Information and training measures for workers’ organisations

Opened

Code: 40317 | Identifier Code: SOCPL-2026-INFO-WK | Programme name: 2923 | Start submission calls: 15/04/2026 | End submission calls: 24/06/2026

This call aims at strengthening the capacity of workers’ organisations (both in Member States and candidate countries) to address, at EU/transnational level, challenges related to changes in employment and working conditions as well as challenges related to their effective participation in social dialogue.

Actions that address the following themes will be particularly welcome:

• actions aimed at preparing negotiations of autonomous social partner agreements to be concluded at EU level and at supporting their implementation at national level;
• actions related to the implementation of the work programmes of the existing European Social Dialogue Committees.

Posting of workers: enhancing administrative cooperation and access to information

Opened

Code: 40314 | Identifier Code: ESF-2026-POW | Programme name: 20859 | Start submission calls: 30/04/2026 | End submission calls: 06/10/2026

The call intends to support the Commission and the Member States to understand existing and new challenges and develop initiatives in the field of posting of workers and a decent work agenda. The proper functioning of administrative cooperation between Member States and improved access to information on applicable terms and conditions of employment and administrative requirements for companies in a transparent and accessible manner, are essential for the correct application, implementation and enforcement of the Directives.

Energetic components

Opened

Code: 40311 | Identifier Code: EDF-EDIP-P-2026-LS-IRA-EC | Programme name: 3564 | Start submission calls: 30/04/2026 | End submission calls: 16/06/2026

The objective of this call is to reinforce the EU industrial production capacity of defence products, including their components and corresponding raw materials.

This topic aims to strengthen the competitiveness, responsiveness and ability of the EDTIB to reinforce EU industrial production capacity for energetic components (including their components and corresponding raw materials insofar as they are intended or used wholly for the production of defence products) that constitute critical bottlenecks for key defence product across land, air, naval and underwater domains:

• rockets, aerial bombs, mines and loitering munition;

• missiles;

• tank, artillery and counter-unmanned systems (UxS) ammunition;

• small-calibre cartridges (including ammunition and devices for dismounted soldiers).

Actions shall be aligned with the objectives, scope and priorities of this call topic and shall contribute to the competitiveness of the EU defence technological and industrial base by securing specific production capacity for:

• propellant powder (including nitrocellulose, single, double & triple-base powder, and modular charge);

• explosives (including nitroglycerine, TNT, RDX, HMX, PETN, NTO, primers/fuses);

• propulsion systems;

• warheads and electronic fuze;

• filling plants;

• and access to relevant raw materials.

Boosting agrobiodiversity for food security and sustainable competitiveness

Opened

Code: 40309 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-06 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment (Cluster 6)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 17/04/2026 | End submission calls: 17/09/2026

Genetic erosion poses a significant threat to agricultural resilience, as genetic diversity is crucial for crops to withstand environmental stresses such as climate variations, pests, and diseases. As the global population grows, the demand for increased food production often drives large-scale agriculture, which compromises biodiversity and long-term productivity. While promoting and expanding agrobiodiversity enhances agricultural resilience, socio-economic obstacles hinder broader adoption.

Beyond highlighting the importance of conserving agricultural biodiversity for food security, it is essential to demonstrate its role in enhancing food production, increasing farmers’ incomes, and safeguarding livelihoods against environmental challenges. A significant obstacle to a wider adoption of more diversified production systems, is perceived risk in that process, in terms of yield, (marginal) income, lack of demand, stable and sufficient pricing, and potential increase of pests.

Developing methods to assess the presence, functions and sensitivity of groundwater ecosystems

Opened

Code: 40306 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-02 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment (Cluster 6)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 17/04/2026 | End submission calls: 17/09/2026

The European Environment Agency (EEA)’s report on Europe’s state of water (2024) highlighted that 77% of groundwater, which supplies two thirds of the EU’s drinking water, is in good chemical status. For groundwater not reaching good chemical status, the report identified nitrates, pesticides and pharmaceuticals among main issues. However, less is known about contaminants of emerging concern, such as perfluorinated substances (e.g. PFAS), microplastics and antimicrobial resistance.

The Commission proposal to revise the lists of surface- and groundwater pollutants and their standards in the Water Framework Directive, in the Groundwater Directive and in the Environmental Quality Standards Directive aims to address these concerns. Although freshwater standards can serve as a benchmark, standards that are protective for freshwater ecosystems may not be sufficiently protective for groundwater ecosystems.

Much stronger evidence on presence, functions and sensitivity of groundwater ecosystems is required for a reliable hazard assessment.

Bioeconomy policy support hub for Member States, regions and sectors

Opened

Code: 40303 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-06 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment (Cluster 6)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 17/04/2026 | End submission calls: 17/09/2026

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• most Member States and regions have established the bioeconomy as an important policy field. Effective bioeconomy policies and strategies are developed and implemented with specific impact targets in mind;
• policies and action plans and roadmaps are coordinated across parts of government (e.g. Ministries) and across the quadruple helix (government, sectors, research & innovation, society) to take into account the cross-sectoral and place-based character of the bioeconomy, and the need for a whole of government approach. Platforms are established to facilitate dialogue, experimentation, learning and coordination;
• all actors of the quadruple helix (e.g. policy makers, NGOs, economic sectors) are aware of the bioeconomy, as well as of the potential and challenges that are specific for their perspective and context. The bioeconomy concept, its principles and its solutions and innovations are mainstreamed by sectors (e.g. food, textiles, chemicals, energy, agriculture, forestry).

Understanding biomass flows in Europe

Opened

Code: 40300 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-05 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment (Cluster 6)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 17/04/2026 | End submission calls: 17/09/2026

There is a need to better understand the production and use of biomass, a limited resource, in its various types. Bioeconomy, and biomass as its essential feedstock, provides solutions on various dimensions (environmental, social and economic). However, there are biomass-related challenges to overcome: the EU forest carbon sink is below the target and declining in most countries and the need to restore ecosystems and halt biodiversity loss^[1]. This implies that biomass supply is partly unsustainable. Simultaneously, companies see themselves challenged to satisfy the growing demand for biomass in the future. There are solutions to increase the sustainable production, including to reduce pollutants, and adjust the demand: e.g. better valorise unused or under-exploited sustainable biomass and degraded land, apply new breeding techniques and increase resource efficiency through circular design, new business models, consumption, recycling or repair.

There is a need to better understand where biomass valorisation can be improved, to ensure local or regional added value increases and to drive innovative and competitive business solutions. For an optimal biomass production and effective use, matching supply and demand in the local or regional context, a better and more robust understanding of actual biomass flows is a fundamental prerequisite.

Improving circularity of multilayer flexible plastic food contact packaging

Opened

Code: 40297 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-01 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment (Cluster 6)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 17/04/2026 | End submission calls: 17/09/2026

Plastic food packaging represents a significant part of all plastic packaging put on the EU market. Flexible films composed of multiple layers are commonly difficult to recycle. And to date, there is no market at scale for closing the loop and establish recycling systems from food contact back to food contact application. Despite the advancement of several solutions, there is a need to improve the efficiency of recycling solutions and reach as high as possible yield of food contact compliant recycled plastic coming from post-consumer packaging films.

Advancing recycling technologies for mixed post-consumer textiles waste from blended products

Opened

Code: 40294 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-02 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment (Cluster 6)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 17/04/2026 | End submission calls: 17/09/2026

The topic aims at improved management of the end-of-life phase of textile products. Textiles are the fourth highest-pressure category for the use of primary raw materials and water and fifth for GHG emissions and a major source of microplastic pollution in production and use phases. They are also a key material and product stream in the circular economy action plan. Proposals are expected to demonstrate and deploy innovative solutions for increased quality, non-toxicity and durability of secondary textile materials and their processing and treatments.

Bio-based innovation in society: supporting the sustainable way of living

Opened

Code: 40291 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-10 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment (Cluster 6)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 17/04/2026 | End submission calls: 17/09/2026

The projects under this topic are relevant to the EU policies related to the European Commission communication on: Building the future with nature: Boosting Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing in the EU, the Strategy for European Life Sciences, the EU Biotech Act, Clean Industrial Deal and the policies related to the fair green transition (objective of not leaving anyone behind). It also contributes to the Start-ups and Scale-ups strategy. Synergies with activities under the Circular Bio-based Europe (CBE) Joint Undertaking and New European Bauhaus are encouraged.

Developing managed aquifer recharge techniques (MAR) in a rural context

Opened

Code: 40288 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-03 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment (Cluster 6)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 17/04/2026 | End submission calls: 17/09/2026

Droughts in the EU are increasing in frequency, magnitude and impact, and the affected area is expanding. Water storage systems can limit abstractions from surface waters and groundwater reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture and food systems, and bring the demand and supply of water better in balance, strengthening the resilience of EU agriculture.

Advancing the European bio-based innovation enabled by biotechnology and biomanufacturing concepts

Opened

Code: 40285 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-07 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment (Cluster 6)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 17/04/2026 | End submission calls: 17/09/2026

Actions funded under this topic are relevant to the EU policies related to the European Commission communication on ‘Building the future with nature: Boosting Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing in the EU’, the Life Sciences Strategy, the upcoming EU Biotech Act, and Circular Economy Act, the EU strategy on research and technology infrastructure, the Clean Industrial Deal and the policies related to the digital transition (e.g. AI Act, etc.). It also contributes to the Start-ups and Scale-ups Strategy.