The Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) is a €2 billion partnership between the European Union and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) that funds projects advancing competitive circular bio-based industries in Europe.

CBE JU is operating under the rules of Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation programme, for the 2021-2031 period.

The CBE JU 2025 calls for project proposals are now open for submission. A total of €172 million will be dedicated to advancing competitive circular bio-based industries in Europe across 13 topics:

1. Urban-industrial symbiosis for bio-waste valorisation – This call supports the development and demonstration of full-scale biorefineries that convert urban bio-waste into high-value, safe-and-sustainable bio-based products, contributing to the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, Circular Economy Action Plan, and the Waste and Landfill Directives. The aim is to reduce landfilling and incineration, lower GHG emissions, and deliver economic and social benefits at regional and local levels.
2. Bio-based drop-ins/smart drop-in platform chemicals, via cost- effective, sustainable and resource-efficient conversion of biomass – This funding opportunity supports projects that advance large-scale, sustainable production of bio-based drop-in platform chemicals, i.e. chemical equivalents of fossil-based ones that can integrate smoothly into existing industrial processes.
3. Circular-by-design fibre-based packaging with improved properties – This call supports the scale-up and deployment of full-scale fibre-based packaging manufacturing as a sustainable alternative to fossil-based packaging, addressing pressing challenges related to material sustainability, environmental impact, and evolving regulations.
4. Retrofitting of (bio)refineries industrial plants towards higher-value bio-based products – The fund supports retrofitting existing industrial facilities into full-scale biorefineries focused on producing high-value bio-based products.
5. Sustainable macroalgae systems for innovative, added-value applications: cultivation and optimised production systems – This part of the program supports: scale up sustainable macroalgae (seaweed) cultivation and processing for the production of high-value bio-based products, while supporting environmental goals and coastal economies.
6. Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) bio-based solutions to replace hazardous conventional chemicals for textiles production – This topic suports the development and demonstration of SSbD bio-based alternatives to hazardous chemicals used in the textile industry, targeting improvements in sustainability, safety, and circualrity across the value chain. It aligns with EU policy objectives, including the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, Chemicals Stategy for Sustainability, and the Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles, while contributing to pollution reduction, including micro- and emerging pollutants, especiallu in waster systems.
7. Scaling-up nutritional proteins from alternative sources – This call targets the scale-up and demonstration of innovative processes for extracting and producing sustainably sourced alternative nutritional proteins for food applications. The aim is to improve food system resilience, circularity, and sustainability, reduce reliance on imported protein, and support consumer acceptance of alternative protein sources.
8. Cost-effective and robust continuous biotech bio-based processes – This call supports the transition from batch/fed-batch to continuous biotech processes for the sustainable production of bio-based chemicals, materials, and ingredients. The goal is to enhance productivity, cost-efficiency, and purity in line with market and application requirements.
9. SSbD bio-based polymers/copolymers unlocking new market applications – This call aims to scale up innovative, safe, and sustainable bio-based (co-) polymers that can compete with or outperform fossil-based alternatives in functionality, sustainability, and circularity. The goal is to unlock new applications and market sectors by demonstrating these materials at high technology readiness levels (TRL 6–7 for production, TRL 5+ for product validation).
10. Valorisation of untapped forest biomass – This call focuses on valorsing unused and underutilized forest biomass by developing new value chains, technologies, and business models that support the forest-based sector’s contributions to climate mitigation, biodiversity and rural development. The goal is to move beyond energy use of forest residues and explore innovative pathways to create bio-based materials, chemicals, and products with environmental, social, and economic benefits.
11. Bio-based and biodegradable delivery systems for fertilising products to reduce microplastics pollution & promote soil health – This call supports the development of scalable, bio-based, biodegradable delivery systems for fertilising products that are safe, sustainable, and effective alternatives to conventional polymer-coated fertilisers (PCFs), which contribute to microplastic pollution in soil and water.
12. Alternative biomanufacturing routes for natural and synthetic rubber – This call supports the development of sustainable, biomanufactured alternatives to natural and synthetic rubber, aiming to strengthen European strategic autonomy, meet environmental targets, and address the growing demand for rubber in various industries (automotive, healthcare, construction, etc.)
13. Develop and deploy new curricula and knowledge exchange practices relevant to bio-based systems – This call focuses on developing and implementing new education and training curricula to equip both students and professionals with the skills needed for the circular and sustainable bio-based economy. The initiative emphasizes collaboration between universities, industry, and research organizations, especially from widening countries, and aims to bridge knowledge gaps across sectors and regions, including rural and coastal/blue bioeconomy areas.

Eligibility: Applications are open to consortia of academic and industry partnerships in Europe and countries associated with the Horizon Europe program, plus low- and middle-income countries.

Maximum Award: The JU provides up to 60% of eligible costs  (except for non-profit entities, where 100% of eligible costs are covered).

Application Process: Applications must be submiited online via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Application Deadline:18 September 2025

Further information: Links to details and proposal submission portal for each call are provided on this page: https://www.cbe.europa.eu/open-calls-proposals

For more information, please contact
Ms. Panida Suwannatheerak
Ms. Mananchaya Pissaparn
Tel: 0 2470 9654
Email: researchfollowup@kmutt.ac.th