Supporting industry in the switch to sustainable and circular bio-based products and processes

HORIZON-JU is a Coordination and Support Action under the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking funding stakeholder consultation, barrier analysis, case studies, a multi-stakeholder forum and sectoral and cross-sectoral roadmaps to accelerate non-bio-based and partially bio-based industries switching to sustainable circular bio-based products and processes. The topic has an indicative budget of approximately €1,200,000, expects to fund around one grant, and is part of the wider CBE JU 2026 call (total ~€170.7 million). Proposals must be submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal in a single-stage process; the submission opened 23 April 2026 and the deadline is 22 September 2026 at 17:00 CET. Applicants must follow Horizon Europe and CBE JU eligibility, evaluation and grant rules and demonstrate complementarities with past and ongoing R&I projects.

Call HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-CSA-01 — Coordination and Support Action (CSA)

Essentials at a glance

What it funds:Coordination and support activities that identify technical, market and regulatory barriers and propose solutions to enable non-bio-based and partially bio-based industries to switch to sustainable, circular bio-based products and processes. Expected deliverables include stakeholder consultations, validated barrier analysis, case studies, a multi-stakeholder forum and sectoral and cross-sectoral roadmaps.

Who can apply:Eligible applicants are entities covered by Horizon Europe participation rules (e.g., research organisations, public authorities, NGOs, private companies including SMEs and start-ups) from eligible EU and associated countries; proposals should form a consortium representing multiple stakeholder types and regions ¹.

1. 1Type of action: HORIZON-JU-CSA (Horizon Action Grant Budget-Based).
2. 2Deadline: 22 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time (single-stage).
3. 3Topic-specific requirement: include consultations across at least 3 industrial sectors, representative samples by size and value-chain position, validation with end users, and published sectoral/cross-sectoral roadmaps.

Indicative funding and scale:topic budget around €1,200,000 for this CSA (part of the wider CBE JU 2026 call budget of ~€170.8M across multiple topics). Projects should ensure complementarities with past and ongoing relevant R&I projects.

Where to apply:submit via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal submission system for the HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026 call. See the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026 for full conditions and templates CBE JU reference documents ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Reference documents and eligibility conditions are available from the CBE JU and Horizon Europe Work Programme (see CBE JU reference documents and the Funding & Tenders Portal for application templates, General Annexes and MGA).

Call summary and context

This is a Coordination and Support Action (HORIZON-JU-CSA) under the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) published in the Horizon Europe 2026 call. The topic aims to identify barriers and propose solutions to enable non-bio-based and partially bio-based industries to switch to bio-based feedstocks, processes and products. Expected contributions include informing/updating the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, the Clean Industrial Deal, the European Chemical Industry Action Plan and the upcoming Circular Economy Act. The call is single-stage and proposals must be submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. The submission session opened 23 April 2026 and the deadline is 22 September 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time.

Key outcomes and scope requirements

Successful projects are expected to identify technical, market and regulatory barriers preventing wider adoption of bio-based solutions; bridge gaps between bio-based sectors and the broader industrial landscape; validate findings with end-users/consumers; showcase case studies and success stories; establish stakeholder dialogues and forums; and develop sectoral and cross-sectoral roadmaps including de-risking opportunities.

Core tasks the proposal must deliver:Proposals must deliver the following activities and outputs as part of the project scope and work plan.

1. 1Perform a structured consultation among non-bio-based and partially bio-based industries to identify barriers to adopting/diversifying bio-based feedstock and processes.
2. 2Include at least three distinct industrial sectors that are critical for the green transition.
3. 3Ensure the consultation sample is representative across company sizes (including SMEs and startups), positions in the value chain, and geographic regions with different specialisations.
4. 4Analyse consultation outcomes to identify technical, market and regulatory barriers and propose practical solutions.
5. 5Validate analysis results with end users and consumers to capture demand-side perspectives.
6. 6Identify and document case studies and success stories that showcase best practices for adoption of bio-based solutions and assess their replication potential in the target sectors.
7. 7Create and operate a multi-stakeholder forum bringing together bio-based industries, feedstock providers, non-bio-based/partially bio-based industries, investors, policymakers, demand-side actors (large retailers, public procurers, end-users), and relevant CBE JU stakeholder groups to facilitate dialogue and cooperation pathways.
8. 8Develop and publish sectoral and cross-sectoral roadmaps towards switching to bio-based solutions for the minimum three targeted sectors, identifying de-risking and investment-support opportunities.
9. 9Ensure complementarities and linkages with relevant past and ongoing R&I projects (Horizon 2020/Horizon Europe, BBI JU/CBE JU, COST actions and other relevant initiatives).

Eligibility and administrative conditions

General admissibility, eligibility, financial capacity, exclusion criteria, evaluation, scoring, thresholds, legal and financial set-up follow the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026. Applicants must consult Annex A, B, C, D, F and G of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and the CBE JU call-specific documents for full procedural and eligibility details. The application form and Part B page limits and layout are provided in the Submission System.

Eligible countries and geographic scope:Eligibility of participants follows the Horizon Europe rules (Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes). This typically covers EU Member States and Horizon Europe associated countries; some non-associated third countries may be eligible under specific provisions. Applicants should consult the Horizon Europe Programme Guide and Annex B for the complete list of eligible countries.

Application route and timeline:Submission is via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal electronic submission service. The call is single-stage. Opening date 23 April 2026; deadline 22 September 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. The application form to use is the one available in the Submission System, and applicants must confirm the selected type of action and model grant agreement before starting submission.

Structured categorisation (answers)

Below are structured answers to the categorisation questions based on the call text and portal metadata.

1. 1Eligible Applicant Types: The call is open to the types of legal entities eligible under Horizon Europe and CBE JU rules. Typical eligible applicants include universities, research institutes, SMEs, startups, large enterprises, non-profit organisations, public bodies, industry associations, NGOs and other legal entities established in eligible countries. Specific eligibility and consortium composition requirements are determined by the Horizon Europe General Annexes and the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026.
2. 2Funding Type: Grant (Horizon Action Grant Budget-Based under Horizon Europe; the action type is HORIZON-JU-CSA).
3. 3Consortium Requirement: The call text does not explicitly require a minimum number of partners for this CSA in the topic text; however eligibility and consortium rules follow Horizon Europe and CBE JU requirements. The call is single-stage; CSAs can be submitted by single entities or consortia depending on the topic and eligibility but best practice for this coordination topic is to assemble a consortium that includes industry representatives, research/knowledge organisations and stakeholder or end-user representatives to meet the multisectoral consultation and forum objectives.
4. 4Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): Geographic eligibility follows Horizon Europe Annex B: generally EU Member States and Horizon Europe associated countries; certain non-associated third countries may participate under specific conditions. Applicants must verify national/associate status in Annex B and the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
5. 5Target Sector: Thematic sectors targeted are bioeconomy and cross-sectoral industries transitioning to bio-based solutions. This includes but is not limited to chemicals, materials, packaging, textiles, food and beverages, agriculture/biomass supply, retail/demand-side actors, and other non-bio-based or partially bio-based industrial sectors critical for the green transition.
6. 6Mentioned Countries: No individual countries are explicitly named in the topic description. The geographic scope refers to EU and Horizon Europe eligible/associated countries in the Work Programme Annexes.
7. 7Project Stage: The action targets stakeholder consultation, analysis, validation, roadmap and coordination activities rather than technology RDI; appropriate maturity is policy-to-market readiness: analysis, validation, demonstration of best-practice replication potential, and roadmapping for deployment and scale-up.
8. 8Funding Amount: Indicative contribution for this topic is around €1,200,000 (topic-specific indicative contribution listed in the CBE JU budget overview).
9. 9Application Type: Open call (calls for proposals) and single-stage submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal electronic submission service.
10. 10Nature of Support: Financial grant funding to project beneficiaries (monetary). Additionally the action provides non-monetary outputs such as roadmaps, consultation reports, stakeholder forum(s), case study repositories and dissemination/engagement activities.
11. 11Application Stages: The call is single-stage for proposal submission. The overall award process includes submission, evaluation, and grant agreement steps as per Horizon Europe procedures. For applicants the submission process is single-stage but subsequent administrative steps (evaluation, ranking, grant preparation) follow standard multi-step procedures.
12. 12Success Rates: Not specified in the topic text or portal data. Success rates depend on the number of submissions and available budget and are not provided explicitly by CBE JU for this topic.
13. 13Co-funding Requirement: The topic text does not state a separate co-funding requirement. CSAs under Horizon Europe are typically funded according to the reimbursement rates and rules set in the Horizon Europe Model Grant Agreement and the specific CBE JU call conditions. Applicants should consult the CBE JU call conditions and Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes for rules on funding rates, eligible costs and co-funding.

Application form and templates

Applicants must use the application form available in the Submission System (Funding & Tenders Portal). Part B contains the technical proposal sections and page limits/layout rules described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Evaluation forms (standard HE CSA evaluation form) and the Model Grant Agreement (Horizon Action Grant Budget-Based, HE MGA) will be used with adaptations as applicable.

Recommended structure for the proposal (outline to align with call requirements):The proposal should map to Horizon evaluation criteria (excellence, impact, quality and efficiency of implementation) and the specific topic tasks. The following outline will help applicants prepare the submission.

1. 1Administrative and administrative forms: administrative data, budget table, partner profiles, legal and financial documents as required by the Portal.
2. 2Excellence and Rationale: Background, motivation, links to EU policy (Bioeconomy Strategy, Clean Industrial Deal, Chemical Industry Action Plan, Circular Economy Act), and state-of-the-art and complementarities with past/ongoing R&I projects.
3. 3Objectives and Expected Outcomes: Clear list of project objectives aligned to the topic expected outcomes and KPIs for measuring success.
4. 4Work Plan and Methodology: Work packages describing the consultation methodology, stakeholder mapping, sampling approach (minimum 3 industrial sectors, regional coverage, company sizes), data collection and analysis methods, validation exercises with end-users/consumers, case study identification and replication assessment, forum creation and governance, and roadmap development.
5. 5Deliverables and Milestones: Quantified list of deliverables (consultation report, barrier analysis, validation reports, case study compendium, forum minutes and position papers, sectoral and cross-sectoral roadmaps, dissemination and exploitation plan).
6. 6Consortium and Resources: Roles and responsibilities of partners, description of required expertise including industry liaison, social science/market analysis, regulatory and legal experts, consumer engagement specialists, dissemination and stakeholder management resources.
7. 7Impact, Uptake and Exploitation: Plan to ensure uptake of roadmaps, policy recommendations, industry adoption pathways and links to investors and demand-side actors.
8. 8Risk Management: Identification of risks (stakeholder engagement, data protection, data quality, buy-in from industry) and mitigation measures.
9. 9Budget and Justification: Detailed budget / staff effort justification aligned with tasks, and explanation of any in-kind contributions or third-party arrangements.
10. 10Ethics, Data Management and IPR: Ethics self-assessment, data management plan, and plan for handling IPR and dissemination respecting EU rules.

Budget overview (call-level and topic-level indications)

Where to apply and supporting documents

Submit proposals via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal submission system. Use the application form provided in the Submission System. Call-specific and supporting documents include: CBE JU Annual Work Programme and Budget 2026, CBE JU Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), Horizon Europe Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – General Introduction and General Annexes, Model Grant Agreement (HE MGA), Programme Guide and Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual. Questions to the CBE JU call contact are directed to info[at]cbe.europa.eu.

Support services and help:Applicants can use the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network, Research Enquiry Service, European IPR Helpdesk, CEN-CENELEC and ETSI Research Helpdesks, and the Portal IT Helpdesk for technical submission assistance. A proposal pre-check service is available via NCP_WIDERA.NET for eligible applicants.

Unknowns, constraints and important notes

The topic text does not state a required minimum number of partners for the CSA submission within the portal text but applicants must follow Horizon Europe eligibility rules and CBE JU guidance. The expected number of grants and specific success rate are not provided for this topic. Applicants must consult the General Annexes for precise eligibility of third countries, detailed financial rules, evaluation and award criteria and thresholds. The call emphasises the need to ensure complementarities with past and ongoing R&I projects; applicants should perform an explicit mapping of related projects and demonstrate synergies.

All proposals should align with the Horizon Europe General Annexes and the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026; applicants should consult the call-specific text on the Funding & Tenders Portal and the CBE JU reference documents for the definitive legal and technical requirements CBE JU reference documents ¹

Summary: what this opportunity is about

This Coordination and Support Action funds a multi-stakeholder project to accelerate and facilitate industry switching to sustainable and circular bio-based products and processes. The activity is focused on stakeholder consultation across at least three industrial sectors, barrier analysis, validation with end-users, compilation of replicable best-practice case studies, creation of a cross-sectoral stakeholder forum, and development and publication of sectoral and cross-sectoral roadmaps including de-risking opportunities. The topic is funded under the CBE JU within Horizon Europe with an indicative budget of about €1.2 million for this specific CSA topic. Applicants must submit a single-stage proposal through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, follow Horizon Europe eligibility and procedural rules, and demonstrate complementarity with existing R&I projects and strong stakeholder engagement capacity.

Footnotes

1. 1CBE JU reference documents including the Annual Work Programme 2026 and other call-related documents are available at cbe.europa.eu

Opportunity Overview

This Coordination and Support Action (CSA) under the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) addresses a critical gap in Europe's bioeconomy transition. The opportunity focuses on identifying and removing barriers that prevent non-bio-based and partially bio-based industries from adopting sustainable bio-based feedstock and processes. The project will deliver actionable insights, stakeholder engagement mechanisms, and sectoral roadmaps to accelerate the industrial switch to bio-based solutions across Europe.

Call Identification and Timeline

Call Identifier:HORIZON-JU

Opening Date:23 April 2026

Submission Deadline:22 September 2026 at 17:00 CET (Brussels time)

Submission Model:Single-stage submission process

Funding Information

Total Budget Allocation:Approximately €1,200,000 for this specific CSA topic ¹

Broader Call Context:This CSA is part of the larger HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026 call, which allocates €170.7 million across 13 topics covering innovation actions, research and innovation actions, and coordination and support actions ²

Indicative Number of Grants:Approximately 1 grant expected for this topic

Grant Type:HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based (HORIZON-AG)

Strategic Context and Expected Outcomes

Successful projects will contribute to the updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy, the Clean Industrial Deal, the European Chemical Industry Action Plan, and the upcoming Circular Economy Act. The initiative aligns with the CBE JU's Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda and the European Commission's Strategic Framework for a Competitive and Sustainable EU Bioeconomy, reinforcing the importance of biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and circular value chains for Europe's industrial resilience and competitiveness.

Projects are expected to deliver two primary outcomes:identification of technical, market, and regulatory barriers preventing industry transition to bio-based solutions, along with proposed solutions; and contribution to filling the gap between bio-based sectors and the broader industrial landscape.

Project Scope and Key Requirements

The underlying challenge addressed by this call is that many non-bio-based, partially bio-based, and traditional bio-based industries perceive market and regulatory situations as uncertain, creating reluctance to invest in new bio-based value chains. Barriers include cost competition with fossil-based counterparts, first-mover hesitation, lack of investment attractiveness, regulatory uncertainties, feedstock quality and availability concerns, knowledge gaps, and skills shortages. Despite these challenges, industries recognize the opportunity to improve their sustainability profile and meet consumer expectations through bio-based transition.

Mandatory Project Activities

1. 1Conduct comprehensive consultation among non-bio-based and partially bio-based industries to identify adoption barriers. Must include at least 3 industrial sectors critical for green transition, with representative sampling across company sizes (including SMEs and startups), value chain positions, and regions with different specializations
2. 2Analyze consultation outcomes to identify barriers to bio-based transition and propose concrete solutions. Validate results with end users and consumers to incorporate their perspectives
3. 3Identify case studies and success stories demonstrating best practices in bio-based solution adoption. Assess replication potential in targeted non-bio-based and partially bio-based sectors
4. 4Establish a multi-stakeholder forum bringing together bio-based industries, feedstock providers, non-bio-based and partially bio-based industries, investors, policymakers, demand-side actors (large retailers, end-users, public procurers), and CBE JU stakeholder groups to facilitate dialogue and identify cooperation pathways
5. 5Develop and publish sectoral and cross-sectoral roadmaps toward bio-based transition for at least 3 targeted industrial sectors, identifying de-risking opportunities
6. 6Ensure complementarities with past and ongoing research and innovation projects addressing similar challenges, including Horizon 2020/Horizon Europe, BBI JU/CBE JU projects, and COST actions

Eligibility and Participation

This call follows Horizon Europe rules and procedures. Eligible countries are defined in Annex B of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. A number of non-EU and non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible have made specific provisions for funding availability for their participants. Applicants should consult the Horizon Europe Programme Guide for detailed country eligibility information and any special provisions for third countries.

Eligible applicants typically include research organizations, public entities, non-governmental organizations, private companies, and other legal entities. Applicants must demonstrate financial and operational capacity and meet exclusion criteria as described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Application and Evaluation Process

Application Requirements:Applicants must use the application form available in the Electronic Submission System. Proposal page limits and layout requirements are described in Part B of the Application Form and Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Admissibility conditions are specified in Annex A and Annex E.

Evaluation Criteria:Award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. Evaluation follows standard procedures outlined in Annex F of the General Annexes and the Online Manual.

Evaluation Form:The Standard Evaluation Form for Horizon Europe CSAs will be used with necessary adaptations

Grant Agreement and Financial Setup

Successful applicants will receive a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based (HORIZON-AG) model grant agreement. Legal and financial setup of grants is described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. The EU Grants Annotated Model Grant Agreement (AGA) provides detailed guidance on grant terms and conditions.

Key Documentation and Support Resources

Applicants should consult the following key documents available through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal and CBE JU website:

• CBE JU Annual Work Programme and Budget 2026 - contains complete topic descriptions, conditions, and requirements
• CBE JU Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) - identifies strategic priorities and essential research and innovation actions
• Horizon Europe Programme Guide - provides detailed guidance on structure, budget, and political priorities
• Horizon Europe Main Work Programme 2026-2027 General Annexes - contains admissibility, eligibility, evaluation, and legal conditions
• EU Grants Annotated Model Grant Agreement (AGA) - explains grant terms and conditions
• Funding and Tenders Portal Online Manual - guides applicants through submission and evaluation procedures
• HE Framework Programme and Rules for Participation Regulation 2021/695
• HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
• EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509

Support and Guidance Available

Multiple support channels are available to applicants. National Contact Points (NCPs) provide guidance, practical information, and assistance on Horizon Europe participation, with NCPs available in many non-EU and non-associated countries. The Enterprise Europe Network offers advice to businesses with special focus on SMEs, including guidance on EU research funding. The Funding and Tenders Portal IT Helpdesk addresses technical questions regarding submission systems. The European IPR Helpdesk provides intellectual property guidance, while CEN-CENELEC and ETSI Research Helpdesks advise on standardization issues. The Research Enquiry Service answers general questions about European research and framework programmes. Applicants from eligible countries can use the pre-check proposal service offered by the NCP_WIDERA.NET project for professional proposal review before submission.

Submission and Access Information

Proposals must be submitted through the Electronic Submission Service accessible via the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. Applicants should confirm their submission type (HORIZON JU Coordination and Support Actions with HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based model) as this choice cannot be changed in the submission system. Existing draft proposals can be accessed by logging into the portal and selecting the My Proposals page in the My Area section. The submission session for this topic became available on 23 April 2026.

Strategic Alignment and Impact

This CSA directly supports the CBE JU's mission to advance a competitive bioeconomy for a sustainable Europe. The initiative addresses a critical market failure where industrial uncertainty prevents adoption of bio-based solutions despite their sustainability benefits. By identifying barriers, proposing solutions, facilitating stakeholder dialogue, and developing sectoral roadmaps, the project will de-risk the transition pathway for non-bio-based industries and accelerate Europe's shift toward circular, sustainable bio-based production systems. The work contributes to multiple EU policy frameworks and supports the broader Horizon Europe strategic priorities for industrial resilience and competitiveness.

Footnotes

1. 1Budget information sourced from EU Funding and Tenders Portal budget overview table showing HORIZON-JU allocation of approximately €1,200,000
2. 2The broader HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026 call encompasses €170.7 million across 13 topics including 4 Innovation Action Flagships (€20 million each), 5 Innovation Actions (€7-€14 millioneach), 3 Research and Innovation Actions (€3.25-€6.5 millioneach), and 1 Coordination and Support Action (€1.2 million)