RIVCircular Open Call for Interregional Circular Economy Innovation Proposals

RIVCircular Open Call offers €12,950,000 in cascade Financial Support to Third Parties for Innovation Actions targeting five circular economy topics: construction and demolition waste, circular energy integration, EV battery recycling and reuse, textile circularity, and digital solutions. Eligible applicants are legal entities based in the eight RIVCircular territories (Madrid, Innlandet, Kyiv-Oblast, Košice, Hauts-de-France, Extremadura, Vienna and Greece) and proposals must be submitted by consortia of at least three legal entities from different participating territories. Recommended project budgets range from about €200,000 to €2,000,000 depending on topic, individual entities may receive up to €600,000, and aid intensities and overheads follow GBER Article 25 and region-specific rules. Single-stage applications in English must be submitted via rivcircular.eu by 17 September 2026 14:00 CET and will be evaluated on Excellence, Impact and Implementation with an overall threshold for funding consideration.

Quick facts

What it funds

Cascade funding (Financial Support to Third Parties) for Innovation Actions (TRL 6–8) developing or demonstrating technologies, products, services and business models in circular economy across five topics: construction and demolition waste, circular energy integration, EV batteries recycling and reuse, textile industry circularity, and digital solutions for circular economy.

Total budget:€12,950,000.00

1. 1Deadline: 17 September 2026, 14:00 CET; single-stage submission
2. 2Maximum funding per legal entity (cumulative across proposals): €600,000
3. 3Project duration: topics 1–4: 2–3 years; topic 5: 1–2 years
4. 4Project type: Interregional consortia (minimum 3 legal entities from 3 different countries among RIVCircular territories)
5. 5Submission channel and call documentation: rivcircular.eu (Form A, Form B max 30 pages, Budget template, Declaration on double funding)

Who can apply

Legal entities only (no natural persons). Eligible participants must be legally based and operational in one of the RIVCircular funding territories: Madrid and Extremadura (Spain), Innlandet (Norway), Kyiv-Oblast (Ukraine), Košice (Slovakia), Hauts-de-France (France), Vienna (Austria), and Greece (national scope). Consortia must include partners from at least three different RIVCircular partner territories; topic 5 requires at least one SME.

Funding per project (recommended ranges)

Eligibility & aid rules (high level)

Aid to enterprises follows GBER Article 25 experimental development rules with regional variations in aid intensity and overheads. Research organisations may receive up to 100% (varies by region). Recoverable VAT not eligible in most territories. Subcontracting normally limited to 10% of direct costs.

Evaluation

Independent external experts score proposals on Excellence (30%), Impact (40%) and Implementation (30%). Thresholds apply (default overall 11/15). Applicants will be notified within an estimated maximum of four months after the deadline.

How to apply & support

Submit the four mandatory templates via the RIVCircular submission page:Form A (administrative), Form B (technical, max 30 pages), Budget (Excel), and Declaration on double funding. English only. Matchmaking platform and FAQs available; general helpdesk: info@rivcircular.eu.

Footnotes

1. 1Full call guidelines, topic descriptions, regional eligibility details and templates are in the Guidelines for Applicants available at rivcircular.eu and the official call page EU Funding Portal.

Key facts

Call title:RIVCircular Open Call for Interregional Circular Economy Innovation Proposals. Project acronym: RIVCircular. Grant Agreement number: 101161013. Horizon funding line: HORIZON-EIE (Implementing co-funded action plans for connected regional innovation valleys). Opening date: 20 April 2026. Deadline (single-stage): 17 September 2026, 14:00 CET. Total funding available: €12,950,000. Expected start of funded projects: February 2027 at the earliest. Participation duration: up to 3 years depending on topic. TRL window: projects must start and finish between TRL 6 and TRL 8. Submission channel: compulsory via RIVCircular website cascade funding page rivcircular.eu.

Call objective:Support interregional Innovation Action projects in the circular economy (TRL 6-8) across eight partner territories. The call finances development and/or deployment activities including prototyping, testing, demonstration, piloting, large-scale validation and market replication to deliver tangible outcomes and exploitation pathways.

Topics targeted

Five discrete topic areas are open. Projects must select one topic and align to the topic description in the Guidelines annexes.

1. 1Topic 1: Construction and demolition waste (CDW) circularity
2. 2Topic 2: Circular energy integration: valorising local waste streams for industrial efficiency
3. 3Topic 3: Electric vehicle (EV) batteries recycling and reuse
4. 4Topic 4: Circular economy in the textile industry
5. 5Topic 5: Digital solutions for circular economy

Eligible applicants and consortium rules

Only legal entities are eligible (natural persons cannot apply). Projects must be submitted by a consortium of at least three legal entities from three different countries among the RIVCircular partner territories. The consortium coordinator must submit the application on behalf of the partners. Applicants based outside the RIVCircular funding territories or without a formally registered operational presence in the relevant region are ineligible. All participants must be registered on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and provide a PIC number. SME participation is mandatory for Topic 5 and encouraged for Topics 1 to 4.

RIVCircular funding territories (eligible locations):Madrid (Spain); Innlandet (Norway); Kyiv-Oblast (Ukraine); Košice (Slovakia); Hauts-de-France (France); Extremadura (Spain); Vienna (Austria); Greece (national scope).

Eligible applicant types (detailed)

Eligible applicant types vary by region and topic. In general eligible types include SMEs, large enterprises (where allowed by region-specific rules), public bodies, universities, research and knowledge dissemination organisations, research centres, non-profit organisations (where allowed regionally), and other legal entities established and operational in the RIVCircular territories. Specific restrictions: Vienna accepts only enterprises (SME and large) with an establishment or planned establishment in Vienna (non-profits not eligible). Greece acceptance targets public sector bodies, municipalities, NGOs and research organisations with environmental protection remit. Extremadura limits to private entities with headquarters or production centre in Extremadura; Košice and Hauts-de-France have additional regional application processes. Natural persons are explicitly not eligible.

Funding type and modality

Primary funding mechanism:grant under the Financial Support to Third Parties (cascade funding/FSTP) modality implemented by the Horizon Europe co-funded project RIVCircular. The actions funded are Innovation Actions (IA). The cascade uses grants and regional/state co-funding; state aid rules apply (GBER Article 25 experimental development provisions). Aid is allocated as grants, with region-specific application of State aid rules and potential classification of research organisations as non-aid (100% funding) where applicable.

Estimated funding per project:Recommended budget per project: Topics 1–4: €1,000,000 to €2,000,000 per project (recommended). Topic 5: €200,000 to €700,000 per project. Table 2 in the Guidelines provides estimated regional allocations per topic. Maximum funding per single entity across the call: €600,000 (cumulative cap).

Funding amounts, aid intensities and eligible costs

Total call budget:€12,950,000. Aid intensities for enterprises (subject to GBER article 25 experimental development rules): corporations up to 50%; medium-sized enterprises up to 60%; small enterprises up to 70%. For experimental development activities the aid for each beneficiary is limited to 25% of eligible costs but may be increased up to 70% under conditions in GBER article 25(6) (addition for SMEs and project characteristics). Research and knowledge dissemination organisations: up to 100% funding in many regions as non-aid when activities are non-economic. Region-specific rules alter overhead rates, VAT treatment and payment schedules (see regional sections).

1. 1Eligible cost categories: personnel, travel, equipment depreciation, other goods and services (consumables, dissemination, IPR costs, translations, open access), subcontracting (up to 10% of direct costs if justified), and indirect costs (flat overhead rates vary by region: typically up to 20% for many regions, 5% for Greece, 0% for Kyiv-Oblast; check region-specific guidance).
2. 2CFS: Certificate on Financial Statements is mandatory for any beneficiary requesting €430,000 or more contribution for the entire action; CFS costs are eligible.
3. 3VAT: recoverable VAT is generally not eligible and must be excluded where recoverable; region-specific clarifications apply (Innlandet and Vienna applicants consult regional representatives).

Consortium requirement and project stage

Consortium requirement:multi-entity consortia. Minimum consortium size: three legal entities from three different Partner territories/countries listed in Table 2. Topic 5 additionally requires at least one SME in the consortium. Project maturity: targeted TRL 6 to 8 (demonstration and validation; innovation actions). Projects must clearly describe TRL progression and deliver concrete exploitation pathways.

Project duration and number of projects expected

Project durations:Topics 1–4: 2–3 years. Topic 5: 1–2 years. Expected minimum projects funded per topic (indicative): Topic 1: at least 1; Topic 2: at least 1; Topic 3: at least 1; Topic 4: at least 1; Topic 5: at least 3. Final number depends on quality and budget availability; funds may be reallocated across topics to fund the highest-rated proposals.

Application process and templates

Submission model:single-stage open call. Submit via the RIVCircular cascade funding page rivcircular.eu by the deadline. Required documents (compulsory): Form A Administrative Data Sheet (must be uploaded as PDF), Form B Technical Proposal (Word template converted to PDF, maximum 30 pages), Budget Excel template, Annex 8 Declaration on Double Funding (signed, uploaded as PDF). No other documents are allowed. Resubmissions are not allowed; only one submission per proposal. Language: English is the official language for submission and project implementation.

Form B structure and page limit:Form B is the technical narrative and must follow the provided template and instructions. Maximum length: 30 pages (cover page excluded, executive summary included). The Guidelines include an Instructions for Form B PDF to help applicants. The Form B must include mandatory deliverables such as a Dissemination and Exploitation Plan and a Data Management Plan at specified months depending on project duration.

Evaluation, scoring and selection

Evaluation steps:admissibility and eligibility checks by regional decision bodies; independent external evaluation by a panel of three external experts per topic; ranking based on scores; Project Steering Committee confirms final selection. Applicants will be informed within an estimated maximum of four months from the deadline. The final approved and rejected project lists will be published on the RIVCircular website.

1. 1Evaluation criteria: Three sections with weights: Excellence 30%, Impact 40%, Implementation 30%.
2. 2Scoring scale: 0 to 5 per section (half marks allowed). Individual section threshold: 3. Overall threshold: 11/15 required for funding consideration.
3. 3Tie-break rule: Impact section carries 1.5 weight when scores tie.
4. 4Evaluation output: each proposal assessed by three independent experts; ethics self-assessment is mandatory; additional documentation may be requested for ethics clearance.

Application stages and timeline

Application stages:single-stage submission; eligibility checks; external evaluation by three experts; verification by Evaluation Committee and Steering Committee; notification to applicants; signature of grant agreements and region-specific Specific Agreements; project start. Estimated time from deadline to notification: up to 4 months. Projects may only begin and incur eligible costs after signature of the Specific Grant Agreement (Horizon Europe FSTP rules on cost eligibility apply). Any costs incurred before formal signature are ineligible.

Success rates and selection expectations

The Guidelines do not publish historical success rates. Expected minimum funded projects per topic are indicated (see earlier section). Final selection depends on ranking and budget availability; funds may be redistributed. Applicants should assume competitive selection; scoring threshold (11/15) and rigorous eligibility checks mean not all high-quality proposals will be funded if budgets are limited.

Co-funding and financial requirements

Co-funding requirements vary by region and type of beneficiary. Aid intensities indicate maximum public contribution rates (see Aid intensity). Some regions require additional regional application steps (Hauts-de-France, Košice) and will apply their state aid rules and verification procedures. A single entity cannot receive more than €600,000 total from this call. Pre-financing, interim and final payment schedules depend on region: some regions provide pre-financing (Innlandet up to half, Extremadura 70% pre-financing, Vienna up to 50% advance), others do not provide pre-financing (Hauts-de-France, Košice, Kyiv-Oblast, Greece uses reimbursement model). Entities must comply with regional obligations such as bank transfer evidence, public procurement rules, and regional documentation lists.

Monitoring, reporting and contractual instruments

If selected, the coordinator signs a Grant Agreement on behalf of the consortium. Specific Agreements will be annexed per beneficiary and their regional authority detailing region-specific funding conditions. Projects are monitored by the RIVCircular Team with external experts; interim and final reports are required. A Cooperation Agreement (private legal instrument) is required among beneficiaries to govern roles, financial responsibilities and IPR. Deliverables include Dissemination & Exploitation Plan and Data Management Plan at defined months (see Guidelines). Non-compliance, underperformance or fraud can trigger restructuring or suspension of funding. EC, ECA, EPPO and OLAF rights apply per the Grant Agreement articles referenced in the Guidelines.

Ethics, exclusion and compliance

An Ethics and Security self-assessment is compulsory (embedded in Form A). Proposals will be reviewed for ethics compliance; additional documentation (permits, GDPR compliance statements, risk assessments) may be requested. Applicants subject to EU exclusion sanctions or in exclusion situations (bankruptcy, fraud, serious misconduct, etc.) are not eligible. Applicants must pass Russian sanctions checks as required by the Guidelines. DNSH (Do No Significant Harm) compliance is required and applicants must sign a declaration of compliance.

How to apply (practical steps)

1. 1Register your organisation on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and obtain a PIC number.
2. 2Form a consortium of at least three eligible legal entities from three different eligible territories; ensure Topic 5 includes at least one SME.
3. 3Download and follow the Guideline for Applicants and the Form B Instructions available on rivcircular.eu and the call Guidelines PDF.
4. 4Prepare the four compulsory templates: Form A (administrative data, PDF), Form B (technical proposal, max 30 pages, PDF), Budget (Excel), Annex 8 Declaration on double funding (signed PDF).
5. 5Submit the complete package via the RIVCircular cascade funding page before 17 September 2026, 14:00 CET. Only submissions through the portal are accepted; late submissions are ineligible.

Region-specific highlights (summary)

The Guidelines include detailed region-specific eligibility, payment, documentation and overhead/VAT rules. Applicants must consult regional contacts before submission for clarifications and to ensure compliance. Examples: Hauts-de-France requires a parallel regional application and a list of mandatory supporting documents (accounting, SIRET, approved financial statements); Košice requires a regional application in Slovak and offers no pre-financing; Innlandet may provide pre-financing and retains 25% until final payment; Vienna requires an establishment in Vienna and uses a payment profile with advance up to 50%; Greece funds eligible public/non-profit beneficiaries up to 100% on reimbursement basis with strict invoicing and registry rules; Extremadura provides 70% pre-financing for Topics 1–4 and detailed bank evidence requirements.

Evaluation criteria and scoring detail

Evaluation uses three main criteria:1) Excellence (30%): clarity, ambition, novelty, TRL progression, interdisciplinarity, gender dimension, open science and data management. 2) Impact (40%): credibility of pathways to reach expected outcomes of the topic, barriers and mitigation, scale and significance, dissemination, exploitation and communication plan, IPR management and commercialisation feasibility. 3) Quality and efficiency of Implementation (30%): work plan, KPIs, risk mitigation, resource allocation, capacity of participants and consortium complementarity. Each section scored 0-5; default thresholds per section: 3/5; overall threshold 11/15. Ethics assessment is mandatory and proposals failing ethics checks will be excluded.

Contacts and support:General helpdesk: info@rivcircular.eu. Regional contacts are specified in the Guidelines for Madrid, Innlandet, Hauts-de-France, Košice, Kyiv-Oblast, Vienna, Extremadura and Greece. A matchmaking platform (b2match) is available to find partners: b2match.com. FAQs and templates are on the RIVCircular call page; applicants should consult these and the Guidelines PDF before submission.

Application templates and structure guidance

The Guidelines provide four compulsory templates and additional instruction documents:Form A (administrative data and ethics/security self-assessment), Form B (technical proposal narrative, max 30 pages with instructions and a precise structure to be followed), Budget Excel template (detailed financial plan), and Annex 8 Declaration on double funding (signed). Form B includes explicit sections mirroring evaluation criteria. Applicants must follow the Form B structure; exceedance of the 30-page limit will lead to rejection of extra pages. The Guidelines also include an Instructions PDF to explain formatting, required content and KPI reporting requirements. A checklist is provided in the Guidelines (auto-checklist) to confirm submission completeness.

1. 1Form A: Administrative data, participant PICs, ethics self-assessment table, declarations (to be converted to PDF).
2. 2Form B: Technical proposal narrative according to template headings (executive summary, excellence, impact, implementation, work packages, KPIs, risk management, TRL progression, dissemination & exploitation plan, data management plan timeline, cooperation agreement plan). Max 30 pages.
3. 3Budget Excel: detailed budget per partner, cost categories separated (personnel, travel, equipment depreciation, other goods and services, subcontracting up to 10%), overheads by region, VAT treatment noted.
4. 4Annex 8: Declaration on double funding signed by each beneficiary.

Success factors and recommendations

Prepare a clear TRL progression plan demonstrating how the project will progress within TRL 6–8. Build a consortium that covers relevant value chains and includes required SME participation (Topic 5 mandatory). Align the proposal to regional priorities and demonstrate territorial impact and collaboration across the eligible regions. Provide a realistic budget that respects the €600,000 per-entity cap, justify subcontracting needs, and follow region-specific rules on overheads and VAT. Include robust dissemination, exploitation and IPR strategies and a Data Management Plan. Ensure all partners have PIC numbers and that the coordinator compiles and submits the four compulsory documents in English before the deadline.

Reference to further documents:The Guidelines for Applicants PDF contains detailed annexes per topic (Annexes 1–5), keywords by topic, regional specific criteria and payment details. Applicants must consult the Guidelines PDF: rivcircular.eu and the call page rivcircular.eu.

For full procedural, legal, and region-specific eligibility and funding rules consult the Guidelines and the region contacts before submission RIVCircular Call page Guidelines PDF ¹

Categorisation answers (structured)

Eligible Applicant Types:SMEs, large enterprises (region-dependent), universities, research institutes and knowledge dissemination organisations, public bodies, non-profits/NGOs where regionally allowed, regional authorities, research centres, and other legal entities established and operational in the RIVCircular funding territories. Natural persons are not eligible. Public-private collaborations and consortia are expected and encouraged.

Funding Type:Grant (cascade funding / Financial Support to Third Parties implemented by a Horizon Europe co-funded action). The instrument is grant funding for Innovation Actions (IA) and uses FSTP.

Consortium Requirement:Consortium required. Minimum three legal entities from three different participating territories/countries. Single applicants are not allowed.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Eligible applicants must be legally based and operational in the RIVCircular funding territories: Madrid, Innlandet, Kyiv-Oblast, Košice, Hauts-de-France, Extremadura, Vienna and Greece (national). This spans EU Member States (Spain, France, Slovakia, Greece, Austria) and Horizon Europe associated / EEA-associated / partner countries (Norway, Ukraine). Applicants from other territories are ineligible.

Target Sector:Circular economy thematic sectors including the specific industries named by topics: construction and demolition waste management, energy and industrial efficiency (circular energy integration), EV batteries recycling and reuse, textile industry circularity, and digital technologies enabling circularity (AI, IoT, blockchain, big data, digital platforms).

Mentioned Countries:Spain, Norway, Ukraine, Slovakia, France, Austria, Greece, Belgium (partner 28Digital mentioned but not a funding territory). Regions specified: Madrid, Innlandet, Kyiv-Oblast, Košice, Hauts-de-France, Extremadura, Vienna, Greece (national).

Project Stage:Maturity expected at TRL 6 to TRL 8 (demonstration, prototype demonstration in operational environments, system complete and qualified). Projects should show TRL progression within the funded period.

Funding Amount:Total call budget €12,950,000. Recommended per-project budgets: Topics 1–4: €1–€2 million; Topic 5: €200,000–700,000. Maximum funding per entity across the call: €600,000.

Application Type:Open call, single-stage, public cascade funding. Submission through the RIVCircular website. Matchmaking platform available on b2match (registration open).

Nature of Support:Monetary grants (financial support). Projects also receive non-monetary support through matchmaking, mentoring and monitoring provided by the RIVCircular consortium and helpdesk, but the primary deliverable is grant funding under the FSTP mechanism.

Application Stages:One main submission stage (single-stage). Post-submission: eligibility checks, external expert evaluation, committee verification and Steering Committee selection — effectively a single-stage submission with multi-step assessment (count as 1 submission stage, 3–4 assessment steps).

Success Rates:Not published. Selection depends on meeting eligibility, achieving minimum score (overall threshold 11/15) and budget availability. The Guidelines indicate minimum numbers of projects expected per topic but final success rates will depend on the number and quality of submissions.

Co-funding Requirement:Co-funding depends on aid intensity caps by entity type and region; public contribution percentages are bounded by GBER rules. Some beneficiary types (research organisations) can receive up to 100% as non-aid where applicable. Applicants must check region-specific co-funding rules; some regional schemes require parallel regional applications and validation.

Comprehensive summary: What is this opportunity about and how to explain it

RIVCircular’s Open Call is a cascade funding programme delivered through a Horizon Europe co-funded project to accelerate interregional circular economy innovation across eight partner territories. It invites consortia of at least three legal entities from different participating territories to submit Innovation Action proposals focusing on one of five strategic topics: construction and demolition waste circularity, circular energy integration using local waste streams, EV battery recycling and reuse, circular textile industry innovation, and digital solutions for circular economy. The call finances applied development and demonstration activities at TRL 6–8, aiming to convert near-market technologies into validated demonstrations, pilots, prototypes and market replication with clear exploitation pathways. The call totalises €12.95 million, recommends project budgets generally between €200K and €2M depending on topic, and caps funding per single entity at €600K. Applicants must use the four compulsory templates (Form A, Form B, Budget template and Declaration on double funding), submit in English via the RIVCircular website before 17 September 2026 14:00 CET, and comply with both Horizon Europe and region-specific state aid and administrative rules. Evaluation is competitive, based on Excellence, Impact and Implementation, with mandatory ethics assessment and regional compliance checks. The programme includes practical support via a matchmaking platform, regional helpdesks and detailed Guidelines and annexes describing topics, regional conditions, eligible costs, payment schedules and obligatory deliverables. This opportunity is aimed at organisations ready to demonstrate and validate circular economy innovations in operational environments and to establish clear pathways to market uptake and interregional impact.

Footnotes

1. 1Guidelines for Applicants and topic annexes are available at the official RIVCircular call webpage and PDF: rivcircular.eu and rivcircular.eu. The EU Funding & Tenders Portal page for this call is the primary EU announcement record.

Funding Opportunity Overview

RIVCircular is a Horizon Europe-funded initiative under the European Innovation Ecosystems Work Programme that supports interregional innovation projects in the circular economy. The project is coordinated by the Community of Madrid and brings together 12 partners from 8 countries across 8 European regions. This cascade funding call provides Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) jointly funded through Horizon Europe and regional/national co-funding mechanisms.

Call Status and Timeline:The call opened on 20 April 2026 with a submission deadline of 17 September 2026 at 14:00 CET (single-stage submission). Applicants are expected to submit proposals through the dedicated RIVCircular website at [[rivcircular.eu. Results and notifications are expected within approximately 4 months of the deadline.

Funding Amount and Budget Distribution

Total Budget Available:€12,950,000 is available across five topics, with estimated per-project budgets ranging from €200,000 to €2,000,000 depending on the topic selected. Individual entities can receive a maximum of €600,000 in total funding, regardless of the number of proposals submitted to this call.

Budget distribution by topic and region is estimated and may be redistributed to ensure that the highest-rated projects are funded. At least one project per topic is expected to be funded for topics 1-4, while three projects are expected to be funded under topic 5.

Eligible Applicants and Geographic Scope

Only legal entities based in the eight eligible RIVCircular regions and territories are eligible to participate. Applicants must be legally registered and have a formally operational presence in their respective region that is directly relevant to the proposed project activities. Natural persons and individual applications are not eligible.

Eligible Regions and Territories:

• Madrid (Spain) - all entity types eligible
• Innlandet (Norway) - all relevant legal entities eligible
• Kyiv-Oblast (Ukraine) - all entity types eligible
• Košice (Slovakia) - all entity types eligible
• Hauts-de-France (France) - all legal entities eligible
• Extremadura (Spain) - private entities, research and knowledge dissemination organisations eligible
• Vienna (Austria) - enterprises only (non-profit entities not eligible)
• Greece (national scope) - public bodies and research and knowledge dissemination organisations eligible

Applicants from other EU territories not listed above may participate if they bring their own funding, but they are not eligible for RIVCircular funding. All applicants must pass Russian sanctions checks to ensure compliance with international and EU regulations.

Consortium Requirements

Proposals must be submitted by a consortium comprising at least three legal entities from three different Member States or contracting parties to the European Economic Area Agreement, where the RIVCircular participating territories are involved. Ukraine is not part of the European Economic Area Agreement but is eligible as a participating territory. For Topic 5 (Digital Solutions for Circular Economy), the consortium must include at least one SME as a mandatory requirement. SME participation is encouraged but not mandatory for topics 1-4.

Call Topics and Focus Areas

The call addresses five key priorities within the circular economy, each with specific expected outcomes and scope. Projects must focus on Innovation Actions with Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) between 6 and 8, demonstrating how proposed technological advances will progress from one TRL to another.

Topic 1: Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) Circularity:Eligible in: Madrid, Innlandet, Hauts-de-France, Košice, Kyiv-Oblast, Extremadura, Greece, Vienna. Projects should enhance circular economy of CDW through advanced dismantling and processing techniques, promoting material recovery and ensuring high-quality recycled materials. Expected outcomes include increased deployment of innovative solutions, improved recovery and recycling rates, elimination of hazardous substances, and increased knowledge transfer.

Topic 2: Circular Energy Integration - Valorising Local Waste Streams for Industrial Efficiency:Eligible in: Madrid, Innlandet, Hauts-de-France, Košice, Kyiv-Oblast, Extremadura, Greece, Vienna. Projects should demonstrate technologies leveraging untapped potential of local side- and waste streams in industry and local areas, improving energy integration. Expected outcomes include systems for increased use of low- and medium-temperature heat, industrial symbiosis, refining of bio-based side streams, and circular practices to reduce energy and raw material consumption.

Topic 3: Electric Vehicle (EV) Batteries Recycling and Reuse:Eligible in: Madrid, Innlandet, Hauts-de-France, Kyiv-Oblast, Extremadura. Projects should contribute to creation and development of value-added loops for materials, products or components from optimized battery management. Expected outcomes include eco-design of batteries, sustainable battery uses, development of reuse technologies, sorting of strategic materials, improved recycling processes, and circular business models.

Topic 4: Circular Economy in the Textile Industry:Eligible in: Madrid, Innlandet, Hauts-de-France, Košice, Kyiv-Oblast, Extremadura. Projects should contribute to development of circularity for textile industries from materials, products, components, to processes. Expected outcomes include ecodesign and durability textile development, materials quality improvements, innovation on fibres, digitalisation of processes, bio-based innovation, and circular business models.

Topic 5: Digital Solutions for Circular Economy:Eligible in: Madrid, Innlandet, Hauts-de-France, Košice, Kyiv-Oblast, Extremadura, Greece, Vienna. Projects should integrate novel digital tools and strategic methodologies to enhance circular economy ecosystems using AI, blockchain, IoT, and big data analytics. Expected outcomes include increased adoption of digital tools for material tracking, enhanced data security, improved data-driven decision-making, and digital platforms for public awareness. Mandatory SME participation required.

Project Duration and Scope

Topics 1-4 require project duration between 2-3 years. Topic 5 requires project duration between 1-2 years. Projects are expected to start in February 2027 at the earliest. Funded projects should focus on development and/or deployment of technologies, products and services in the circular economy area, including breakthrough and disruptive innovations, through cooperation between actors from the participating regions.

Funding Rates and Aid Intensity

Aid intensity varies by entity type and region, subject to General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) Article 25 for enterprises. The call is jointly funded through Horizon Europe and regional/national funding under state aid rules.

For experimental development, aid intensity shall not exceed 25% of eligible costs, but may be increased up to 70% under specific conditions including SME status and effective collaboration across multiple Member States. Regional-specific conditions apply, particularly for Hauts-de-France and Košice participants who must submit additional applications through regional funding schemes.

Eligible Costs

• Personnel costs for researchers, technicians and supporting staff employed on the project
• Travel costs including accommodation and subsistence necessary for project execution
• Equipment costs including depreciation for instruments and equipment used for the project
• Other goods and services including consumables, supplies, dissemination activities, IPR costs, translations, and publications
• Subcontracting up to 10% of direct costs (must be duly justified)
• Indirect costs (overheads) varying by region: up to 20% for most regions, 5% for Greece, 0% for Kyiv-Oblast

Recoverable VAT is not eligible for public funding. Entities must declare eligible expenditure excluding tax when entitled to recover VAT. A Certificate on Financial Statements (CFS) is obligatory for beneficiaries requesting contributions reaching or exceeding €430,000 for the entire action duration.

Evaluation Criteria and Process

Proposals undergo formal admissibility and eligibility checks followed by expert evaluation by a panel of three external and independent experts. The evaluation is based on a 15-point scale with a default threshold of 11 points for funding consideration. Proposals must exceed this threshold to be considered for funding.

Scoring uses a 0-5 scale with half-point increments allowed. Default thresholds for individual sections are 3 points. In case of ties, the impact section receives 1.5 weighting. Evaluators are bound by confidentiality obligations and must confirm absence of conflicts of interest. All evaluators comply with Horizon Europe standards on evaluation procedures and ethics.

Submission Requirements

Proposals must be submitted in a single-stage modality through the RIVCircular website at [[rivcircular.eu by 17 September 2026 at 14:00 CET. Re-submissions are not allowed; only one submission per proposal is permitted. Proposals submitted after the deadline will be considered ineligible.

Mandatory Submission Documents:

• Form A: Administrative Data Sheet (Word template, submitted as PDF) including participant data, legal declarations, and contact persons
• Form B: Technical Proposal (Word template, submitted as PDF, maximum 30 pages excluding cover page) describing planned activities, work packages, objectives, and implementation details
• Budget: Detailed Financial Plan (Excel template) with costs justified by category and entity
• Annex 8: Declaration on Double Funding for Recipients (Word template, submitted as signed document)

English is the official language for all submissions. Proposals in any other language will not be eligible or evaluated. All required documentation and deliverables must be submitted in English. The coordinator of each proposal is responsible for submission on behalf of the consortium. Any submission provided by means other than the RIVCircular website will not be accepted.

Mandatory Deliverables and Project Requirements

All proposals must include the following compulsory deliverables:a Dissemination and Exploitation Plan (due in Month 2 for 1-year projects, Month 3 for 2-year projects, Month 6 for 3-year projects) and a Data Management Plan (due in Month 6 for all projects). Projects must include at least one activity supporting Public Procurement of Innovative Solutions (PPI), Green Public Procurement (GPP) practices, or similar collaborative initiatives.

All entities must sign a formal Cooperation Agreement establishing clear governance framework, defining specific roles, financial responsibilities, and implementation duties. This private legal instrument is drafted and executed under sole responsibility of project beneficiaries. Projects must demonstrate incentive effect, with activities not commencing and no eligible costs incurred prior to formal signature of the Specific Grant Agreement and official start date.

Regional-Specific Conditions and Payment Procedures

Each region has specific eligibility criteria, payment schedules, and administrative requirements. Payment procedures vary significantly by region, with some regions providing pre-financing and others using reimbursement models.

Madrid (Spain):All entities legally based in Madrid region are eligible. Fundacion para el Conocimiento madri+d processes payments in three instalments: pre-financing (after agreement signature), interim payments (following positive evaluation of intermediate reports), and final payment (after project completion). Indirect costs up to 20% of direct costs allowed. Recoverable VAT not eligible.

Innlandet (Norway):All relevant legal entities based in Innlandet are eligible; entities with headquarters elsewhere in Norway but operational presence in the region are also eligible. Innlandet County Council processes payments in three instalments with pre-financing up to 50% if justified and 25% retained for final payment. Indirect costs up to 20% allowed. No separate regional application required.

Hauts-de-France (France):All legal entities established in Hauts-de-France are eligible. Applicants must submit additional application to regional subsidy system with specific documentation in French language. No pre-financing provided; first payment issued after deliberation publication. Interim and final payments follow reporting. Recoverable VAT not eligible.

Košice (Slovakia):All legal entities within Košice ICKK are eligible. Applicants must submit additional application through standard regional funding scheme with documentation in Slovak language. No pre-financing provided; first payment after funding decision publication. Indirect costs calculated as flat rate of 20% of eligible direct costs. Recoverable VAT not eligible.

Kyiv-Oblast (Ukraine):All entities legally registered in Kyiv region are eligible. Department of Economics of Kyiv Regional State Administration processes payments. No pre-financing provided; interim payments released following positive evaluation of intermediate reports, final payment after project completion. No indirect costs allowed. Recoverable VAT not eligible.

Vienna (Austria):Small, medium-sized and large enterprises with existing or planned establishment in Vienna are eligible. Non-profit entities not eligible. Founders must establish permanent establishment within 6 months of funding approval. Vienna Business Agency processes payments with advance payment up to 50% after agreement signature, one partial payment following interim report approval, and 20% retained for final payment. Indirect costs 20% of internal personnel costs.

Extremadura (Spain):Private entities and research organisations with headquarters or permanent production centre in Extremadura are eligible. For Topics 1-4: three payments (70% pre-financing, 15% interim, 15% final). For Topic 5: two payments (70% pre-financing, 30% final). Indirect costs 20% of direct costs. All expenses must be paid through bank transfer; cash payments not allowed.

Greece (National Scope):Eligible applicants include Ministry of Environment and Energy entities, other Ministries, Local Government Authorities, NGOs, Universities, Research Centers, and Chambers with environmental protection objectives. Funding provided through reimbursement model; no pre-payment or advance funding available. Three payment instalments following submission and approval of progress reports. Funding rate 100% of eligible budget as non-aid. Indirect costs up to 5% of direct costs. Recoverable VAT not eligible.

Ethics and Compliance Requirements

All applicants must complete an Ethics and Security Self-Assessment table in Form A covering personal data processing, environment and health safety, artificial intelligence use, and other ethics issues. Proposals undergo ethics review based on self-assessment and may require additional documentation such as permits, risk assessments, or GDPR compliance statements. Only proposals approved by ethical assessment and complying with EU and regional/national ethical requirements will be funded. All entities must sign a responsible declaration confirming compliance with the Do No Significant Harm (DNSH) principle to the environment.

Exclusion Criteria and Sanctions

Individual applications and applications from natural persons are not eligible. Applicants subject to EU administrative sanctions or in exclusion situations cannot participate. Exclusion grounds include bankruptcy, breach of tax or social security obligations, grave professional misconduct, fraud, corruption, links to criminal entities, money laundering, terrorism-related crimes, child labour, human trafficking, significant deficiencies in complying with EU obligations, irregularities, or creation of entities to circumvent legal obligations. Applicants will also be refused if they misrepresented information or were previously involved in call preparation causing competition distortion.

Complaint and Review Procedures

Applicants may file formal complaints regarding call process, evaluation, or communication using the template provided in Annex 7. Complaints must be submitted to info@rivcircular.eu with subject line Complain-RIVCircular Open Call, including applicant name, entity name, and application ID. Only one request for review per proposal is considered, concerning only the applicant's own proposal. Valid grounds include procedural irregularities, factual errors, manifest assessment errors, lack of coherence between scores and comments, inadequate reasoning, exceeding discretion limits, conflicts of interest, and abuse of power. Acknowledgement of receipt provided within 5 working days; formal response within 30 calendar days. Escalation to Call Steering Committee available if response unsatisfactory.

Support and Resources

Comprehensive support is available through multiple channels. General consultations and questions related to call text, administrative eligibility, application procedures, and evaluation criteria should be directed to the Call Secretariat at info@rivcircular.eu. Regional-specific questions should be sent to designated regional contacts. A Frequently Asked Questions document is continuously updated based on received questions and available on the RIVCircular website.

Key Support Resources:

• Detailed Guidelines for Applicants with call text and topic descriptions
• Templates for Form A (administrative data), Form B (technical proposal), Budget, and Annex 8 (double funding declaration)
• Instructions for completing Form B with formatting and content guidance
• Frequently Asked Questions document
• Matchmaking platform at [[b2match.com for partner search and networking
• Regional contact points for personalised advice and support

The matchmaking platform facilitates partner search for RIVCircular cascade funding calls, connecting innovators, SMEs, and researchers with complementary expertise. Through intelligent matching algorithms, users can find and engage with potential collaborators based on shared interests, project needs, and funding requirements. The platform fosters cross-border partnerships and provides access to RIVCircular Helpdesk for booking meetings with regional representatives.

Visibility and Disclaimer Requirements

All communication activities, media relations, conference participation, informational materials, dissemination efforts, and major results funded under this call must clearly acknowledge EU co-funding by displaying EU and RIVCircular emblems with the required funding statement. Regional entities must additionally acknowledge co-funding by their respective regional authorities and include regional logos. The standard disclaimer states: Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Project Monitoring and Implementation

All selected projects undergo continuous monitoring by the RIVCircular Team supported by external independent experts. Monitoring encompasses achievement of outputs and deliverables, financial oversight, quality assurance, progress in meeting Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and communication and dissemination efforts. Interim and final reports are requested to evaluate implementation. Regional authorities review financial statements. In cases of under-performance, significant implementation delays, consortium misconduct, or issues jeopardising timely execution, funding regions reserve the right to discontinue or restructure project funding at any time during implementation.

Key Dates and Important Information

Applicants are responsible for checking the RIVCircular grant website page for updated information related to this call. Amendments to Guidelines and inclusion of Frequently Asked Questions may be issued. The call is part of the Horizon Europe programme under Grant Agreement 101161013 (HORIZON-EIE - Implementing co-funded action plans for connected regional innovation valleys).

Footnotes

1. 1The RIVCircular project is aligned with the New European Innovation Agenda's flagship goal of accelerating and strengthening innovation in European Innovation Ecosystems across the EU and addressing the innovation divide. The initiative brings together 12 partners from 8 countries to foster collaboration on circular economy innovations across six to eight European regions with varying innovation levels.