SSbD bio-based polymers/copolymers unlocking new market applications

The HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IA-05 grant opportunity is part of the Horizon Europe program, specifically under the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU). It focuses on the development and scaling up of Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) bio-based polymers and copolymers to unlock new market applications. The total budget for this initiative is €14 million, aimed at fostering projects that support the EU's circular bioeconomy goals, zero pollution ambitions, and sustainability strategies.

Eligible applicants include a diverse range of entities such as startups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), large companies, universities, research institutes, public-private partnerships, and NGOs engaged in bio-based innovations. The consortium requirements typically stipulate that projects involve three or more partners from different EU countries to encourage collaborative approaches.

Geographic eligibility is primarily limited to EU member states, European Economic Area (EEA) countries, and EU-associated nations, allowing for cross-border collaborations in project proposals. The grant particularly targets sectors like biotechnology, advanced materials, and agriculture, focusing on developing biodegradable products for various applications.

The projects are expected to be at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 5 to 7, emphasizing the importance of development, validation, and demonstration of bio-based solutions for market readiness. Individual funding for projects is likely to fall within the range of €1 million to €5 million.

Applications will be processed through a single-stage open call beginning on April 3, 2025, with a submission deadline of September 18, 2025. The funding nature is grant-based, typically covering up to 70% of project costs, with an expectation of 30% co-funding from the applicants.

The success rates for Horizon Europe grants are estimated to be between 10% and 39%, reflecting the competitive nature of the program. The primary goal of this grant is to facilitate the development of SSbD-certified bio-based materials that can effectively replace fossil-based plastics in high-value markets, thereby enhancing sustainability, safety, and circularity while ensuring economic viability.

Proposals should align with EU sustainability goals and showcase technical feasibility, market potential, and the ability to produce innovations that adhere to strict eco-design principles. The application process demands that interested parties thoroughly review the relevant guidelines, proposals must include adherence to specific admissibility conditions and be prepared for evaluation based on detailed criteria found in the provided Horizon Europe Work Programme documents.

Overall, this grant opportunity represents a significant commitment by the EU to promote bio-based economies and facilitate the transition towards sustainable materials and practices in various industries.

This EU funding opportunity is part of the Horizon Europe program, specifically under the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) calls for proposals in 2025. The topic, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IA-05, focuses on scaling up the production and application of Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) bio-based polymers and co-polymers to unlock new market opportunities. It is classified as a HORIZON JU Innovation Action (HORIZON-JU-IA) with a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG] Model Grant Agreement (MGA).

The call adopts a single-stage submission model, with the opening date on April 3, 2025, and a deadline of September 18, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

Successful proposals are expected to contribute to the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, the EU Zero pollution ambition, the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, the Zero Pollution Action Plan, the EU Industrial strategy, and the Transition Pathway for the chemicals industry.

The projects should lead to the availability of a broader range of SSbD bio-based (co-)polymers that meet market requirements, exhibit improved or novel properties suitable for new applications and market sectors, demonstrate enhanced sustainability, safety, and circularity compared to benchmarks, and improve social acceptance of bio-based products.

The scope of the proposals should include demonstrating the production of bio-based (co-)polymeric structures with market potential and functional properties comparable to or higher than fossil-based counterparts, addressing resource efficiency for process cost reduction and higher sustainability, validating the targeted (co-)polymeric structures into end products meeting market requirements, ensuring (co-)polymer processability and compatibility with downstream conversion routes, eco-designing the bio-based (co)polymeric structure and related end product(s) for sustainable End of Life (EoL) options, and validating the selected EoL options. Landfilling and incineration are explicitly excluded as EoL options.

Proposals must include a task to apply the safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) framework developed by the European Commission for polymer formulations, contribute to the advancement of the SSbD framework, and ensure complementarities with past and ongoing R&I projects.

Admissibility conditions require adherence to the proposal page limits and layout described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form. Eligible countries are detailed in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries outlined in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. Other eligible conditions are also described in Annex B.

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are detailed in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes. Evaluation and award processes, including criteria, scoring, thresholds, submission, and evaluation, are described in Annex D and F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is in Annex F. Legal and financial aspects of the grants are covered in Annex G. Specific conditions are outlined in section 2.2.3 of the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2025.

Application form templates are available in the Submission System, with evaluation form templates adapting the standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA). Guidance is provided in the HE Programme Guide, HE MGA, and CBE JU Call for proposals 2025. Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, and related terms and conditions and privacy statements.

The budget overview indicates that the call is a single-stage process, opening on April 3, 2025, and closing on September 18, 2025.

There are 52 partner search announcements available. LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests.

To start the submission process, applicants must access the Electronic Submission Service via the submission button, confirming their choice of action type and MGA. Existing draft proposals can be accessed through the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Applicants are encouraged to carefully review all provisions and utilize available support resources, including 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, CEN-CENELEC/ETSI Research Helpdesks, the European Charter for Researchers, and the Partner Search tool.

In summary, this funding opportunity aims to foster innovation in the production and application of bio-based polymers and co-polymers that are safe, sustainable, and competitive, contributing to a circular bioeconomy and reducing reliance on fossil-based materials. It targets projects that can demonstrate the viability of these materials in various market applications while adhering to strict sustainability and safety standards. The call encourages collaboration and knowledge sharing within the research community to accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable and circular economy.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, given the nature of Horizon Europe and the CBE JU, eligible applicants are likely to include a mix of entities such as universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other relevant organizations involved in research and innovation within the bio-based sector. The partner search announcements suggest a wide range of organizations can participate.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG], as indicated under the "Type of MGA" (Model Grant Agreement) in the call information. The call also includes Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Innovation Actions (IA) and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA).

Consortium Requirement: While not explicitly stated, the presence of a "Partner Search" function and the nature of Innovation Actions and Research and Innovation Actions within Horizon Europe suggest that consortia are strongly encouraged, if not required. The text mentions "52 Searches of partners to collaborate on this topic," indicating that collaborative projects are anticipated.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is primarily focused on EU member states and associated countries, as is typical for Horizon Europe. The text mentions that "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," indicating that some third-country participation is possible, subject to specific provisions outlined in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Target Sector: The target sector is the bioeconomy, specifically focusing on bio-based polymers and co-polymers. This includes the production, scaling up, and validation of safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) bio-based polymeric structures for various market applications. The call aims to support the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, the EU Zero pollution ambition, the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, the Zero Pollution Action Plan, and the EU Industrial strategy.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the call is part of the Horizon Europe program, which generally includes EU member states and associated countries. The text refers to "non-EU/non-Associated Countries" implying that these countries may be eligible under specific conditions.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of projects for this opportunity ranges from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 to 7. The proposals should demonstrate the production of bio-based (co-)polymeric structures at end TRL 6-7 and validate the targeted structures into end products at a minimum of end TRL 5.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the type of action. Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) have budgets around 3,500,000 EUR, Innovation Actions (IA) have budgets around 7,000,000 EUR or 20,000,000 EUR, and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) have budgets around 1,000,000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process. The call opened on April 3, 2025, and the deadline for submission is September 18, 2025.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant to support their research, development, and innovation activities related to bio-based polymers and co-polymers.

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

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement. However, depending on the specific type of action and the rules of Horizon Europe, co-funding might be implicitly expected.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for proposals under the Horizon Europe program, specifically the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU). It aims to support projects focused on the development and scaling up of safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) bio-based polymers and co-polymers. The goal is to unlock new market applications for these materials, contributing to the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, zero pollution ambitions, and industrial strategy.

Projects should demonstrate the production of bio-based polymers with market potential, address resource efficiency and sustainability, validate the polymers in end products, and eco-design the polymers for sustainable end-of-life options. The call encourages consortia of various entities, including universities, research institutes, SMEs, and large enterprises, to apply. Funding is provided as a grant, with different budget ranges for Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), Innovation Actions (IA), and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA). The application process is a single-stage submission, with a deadline of September 18, 2025. Applicants should consult the Horizon Europe Programme Guide and other relevant documents for detailed information on eligibility, evaluation criteria, and application procedures.