Unleashing the potential and advancing the impact of the digitalization/Artificial Intelligence of the climate-neutral bio-based value chains

The grant opportunity HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-09 is aimed at enhancing digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI) within climate-neutral bio-based value chains, focusing on achieving a sustainable and circular bioeconomy. The grant supports collaborative research and development projects intended to develop innovative solutions in bioeconomy sectors, including biotechnology and circular economy applications.

Eligible applicant types include startups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), large enterprises, universities, research institutes, and public-private partnerships involved in relevant industries. Although not explicitly stated, the requirement for consortia is inferred from the norms for Innovation Actions under Horizon Europe. The geographic scope for beneficiaries includes EU member states and associated countries.

The funding type is categorized as grants, specifically HORIZON Innovation Actions, with expected financial support likely falling within the €1 million to €5 million range based on similar opportunities. The call is positioned as a single-stage open call, with applications due by September 16, 2025. Co-funding is generally required for Innovation Actions.

The projects funded under this grant are designed to develop, validate, and demonstrate AI and digital tools aimed at improving bio-based solutions, thereby contributing to sustainability and resource efficiency. Expected outcomes include increased circularity, biodegradability of products, understanding of carbon removal potential, and addressing societal concerns related to AI implementation.

International cooperation with non-EU countries such as the USA, Japan, South Korea, and India is encouraged, along with a multi-actor approach to involve various stakeholders in the bioeconomy.

The application process details, including admissibility conditions and evaluation criteria, are documented in the relevant Horizon Europe work programme annexes. The grant aligns with broader EU strategies to foster sustainability and innovation in the bioeconomy, supporting systemic changes that enhance the resilience and competitiveness of the bio-based sector through advanced technologies.

This EU funding opportunity aims to foster a clean, competitive, and circular economy, along with a sustainable bioeconomy, by integrating digital solutions and Artificial Intelligence (AI) into bio-based value chains. The goal is to deploy innovative, circular, and climate-neutral bio-based materials and processes, enhancing resource efficiency.

The expected outcomes of successful projects include:

Improved sustainability, resilience, and strategic autonomy of the European bio-based industry through AI, digitalization, and IT solutions.

Advancement and demonstration of opportunities for more sustainable feedstocks, efficient industrial processes, and products, including increased circularity and biodegradability.

Better understanding of the carbon removal potential of bio-based systems.

Improved understanding of risks and benefits using inclusive assessment methods, incorporating technical and social innovation.

The scope of the funding covers:

Exploration of AI and digital technologies in the bio-based sector.

Development of new capacities, tools, and algorithms for AI and other digital technologies, demonstrated for applications with high environmental sustainability and competitiveness impact.

Consideration of the "digital twin" concept and generative AI, if relevant.

Exclusion of the health biotechnology sector, aligning with the EU bioeconomy strategy.

Contribution of AI and digital tools to sustainability gains (resource efficiency, circularity, climate neutrality) and enhanced European industrial competitiveness.

Demonstration of upscaling potential, alignment with parallel actions on AI and digital technologies, and incorporation of risk and opportunity assessments.

Encouragement of Multi-actor Approach (MAA) and social innovation to address societal concerns about AI's role in bio-based innovation and the broader bioeconomy.

Involvement of all relevant stakeholders and value chain actors.

Strong encouragement of links to the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) operations.

Consideration of citizen engagement and dialogue, encouraging social innovation approaches.

Integration of findings from the Global Resources Outlook 2024 and minimization of ecosystem risks, applying the Do-No-Significant-Harm (DNSH) principle.

Development of guidelines for policymakers, industry, and civil society through inclusive co-creation.

Inclusion of a task dedicated to sharing methodologies and findings with related projects.

Leveraging data and services from European Research Infrastructures federated under the European Open Science Cloud and relevant Data Spaces.

Encouragement of international cooperation with countries like the United States, Japan, South Korea, and India.

The general conditions of this funding opportunity are:

Admissibility Conditions: The proposal page limit and layout are described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form.

Eligible Countries: As described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific provisions may apply to non-EU/non-Associated Countries.

Other Eligible Conditions: As described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion: As described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

Evaluation and award: The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Legal and financial set-up of the grants: As described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA):

Application form templates are available in the Submission System, including the Standard application form (HE RIA, IA).

Evaluation form templates will be used with necessary adaptations, including the Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA).

Guidance is provided in the HE Programme Guide.

Model Grant Agreements (MGA) include the HE MGA.

Call-specific instructions and additional documents include:

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 1. General Introduction

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 9. Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 14. General Annexes

HE Programme Guide

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 — Annotated Model Grant Agreement

Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual

Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions

Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement

The budget overview for various topics under Cluster 6 Call 01 is as follows, with a single-stage submission process, opening on May 6, 2025, and a deadline on September 17, 2025:

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-01: EUR 20,000,000 in 2025, 2026 and 2027, indicative number of grants: 1, around EUR 60,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-02: EUR 4,000,000, indicative number of grants: 1, around EUR 4,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-03: EUR 24,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around EUR 12,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-04: EUR 22,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around EUR 11,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-05: EUR 18,000,000, indicative number of grants: 3, around EUR 6,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-06: EUR 16,000,000, indicative number of grants: 3, EUR 5,000,000 to EUR 6,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-07: EUR 12,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around EUR 6,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-08: EUR 14,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around EUR 7,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-09: EUR 6,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around EUR 3,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-10: EUR 11,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, EUR 5,000,000 to EUR 6,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-01: EUR 10,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around EUR 5,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-02: EUR 8,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around EUR 4,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-03: EUR 8,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around EUR 4,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-04: EUR 10,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around EUR 5,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-05: EUR 12,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around EUR 6,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-06: EUR 8,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around EUR 4,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-07: EUR 18,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around EUR 9,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-08: EUR 11,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around EUR 5,500,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-09: EUR 10,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around EUR 5,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-10: EUR 2,000,000, indicative number of grants: 1, around EUR 2,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-11: EUR 11,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around EUR 5,500,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-12: EUR 2,000,000, indicative number of grants: 1, around EUR 2,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-13: EUR 8,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around EUR 4,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-14: EUR 12,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around EUR 6,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-15: EUR 30,000,000 in 2025, 2026 and 2027, indicative number of grants: 1, around EUR 70,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-01: EUR 10,000,000, indicative number of grants: 1, around EUR 10,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-02: EUR 2,000,000, indicative number of grants: 1, around EUR 2,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-03: EUR 8,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around EUR 4,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-04: EUR 6,000,000, indicative number of grants: 1, around EUR 6,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-05: EUR 12,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around EUR 6,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-06: EUR 8,000,000, indicative number of grants: 1, around EUR 8,000,000

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-07: EUR 12,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around EUR 6,000,000

There are 17 partner search announcements available for collaboration on this topic.

This Horizon Europe call aims to revolutionize the bio-based sector by harnessing the power of AI and digital technologies. It seeks to fund projects that can integrate these advanced tools into bio-based value chains, promoting a cleaner, more competitive, and circular economy. The focus is on enhancing sustainability, resilience, and strategic autonomy within the European bio-based industry. By supporting innovation in feedstocks, industrial processes, and product development, the call aims to unlock the full potential of AI and digitalization, driving the bioeconomy towards greater efficiency and environmental responsibility. The call encourages a multi-actor approach, social innovation, and international cooperation to ensure that the benefits of these advancements are widely realized and that potential risks are carefully managed. The ultimate goal is to develop guidelines for policymakers, industry, and society, fostering a collaborative and inclusive approach to bio-based innovation.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but the call is open to bio-based actors, the bio-based industry, other R&I stakeholders, civil society stakeholders, and innovative SMEs. All relevant stakeholders and value chain actors are in scope. The mention of LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants suggests that research organizations, enterprises, and other legal entities are eligible.

Funding Type: The funding type includes HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA), HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA), HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA), and HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions (HORIZON-COFUND). These are primarily grant-based mechanisms.

Consortium Requirement: The information suggests that both single applicants and consortia are possible, especially given the encouragement of Multi-actor Approach (MAA) and the need for various stakeholders.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU member states and associated countries, as well as specific provisions for non-EU/non-associated countries.

Target Sector: The target sectors are bioeconomy, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, digital technologies, circular economy, climate, agriculture, food, natural resources, and environment.

Mentioned Countries: United States of America, Japan, South Korea, and India are explicitly mentioned for international cooperation. The primary geographic focus is the EU.

Project Stage: The project stages include research, innovation, development, demonstration, and upscaling. The call aims to upscale from current potential and demonstrate promising applications.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call, ranging from €2,000,000 to €30,000,000. Some topics specify an approximate funding per grant, such as "around 5000000 to 6000000".

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

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants to support their projects.

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

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants for each topic provides some insight into the competition level.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding may be required for HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions (HORIZON-COFUND), but it is not explicitly stated for other action types.

Summary:
This is a Horizon Europe Cluster 6 call focused on "Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment". The call aims to promote a clean, competitive, and circular bioeconomy by integrating digital solutions and AI into climate-neutral bio-based value chains. It encompasses a wide range of topics, including biodiversity, circular bioeconomy, and zero pollution initiatives. The funding mechanisms include Innovation Actions (IA), Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), and Programme Cofund Actions (COFUND).

The call encourages a multi-actor approach and social innovation, emphasizing the importance of addressing societal concerns related to AI in the bioeconomy. International cooperation is also encouraged, particularly with the United States, Japan, South Korea, and India. The call is structured as a single-stage submission process with an opening date of May 6, 2025, and a deadline of September 17, 2025. The indicative funding per topic varies significantly, ranging from 2 million EUR for coordination and support actions to 30 million EUR for cofund actions. The call seeks to improve the sustainability, resilience, and strategic autonomy of the European bio-based industry by leveraging AI, digitalization, and IT solutions. It also aims to advance and demonstrate opportunities for more sustainable feedstocks, efficient industrial processes, and better understanding of carbon removal potential.