Bioeconomy policy support hub for Member States, regions and sectors

Opened

Programme Category

EU Competitive Programmes

Programme Name

Horizon Europe (2021-2027)

Programme Description

Horizon Europe is the European Union (EU) funding programme for the period 2021 – 2027, which targets the sectors of research and innovation. The programme’s budget is around € 95.5 billion, of which € 5.4 billion is from NextGenerationEU to stimulate recovery and strengthen the EU’s resilience in the future, and € 4.5 billion is additional aid.

Programme Details

Identifier Code

HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-06

Call

Bioeconomy policy support hub for Member States, regions and sectors

Summary

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

  • most Member States and regions have established the bioeconomy as an important policy field. Effective bioeconomy policies and strategies are developed and implemented with specific impact targets in mind;
  • policies and action plans and roadmaps are coordinated across parts of government (e.g. Ministries) and across the quadruple helix (government, sectors, research & innovation, society) to take into account the cross-sectoral and place-based character of the bioeconomy, and the need for a whole of government approach. Platforms are established to facilitate dialogue, experimentation, learning and coordination;
  • all actors of the quadruple helix (e.g. policy makers, NGOs, economic sectors) are aware of the bioeconomy, as well as of the potential and challenges that are specific for their perspective and context. The bioeconomy concept, its principles and its solutions and innovations are mainstreamed by sectors (e.g. food, textiles, chemicals, energy, agriculture, forestry).

Detailed Call Description

Proposals should:

  • establish a European Bioeconomy Policy Support Hub to provide innovative approaches, hands-on support, learning and advise to Member States and regions on plans, roadmaps, policies and collaborations to deploy their bioeconomies;
  • provide innovative tools to assess, on an ongoing basis, the stage of development of bioeconomy policies and strategies in Member States and regions, and to assess the quality of their implementation;
  • provide relevant support, new approaches and recommendations to improve and/or take next steps. Take into account the learnings of the Report “Deploying the bioeconomy in the EU” (2021, European Commission), as well as the results of relevant Horizon Europe projects (e.g. ShapingBio, CEE2ACT, SCALE-UP);
  • provide an overview of the uptake of new bioeconomy solutions based on biomass and biological resources (including ecosystems) in European value chains and sectors (including service sectors);
  • provide innovative approaches, hands-on support, learning and advise to Member States and regions to deploy their bioeconomies. This can include activities that aim help to:
    • inform and engage political leadership on the potential of the bioeconomy;
    • establish or improve platforms facilitate policy dialogue, experimentation, learning and coordination (e.g. policy labs);
    • map the bioeconomy’s potential across sectors and society at regional and Member State level, and increase awareness;
    • advance skills of policy makers, and learn from best practices in bioeconomy policy and implementation;
    • set-up or improve local bioeconomy councils, i.e. platforms for dialogue between government, sectors, academia and society (quadruple helix) on bioeconomy policies, plans, roadmaps and their implementation;
    • put in place collaborations that facilitate the scaling-up of bioeconomy solutions in value chains and sectors that are relevant for the Member State or region;
    • monitor the bioeconomy as well as the change process it brings;
  • ensure innovative approaches, hands-on support, learning and advise that is both generic (targeting all Member States and regions; or groups of Member States and regions) and tailormade (in response to questions from specific Member States and regions that express clear need and commitment to collaborate);
  • carry out activities to maximize the geographical spread of its support and advice;
  • enable structural dialogue with European Commission services, and collaborate with relevant initiatives such as the Circular Bio-based Europe (CBE) Joint Undertaking, European University Alliances, the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform or the BIOEAST initiative
  • collaborate with such partners on a roadmap to ensure that key results, tools and approaches can be sustained after the end of the project;
  • collaborate with relevant Horizon Europe projects (e.g. ShapingBio) and/or build on their results.

The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as member of the consortium selected for funding since results could contribute to the Knowledge Centre for Bioeconomy’s monitoring of bioeconomy policy developments in EU countries and regions.

Call Total Budget

€3.000.000

Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan

100%

Expected EU contribution per project: €3.00 million

Thematic Categories

  • Agriculture - Farming - Forestry
  • Agriculture - Food
  • Education and training
  • Environment and Climate Change
  • Other Services
  • Research, Technological Development and Innovation
  • Rural development
  • Small-Medium Enterprises and Competitiveness

Eligibility for Participation

  • Associations
  • Businesses
  • Central Government
  • Chambers
  • Educational Institutions
  • Legal Entities
  • Local Authorities
  • NGOs
  • Non Profit Organisations
  • Other Beneficiaries
  • Private Bodies
  • Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
  • Services Providers
  • Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

Eligibility For Participation Notes

The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as member of the consortium selected for funding as a beneficiary with zero funding, or as an associated partner. The JRC will not participate in the preparation and submission of the proposal.

A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Call Opening Date

17/04/2026

Call Closing Date

17/09/2026

National Contact Point(s)

Research and Innovation Foundation

29a Andrea Michalakopoulou, 1075 Nicosia,
P.B. 23422, 1683 Nicosia
Telephone: +357 22205000
Fax: +357 22205001
Emailsupport@research.org.cy
Website: https://www.research.org.cy/en/

Contact Person:
Marcia Trillidou
Scientific Officer A’
Email: trillidou@research.org.cy