Deadline Date: September 17, 2026
The European Commission is inviting grant applications to support the development of standards, research, and innovation activities that enhance industrial competitiveness and environmental sustainability in the bio-based sector.
The focus areas include industrial competitiveness and strategic autonomy, decarbonisation, environmental sustainability, climate impact reduction, pollution prevention, biodiversity protection, bio-based product standardisation, ecodesign development, pre-normative research and development, circular bio-based value chains, safe and sustainable product development, stakeholder engagement, policy alignment, and market uptake of bio-based innovations.
This topic is designed to improve the sustainability performance and competitiveness of the European bio-based industry by supporting the development of robust standards and methodologies. It focuses on advancing safe, sustainable, and circular bio-based products and processes while reducing pressure on biological resources and ecosystems and improving overall environmental performance.
Projects under this topic are expected to select a specific bio-based sector or industry and develop or improve knowledge, technologies, products, processes, services, or solutions related to ecodesign. These activities should ensure high sustainability benefits while considering economic feasibility and the quality of final products.
Proposals are required to identify gaps in the standardisation research pipeline and address them through pre-normative research and development activities. The goal is to enable the creation and deployment of safe, sustainable, and circular bio-based value chains and products that minimise environmental impacts and enhance socio-economic and environmental outcomes.
The scope also includes active engagement with stakeholders from the bio-based industry, standardisation bodies, policymakers, and authorities at national and European levels. This engagement is intended to create a community of practice that ensures transparency, inclusiveness, and supports the future market uptake of innovative solutions.
The topic aligns with several European Union policy frameworks, including the safe and sustainable by design approach, the EU bioeconomy strategy, the Circular Economy Act, the Clean Industrial Deal, the SME Strategy, the chemicals industry package, and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, as well as contributing to the Start-ups and Scale-ups Strategy.
The funding available for this topic is approximately €8,000,000, with around €4,000,000 allocated per project.
Eligibility is open to any legal entity, regardless of place of establishment, including entities from non-associated third countries and international organisations, provided they comply with Horizon Europe Regulation requirements and other applicable conditions. A legal entity refers to any recognised natural or legal person with legal personality, or an entity without legal personality capable of exercising rights and obligations.
For more information, visit European Commission.
