Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU)

Drive the circular bioeconomy forward with CBE JU Funding

The Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) aims to develop sustainable, circular bio-based industries through public-private collaboration under Horizon Europe.

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The Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) is designed to support the development of sustainable, circular bio-based industries across Europe.

Whether you’re transforming biomass into high-value products, developing advanced bio-based materials, or scaling innovative biorefineries, the CBE JU provides funding and strategic support to turn research into real-world impact and drive Europe’s transition toward a sustainable, circular bioeconomy.

Substantial Funding

Access 60–100% EU funding for research, innovation, and large-scale bio-based industrial projects.

End-to-End Innovation Support

Benefit from funding across the full innovation chain—from early research (TRL 3–5) to flagship deployment (TRL 8).

Circular Transition

CBE JU helps de-risk investments, scale breakthrough technologies, and build renewable, circular value chains.

Ecosystem Building

Work within a strong European network of researchers, SMEs, industry, farmers, and investors to develop sustainable bio-based solutions.

€2B

Total budget 2021-31

220

Projects Funded since launch

30+

participating countries

60-100%

funding rate

Key Information

Start your eligibility check now

 

💡Tip: Start Early—allow 4 to 5 months for preparation.  A successful application requires a well-structured approach and sufficient time for planning.

About the CBE JU programme

The CBE JU — or Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking — is a €2 billion public-private partnership between the European Union and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC), operating under Horizon Europe (2021–2031).

Eligible Applicants

CBE JU is open to universities, research organisations, SMEs, large companies, NGOs, public bodies, and other legal entities from the EU and Horizon Europe–associated countries.

Proposals must be submitted by a consortium of at least three independent organisations:

  • One established in an EU Member State, and
  • Two others established in different EU or associated countries.

For Innovation Actions (IA) and Flagship projects (IA-Flagships), any organisation providing In-Kind Contributions to Operational Activities (IKOP) must be a member of the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) — or join before the call deadline.

💡 Strong consortia usually span the full bio-based value chain, from feedstock suppliers to technology developers and end-users.

CBE JU calls
  • The CBE JU launches annual funding calls under Horizon Europe to support innovation that advances Europe’s circular bio-based economy.
  • The 2025 call has closed, and the next one is expected in spring 2026. Each call funds projects in research, innovation, flagship biorefineries, and coordination actions, covering areas such as sustainable feedstocks, bio-based materials, circular value chains, and industrial symbiosis.

Project types & Funding
  • Each year, the CBE JU allocates over €150 million in grants to support research, innovation, and large-scale bio-based projects across Europe.
  • CBE JU supports four main project types under Horizon Europe, each with specific Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) and funding rates:
    Project Type TRL at Project End Funding Rate Typical / Max Funding Duration
    Research & Innovation Actions (RIA) TRL 3–5 100% of eligible costs + 25% overhead €3–5 million 3–4 years
    Innovation Actions (IA) TRL 6–8 60% (profit); 100% (non-profit) + 25% overhead €5–10 million 4–5 years
    Innovation Action Flagships (IA-Flagships) TRL 8 Same as IA Up to €20 million 4–5 years
    Coordination & Support Actions (CSA) No TRL requirement 100% of eligible costs + 25% overhead €3–4 million 2–3 years
Key deadlines

The CBE JU launches one main call for proposals each year under Horizon Europe.

  • Call publication: Usually in April

  • Submission deadline: Typically in September (around mid-month)

  • Evaluation and results: Within five months after the deadline

  • Grant agreement signature: Within six to nine months after submission

Application process

Required documentation:

  • Part A: Administrative & participant information
  • Part B: Technical description (50–70 pages depending on project type)                                                                                                                                                                                             – Excellence (objectives, ambition, methodology)
    – Impact (market pathways, IKOP, exploitation & dissemination)
    – Implementation (work plan, resources, consortium)
  • Business Plan: Required for IA-Flagships only

Submission: via EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Special step for IA-Flagships: All candidates are invited to a hearing approximately two months after the submission deadline, where they discuss and clarify the details of their business plan with evaluators.

Evaluation criteria

CBE JU proposals are evaluated by independent experts based on three main criteria:

  1. Excellence – Quality of objectives, innovation level, and soundness of the methodology.

  2. Impact – Expected contribution to the circular bioeconomy, market potential, environmental and socio-economic benefits, and alignment with EU goals.

  3. Implementation – Quality and efficiency of the work plan, resources, and consortium structure.

Projects must meet minimum threshold scores for each criterion and achieve a strong overall ranking to be selected for funding.

Topics
  • Sustainable bio-based feedstocks – biomass, agricultural residues, forestry waste
  • Advanced processing technologies – biorefineries, fermentation, bio-manufacturing systems
  • Bio-based products & materials – chemicals, bioplastics, textiles, food, packaging
  • Cross-cutting topics – sustainability assessments, financing models, standards, skills, biodiversity
Eligible costs

Various costs are eligible, such as personnel, equipment, travel, and subcontracting expenses.

How We Support Your  CBE JU Project

  • Backed by PhDs, engineers, and finance experts, we guide you through every stage of the application and project lifecycle.
  • We combine strategic insight with technical excellence to help innovators secure the right collaborative funding and manage their projects successfully.
Control de convocatorias (1)

1. Opportunity Scouting

We identify the most suitable CBE JU topics for your project, assess eligibility requirements—including consortium composition and BIC membership when needed—and ensure strategic alignment with the annual Work Programme. This includes value-chain mapping, partner search, and early guidance to position your proposal competitively.

Diagnóstico y preparación

2. Proposal Preparation

We collect and review all technical and financial documentation, structure the work plan, and prepare the complete CBE JU application package: Part A, Part B, economic sections, and—when required—business plans for Flagships. We also support communication materials such as pitch decks and prepare you for potential hearings, ensuring a strong, coherent submission.

Obtención de ayuda (2)

3. Submission & Grant Agreement

We manage the entire EU Funding & Tenders Portal submission process, ensuring timely delivery and compliance with all CBE JU requirements. After approval, we guide you through every Grant Agreement step, including forms, certificates, validations, amendments, and interactions with CBE JU and the European Commission.

Gestión del proyecto (1)

4. Project Management

During project implementation, we support monitoring, compliance, budget tracking, and milestone management to meet CBE JU expectations. We prepare technical and financial reports, assist with audits and verification visits, manage payment follow-up, and handle day-to-day administrative communication to ensure smooth and successful project execution.

Need support for your CBE JU application?

Our consultants guide you through everything you need to know about this call, requirements, and winning strategies.

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“We highlight the Evolution team’s flexibility in offering a proposal tailored to startups, their communication with international teams, and their ability to improve consortia and tasks.”

Ana Bouchet, Scientific Co-Founder of Lifesome Therapeutics

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“The Evolution Europe team has been a revelation. From evaluating our project’s potential to structuring the collaboration agreement, their support eased pressure across our team and facilitated seamless communication between Sweden and France. We look forward to continuing this collaboration.”

Soham Saha, Co-founder and CEO of MedInsights

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“At Evolution, we found the expertise and guidance we needed to identify and target the right programme for our goals. Having Evolution by our side gave us peace of mind and allowed our start-up team to stay fully focused on project development.”

Mathieu Horras, CEO, Founder & Board Member of Aspivix

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU).

Which countries participate in the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU)?

The Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) is open to participants from all EU Member States and Horizon Europe–associated countries.

This includes:

  • The 27 EU Member States, and

  • Associated countries such as Norway, Iceland, the United Kingdom (in specific areas), Switzerland (pending association), Ukraine, Serbia, Israel, Turkey, and others that have formal agreements with the EU under Horizon Europe.

Organisations from other non-associated third countries may also participate as additional partners, but without receiving EU funding, unless specifically stated in the call.

What funding rate does CBE JU offer?

The CBE JU provides non-repayable EU grants that typically cover 60–100% of eligible project costs, depending on the project type and the organisation’s status:

  • Research & Innovation Actions (RIA) → 100% of eligible costs + 25% overhead

  • Innovation Actions (IA) → 60% for profit-making entities, 100% for non-profits + 25% overhead

  • Flagship Projects (IA-Flagships) → same as IA, up to €20 million per project

  • Coordination & Support Actions (CSA) → 100% of eligible costs + 25% overhead

What is the success rate of the CBE JU?

The success rate for CBE JU proposals typically ranges between 10% and 20%, depending on the call year and topic.

Competition is high — especially for Innovation Actions and Flagship projects, which involve larger budgets and more complex consortia. Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) tend to have slightly higher acceptance rates.

💡 A strong proposal, clear market impact, and well-balanced consortium significantly improve your chances of success.

How long does it take to get funded?

From submission to funding, the CBE JU process typically takes 6–9 months:

  1. Evaluation phase: Around 5 months after the call deadline.

  2. Grant Agreement preparation: Usually 1–4 months after results are announced.

What is the TRL required to apply to the CBE JU?

CBE JU projects cover different stages of technological maturity, defined by Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs):

  • Research and Innovation Actions (RIA): TRL 3–5 at project end — early-stage research and proof of concept.

  • Innovation Actions (IA): TRL 6–8 at project end — demonstration and scale-up of technologies.

  • Innovation Action Flagships (IA-Flagships): TRL 8 at project end — first-of-a-kind commercial-scale biorefineries.

  • Coordination and Support Actions (CSA): No specific TRL — focus on networking, studies, or policy support.

💡 Choose your project type based on how mature your technology is and the scale of demonstration planned.

Ready to secure CBE JU funding for your project?

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