HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026

Home Funding Calls for proposals Bio-based additives as alternatives to unlock and increase recyclability and/or biodegradability Bio-based additives as alternatives to unlock and increase recyclability and/or biodegradability HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IA-02 Topic Call for proposal Internal navigation General information Topic description Topic updates Conditions and documents Budget overview Partner search announcements Start submission Topic Q&As Get support General information Programme Horizon Europe (HORIZON) Call HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026 (HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026) Type of action HORIZON-JU-IA HORIZON JU Innovation Actions Type of MGA HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG] Open For Submission Deadline model single-stage Opening date 23 April 2026 Deadline date 22 September 2026 17:00:00 Brussels time Topic description Expected Outcome: Successful proposals will contribute to the implementation of the Zero Pollution Action Plan, the Circular Economy Action Plan, the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and the Chemical Industry Action Plan. They will provide solutions in line with the objectives of the EU legislation on waste but also the Horizon Europe Mission "Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030" in particular to Objective 2: "Prevent and eliminate pollution of our oceans, Seas and waters” as well as the Horizon Europe Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe”, in particular objectives “Reduce soil pollution and enhance restoration”. Projects results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes: Wider availability of bio-based additives targeting high functional properties, stability and compatibility with polymers/matrices. Contribution to improved circularity of end products in relevant market sectors. Potential replicability into other industrial sectors to widen market opportunity. Reduction or avoidance of environmental impacts related to life cycle of additives and additive-containing materials and/or products. Scope: While additives are often necessary to confer specific properties to materials and/or products, their presence can hinder their circular EoL (including – depending on the application – recycling and/or biodegradation). Risks upon recycling and biodegradation encompass the release into the environment of harmful substances, e.g., release of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), toxic metals, microplastics. Proposals under this topic should: Demonstrate (at least at TRL 6) innovative processes for the synthesis of bio-based SSbD additives that: Enable a circular EoL for materials and/or products that are currently not recyclable and/or not biodegradable, or Improve circularity of materials and/or products, e.g., by requiring resources/energy efficient and safe conditions for recycling or facilitating biodegradation. In the context of this topic, circular EoL includes recycling and/or biodegradation. Justify the choice of the proposed solution(s) in addressing existing bottlenecks in the circular EoL of targeted materials and/or products including where embedded additives play a fundamental role in hindering circularity. Provide alternative solutions that prevent the release of harmful chemicals during the product life cycle (including from products produced from recyclates) of materials and/or products, while enabling the relevant EoL options. Application of the demonstrated bio-based additives could be relevant for bio-based, partly bio-based or non-bio-based end products. Demonstrate (at least at TRL 6) the compatibility and processability of SSbD bio-based additives within the formulation/manufacturing of materials and/or products. Validate the technical performances of materials/products incorporating the novel bio-based additive(s) and proving to fulfil market requirements for selected application sector(s). Target at least two distinct market sectors in cooperation with end-users. If targeting biodegradability of end-products, assess that the additives, as well as the end-product, biodegrade safely in different environments (soil and water) according to existing EU/International standards, methods and protocols. If targeting recyclability as the EoL, test and validate it, including assessing the effect of the additives on the waste management system (encompassing sorting, separation and recycling). Any recycling route is in scope: mechanical, chemical, organic, enzymatic (including their possible combination). 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 2026[1], proposals under this topic should: As part of the multi-actor approach (MAA) approach, involve waste management, product manufacturers, brand owners and consumers, when applicable, starting from the early stages to assess market acceptance and incorporate insights into process/product development. Include a task to apply the SSbD framework, developed by the European Commission for the assessment of targeted chemicals/materials and derived bio-based product(s). For more information on the SSbD framework and criteria, refer to Safe and sustainable by design. Ensure complementarities with past and ongoing R&I projects addressing similar challenges, including projects funded under Horizon 2020/Horizon Europe (under Cluster 6 and other Clusters of Horizon Europe) and BBI JU/CBE JU projects. [1] https://www.cbe.europa.eu/reference-documents Show more Topic updates 07 September 2026 The guidance part of the ‘Technical description (Part B)’ template incorrectly lists two options for Table 3.1h ‘Purchase costs’ items. The empty part of the template contains the correct option, which is to describe all purchase cost types for participants where those costs exceed 15% of the personnel costs: travel and subsistence, equipment and other goods, works and services. 23 April 2026 The submission session is now available for: HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-CSA-01, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IAFlag-03, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IA-03, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-RIA-03, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IA-04, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IA-02, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IAFlag-02, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-RIA-01, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-RIA-02, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IA-05, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IA-01, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IAFlag-01, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IAFlag-04 Show more Topic conditions and documents General conditions 1. Admissibility conditions: Proposal page limit and layout described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. 2. Eligible countries described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. 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. 3. Other Eligibility Conditions described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. 4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes. 5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. 5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. 5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes. 6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific conditions described in section 2.2.3 Calls for proposals in the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026 Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA): Application form templates Please use the application form that you will find in the Submission System. Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA) Guidance HE Programme Guide Model Grant Agreements (MGA) HE MGA Call-specific instructions CBE JU Call for proposals 2026 Additional documents: HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes HE Framework Programme and Rules for Participation Regulation 2021/695 HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764 EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509 Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement Show more Budget overview Topic Budget year : 2026 Stages Opening date Deadline Contributions Indicative number of grants HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IAFlag-03 - HORIZON-JU-IA HORIZON JU Innovation Actions HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IA-03 - HORIZON-JU-IA HORIZON JU Innovation Actions HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-RIA-03 - HORIZON-JU-RIA HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IA-04 - HORIZON-JU-IA HORIZON JU Innovation Actions HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IA-02 - HORIZON-JU-IA HORIZON JU Innovation Actions HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IAFlag-02 - HORIZON-JU-IA HORIZON JU Innovation Actions HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-RIA-01 - HORIZON-JU-RIA HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-RIA-02 - HORIZON-JU-RIA HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-CSA-01 - HORIZON-JU-CSA HORIZON JU Coordination and Support Actions HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IA-05 - HORIZON-JU-IA HORIZON JU Innovation Actions HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IA-01 - HORIZON-JU-IA HORIZON JU Innovation Actions HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IAFlag-01 - HORIZON-JU-IA HORIZON JU Innovation Actions HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IAFlag-04 - HORIZON-JU-IA HORIZON JU Innovation Actions 170 760 699,00 € Single-stage 23 April 2026 22 September 2026 around 20 000 000,00 € around 7 000 000,00 € around 3 250 000,00 € around 7 000 000,00 € around 7 000 000,00 € around 20 000 000,00 € around 3 250 000,00 € around 3 250 000,00 € around 1 200 000,00 € around 7 000 000,00 € around 7 000 000,00 € around 20 000 000,00 € around 20 000 000,00 € 1 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 2 1 1 Items per page: 10 50 100 Showing 1–1 of 1 Partner search announcements 73 Searches of partners to collaborate on this topic View / Edit LEARs, Account Administrators or self-registrants can publish partner requests for open and forthcoming topics after logging into this Portal, as well as any user having an active public Person profile. Start submission Need help? To access the Electronic Submission Service, please click on the submission-button next to the type of action and the type of model grant agreement that corresponds to your proposal. You will then be asked to confirm your choice, as it cannot be changed in the submission system. Upon confirmation, you will be linked to the correct entry point. To access existing draft proposals for this topic, please login to the Funding & Tenders Portal and select the My Proposals page of the My Area section. Please select the type of your submission: HORIZON JU Innovation Actions [HORIZON-JU-IA], HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG] Start submission Topic Q&As0 item(s) found General FAQ Get support Please read carefully all provisions below before the preparation of your application. Online Manual is your guide on the procedures from proposal submission to managing your grant. 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