Horizon Europe HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-CIRCBIO-09: Increasing Circularity of Bio-based Sector Through Upcycling and Recycling
Enriched EU · Found: 2026-03-11 10:35
Horizon Europe Cluster 6 call for increasing the circularity of the bio-based sector through upcycling and recycling for higher value and environmental benefits. EU contribution around EUR 6 million per project (total budget EUR 12 million). Requires consortia of at least 3 independent legal entities from 3 EU/Associated Countries. TRL 6-7 expected. Anticipated 2027 call schedule.
Funding Details
- Funder
- European Commission – Horizon Europe
- Funding Goal
- Advance circularity in the bio-based sector through upcycling and recycling of bio-based materials for higher value and environmental benefits, targeting construction, packaging, pulp/paper, and textiles.
- Funding Amount
- Around EUR 6 million EU contribution per project (total call budget EUR 12 million for 2 projects). Innovation Actions: 70% funding rate, 100% for non-profit entities. Lump-sum grant model. (6.000.000 € – 6.000.000 €)
- Deadline
- 2027-09-22 (Fixed)
- How to Apply
- Single-stage submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Proposals are evaluated against standard Horizon Europe criteria (Excellence, Impact, Implementation). Applicants submit the standard HE application form with a detailed lump-sum budget table. Ethics and security self-assessments are required. National Contact Points (NCPs) provide guidance. The call opens 20 April 2027 with deadline 22 September 2027 at 17:00 Brussels time.
- Target Region
- EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries
- Contact
- National Contact Points (NCPs) for country-specific guidance; Research Enquiry Service for programme questions; IT Helpdesk for technical submission issues. All accessible via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
- Official Page
- https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/horizon-cl6-2027-01-circbio-09
- Last Checked
- 2026-03-11 19:37
Application Checklist
Eligibility
Project Scope
Required Documents
Constraints
Summary
HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-CIRCBIO-09 is an Innovation Action under Horizon Europe Cluster 6 (Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment) focused on increasing the circularity of bio-based sectors. The call targets development and deployment of circular bio-based materials and processes using recycled and upcycled resources in sectors such as construction, packaging, pulp/paper, and textiles. It also supports circular solutions for complex bio-waste streams, digital marketplaces for traceability of bio-based resources, and stakeholder recommendations on regulations and standards. The total budget is EUR 12 million, with around EUR 6 million EU contribution per project and 2 projects expected to be funded. This is a lump-sum grant (HORIZON-AG-LS) requiring consortia of at least 3 independent legal entities from 3 different EU Member States or Associated Countries. Activities should reach Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6-7 by project end. Bioenergy and biofuels are explicitly out of scope. The call opens on 20 April 2027 with a deadline of 22 September 2027 (17:00 Brussels time), using a single-stage submission process. Standard Horizon Europe eligibility applies, with the notable restriction that entities established in China are not eligible for Innovation Actions. The funding rate for Innovation Actions is 70% of eligible costs (100% for non-profit legal entities).
Historical Context
This is part of the Horizon Europe 2026-2027 Work Programme under Cluster 6. Horizon Europe is the EU's key funding programme for research and innovation (2021-2027), successor to Horizon 2020. The circular bioeconomy has been a recurring theme across multiple Horizon Europe work programmes.
Why it was added
Deep Search PC1-1: Funds bio-based sector circularity through upcycling and recycling under Horizon Europe Cluster 6
Sources
- https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-9-food-bioeconomy-natural-resources-agriculture-and-environment_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf
- https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/horizon-cl6-2027-01-circbio-09
- https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/programme-guide_horizon_en.pdf
- https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-13-general-annexes_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf