Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking - Call 2026

Research

Funding organisation:

Europese Commissie

What?

The Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) is a public (EU)-private (Bio-based Industries Consortium) partnership within the Horizon Europe programme. The CBE JU is funding projects that deliver bio-based solutions, materials, and products made from waste and biomass in an innovative, sustainable, and circular way.

The CBE JU three key objectives are:
- accelerating the innovation process and development of bio-based innovative solutions
- accelerating market deployment of the existing mature bio-based innovative solutions
- ensuring a high Level of environmental performance of bio-based industrial systems

Project applications should align with a call topic and also with the overarching Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA). The focus lies on scaling-up, tech-transfer and higher-TRL (6-8) research; Innovation Actions (IA), but also lower TRL (3-5); Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) can be funded. The 2026 call topics are:

IA Flagships
- HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IAFlag-01: Boosting biorefinery competitiveness through biotech
- HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IAFlag-02: SSbD bio-based alternatives for fertilising and/or crop protection products
- HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IAFlag-03: SSbD bio-based solutions for home and/or personal care
- HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IAFlag-04: Diversification of nutritional food ingredient sources for increased EU resilience and strategic autonomy

Innovation Actions
- HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IA-01: Biotech routes for valorisation of residual biomass
- HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IA-02: Bio-based additives as alternatives to unlock and increase recyclability and/or biodegradability
- HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IA-03: Bio-based chemicals and/or materials from woody residues
- HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IA-04 High-performance, circular-by-design, biobased thermosets
- HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IA-05: Films and coatings for circular packaging

Research and Innovation Actions
- HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-RIA-01: Addressing separation and purification challenges in biorefineries
- HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-RIA-02- SSbD bio-based polymers from alternative sources
- HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-RIA-03-Develop breakthrough and sustainable bio-based textile fibres

Coordination and Support Actions
- HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-CSA-01: Supporting industry in the switch to sustainable and circular bio-based products and processes

Who?

The standard Horizon Europe eligibility conditions apply, and thus, consortium for collaborative projects should be composed of at least three legal entities independent from each other and each established in a different country:
- At least one independent legal entity established in a Member State (MS), and
- At least two other independent legal entities, each established either in a different MS or an Associated Country

Those eligible for funding are:
- EU Member States, including their outermost regions
- Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the MS
- Countries associated with Horizon Europe (AC)
- Low and middle-income countries
- Other countries, when announced in the call or exceptionally if their participation is essential
- Affiliated entities established in countries eligible for funding
- EU bodies
- International organisations

Application?

Call identifier: HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026
Call launch: 23 April 2026
Call deadline: 22 September 2026 at 17:00 CET
Call budget: €170.7 million

https://www.cbe.europa.eu/open-calls-proposals

Regulations?

For universities, RIA, IA and CSA are all funded for 100%. A minimal amount of in-kind contribution to operational activities (IKOP) from Bio-based Industries Consortium members is expected:
- RIA: 5%
- IA: 15%
- IA Flagships: 20%

More information?

Call 2026 Info day on 12 March 2026
https://www.cbe.europa.eu/events/cbe-ju-info-day-2026

CBE JU Work Programme 2026
https://www.cbe.europa.eu/system/files/2025-12/CBE-JU-AWP-2026_0.pdf

CBE JU Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda
https://www.cbe.europa.eu/strategic-research-and-innovation-agenda-sria

Call management rules and conditions
https://www.cbe.europa.eu/system/files/2025-04/3.2%20Call%20management%20rules%20and%20conditions%20-%20Marta%20Campos.pdf

Deadline intern

11.09.2026, 22.09.2026

Contact Hasselt University?

E-mail ward.ceunen@uhasselt.be

Tel. +3211268945