Unleashing the potential and advancing the impact of the digitalization/Artificial Intelligence of the climate-neutral bio-based value chains
Overview
The grant opportunity HORIZON-CL6 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.
Highlights
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:€20,000,000 in 2025, 2026 and 2027, indicative number of grants: 1, around €60,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-02:€4,000,000, indicative number of grants: 1, around €4,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-03:€24,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around €12,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-04:€22,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around €11,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-05:€18,000,000, indicative number of grants: 3, around €6,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-06:€16,000,000, indicative number of grants: 3, €5,000,000 to €6,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-07:€12,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around €6,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-08:€14,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around €7,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-09:€6,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around €3,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-10:€11,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, €5,000,000 to €6,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-01:€10,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around €5,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-02:€8,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around €4,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-03:€8,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around €4,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-04:€10,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around €5,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-05:€12,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around €6,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-06:€8,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around €4,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-07:€18,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around €9,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-08:€11,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around €5,500,000
HORIZON-CL6:€10,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around €5,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-10:€2,000,000, indicative number of grants: 1, around €2,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-11:€11,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around €5,500,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-12:€2,000,000, indicative number of grants: 1, around €2,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-13:€8,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around €4,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-14:€12,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around €6,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-15:€30,000,000 in 2025, 2026 and 2027, indicative number of grants: 1, around €70,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-01:€10,000,000, indicative number of grants: 1, around €10,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-02:€2,000,000, indicative number of grants: 1, around €2,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-03:€8,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around €4,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-04:€6,000,000, indicative number of grants: 1, around €6,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-05:€12,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around €6,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-06:€8,000,000, indicative number of grants: 1, around €8,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-07:€12,000,000, indicative number of grants: 2, around €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.
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Breakdown
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 for coordination and support actions to €30 million 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.
Short Summary
Impact This grant aims to accelerate the integration of AI and digital technologies into bio-based value chains to achieve climate neutrality, promoting sustainable circular bioeconomy solutions. | Impact | This grant aims to accelerate the integration of AI and digital technologies into bio-based value chains to achieve climate neutrality, promoting sustainable circular bioeconomy solutions. |
Applicant Applicants should possess expertise in bioeconomy, biotechnology, digital technologies, and AI, with a focus on collaborative R&D and innovation. | Applicant | Applicants should possess expertise in bioeconomy, biotechnology, digital technologies, and AI, with a focus on collaborative R&D and innovation. |
Developments Funding will support projects that advance digitalization and AI in climate-neutral bio-based systems, including biomanufacturing and sustainable resource management. | Developments | Funding will support projects that advance digitalization and AI in climate-neutral bio-based systems, including biomanufacturing and sustainable resource management. |
Applicant Type Startups, SMEs, large enterprises, universities, research institutes, and public-private partnerships involved in bioeconomy and digital solutions. | Applicant Type | Startups, SMEs, large enterprises, universities, research institutes, and public-private partnerships involved in bioeconomy and digital solutions. |
Consortium Consortium required, as Horizon Europe Innovation Actions typically necessitate multi-partner collaborations. | Consortium | Consortium required, as Horizon Europe Innovation Actions typically necessitate multi-partner collaborations. |
Funding Amount Likely €1M–€5M, based on comparable Horizon Europe Cluster 6 grants. | Funding Amount | Likely €1M–€5M, based on comparable Horizon Europe Cluster 6 grants. |
Countries EU member states, EEA countries, EU candidate countries, and associated nations are eligible. | Countries | EU member states, EEA countries, EU candidate countries, and associated nations are eligible. |
Industry Bioeconomy, biotechnology, circular economy, and digital/AI-driven solutions. | Industry | Bioeconomy, biotechnology, circular economy, and digital/AI-driven solutions. |
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