Unleashing the potential and advancing the impact of the digitalisation/Artificial Intelligence of the climate-neutral bio-based value chains

Closed

Code: 36811 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-09 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment (Cluster 6)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/05/2025 | End submission calls: 17/09/2025

The scope covers all relevant aspects of the contribution of AI/digital technology methodologies and tools that can offer high sustainability benefits (resource efficiency, cyclicality, climate neutrality, etc.) as well as enhance European industrial competitiveness (in particular in terms of improving the quality of organic products, strategic autonomy, resilience and the role of innovative SMEs).

Proposals should demonstrate the upgrading of current capacities, align them with parallel actions in AI and other digital technologies and tools (e.g. development of databases, predictive capabilities, EU level initiatives (e.g. EU AI law, biotechnology and bio-manufacturing initiative)) and incorporate a systematic assessment of risks and opportunities for the sector.

Boosting the transformation towards climate-neutral cities, the net-zero economy and open strategic autonomy through Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP)

Opened

Code: 36803 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-MISS-2026-04-PCP-CIT-01 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Missions | Start submission calls: 06/05/2025 | End submission calls: 20/01/2026

By closing the gap between supply and demand in a way that reinforces EU open strategic autonomy, PCPs can make a key contribution to enhancing the European Union’s economy and competitiveness. In order to master the green and digital transition and make our cities climate-neutral and liveable places, European public procurers need to lead by example by procuring more solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This topic therefore focuses on forward looking procurement of R&D to bring to the market new solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that can increase Europe’s resilience and preparedness to tackle the climate challenge.

On the road towards climate-neutral cities this topic addresses the lack and fragmentation of public demand for innovative solutions. Europe’s companies, in particular SMEs and Startups, are indispensable in delivering the required innovations. As past experience shows that pre-commercial procurement opens up the procurement market for startups and enables the public sector to address societal challenges more effectively, public procurers should make more strategic use of PCP.

Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) of policy and market-relevant product groups

Closed

Code: 36802 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-03 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment (Cluster 6)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/05/2025 | End submission calls: 17/09/2025

The Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) aims to stimulate the development of sustainable products, inside and outside the EU, contributing to the EU’s goal of climate neutrality by 2050 and halting the loss of biodiversity.

To achieve this, it introduces a Regulation on Sustainable Product Policy that broadens the scope of the Ecodesign Directive both in terms of products (covering a very wide range of products, beyond energy-related products) and in terms of energy-related products.

Support to the network of National Cancer Mission Hubs (NCMHs)

Closed

Code: 36797 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-MISS-2025-02-CANCER-06 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Missions | Start submission calls: 06/05/2025 | End submission calls: 16/09/2025

Building on the first phase of NCMHs, the Mission’s activities will be coordinated with relevant national, regional or local actors with a view to facilitate their integration and alignment with EU and national initiatives such as Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and national cancer strategies and/or national cancer control plans. The Network and NCMHs will be strengthened, including through expanding its capacities, outreach and type of activities the Network will carry out, while ensuring its sustainability.

In this regard the proposal should support the operation of the Network and activities carried out by it.

Improving ecodesign of products and development of testing methods for products prioritised under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation

Closed

Code: 36794 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-02 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment (Cluster 6)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/05/2025 | End submission calls: 17/09/2025

The Ecodesign of Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) sets requirements for products placed on the EU market to improve their environmental sustainability.

• First, the Commission prepares a working plan in which priority product groups are identified, based on the priority criteria set out in the text of the Regulation.
• Secondly, the Commission will develop targeted performance and information requirements, known as ‘eco-design requirements’, for the prioritised products.

Integrated and coordinated approaches for coral reefs and associated ecosystems (mangroves and seagrass beds) conservation, restoration, and climate mitigation and adaptation

Closed

Code: 36790 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-07 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment (Cluster 6)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/05/2025 | End submission calls: 17/09/2025

 Coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangrove forests cover less than 2% of the sea surface, but are home to at least 25% of known marine species and support up to 40% of the world’s fish species. However, these ecosystems have suffered significant degradation in recent decades due to anthropogenic pressures (pollution, overfishing, illegal practices, deforestation, etc.) and climate change (warming, acidification, rising sea levels, etc.).

Although they provide valuable ecosystem services, their management remains largely fragmented and usually focuses on each of them individually, without long-term monitoring. Where they coexist, the three ecosystems are ecologically linked and their joint protection can enhance the overall effectiveness of interventions.

However, integrated land-sea management is difficult due to gaps in knowledge, understanding of ecological connectivity, spatial data and the involvement of local communities (IPLCs). Currently, only 18% of the coastlines where these ecosystems interact are formally protected, and areas managed by local/indigenous communities are often not recorded, despite covering significant areas globally.

5th REINFORCING Open Call (Incubators Call) on “Responsible Digitalisation”

Closed

Code: 36784 | Identifier Code: REINFORCING | Programme name: 20613 | Start submission calls: 05/06/2025 | End submission calls: 05/08/2025

REINFORCING supports organisations and institutions in Europe to transition to a new paradigm where responsibility and openness drive research and innovation (R&I) processes.
This call is open to public and private organisations of all sizes, including startups and SMEs.

Assessing and modelling ecosystems’ dynamic processes to guide restoration activities and to improve models used for climate

Closed

Code: 36763 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-05 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment (Cluster 6)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/03/2025 | End submission calls: 17/09/2025

The EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 set the following targets for 2030: significant areas of degraded and carbon-rich ecosystems are restored; habitats and species show no deterioration in their trend and conservation status, and at least 30% of them achieve favourable conservation status or at least show a positive trend.

Proposals should either address on:

• Area A: main focus on terrestrial ecosystems
• Area B: main focus on marine ecosystems

Assessing and modelling socio-economic impacts of nature restoration

Closed

Code: 36761 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-06 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment (Cluster 6)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/05/2025 | End submission calls: 17/09/2025

The EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030 set the following targets for 2030: significant areas of degraded and carbon-rich ecosystems are restored; habitats and species do not show a deterioration in their trend and conservation status, and at least 30% of them achieve favourable conservation status or at least show a positive trend.

Demand-led innovation for civil security through Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP)

Closed

Code: 36758 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL3-2025-01-SSRI-06 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Civil security for society (Cluster 3) (2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 12/06/2025 | End submission calls: 12/11/2025

As past experience shows that pre-commercial procurement opens up the procurement market for startups and enables the public sector to address societal challenges more effectively, public procurers should make more strategic use of PCP. Applicants are invited to submit proposals for PCP action to acquire Research and Development (R&D) services and innovative civil security technology solutions.

Proposals should demonstrate interest from a broader community of potential buyers, beyond the direct beneficiaries, who share similar needs and are open to jointly adopting the solutions developed, provided they are proven mature and operationally viable. The proposals must include an analysis of the state of the art and market landscape, aligning research activities with identified needs and presenting a range of technical alternatives to address the challenge. Furthermore, to stimulate dialogue with the supply side, public procurers are required to organise proposals should demonstrate sustainability of the action beyond the life of the project.

Additional activities for the European Biodiversity Partnership: Biodiversa+

Closed

Code: 36753 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-01 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment (Cluster 6)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/05/2025 | End submission calls: 17/09/2025

The objective of this action is to continue to provide support to the European Biodiversity Partnership Biodiversa+, identified in the strategic plan “Horizon Europe” 2021-2024 and implemented under the previous themes HORIZON-CL6-2021-BIODIV-02-01 and HORIZON-CL6-2023-BIODIV-01-18, and, in particular, the funding of additional activities (which may also be undertaken by additional partners) in view of its envisaged scope and duration, and in accordance with Article 24(2) of Horizon Europe.

It is expected that the additional activities of the Partnership will contribute to achieving the objectives of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation and the European Climate Act, through the development of innovative solutions for ecosystem restoration that can maintain and enhance natural carbon stocks and through the further development of nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation measures.

Digital Europe Programme – Set-up and integration of Design Enablement Teams

Closed

Code: 36748 | Identifier Code: DIGITAL-JU-CHIPS-2025-CSA-DET | Programme name: 32499 | Start submission calls: 04/06/2025 | End submission calls: 30/07/2025

The design platform will focus on empowering emerging companies in the industry, providing them with access to an integrated chip design ecosystem, from early stages to final production.

Pilots of long-term climate impact forest monitoring sites: Linking stand-level information and remote sensing

Closed

Code: 36747 | Identifier Code: FORWARDS | Programme name: 20613 | Start submission calls: 19/06/2025 | End submission calls: 24/08/2025

FORWARDS is a Horizon Europe project that will prototype the ForestWard Observatory, a pan-European monitoring and evaluation tool that will help demonstrate the impact of climate change on forests and guide decision-making for practical forest management.

Strengthening taxonomic approaches for biodiversity

Closed

Code: 36741 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-03 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment (Cluster 6)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/05/2025 | End submission calls: 17/09/2025

R&I activities should:

• fill gaps in taxonomic expertise, including in the context of intra-species biodiversity (genetic diversity within and between populations) and habitats/ecosystems;
• establish, pilot and test novel taxonomic approaches on observing and quantifying biodiversity at all levels;
• develop strategies and roadmaps for systematic capacity building and transfer of taxonomic knowledge;
• compile a comprehensive open online catalogue of taxonomic and nomenclatural databases, and encourage the existing databases to align with common standards and FAIR principles, to merge where possible, and to link with or mirror each other. This catalogue should be designed to support the process of taxonomic identification, covering a wide range of databases from genetic information to species classification, and support a common European Taxonomy Initiative contributing to the Global Taxonomy Initiative;
• support development of tools to facilitate taxonomic training, such as reference collections, guidelines, standards and schemes for academic certification (e.g. within the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System ECTS);
• establish an EU network of taxonomy and genomics experts, from taxonomic facilities to universities, including an interconnected network of biodiversity genomics facilities;
• ensure representative coverage of biodiversity across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems, including lesser-known taxa and ecosystems and with regard to such taxa and ecosystems that act as climate change indicators, recognising the critical role that biodiversity and ecosystem services play in climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Reducing pollution from the food and drink industries

Closed

Code: 36738 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-07 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment (Cluster 6)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/05/2025 | End submission calls: 17/09/2025

 Food systems, on the one hand, are a source of pollution and, on the other, suffer the consequences of pollution. Moving towards zero-pollution food systems can therefore help to increase the resilience of food systems and the natural ecosystems on which they depend.

Contaminants accumulate in food, either through food contact with specific materials at different stages of the food supply chain, such as food processing plants, packaging, or in agriculture with contaminated soil, air and water.

Open Topic: Innovative solutions for the sustainable and circular transformation of SMEs

Closed

Code: 36737 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-01-two-stage | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment (Cluster 6)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 05/05/2025 | End submission calls: 04/09/2025

Under this open topic, proposals should address common but also new, upcoming, or unforeseen challenges to the green transition of SMEs through innovative, disruptive and sustainable solutions. Proposals should identify and analyse key barriers for the sustainable and circular transition of SMEs and develop and demonstrate innovative solutions.

European partnership: Forests and Forestry for a Sustainable Future

Closed

Code: 36732 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-15 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment (Cluster 6)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/05/2025 | End submission calls: 17/09/2025

As the main instrument for cooperation between public organisations from EU Member States and associated countries in forest-related fields , the Partnership will facilitate coordinated research and innovation actions on the diverse forestry challenges in Europe, involving a wide range of stakeholders, thus reducing the fragmentation of relevant R&D.

The Partnership should mobilise key partners and stakeholders, such as ministries responsible for research, forest and environment-related sectors, funding agencies, research organisations, research infrastructures, foresters, industry, NGOs, international networks, etc.

Τhis partnership will mobilise research and innovation to accelerate the transition to a sustainable forest bioeconomy to enhance forest sector value, biodiversity, and climate resilience.

Breeding for resilience: enhancing multi-stress tolerance in crops

Closed

Code: 36730 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-02-two-stage | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment (Cluster 6)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 05/05/2025 | End submission calls: 04/09/2025

Crop production faces significant challenges due to climate change and the need to adopt low-input practices, including efficient water use, to reduce the environmental impact while ensuring food security. Issues such as salinity, extreme weather conditions like droughts, waterlogging, high temperatures, and emerging patterns of pests and diseases severely impact crops, resulting in reduced productivity and yield losses. Crop responses to multiple stresses differ from their responses to single stresses. Therefore, attention should be given to enhancing crop tolerance to combinations of multiple abiotic and biotic stresses, thus better reflecting real-life agricultural conditions.

To address these challenges, it is crucial to evaluate local crop varieties, which are often better adapted to specific environmental conditions and stresses. Identifying local varieties with high plasticity enhances crop resilience and agro-biodiversity. Developing agro-ecological practices to improve stress tolerance will further support these efforts, promoting low-input practices and enhancing the overall adaptability of agricultural systems. Additionally, broad-spectrum strategies for improving stress tolerance in crops should be developed. Smart and future-proof breeding programmes need to systematically consider characteristics that enhance crop resilience and adaptation to these demands.

Harmonising and optimising composting plants performances in Europe

Closed

Code: 36729 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-12 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment (Cluster 6)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/05/2025 | End submission calls: 17/09/2025

The Waste Framework Directive allows for the collection of waste that meets the relevant standards for packaging that can be recovered through composting and biodegradation, together with bio-waste. For example, the collection of bio-waste with industrially compostable plastic bags is encouraged (Communication on the “EU Policy Framework for Bio-based, Biodegradable and Compostable Plastics” COM(2022). Harmonisation of the performances of industrial composting plants in the EU would help meeting the targets for bio-waste collection and the quality of resulting compost.

Novel circular business models to enable the just transition to a sustainable and circular economy

Closed

Code: 36725 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-01 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment (Cluster 6)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/05/2025 | End submission calls: 17/09/2025

The green transition and the move to a circular economy will require changes not only in the way materials are used and products are designed, but also in the way businesses operate and business models are shaped. The majority of current business models and the global economic and trading system are based on the linear and unsustainable use of materials and products.

This results in ever-increasing consumption, resource depletion, increased CO2 emissions and environmental degradation, as well as unwanted waste generation.

The transition to a sustainable, competitive and circular economy requires transformational changes in material use and corporate activities, with innovative business models capable of triggering sustainable consumption behaviours and market preferences.