Circular economy and bioeconomy sectors (Horizon Europe)

Under Destination “Circular economy and bioeconomy sectors’, R&I in 2025 provides scientific and technological support to the European Green Deal, in line with the new
Commission priority on “A new plan for Europe’s sustainable prosperity and competitiveness”.

Actions focus on the implementation of a wide range of EU initiatives such as the circular economy action plan and the upcoming Circular Economy Act, the EU bioeconomy strategy
and its upcoming update, the forest strategy for 2030, and the Common Agriculture Policy. In addition, this Destination contributes to the industrial strategy, the chemicals strategy for sustainability, the European Climate Law, the SME strategy, the communication on safe and sustainable by design framework, the sustainable blue economy and its offshoot initiatives, the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030, the EU Nature Restoration Regulation, the proposals for an EU forest monitoring regulation and a directive on EU soil monitoring and resilience.

The Destination also upholds the upcoming working plan for the implementation of Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation and research needs identified in the Global Resources Outlook 2024. In addition, it supports the EU social economy action plan and the Council Recommendation on developing social economy framework conditions which includes social economy entities in the circular economy.

Calls for 2025, one stage:

Submission: 17.09.2025; Budget: 140 Mio. €

HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-01: Novel circular business models to enable the just transition to a sustainable and circular economy
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-02: Improving ecodesign of products and development of testing methods for products prioritised under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-03: Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) of policy and market-relevant product groups
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-04: Development and testing of Extended Producer Responsibility schemes (EPR) within the priority Circular Economy Action Plan value chains
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-05: Consumption patterns and environmental awareness as enablers of transition to circular economy
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-06: Indicators for the transition to sustainable and circular economy
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-07: Demonstration, deployment and upscaling of circular systemic solutions in cities and regions (Circular Cities and Regions Initiative)
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-08: Bioprospecting and optimized production of the terrestrial natural products: new opportunities for bio-based sectors
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-09: Unleashing the potential and advancing the impact of the digitalization/Artificial Intelligence of the climate-neutral bio-based value chains
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-10: Support to the EU Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative: scoping action
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-11: Demonstration of reduced energy use and optimised flexible energy supply for industrial bio-based systems
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-12: Harmonizing and optimising composting plants performances in Europe
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-13: Reconstructing areas affected by conflicts: the role of the bio-based solutions
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-14: Bioprospecting and optimised production of marine/aquatic natural products in the omics & artificial intelligence era
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-15: European partnership: Forests and Forestry for a Sustainable Future