Circular Bio-based Europe JU Open Call: submit your proposal now

The Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) 2025 call for project proposals opens on 3 April 2025, with a budget of €172 million. Submissions will be open until 18 September 2025 (17:00 CET).

CBE JU is a €2 billion partnership between the European Union and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) that funds projects advancing competitive circular bio-based industries under Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation programme.

The 13 Call topics

Explore all the Call topics:

• Innovation actions – flagship (IA-flagship)
• Urban-industrial symbiosis for bio-waste valorisation - €20 million
• Bio-based drop-ins/smart drop-in platform chemicals, via cost-effective, sustainable and resource-efficient conversion of biomass - €20 million
• Circular-by-design fibre-based packaging with improved properties - €20 million
• Retrofitting of (bio)refineries industrial plants towards higher-value bio-based products - €20 million.

Innovation actions (IA)

• Sustainable macroalgae systems for innovative, added-value applications: cultivation and optimised production systems - €14 million
• Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) bio-based solutions to replace hazardous conventional chemicals for textiles production - €14 million
• Scaling-up nutritional proteins from alternative sources - €14 million
• Cost-effective and robust continuous biotech bio-based processes - €14 million
• SSbD bio-based polymers/copolymers unlocking new market applications - €14 million

Research and innovation actions (RIA)

• Valorisation of untapped forest biomass - €7 million
• Bio-based and biodegradable delivery systems for fertilising products to reduce microplastics pollution & promote soil health - €7 million
• Alternative biomanufacturing routes for natural and synthetic rubber - €7 million

Coordination and support actions (CSA)

Develop and deploy new curricula and knowledge exchange practices relevant to bio-based systems - €1 million.

Check the Annual Work Programme 2025 for the complete topic text, conditions and requirements.

The topics for submission will be published on the EU’s Funding & tender opportunities portal.

The Horizon Online Manual provides more information about the different application steps. Please also check the How to apply section on the CBE JU website.

FAQ for applicants

Read the updated FAQ for applicants for the 2025 call for proposals.