Textile circularity through advanced processing and manufacturing technologies and system approaches (IA) (Textiles for the Future partnership)

The HORIZON-CL4 project focuses on textile circularity through advanced processing and manufacturing technologies as part of the Horizon Europe program for 2026-2027. This Innovation Action promotes sustainable practices in the textile industry by encouraging consortia of diverse stakeholders, including SMEs, large enterprises, research organizations, and non-profit groups. The funding type is a lump sum grant, with financial support allocated for third parties, primarily supporting small-scale innovation projects. Eligible applicants must form diverse consortia encompassing various roles within the textile value chain, including suppliers, manufacturers, product designers, and recyclers. The geographic scope emphasizes eligibility for EU and EEA countries, although provisions for non-associated countries apply under specific frameworks. The targeted sector is the textile industry, addressing renewable materials, sustainable chemicals, and advanced manufacturing technologies. The projects aim for development, demonstration, and commercialization of innovative solutions, moving towards reducing reliance on fossil-based materials by 2035. The funding range is set between €4 million to €6 million per grant, with a total of €16 million available across three grants expected to be awarded. The application process is a single-stage submission set to open on September 22, 2026, with a deadline of February 2, 2027. Proposals must present robust business cases demonstrating the feasibility and scalability of innovative textile solutions. Success rates are anticipated to be below 10%, with a focus on integrating technology advancements with business models that share risks and promote market adoption. Projects should go beyond mere research, targeting practical challenges in the industry while supporting the broader goals of the EU's Green Deal and digital transitions, enhancing competitiveness and sustainability in the European textile sector.

This is a summary of several Horizon Europe funding opportunities related to materials and production, specifically within Cluster 4, focusing on industry. These opportunities are structured as either Innovation Actions (IA), Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), or Coordination and Support Actions (CSA). All opportunities are single-stage submissions with a planned opening date of September 22, 2026, and a deadline of February 2, 2027, at 17:00 Brussels time.

Here's a breakdown of each specific opportunity:

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-02:Textile circularity through advanced processing and manufacturing technologies and system approaches (IA) (Textiles for the Future partnership)

Type:HORIZON-IA (Innovation Action)

Budget:€36,000,000

Contribution per grant:€6,000,000 to 8,000,000

Indicative number of grants:6

Focus:This action aims to increase the use of economically viable and functionally equivalent renewable material and sustainable chemical solutions in large-scale textile applications. It seeks a realistic pathway for reducing virgin fossil-based materials in EU textile products by 2035, enhancing human health, biodiversity, and ecosystems. It also promotes the uptake of business models and system approaches for scaling sustainable textile alternatives. The scope includes innovative processing technologies, quantification of biodiversity outcomes, characterization of sustainable materials, development of best practices and training, and strategies for collective risk sharing.

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-03:Circularity and climate neutrality through sustainable materials processing (RIA)

Type:HORIZON-RIA (Research and Innovation Action)

Budget:€36,000,000

Contribution per grant:€5,000,000 to 6,500,000

Indicative number of grants:6

Focus:This action targets circularity and climate neutrality through sustainable materials processing.

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-06:Novel materials for advanced energy storage (RIA)

Type:HORIZON-RIA (Research and Innovation Action)

Budget:€36,000,000

Contribution per grant:€5,000,000 to 6,500,000

Indicative number of grants:7

Focus:This action focuses on the development of novel materials for advanced energy storage.

HORIZON-CL4:Textile circularity through advanced processing and manufacturing technologies and system approaches (IA) (Textiles for the Future partnership)

Type:HORIZON-IA (Innovation Action)

Budget:€16,000,000

Contribution per grant:€4,000,000 to 6,000,000

Indicative number of grants:3

Focus:This action aims to increase the use of economically viable and functionally equivalent renewable material and sustainable chemical solutions used in large scale textile applications, including apparel, home and technical textiles. It seeks a realistic pathway for reducing virgin fossil-based materials in EU textile products by 2035, enhancing human health, biodiversity, and ecosystems. It also promotes the uptake of business models and system approaches for scaling sustainable textile alternatives. The scope includes innovative processing technologies, quantification of biodiversity outcomes, characterization of sustainable materials, development of best practices and training, and strategies for collective risk sharing.

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-16:Pilot production of green hydrogen technologies (IA)

Type:HORIZON-IA (Innovation Action)

Budget:€49,000,000

Contribution per grant:€10,000,000 to 12,500,000

Indicative number of grants:4

Focus:This action supports the pilot production of green hydrogen technologies.

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-17:Coordination and support for sustainable materials (CSA)

Type:HORIZON-CSA (Coordination and Support Action)

Budget:€3,000,000

Contribution per grant:around €3,000,000

Indicative number of grants:1

Focus:This action provides coordination and support for activities related to sustainable materials.

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-22:Sustainable and circular battery value chains (IA)

Type:HORIZON-IA (Innovation Action)

Budget:€36,000,000

Contribution per grant:€6,000,000 to 7,500,000

Indicative number of grants:6

Focus:This action aims to establish sustainable and circular battery value chains.

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-42:Supporting the twin transition through advanced materials (CSA)

Type:HORIZON-CSA (Coordination and Support Action)

Budget:€2,000,000

Contribution per grant:around €1,000,000

Indicative number of grants:2

Focus:This action supports the twin green and digital transition through the use of advanced materials.

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-47:Skills for the future of manufacturing (CSA)

Type:HORIZON-CSA (Coordination and Support Action)

Budget:€5,000,000

Contribution per grant:€1,500,000 to 2,500,000

Indicative number of grants:2

Focus:This action focuses on developing the skills needed for the future of manufacturing.

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-49:Digital product passports for circular economy (IA)

Type:HORIZON-IA (Innovation Action)

Budget:€5,000,000

Contribution per grant:around €2,000,000

Indicative number of grants:25

Focus:This action supports the implementation of digital product passports to promote a circular economy.

Common Requirements and Information:

All Innovation Actions (IAs) require proposals to include a business case and exploitation strategy.

Proposals should provide between 10% and 25% of the EU contribution through financial support to third parties (FSTP), primarily to maximize the involvement of SMEs in small-scale innovation projects. Larger companies are encouraged to participate actively in these projects, and the involvement of start-ups is specifically encouraged.

Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in both Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) falling under this destination.

The granting authority may, up to 4 years after the end of the action, object to a transfer of ownership or to the exclusive licensing of results, as set out in the specific provision of Annex 5.

Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme.

Consortia selected for funding will be called upon to cooperate with the relevant parts of the Joint Research Centre (JRC), in order to inform the next stages of EU technology and innovation policies.

This Horizon Europe call aims to foster a more competitive, sustainable, and resilient European industry by supporting research, innovation, and coordination activities across various sectors, including textiles, materials processing, energy storage, and manufacturing. It emphasizes the importance of circular economy principles, green and digital transitions, and the development of advanced materials and technologies. The call encourages the active participation of SMEs and start-ups, and it requires projects to develop robust business cases and exploitation strategies to ensure the long-term impact and deployment of their results. The ultimate goal is to enhance Europe's strategic autonomy in key industrial sectors while promoting environmental sustainability and social well-being.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types include suppliers of renewable materials and sustainable chemicals, brands, commercial end users, developers/manufacturers of relevant processing technology, industrial partners, product designers, end of life managers including collectors, sorters, recyclers, remanufacturers, SMEs, start-ups, and larger companies. The call specifically encourages the involvement of SMEs and start-ups.

Funding Type:The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Innovation Action (HORIZON-IA) and HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) under the Horizon Europe Programme. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum. Beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties in the form of grants, with a maximum of €150,000 to each third party.

Consortium Requirement:The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. Proposals should actively involve a wide range of stakeholders across the textile value chain.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The geographic eligibility is primarily focused on the EU, but also includes non-EU/non-Associated Countries that have made specific provisions for funding their participants in Horizon Europe projects. Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in both Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) falling under this destination.

Target Sector:The program targets the textile industry, with a focus on circularity, advanced processing and manufacturing technologies, sustainable chemical solutions, renewable textile fibres, recycling, bio-based fibres, and the green and digital transition of the industry. It also addresses the broader sectors of chemicals, advanced materials, and critical raw materials.

Mentioned Countries:China, EU

Project Stage:The project stage ranges from research and innovation to demonstration and commercial scale-up. The call aims to bridge the gap between research and market deployment, encouraging projects to develop business cases and exploitation strategies for industrialization, particularly for Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 6 and 7.

Funding Amount:The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call, ranging from around €1,000,000 for Coordination and Support Actions to €10,000,000 to 12,500,000 for Innovation Actions. Specific contribution ranges for each topic are as follows:

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-02:€6,000,000 to 8,000,000

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-03:€5,000,000 to 6,500,000

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-06:€5,000,000 to 6,500,000

HORIZON-CL4:€4,000,000 to 6,000,000

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-16:€10,000,000 to 12,500,000

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-17:around €3,000,000

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-22:€6,000,000 to 7,500,000

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-42:around €1,000,000

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-47:€1,500,000 to 2,500,000

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-49:around €2,000,000

Application Type:The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support:Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant. Additionally, there is support for technology infrastructures and valorisation of knowledge.

Application Stages:The application process is a single-stage process.

Success Rates:The indicative number of grants varies per topic, ranging from 1 to 7, providing some insight into the potential success rates.

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-02:6 grants

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-03:6 grants

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-06:7 grants

HORIZON-CL4:3 grants

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-16:4 grants

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-17:1 grant

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-22:6 grants

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-42:2 grants

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-47:2 grants

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-49:25 grants

Co-funding Requirement:Co-funding is not explicitly mentioned as a requirement, but beneficiaries are expected to develop a business case and exploitation strategy, which implies the need to secure further investments for deployment.

This Horizon Europe call, part of the INDUSTRY (HORIZON-CL4-2027-01) call, focuses on "Textile circularity through advanced processing and manufacturing technologies and system approaches" under the co-programmed European Partnership Textiles for the Future. The primary goal is to foster a more sustainable and competitive European textile industry by promoting the use of renewable materials, sustainable chemicals, and circular economy practices. The call addresses the significant cost disadvantages faced by innovative renewable textile fibres and sustainable chemical solutions compared to conventional fossil-based resources. It seeks to improve the processability of sustainable materials, develop suitable processing technologies, enhance technical knowledge, and implement smart phase-in approaches like material blending and drop-in solutions. The emphasis is on achieving high final product quality, durability, and functionality to ensure positive consumer perception. Projects should develop innovative processing technologies for recycled, regenerated, and bio-based fibres, as well as sustainable chemicals across the textile manufacturing value chain. They should also quantify biodiversity outcomes, characterize and mitigate processing challenges, develop best practices and training materials, and create strategies for collective risk sharing and scaling. The call encourages the active involvement of a wide array of stakeholders, including suppliers, brands, end-users, manufacturers, designers, collectors, sorters, recyclers, and remanufacturers. Financial support to third parties (FSTP) is encouraged, with 10% to 25% of the EU contribution allocated to SMEs. Proposals must include a robust business case and exploitation strategy, demonstrating enhanced market opportunities and deployment potential in the EU. The call aims to support the twin green and digital transition of the European industry, promote the circular economy, and ensure the safe and sustainable design of textile products, while also addressing safety concerns for consumers and industrial workers. Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in both Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) falling under this destination.