Biotech routes for valorisation of residual biomass

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Code: 40509 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IA-01 | Programme name: 23015 | Start submission calls: 23/04/2026 | End submission calls: 22/09/2026

Diversifying biomass feedstock resources for bio-based products is key to contribute to resilience and strategic autonomy of bio-based operations. Industrial biotechnologies have showcased that they can play a key role to address residual biomass into valuable bio-based products.

However, scaling up from research to demo scale requires addressing systemic and technical challenges. This entails the integration of adequate pretreatment and conversion processes, tailored to the targeted residual biomass and its composition variability, in order to achieve high yield, titre and selectivity.

At the same time, it requires that these processes are scalable and sustainable. Moreover, effective logistics are needed to mobilise the residual biomass, requiring cooperation with primary producers, waste management operators and other biomass providers.

High-performance, circular-by-design, bio-based thermosets

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Code: 40506 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IA-04 | Programme name: 23015 | Start submission calls: 23/04/2026 | End submission calls: 22/09/2026

Bio-based thermosets have a proven capability to achieve challenging technical performances for high demanding applications including transport, energy, electronics, among others. However, due to their cross-linking nature, the recycling of thermoset materials (including composites) is more challenging without compromising the technical performances. Thus, eco-designing bio-based thermoset materials to be both circular and high-performing remains a significant challenge in scaling-up towards competitiveness and higher sustainability.

Some of the key challenges to address for bio-based thermosets include processability during manufacturing (including aspects of thermal stability), technical performance (e.g., mechanical properties, fire resistance, corrosion resistance, durability) of the end-product along its life cycle, durability, EoL and circularity, including recycling, re-using or upcycling solutions.

Diversification of nutritional food ingredient sources for increased EU resilience and strategic autonomy

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Code: 40503 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IAFlag-04 | Programme name: 23015 | Start submission calls: 23/04/2026 | End submission calls: 22/09/2026

Human nutrition is a key area where the bio-based industries can play an important role in addressing the present societal and climate challenges.

Considerable attention is given to the utilisation of alternative sources of proteins, fibres and oils/fats, due to the increasing world population and the pressure on finite natural resources. Many sources for food ingredients, alternative to agricultural crops, exist and have been successfully piloted across the EU. However, efforts are needed to scale up sustainable processes to achieve adequate or even improved nutritional properties, ensure safety and consumers/end users acceptance, while achieving cost competitiveness.

SSbD bio-based solutions for home and/or personal care

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Code: 40500 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IAFlag-03 | Programme name: 23015 | Start submission calls: 23/04/2026 | End submission calls: 22/09/2026

The home and personal care sector, including fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and cosmetics, is a key industry where sustainability and performance challenges and demands are high. SSbD and competitive bio-based solutions are needed, for instance, for solvents, surfactants, preservatives, antimicrobial and antifungals agents, disinfectants, film forming agents, emulsifiers, emollients, exfoliants and abrasives, stabilisers, polymers and thickeners, conditioning agents, active ingredients, and other functional compounds.

SSbD bio-based alternatives for fertilising and/or crop protection products

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Code: 40497 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IAFlag-02 | Programme name: 23015 | Start submission calls: 23/04/2026 | End submission calls: 22/09/2026

FAO estimates that up to 40% of food crops are lost due to plant pests and diseases globally every year.

Chemical synthetic products are conventionally used to protect crops and other plants from pests and diseases. In parallel, the EU is largely dependent on imports of both mineral and chemical fertilisers to grow crops.

In both cases, over-use of synthetic/mineral products also poses concern for soil health and food quality. Moreover, the unequal distribution and depletion of non-renewable sources risks disrupting supply chains, particularly during energy crises.

Develop breakthrough and sustainable bio-based textile fibres

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Code: 40494 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-RIA-03 | Programme name: 23015 | Start submission calls: 23/04/2026 | End submission calls: 22/09/2026

Fossil-based synthetic textile fibre production has grown significantly, reaching 67% of the global market in 2023.

Among bio-based fibres, cotton plays a prominent role as it is the second most produced fibre at global level; however, it bears serious environmental concerns due to its massive land use and water consumption; moreover, the EU holds a minor share of the global cotton production (around 2%) and it is expected to remain a net importer in the future.

Novel sustainable sources of natural fibres require significant improvements in some steps of textile production such as retting/degumming, spinning, modification and treatment.

Man-made (synthetic and semi-synthetic) bio-based fibres are also slightly increasing their current market share, however there is a need to improve their technical performances to meet the requirements of final textile applications.

Boosting biorefinery competitiveness through biotech

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Code: 40491 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IAFlag-01 | Programme name: 23015 | Start submission calls: 23/04/2026 | End submission calls: 22/09/2026

Biorefineries integrating biotechnologies, underpinned by sustainably sourced bio-based feedstock, have a huge potential to transform the EU manufacturing landscape, spurring socio-economic growth, fostering job creation and contributing to defossilisation of the EU economy.

Targeted innovative capabilities for the resilience of critical entities to natural and human-induced disasters, including hybrid scenarios

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Code: 40488 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-INFRA-03 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Civil security for society (Cluster 3) (2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/05/2026 | End submission calls: 05/11/2026

Recent compound and cascading disasters have demonstrated the urgent need to reinforce the resilience of critical entities against a wide spectrum of hazards, including both human-induced incidents, natural events such as floods, wildfires, earthquakes, and storms, and natural hazard triggered technological (NaTech) accidents, including hybrid scenarios.

The vulnerability of key infrastructures is exacerbated by their growing interdependencies and the systemic propagation of risks across sectors and borders. In this context, ensuring the monitoring, protection and continuity of essential services has become fundamental to preserving and enhancing societal resilience.

Public procurement of innovation for security

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Code: 40485 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-SSRI-03 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Civil security for society (Cluster 3) (2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/05/2026 | End submission calls: 05/11/2026

This Public Procurement of Innovative Solutions (PPI) initiative aims to advance the adoption of innovative civil security solutions. The focus is on solutions that have been partially demonstrated on a small scale and are nearly or already available in small quantities but have not yet been widely adopted or produced at scale. These solutions should demonstrate a clear market potential and be new to the procurers, their market segment, or the internal EU market, and must be relevant to procurers across EU Member States and/or Associated Countries.

Security challenges of the green transition in urban und peri urban areas

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Code: 40482 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-INFRA-02 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Civil security for society (Cluster 3) (2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/05/2026 | End submission calls: 05/11/2026

Climate change and environmental degradation are an existential threat to the world, and the green transition is a critical component of the EU’s strategy to reduce and mitigate their impacts, as well as to contribute to the European competitiveness. This approach is also part of the effort to transform Europe into a modern, resource-efficient, resilient and competitive economy.

However, rapid deployment of new and emerging technologies, such as, but not limited to: green and grid-interactive roofs and walls, solar power installations, electric vehicle charging stations, energy storages, smart sensors and surveillance systems, green transportation systems, nature-based or other sustainable or reused construction materials, or specific infrastructure solutions may create security risks through new interdependencies including legacy infrastructure, the accumulation of deployed solutions, or otherwise create new potential risks and hazards of unknown scale and origin.

Improving capabilities of law enforcement to counter climate-related challenges

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Code: 40479 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-FCT-01 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Civil security for society (Cluster 3) (2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/05/2026 | End submission calls: 05/11/2026

Global climate change is a megatrend expected to affect our societies over the next decade. As stated in “Germany: National interdisciplinary climate risk assessment”, “We are already living in the climate crisis.

This brings substantial security risks at global and national levels. (…) Anyone thinking about security needs to think about climate as well”.

Tools and processes to support stress tests of critical infrastructure

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Code: 40476 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL3-2026-01-INFRA-01 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Civil security for society (Cluster 3) (2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/05/2026 | End submission calls: 05/11/2026

The resilience of critical entities is of paramount importance as disruptions to these systems can have significant consequences for the whole economy, public health, security or safety. These systems, responsible for providing essential services for modern society, are increasingly complex and interconnected, making them vulnerable to a range of threats, including cyber-attacks, physical attacks, malfunctions, human-induced or natural disasters.