Urban-industrial symbiosis for bio-waste valorisation

The HORIZON-JU grant opportunity focuses on advancing circular bio-based industries through urban-industrial symbiosis for bio-waste valorisation. This initiative is part of the Horizon Europe program, specifically under the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU). The call aims to fund projects that will contribute to the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, the Circular Economy Action Plan, and various directives concerning waste management. Eligible applicants include startups, SMEs, large enterprises, universities, research institutes, public-private partnerships, and NGOs involved in bio-based industries or waste management. The call particularly encourages participation from primary producers and bio-waste management actors. The funding type is a grant, with specific amounts allocated based on project types: approximately €20 million for large innovation actions, €14 million for standard innovation actions, and €7 million for research and innovation actions, totaling around €172 million available overall. A consortium is required for proposal submission, and eligibility checks for membership in the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) are part of the evaluation process. The geographic eligibility covers EU member states, EEA countries, and associated countries. Project stages primarily relate to development, validation, and demonstration, with a focus on turning urban collected bio-waste into valuable products, thereby addressing environmental and economic concerns. The application process is open and consists of a single-stage submission with a deadline set for September 18, 2025. The nature of support is monetary, with grants covering up to 70% of eligible costs. Co-funding is required, indicating that demonstrable industry knowledge and participation are necessary. While the success rates for applications are not specifically mentioned, Horizon Europe’s average success rate may provide a rough guideline, typically around 12-15%. The call specifically outlines a focus on sustainability, safety, and the social acceptance of bio-based products. In summary, this grant opportunity aims to foster innovative projects that convert urban bio-waste into high-value bio-based products, enhancing the circular economy and reducing overall environmental impacts. Collaborative consortia involving diverse stakeholders are essential, and projects should demonstrate feasibility and viability for full-scale implementation while adhering to regulatory frameworks.

This is a comprehensive description of the HORIZON-JU funding opportunity, titled "Urban-industrial symbiosis for bio-waste valorisation," under the Horizon Europe program, specifically the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU). The call for proposals is for Innovation Actions (IA) and utilizes a single-stage submission process. The opening date for submissions is April 3, 2025, and the deadline is September 18, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. The expected outcome of successful proposals is to contribute to the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, the Waste Framework Directive, the Landfill Directive, and the Circular Economy action plan.

The projects should aim for:a full-scale biorefinery and related value chains for sustainable bio-waste valorization into added-value bio-based products with high replication potential; reduction of bio-waste going to incineration or landfills; reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants; demonstrated economic and social benefits for municipalities involved in bio-waste provision; increased value for society through direct and indirect employment; and increased social acceptance of bio-based products from bio-waste with increased citizen engagement in waste prevention and separate collection.

The scope of the call focuses on separately collected urban bio-waste, as defined by the Waste Framework Directive, as the primary feedstock. Other bio-based residues and waste can be used as supplementary feedstock, depending on the specific conversion routes. Proposals should demonstrate the feasibility and viability of a full-scale biorefinery model converting bio-waste into added-value products, potentially exploiting synergies with existing waste management infrastructures and urban-industrial symbiosis. They should also demonstrate the production of safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) added-value bio-based products, minimizing waste generation, and address logistical aspects influencing the economic viability and social acceptance of the value chain.

Specific requirements for proposals include:applying the safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) framework developed by the European Commission and contributing to its further development; ensuring adequate involvement of key actors across relevant value chains, including bio-waste management operators, local/regional authorities, policymakers, citizens/consumers’ representatives, bio-based process developers/biorefineries, as part of the multi-actor approach (MAA); addressing regulatory framework aspects related to the use of bio-waste streams and their conversion to end products, particularly concerning end-of-waste criteria; performing an assessment of social involvement and long-term benefits, including local employment, waste management charge reduction, lower pollution, and revenues from the biorefinery; identifying regions/areas in EU/EEA/EFTA and associated countries with high unexploited potential for industrial/urban symbiotic approaches; assessing the implementation of developed solutions in selected regions/areas, considering local/regional conditions and the regulatory framework; ensuring complementarities with past and ongoing R&I projects addressing similar challenges; and exploring synergies with the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI), the EU Hubs for Circularity (H4C), and the R&I Mission ‘Climate neutral and smart cities’.

The general conditions for participation are detailed in Annexes A, B, C, D, F, and G of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. These cover admissibility conditions, eligible countries, financial and operational capacity, exclusion criteria, evaluation and award processes, submission procedures, indicative timelines, and legal and financial setups. Specific conditions are described in section 2.2.3 of the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2025.

Application forms, evaluation forms, and the Model Grant Agreement (MGA) are available in the Submission System. Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2023-2025, the HE Programme Guide, the HE Framework Programme 2021/695, the HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, the EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, rules for legal entity validation, and various guides and manuals related to EU grants and the Funding & Tenders Portal.

The budget overview indicates that approximately €20,000,000 is allocated to the HORIZON-JU topic, with one grant expected to be awarded.

The Funding & Tenders Portal provides access to the Electronic Submission Service, partner search tools, topic Q&As, and various support resources, including an Online Manual, the Horizon Europe Programme Guide, FAQs, a Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), the Enterprise Europe Network, an IT Helpdesk, the European IPR Helpdesk, and CEN-CENELEC/ETSI Research Helpdesks.

In summary, this funding opportunity aims to foster innovative projects that establish full-scale biorefineries utilizing urban bio-waste to produce high-value bio-based products, contributing to a circular economy and reducing environmental impact. The call emphasizes the importance of urban-industrial symbiosis, safe and sustainable design, multi-actor involvement, and regulatory considerations to ensure the marketability and social acceptance of the developed solutions. It is designed for consortia that include bio-waste management operators, local authorities, researchers, and industry partners, with a focus on demonstrating real-world impact and replicability.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types are not explicitly listed but can be inferred to include entities capable of undertaking research and innovation actions, innovation actions, and coordination and support actions. This likely encompasses a range of organizations such as research institutes, universities, SMEs, large enterprises, and potentially public sector bodies or municipalities involved in bio-waste management. The call emphasizes the importance of a multi-actor approach, suggesting that consortia should include bio-waste management operators, local/regional authorities, policy makers, citizens/consumers’ representatives, and bio-based process developers/biorefineries.

Funding Type:The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically through HORIZON JU Innovation Actions (HORIZON-JU-IA) and HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-JU-RIA) and HORIZON JU Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-JU-CSA). The Model Grant Agreement (MGA) type is a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG].

Consortium Requirement:While not explicitly stated, the emphasis on a multi-actor approach (MAA) and the need to involve various stakeholders across the value chain strongly suggests that a consortium is preferred, if not required. The call aims to foster urban-industrial symbiosis, which inherently necessitates collaboration between different entities.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The geographic eligibility includes EU member states, EEA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), EFTA countries (Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), and associated countries (ACs) to the Horizon Europe program. The call text mentions identifying regions/areas in EU/EEA/EFTA countries and associated countries (ACs) with high unexploited potential. 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.

Target Sector:The program targets the bioeconomy sector, specifically focusing on bio-waste management and valorisation. It also aligns with the circular economy, waste management, and environmental sustainability sectors. The thematic areas include: bio-based products, waste management, biorefineries, urban-industrial symbiosis, and circular economy.

Mentioned Countries:The opportunity explicitly mentions EU member states, EEA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), and EFTA countries (Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway). It also refers to associated countries (ACs) to the Horizon Europe program and non-EU/non-Associated Countries.

Project Stage:The project stage is primarily demonstration and validation, with a focus on full-scale biorefinery models. The call aims to demonstrate the feasibility and viability of converting bio-waste into added-value products at an industrial scale. Some innovative routes have been demonstrated or are under demonstration.

Funding Amount:The funding amounts vary depending on the type of action:

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-RIA-02 and HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-RIA-01:approximately €3,500,000 each.

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IAFlag-03 and HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IAFlag-02 and HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IAFlag-04 and HORIZON-JU: approximately €20,000,000 each.

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IA-05 and HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IA-03 and HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IA-01 and HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IA-02 and HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IA-04: approximately €7,000,000 each.

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-RIA-03:approximately €3,500,000.

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-CSA-01:approximately €1,000,000.

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 a grant to support their projects.

Application Stages:The application process involves a single stage.

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

Co-funding Requirement:The co-funding requirement is not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

This opportunity is a call for proposals under the Horizon Europe program, specifically targeting the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU). It seeks to fund projects that contribute to the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, the Circular Economy Action Plan, and the objectives of the Waste Framework Directive and the Landfill Directive. The focus is on promoting the sustainable valorisation of bio-waste through urban-industrial symbiosis, with the aim of creating full-scale biorefineries that convert bio-waste into added-value bio-based products.

The call encourages projects that demonstrate the feasibility and viability of biorefinery models, reduce the amount of bio-waste going to landfills or incineration, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. It also emphasizes the importance of safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) approaches, multi-actor involvement, and addressing regulatory frameworks to ensure the marketability of the developed products.

Applicants are expected to involve key actors across the value chain, including bio-waste management operators, local authorities, policy makers, and citizens. Projects should also assess social involvement and long-term benefits, identify regions with high unexploited potential, and ensure complementarities with existing R&I projects. The call is structured around Innovation Actions (IA), Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), each with specific budget allocations, and follows a single-stage submission process with a deadline of September 18, 2025. The overall goal is to foster a circular and sustainable bioeconomy by transforming urban bio-waste into valuable resources, thereby contributing to environmental protection, economic growth, and social well-being.