Horizon Europe CL6 2027 — Circular Systemic Solutions through Living Labs in Cities and Regions (CIRCBIO-01)

Enriched EU · Found: 2026-04-20 16:43

Horizon Europe Cluster 6 FORTHCOMING 2027 call for projects deploying circular systemic solutions through living labs in cities and regions under the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative. Deadline April 2027. Targets local/regional authorities and their ecosystem partners.

Source: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-CIRCBIO-01-two-stage

Funding Details

Funder

European Commission / Research Executive Agency (REA) — Horizon Europe Cluster 6

Funding Goal

Deploy circular systemic solutions through real-life living labs in cities and regions, accelerating place-based innovation and the transition to circular economy at local and regional level under the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI).

Funding Amount

Typical Horizon Europe IA grant: EUR 5-15M per project. 70% EU co-funding rate. Lump-sum grant format. Prior CCRI rounds funded 4-6 projects. (5.000.000 € – 15.000.000 €)

Deadline

2027-04-08 (periodic)

How to Apply

Two-stage process (opening date TBD for 2027). Apply via EU Funding and Tenders Portal. Coordinate with the CCRI Coordination and Support Office. Prior CCRI projects should be consulted to avoid duplication.

Target Region

EU Member States and Horizon Europe associated countries. At least one living lab in a Horizon Europe widening country required.

Contact

CCRI Coordination Office: https://circular-cities-and-regions.ec.europa.eu. EU Research Enquiry Service: https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/contact-us/research-enquiry-service_en

Last Checked

2026-04-20 16:44

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Minimum 5 living labs as consortium members (linked to local/regional authorities)
• At least 2 demonstration living labs and 3 replication living labs required
• 1 replication living lab must be in a Horizon Europe widening country
• Multi-actor approach mandatory — must involve citizens, policymakers, industry, research in each living lab
• China-registered entities NOT eligible for this destination

Project Scope

• Place-based approach: select sector/value chains based on local circular economy potential
• TRL 6-8 target — deployment and upscaling of proven solutions, not basic research

Required Documents

• Two-stage submission process (concept note then full proposal)

Constraints

• Must demonstrate synergies with existing CCRI Projects and CCRI Associated Partners
• Must include dedicated resources for collaboration with CCRI Coordination and Support Office

Summary

This forthcoming Horizon Europe Cluster 6 topic (planned 2027) supports the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI) by funding living labs that deploy circular systemic solutions at city and regional scale. The topic continues a series of CCRI-related topics funded annually since 2021 under Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe. Thematic scope is deliberately broad and place-based: proposals select their own target sector(s) and value chains based on local circular potential analysis. Previous CCRI living labs have covered: food waste and bio-waste recovery, textile collection and reuse, plastic packaging reduction, construction materials circularity, and urban resource loops. The topic targets systemic transitions requiring multi-actor governance — combining public authorities, citizens, businesses, researchers, and social economy actors. Eligible activities include: validation, testing, and optimisation of circular systemic solutions in demonstration cities/regions; governance model development for circular transitions; knowledge transfer for replication across Europe; development of business plans for circular solutions; integration of social sciences and humanities; engagement with citizens and end-users through multi-actor approach. Geographic scope: EU Member States and Horizon Europe associated countries. Mandatory inclusion of at least one living lab in a Horizon Europe widening country (cohesion and enlargement countries). Denmark and Baltic Sea region countries fully eligible. Eligible applicants: minimum 5 living labs linked to local/regional authorities. Complex multi-actor consortium required including at minimum 2 demonstration and 3 replication living labs. NGOs, SMEs, universities, and research bodies can participate as ecosystem partners within city/region-anchored consortia. Target beneficiaries are cities, municipalities, regional governments, local businesses, citizens, and community actors participating in the living labs. Budget: estimated EUR 5-15M per project based on prior CCRI rounds; 70% EU funding rate for Innovation Actions. Lump-sum grant format. Prior rounds (2021-2025) funded 4-6 projects per year.

Historical Context

CCRI topic has been funded every 1-2 years since 2021: HORIZON-CL6-2021, 2023, 2025 (CIRCBIO-07), and now 2027. The HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-02-two-stage is the immediate 2026 predecessor topic on CCRI. Established CCRI projects include BALTIPLAST-adjacent circular city projects across Baltic and Nordic regions.

Why it was added

dana-enricher-api-eu-ft-2026-04-20

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