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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

Core objective: To develop and demonstrate cost-effective, robust, sustainable, and large-scale production processes for bio-based drop-in (including smart drop-in) platform chemicals.
Target recipient type and size: The grant targets organizations involved in the bio-based industries, chemicals production, and related value chains, implying a mix of large enterprises, SMEs, research organizations, and universities capable of undertaking large-scale innovation actions.
MUST state if grant is SECTOR-SPECIFIC: This grant is SECTOR-SPECIFIC to the bio-based industry, chemicals, manufacturing, and related biotechnology sectors.
Geographic scope and any location requirements: The grant is open to applicants from EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries, as defined in Annex B of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, making its scope European.
Key filtering criteria for initial grant screening: Projects must focus on bio-based 'drop-in' chemicals that are analogues of fossil-based chemicals but not 'substances of very high concern' (SVHCs). They must demonstrate large-scale production reaching TRL 8 and integrate these chemicals into market-relevant final products at TRL 6 or higher. A strong emphasis on sustainability, resource efficiency, process safety, and the application of 'safe-and-sustainable-by-design' (SSbD) principles is essential. Involvement of a multi-actor consortium, including B2B end-users and feedstock providers, is also critical.
Grant frequency and program context: This is a recurring grant opportunity as part of the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) within the broader Horizon Europe framework. It is an Innovation Action (IA) aiming to bring technology closer to market.

Financial Structure

This grant provides funding as an Innovation Action (IA).
The estimated maximum funding per project is 20,000,000 EUR.
The estimated minimum funding per project is 20,000,000 EUR.
A total of one grant is expected for this specific topic.
Eligible and ineligible costs, financial reporting requirements, and audit requirements are detailed in Annex G of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, which is not provided in the prompt.
Co-financing requirements are standard for Horizon Europe Innovation Actions, implying that the grant will not cover 100% of costs for all types of beneficiaries (typically up to 70% for for-profit entities, 100% for non-profit/public bodies). Exact percentages are not specified in the provided text.

Eligibility Requirements

Organization Type & Structure

Eligible organization types are not explicitly defined, but 'Horizon JU Innovation Actions' typically include any legal entity such as companies (including SMEs and large enterprises), research organizations, universities, and other public or private bodies.
Projects must implement a Multi-Actor Approach (MAA), ensuring adequate involvement of key actors from across the sustainable circular bio-based system, specifically B2B end-users and feedstock providers. This implicitly requires a consortium or partnership structure.

Geographic Location

Applicants must be established in eligible countries as defined in Annex B of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. This includes EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries. The specific list of countries is not provided in the grant text.

Project Readiness (Technology Readiness Levels - TRL)

The proposed production processes for bio-based drop-in platform chemicals must reach an end TRL 8 (system complete and qualified).
The further conversion and integration of produced chemical(s) into market-relevant final product(s) must reach an end TRL 6 or higher (technology demonstrated in relevant environment).

Technical & Operational Capacity

Capacity to demonstrate cost-effective, robust, sustainable, large-scale production processes for chemicals.
Ability to integrate produced chemicals into market-relevant final product(s).
Capability to apply the safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) framework for assessing production processes and chosen final products.
Capacity to contribute recommendations that advance the application of the SSbD framework.
Compliance with regulatory frameworks relevant to the targeted platform chemical(s) and related impurities is required.

Financial & Legal Capacity

Applicants must satisfy financial and operational capacity requirements as outlined in Annex C of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Applicants must not be subject to exclusion criteria described in Annex C.

Application Process

Application Procedure

The application process is a single-stage submission.
To apply, access the Electronic Submission Service via the submission button next to the relevant action type on the Funding & Tenders Portal.
A new version of the Application Form (Part B) template (updated as of April 4, 2025) is available in the Submission System and must be used.
Proposals must adhere to page limits and layout as described in Part B of the Application Form and Annex A and E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
The submission session for this specific topic became available on April 3, 2025.
Existing draft proposals can be managed and accessed via the 'My Proposals' page within the 'My Area' section of the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Application Deadlines

The final application deadline for this call is September 18, 2025.

Required Documentation and Materials

Completed Application Form (Part B) following the specified template and layout.
Compliance with all general conditions and specific conditions detailed in section 2.2.3 of the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2025.
All necessary supporting materials required for evaluation, as typically outlined in the Application Form and relevant Annexes.

Support Availability

Online Manual: Provides guidance on proposal submission and grant management.
Horizon Europe Programme Guide: Offers detailed guidance on the structure, budget, and political priorities of Horizon Europe.
Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ: Answers frequently asked questions about submission, evaluation, and grant management.
Research Enquiry Service: For general inquiries about European research and EU Research Framework Programmes.
National Contact Points (NCPs): Offer guidance, practical information, and assistance for participation in Horizon Europe, available in EU, associated, and many non-EU/non-associated countries.
Enterprise Europe Network: Provides advice to businesses, particularly SMEs, including guidance on EU research funding.
IT Helpdesk: For technical issues with the Funding & Tenders Portal (e.g., login, access rights, submission technicalities).
European IPR Helpdesk: Assists with intellectual property issues.
CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk: Advise on standardisation aspects in project proposals.
The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment: Outlines principles and requirements for researchers, employers, and funders.
Partner Search: A tool to help find partner organisations for proposals.

Evaluation Criteria

Impact

Contribution to the implementation of key EU strategies: the EU Bioeconomy Strategy and its action plan, the EU Zero pollution ambition for a toxic-free environment (under the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and the Zero Pollution Action Plan), the EU Industrial strategy, and the co-implementation of the Transition Pathway for the chemicals industry.
Achievement of full-scale biorefinery and related value chain(s) for sustainable large-scale production of bio-based drop-in platform chemicals.
Ensuring availability of bio-based products that meet market and technical performance requirements, thereby facilitating market uptake of bio-based solutions.
Significant improvement in the sustainability, strategic autonomy, resilience, and competitiveness of the European chemical industry, with positive effects on downstream sectors.
Reduction of fossil feedstock dependence for chemicals production and minimisation of biomass import dependencies for bio-based industries.
Increased value for society, specifically in terms of direct and indirect employment at local and regional levels.

Excellence & Innovation

Demonstration of cost-effective, robust, sustainable, large-scale production processes for obtaining bio-based drop-in (including smart drop-in) platform chemicals at end TRL 8.
Consideration of both upstream and downstream process aspects.
The bio-based drop-in platform chemicals must be analogues of fossil-based chemicals that are not substances of very high concern (SVHCs).
Focus on resource efficiency, minimisation of the E-factor (process waste), and process safety aspects.
Inclusion of cascading valorisation of secondary biomass and residual streams.
Demonstration of the further conversion and integration of produced chemical(s) into market-relevant final product(s) (reaching an end TRL 6 or higher).

Quality and Efficiency of the Implementation

Adequacy of the Multi-Actor Approach (MAA), ensuring involvement of key actors most relevant for achieving project objectives from across the sustainable circular bio-based system, including B2B end-users and feedstock providers.
Inclusion of a task to apply the safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) framework developed by the European Commission for the assessment of the platform chemicals’ production process and derived final products.
Contribution with and development of recommendations that can advance the application of the SSbD framework, including defining thresholds, improving assessment methodologies, identifying data gaps (especially safety, environmental, and socio-economic factors), and prioritising data collection.
Addressing compliance with regulatory frameworks, considering the targeted platform chemical(s) and related impurities' type and concentration.
Ensuring complementarities with past and ongoing R&I projects addressing similar challenges, including projects funded under Horizon 2020/Horizon Europe (Cluster 6 and Cluster 4) and BBI JU/CBE JU projects.
Specific award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance

Projects must ensure compliance with regulatory frameworks specific to the targeted platform chemical(s) and any related impurities' type and concentration.
The grant implies the need for obtaining all required permits and authorizations pertinent to the proposed large-scale production processes and products.

Ethical & Safety Standards

A mandatory task is to apply the safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) framework developed by the European Commission. This framework must be used for assessing both the platform chemicals' production process and the chosen final products.
Projects are expected to contribute with and develop recommendations that can advance the application of the SSbD framework. This includes providing thresholds, supporting criteria definition, improving SSbD methodologies, identifying data gaps (especially safety, environmental, and socio-economic factors), and prioritising data collection.
The bio-based drop-in platform chemicals must be analogues of fossil-based chemicals that are not substances of very high concern (SVHCs).

Intellectual Property (IP)

Intellectual property policies are governed by the Horizon Europe Model Grant Agreement (MGA) and the Annotated Model Grant Agreement (AGA), which are referenced as additional documents but not provided in full.

Collaboration & Synergies

Projects must demonstrate complementarities with past and ongoing R&I projects addressing similar challenges. This includes projects funded under Horizon 2020/Horizon Europe (Cluster 6 and Cluster 4) and BBI JU/CBE JU projects (e.g., AFTERBIOCHEM, URBIOFIN, BIOFOREVER, OPTISOCHEM, PROMOFER).
A Multi-Actor Approach (MAA) is required, emphasizing the adequate involvement of key actors from across the sustainable circular bio-based system, particularly B2B end-users and feedstock providers.

Risk Management

Projects must specifically target process safety aspects throughout the development and demonstration of large-scale production processes.
While not explicitly detailed, general risk management expectations are standard for Horizon Europe Innovation Actions, covering technical, financial, and operational risks.

Grant Details