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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

This grant aims to develop, test, and demonstrate innovative solutions for the large-scale implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes within key Circular Economy Action Plan value chains. It seeks to improve the circularity of selected product value chains and enhance waste management efficiency. - Single, clear statement: Develop and test Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for specific product value chains to boost circularity and waste management efficiency within the EU's Circular Economy Action Plan. - Target recipient type and size: The grant targets a wide range of organizations including producers, producer organizations, local authorities, waste management operators, SMEs, economic operators, consumer organizations, researchers, and NGOs. - SECTOR-SPECIFIC - Geographic scope: Projects must focus on implementation within the EU and Associated Countries, including cross-border cooperation. - Key filtering criteria: Focus on EPR schemes for construction products, ICT products, furniture, mattresses, and carpets. Requires practical, large-scale implementation and innovative circular business models. - Grant frequency and program context: This is part of the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2025, specifically under Cluster 6, contributing to the 'Circular economy and bioeconomy sectors' destination.

Financial Structure

Budget range for this specific topic: The total budget for this topic is 10,000,000.0 EUR.
Minimum grant amount per project: 5,000,000.0 EUR.
Maximum grant amount per project: 5,000,000.0 EUR.
Expected number of grants: 2.
Currency: EUR.
Funding type: HORIZON Innovation Actions (IA). Specific funding rates for Horizon Europe Innovation Actions typically cover 70% of eligible costs for for-profit organizations and 100% for non-profit organizations, as per Horizon Europe general rules (though not explicitly stated in this topic's direct description).
Co-financing requirements: Not explicitly detailed, but implied by the typical Horizon Europe funding model where full costs are not always covered for all entity types.
Eligible and ineligible costs: Refer to Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes for details on the legal and financial setup of grants.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Eligibility

Eligible organization types: Industry members, local authorities, waste management operators, SMEs, economic operators, producer responsible organizations (PROs), consumer organizations, researchers, and NGOs.
Consortium requirements: Projects should bring together all relevant stakeholders active in the selected product value chains. This implies a consortium is required.
Location: Participants must be from EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries may also be eligible if they have specific funding arrangements.
Financial and operational capacity: Must meet the requirements described in Annex C of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Legal status: The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as a member of the consortium.

Application Process

Application deadline: 2025-09-17 00:00:00+0000.
Submission model: Single-stage.
Submission session availability: The submission session opened on 2025-05-14.
Submission procedure: Access via the electronic submission service on the Funding & Tenders Portal. Applicants must select the correct type of action and model grant agreement (HORIZON Innovation Actions, HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based).

Required Documentation and Materials

Proposal page limit and layout: Described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, and Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
Application form templates: Standard application form (HE RIA, IA) is specific to this call.
Evaluation form templates: Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA) will be used with necessary adaptations.

Support and Guidance

Guidance: HE Programme Guide, Model Grant Agreements (MGA), Call-specific instructions, Additional documents (Work Programme 2025 parts), EU Financial Regulation, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, Annotated Model Grant Agreement, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Terms and Conditions, Privacy Statement.
Application assistance: Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network, IT Helpdesk, European IPR Helpdesk, CEN-CENELEC and ETSI Research Helpdesk, European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct.
Partner Search: Availability of a partner search tool.

Evaluation Criteria

Award Criteria

Proposals are evaluated based on award criteria, scoring, and thresholds detailed in Annex D of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

Specific Focus Areas for Scoring

Innovation and Scalability: Demonstrated innovative solutions for large-scale uptake and implementation of EPR schemes, applicable across the EU and Associated Countries, including cross-border cooperation.
Knowledge Improvement: Proposals should improve knowledge among economic operators (including SMEs) and consumers regarding EPR schemes and 'eco-modulation' of EPR fees, and how these contribute to circularity, resource minimization, GHG reduction, pollution prevention, and biodiversity protection.
Functional Optimization: Contribution to the optimal functioning and increased uptake of EPR schemes in priority product value chains: construction products, ICT products, furniture, mattresses, and carpets.
Business Models: Development and testing of novel circular business models and solutions linked to EPR schemes for the specified product value chains, supported by ecodesign principles.
Cost-Benefit Assessment: Assessment of the economic, environmental, and social cost-benefits of EPR scheme implementation for relevant stakeholders (consumers, producers, SMEs).
Digital Technologies: Development and testing of dedicated digital technologies (e.g., digital product passport, tracking applications) to collect evidence, facilitate producer registration, and information exchange between national EPR schemes.
Policy Recommendations: Provision of policy recommendations for EPR scheme elements that incentivize waste prevention/minimization (ecodesign, reuse, repair, recycling) and facilitate cross-border cooperation.
Global Perspective: Consideration of the global perspective within national EPR schemes, especially for value chains established globally and producers outside the EU. This includes online platforms and free-riding economic operators.
Stakeholder Engagement: Projects must involve all relevant stakeholders (industry, local authorities, waste management, SMEs, PROs, consumer organizations, researchers, NGOs).
SSH Contribution: Effective contribution of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines (namely economics and sociology), involvement of SSH experts and institutions, and inclusion of relevant SSH expertise to enhance societal impact.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance

Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR): Projects must contribute to the implementation of the ESPR. Solutions should align with its principles of durability, reliability, reusability, upgradability, reparability, recyclability, recycled content, and carbon/environmental footprint reduction.
Circular Economy Action Plan and Act: Initiatives must align with the 2020 Circular Economy Action Plan and the upcoming Circular Economy Act.
Waste Framework Directive: Contributions expected towards its implementation.

Ethical Standards and Cross-Cutting Themes

SSH Disciplines: Requires effective contribution from Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines, namely economics and sociology. Involvement of SSH experts, institutions, and expertise is mandatory to enhance societal impact.
Inclusivity: R&I fostering circular economy impacting or involving civil society will consider the participation of disadvantaged groups based on gender and other social categories.
Digital Agenda/AI: Encourages the use of dedicated digital technologies like Digital Product Passports and tracking applications.

Unique Aspects and Collaboration

JRC Involvement: The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may provide expertise and foster coordination with ongoing activities, and potentially participate in Scientific Advisory Boards of projects.
International Cooperation: International cooperation is encouraged to maximize impacts.
Synergies: Projects should ensure synergies with Cluster 4 (Digital, Industry and Space), Cluster 5 (Climate, Energy and Mobility), the 'Circular Bio-based Europe' (CBE Joint Undertaking) partnership, EU partnership for a climate neutral, sustainable and productive blue economy, and the EU mission 'Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030', as well as the Soil mission. Synergies with the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI) and the New European Bauhaus (NEB) Facility are also encouraged.
Policy Recommendations: Proposals should include recommendations for policy, particularly concerning cross-border cooperation and addressing free-riding economic operators from online sales and global value chains.

Grant Details