Horizon Europe: Marine Organisms for Sustainable Blue Bio-Products (CL6-2026-CIRCBIO-11)
Enriched EU · Found: 2026-03-10 20:40
Harnessing unique properties of marine organisms to deliver sustainable blue bio-based products. RIA, EUR 10M budget, ~EUR 5M per project. Opens 17 Apr 2026.
Funding Details
- Funder
- European Commission - Horizon Europe Cluster 6
- Funding Goal
- Harness the unique properties of marine organisms to deliver sustainable blue bio-based products. Research should develop safe and sustainable bio-based materials from marine organisms (algae, fungi, invertebrates) including novel adhesion agents, biochemicals replacing hazardous chemicals, antifouling coatings, replacement for synthetic surfactants, biomarkers, biosensors, and enzymes. Incorporate synthetic biology, engineering biology, digital technologies, and prove concept at TRL 4-5.
- Funding Amount
- Approximately EUR 5M per project, total budget EUR 10M (approx. 2 projects expected) (5.000.000 € – 5.000.000 €)
- Deadline
- 2026-09-17 (Fixed)
- How to Apply
- Submit via EU Funding and Tenders Portal. Call opens 17 April 2026, deadline 17 September 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. Single-stage submission. Lump Sum Grant type.
- Target Region
- EU-wide, international cooperation with Latin America and Caribbean countries encouraged
- Contact
- EU Research Enquiry Service via ec.europa.eu/research/enquiries
- Last Checked
- 2026-03-15 14:10
Application Checklist
Eligibility
Project Scope
Required Documents
Constraints
Summary
The Horizon Europe topic HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-11 funds Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) to harness the unique properties of marine organisms for sustainable blue bio-based products. Total budget is approximately EUR 10M expecting 2 projects at approximately EUR 5M each. The call opens on 17 April 2026 with a deadline of 17 September 2026. Thematically, the topic addresses the transition to a bio-based economy using marine biodiversity. Priority research areas include developing biomolecules from marine organisms (algae, fungi, invertebrates) with unique adhesive, structural, fluorescent, and other properties for use in construction materials, chemical processes, bioplastics, and textiles. Research should replace hazardous chemicals with marine-derived alternatives, develop antifouling coatings, surfactant replacements, biosensors and enzymes, and incorporate synthetic biology and AI/ML approaches. Health biotechnology and biofuel/bioenergy applications are excluded. Eligible activities include discovery and characterisation of marine biomolecules, green bioprocessing development, proof of concept testing (TRL 4-5), regulatory assessment, market analysis, value chain analysis, cost-benefit assessment compared to conventional alternatives, and policy recommendations for marine resource access and benefit sharing. Geographic scope is EU-wide, with international cooperation with Latin America and Caribbean countries encouraged. Access to marine resources from natural environments or collections is permitted with proper consideration of sustainable use, access and benefit sharing obligations. Eligible applicants are legal entities in EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries forming consortia of at least 3 entities from 3 countries. Legal entities from China are excluded. Industry partners are strongly encouraged. The topic is relevant to the EU Algae Initiative, EU Bioeconomy Strategy, European Life Sciences Strategy, and European Ocean Pact.
Historical Context
Part of Horizon Europe 2026-2027 Work Programme. Previous related calls include HORIZON-CL6-2021-CIRCBIO-01-09, HORIZON-CL6-2022-CIRCBIO-01-07, HORIZON-CL6-2023-CircBio-01-11, HORIZON-CL6-2024-CircBio-01-10, HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-14.
Why it was added
EU Round 8 EU2: Horizon blue bioeconomy marine