced tools.

Automated Data Capturing for Reclaimed Materials and Products: Streamlining data collection processes.

Robotic Supported Sorting: Implementing efficient sorting processes with robotics and robotic embedded vision systems.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Tracking: Monitoring environmental impacts throughout product life cycles.

The experiments under OC3.1 will focus on:

Extending Circular Sourcing and Adding New R-Strategies: Expanding sourcing options and incorporating new circular strategies for novel products.

Enhancing existing Pilots Capabilities: Integrating advanced sorting, remanufacturing, and recycling processes to extend life- cycle of existing products or create new products from parts or reclaimed materials.

Validating and Improving CIRCULOOS Digital Tools: Refining CIRCULOOS tools for tracking material flows, sharing and composing production processes, assessing sustainability indices, and optimizing circular value chain management.

Developing New Methods for Scaling Circular Strategies: Ensuring practical implementation in industrial environments with real market potential as successful circular products for inspiring further innovation.

Capturing Real-World Data and Feedback: Refining circularity indicators to measure sustainability performance impact.

Selected participants will play a crucial role in shaping the next generation of circular manufacturing processes, contributing to the long-term transformation of European industry towards a more circular, sustainable, and resource-efficient future.

In summary, the CIRCULOOS Open Call 3.1 is an opportunity for single entities like manufacturing companies, recycling firms, and technology providers to contribute to and enhance existing circular economy pilot projects within the CIRCULOOS initiative. The goal is to integrate new circular strategies, improve existing processes like sorting and recycling, and validate digital tools for lifecycle tracking and sustainability assessment. The call aims to foster regional collaboration and scale circular strategies for industrial adoption, ultimately promoting a more sustainable and resource-efficient manufacturing sector in Europe. Applicants need to register on the F6S platform, complete an online application, and provide necessary documentation by the deadline of June 11, 2025. The focus is on strengthening existing pilot projects rather than creating new supply chains.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity are single entities, specifically: Manufacturing European mid-caps and MSMEs (as defined in EU law – EU recommendation 2003/3619) with a commercial activity in the manufacturing industry as a producer, or a technology/service supplier for applications in the manufacturing industry; Recycling & Processing Companies that add new recovery solutions; and any entity providing a necessary technical role for integration or technical development to offer automation, sorting, or data management solutions, which should be assumed by the entity above with or without external support via sub-contracting, which has to be clearly justified.

Funding Type: The funding type is cascade grant funding. This is inferred from the context of an open call within a larger EU-funded project (CIRCULOOS) and the mention of a Sub-Grant Agreement (Annex IV).

Consortium Requirement: A single applicant is required for this opportunity. The call OC3.1 is specifically for single entities.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is implied to be EU, given the reference to "Manufacturing European mid-caps and MSMEs" and the overall context of an EU-funded project.

Target Sector: The target sectors are manufacturing, recycling, circular economy, and related technologies. Specific areas include leather scrap reuse, reclaimed wood, plastic recovery, automation, sorting, data management, robotics, and lifecycle assessment.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the focus is on "European" entities, implying EU member states.

Project Stage: The project stage is validation, demonstration, and scaling of existing circular economy solutions within established pilot cases. The focus is on enhancing existing processes and integrating new technologies into ongoing projects.

Funding Amount: The total funding available is €360,000. The funding amount available to each project is variable.

Application Type: The application type is an open call.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a sub-grant.

Application Stages: The application process appears to be single-stage, as indicated by the "single-stage" deadline model.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned.

Co-funding Requirement: The co-funding requirement is not explicitly mentioned.

Summary:

The CIRCULOOS Open Call 3.1 is a funding opportunity aimed at strengthening existing circular economy pilot projects within the manufacturing sector. The call is open to single entities, including European mid-caps and MSMEs involved in manufacturing, recycling companies, and technology providers offering solutions for automation, sorting, and data management. The objective is to integrate new circular economy solutions into existing CIRCULOOS pilot value chains, focusing on areas such as leather scrap reuse, reclaimed wood, and plastic recovery.

Selected participants will collaborate with pilot stakeholders to introduce new R-strategies, enhance existing processes, and validate CIRCULOOS digital tools. Key activities include extending circular sourcing, enhancing pilot capabilities through advanced technologies, validating digital tools for material flow tracking and sustainability assessment, developing methods for scaling circular strategies, and capturing real-world data.

The total funding available is €360,000, and the expected duration of participation is 9 months. Applicants must submit their proposals through the F6S platform by June 11, 2025. The application process involves creating an F6S account, completing the online application form, and attaching required documentation, including Annex III (Application Form for OC3.1) in PDF format. Applicants are advised to review Annex IV (Sub-Grant Agreement) and Declarations of Honour before submission. The call focuses on enhancing existing pilot projects rather than creating new supply chains, emphasizing regional collaboration to validate and scale circular strategies for industrial adoption. The topic is HORIZON-CL4-2022-TWIN-TRANSITION-01-06 - ICT Innovation for Manufacturing Sustainability in SMEs (I4MS2) (Made in Europe Partnership) (IA).