RFAs: Cost-Effective and Robust Continuous Biotech Bio-Based Processes

Deadline: 18 September 2025

The European Commission is seeking proposals for the Cost-Effective and Robust Continuous Biotech Bio-Based Processes topic.

Scope

Many bio-based chemicals/products are manufactured via biotech batch or fed-batch processes at commercial scale, which despite being easier to be controlled and scaled-up, often result into lower productivity, higher equipment downtime and increased costs. Continuous biotech processes could represent promising emerging alternatives in biorefineries targeting high productivity and reduced costs. Despite having achieved significant advancements in some cases, there are still challenges to overcome towards scaling-up, such as: contamination risks, genetic instability of cells, maintaining simultaneously high production titer, productivity and yield, lack of capability of further downstream processing (DSP) to handle flow and concentration variations from upstream process, advanced monitoring and control.
Proposals under this topic should:
- Identify the existing bottlenecks in the switch to continuous process(es), how the proposed innovative approach can overcome challenges of targeted process(es), which are currently only operating in batch or fed-batch mode, and specify the advantages of switching to continuous.
- Demonstrate continuous biotech process(es) (microbial, cell factories and/or enzymatic) for the sustainable production of bio-based chemicals, materials and/or ingredients addressing identified bottlenecks.
- Together with addressing continuous upstream processing (encompassing biocatalysis optimisation), demonstrate integration of efficient DSP systems to achieve high purity, in compliance with final applications requirements, while also facilitating/not hindering the continuous upstream operation. Focus on one or more bio-based chemicals, materials and/or ingredients with high market potential.
- Address resource/energy efficiency and circularity by applying process intensification and by valorising upstream and downstream side-streams (e.g., water, fermentation media, exhausted cells, etc…).
In addition to the specific requirements applicable for the type of action, as described in section 2.2.3.1 of the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2025, proposals under this topic should:
- Implement on-line monitoring and control systems including (if relevant) advanced AI/digital tools.
- Include a task to apply the safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) framework, developed by the European Commission. Under this context, projects are expected to also contribute with and develop recommendations that can advance further the application of the SSbD framework
- Ensure complementarities with past and ongoing R&I projects, including projects funded under Horizon 2020/Horizon Europe and by the BBI/CBE JU.

Funding Information

Cost-effective and robust continuous biotech bio-based processes – €14 million.

Expected Outcomes

Successful proposals will contribute to the EU Initiative on Biotech and Biomanufacturing, the implementation of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy and its action plan, the Circular Economy Action Plan, the EU Zero pollution ambition for a toxic-free environment under the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and the Zero Pollution Action Plan, as well as the EU Industrial strategy.
Projects results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes:
- Increased scale-up potential and sustainability of biotech processes to produce bio-based chemicals, materials and/or ingredients, contributing to increased competitiveness of industrial biotech in EU.
- Increased and stable productivity and selectivity compared to benchmark batch/fed-batch process(es), if available at industrial scale.
- Purity of end-product(s) in line with application requirements.

Eligibility Criteria

Entities eligible to participate:
- Entities eligible to participate Any legal entity, regardless of its place of establishment, including legal entities from nonassociated third countries or international organisations (including international European research organisations) is eligible to participate (whether it is eligible for funding or not), provided that the conditions laid down in the Horizon Europe Regulation have been met, along with any other conditions laid down in the specific call/topic.
- A ‘legal entity’ means any natural or legal person created and recognised as such under national law, EU law or international law, which has legal personality and which may, acting in its own name, exercise rights and be subject to obligations, or an entity without legal personality .
Entities eligible for funding :
- To become a beneficiary, legal entities must be eligible for funding. To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the following countries:
  - the Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions:
    - Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
  - the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States:
    - Aruba (NL), Bonaire (NL), Curação (NL), French Polynesia (FR), French Southern and Antarctic Territories (FR), Greenland (DK), New Caledonia (FR), Saba (NL), Saint Barthélemy (FR), Sint Eustatius (NL), Sint Maarten (NL), St. Pierre and Miquelon (FR), Wallis and Futuna Islands (FR).
  - countries associated to Horizon Europe;
    - Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom.