New calls for the Circular Bio-based industry in Europe

The main goals of the Circular Bio-based Europe (CBE-JU) Partnership are to accelerate the innovation process and development of bio-based innovative solutions, to accelerate market deployment of these solutions, and to ensure a high level of environmental performance of bio-based industrial systems. The CBE-JU calls will fund projects in research, demonstration and industrial deployment. Those projects will stimulate collaboration among varied actors across Europe and along the value chains, from biomass producers and waste managers to researchers and processing industries.

The budget comes from Horizon Europe, EU’s research and innovation funding programme. Each euro of public funding will be complemented by private investments.

Topics and Work Programme

The 2024 call for proposals has been published with a €213 million-budget dedicated to advancing competitive circular bioeconomy in Europe across 18 topics:

• Bio-based value chains for valorisation of sustainable oil crops – €20 million (IA-flagship)
• Bio-based dedicated platform chemicals via cost-effective, sustainable and resource-efficient conversion of biomass – €20 million (IA-flagship)
• Bio-based value chains for valorisation of sustainable natural fibre feedstock – €20 million (IA-flagship)

• Bio-based materials and products for biodegradable in soil applications – €15 million (IA)
• Sustainable microalgae as feedstock for innovative, added-value applications – €15 million (IA)
• Enlarging the portfolio of commercially produced “Safe and Sustainable by design” (SSbD) solvents – €15 million (IA)
• Circular and SSbD bio-based construction & building materials with functional properties – €15 million (IA)
• Selective and sustainable (co)-production of lignin-derived aromatics – €15 million (IA)
• Innovative bio-based adhesives and binders for circular products meeting market requirements – €15 million (IA)
• Innovative conversion of biogenic gaseous carbon into bio-based chemicals, ingredients, materials – €15 million (IA)

• Valorisation of polluted/contaminated wood from industrial and post-consumer waste streams – €7 million (RIA)
• Biotech routes to obtain bio-based chemicals/materials replacing animal-derived ones – €7 million (RIA)
• Sustainable, bio-based alternatives for crop protection – €10 million (RIA)
• SSbD bio-based coating materials for applications under demanding and/or extreme conditions – €7 million (RIA)
• Innovative bio-based food/feed ingredients – €7 million (RIA)
• New forms of cooperation in agriculture and the forest-based sector – €4 million  (CSA)

• Mobilise inclusive participation in bio-based systems and supporting the CBE JU widening strategy and its action plan – €3 million (CSA)
• Supporting the CBE JU Deployment Group on Primary Producers – €3 million (CSA)

Check the Annual Work Programme 2024 for the complete topic text, conditions and requirements. These topics will be published on EU’s Funding & tender opportunities portal.

Key dates

CBE JU Info Day 2024 is planned for 23 April 2024 in person in Brussels, with ample face-to-face networking opportunities. The sessions will also be streamed online.

The call for proposals will open on 24 April 2024, and the call deadline is planned for 18 September 2024.

For more information about CBE JU and how NCP Brussels can help, contact Bénédicte de Brouwer and Camille Dehestru.