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 partnership is building on the success of its predecessor, the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU), while addressing the current challenges facing the industry. The new Call for proposals of CBE JU with a total budget of €215.5 million will be launched on 26 April 2023, with a Call Deadline for Submission on 20 September 2023 (17:00 CET).   Additionally, the CBE JU Info Day 2023 will be organised on 20 April 2023 in Brussels (physical presence only), allowing interested Organisations and individuals to gain insights into the upcoming Call for proposals 2023 and to expand their network. CBE JU 2023 Call topics Innovation actions – flagship (IA-flagship)

• Optimised and integrated wood-based value chains – €17 million
• Expansion and/or retro-fitting of biorefineries towards higher-value bio-based chemicals and intermediates – €17 million
• Bio-based packaging materials with improved properties: barrier, food contact, forming, printability, safety, recyclability/circularity-by-design – €17 million
• Valorisation of aquatic biomass waste and residues – €10 million

Innovation actions (IA)

• Small-scale biorefining in rural areas – €15 million
• Production of safe, sustainable, and efficient bio-based fertilisers to improve soil health and quality – €15 million
• Improve fermentation processes (including downstream purification) to final bio-based products – €15 million
• Recycling bio-based plastics increasing sorting and recycled content (upcycling) – €15 million
• Development of scalable, safe bio-based surfactants with an improved sustainability profile – €15 million
• Selective, sustainable production routes towards bio-based alternatives to fossil-based chemical building blocks – €15 million
• High performance, circular-by design, bio-based composites – €15 million

Research and innovation actions (RIA)

• Phyto-management; curing soil with industrial crops, utilising contaminated and saline land for industrial crop production – €10 million
• Optimised forest-based value chains for high-value applications and improved forest management – €10 million
• Robust and optimised industrial biotech and chemical/industrial biotech processes – €10 million
• Development of novel, high-performance bio-based polymers and co-polymers – €10 million
• Pre-normative research to develop standards for biodegradability of bio-based products in controlled and open environments – €5 million

Coordination and support actions (CSA)

• EU-wide network of pilot plants and testing facilities, improving SMEs and start-ups’ access to scale-up – €1.5 million
• Supporting the capacity of regions in environmental sustainability assessment for the bio-based sectors – €3 million

  CBE JU calls follow the rules and procedures of Horizon Europe, whereas the topics for submission will be published on the EU’s Funding & tender opportunities portal. For further information about the Call for Proposals 2023 and for the complete topic text you may check the Annual Work Programme 2023. The Horizon Online Manual provides more information about the different application steps. Please also check the How to apply section on the CBE JU website.