The call has direct relevance for CCRI activities and the implementation of circular systemic solutions at the local and regional scale. Proposals should build on the activities of the CCRI Coordination and Support Office (CCRI-CSO) and ensure the proposed activities are complementary.

Proposal results are expected to enhance support to the implementation of circular systemic solutions in cities and regions by streamlining and creating synergies with and between the activities of other relevant initiatives and organisations.

They should also increase the capacity, efficiency and efficacy of organisations that support the local and regional-scale circular economy, and enhance knowledge transfer and exchange of best practices between such organisations.

The call should also lead to more widespread dissemination of circular innovation, including technological, business, governance and social innovation, leading to the uptake and easier replication, scalability and visibility of circular systemic solutions and hence multiplication of their economic, social and environmental benefits on the local and regional scale.

More broadly, the call will increase the contribution of the CCRI scheme to the policy targets of the European Green Deal, particularly the circular economy action plan, the industrial strategy and the bioeconomy strategy at local, regional, national, European and international levels.

All activities must be coordinated and implemented in close cooperation and coordination with the CCRI-CSO and explore possibilities to further build on and make use of outputs produced, in order to ensure complementarities. They should set out a clear plan for how they plan to collaborate with the CCRI-CSO, CCRI Pilots and Fellows, CCRI Projects and Associated Partners, for example by undertaking joint activities, workshops or common communication and dissemination activities, or by providing additional technical expertise through dedicated support activities. Selected proposals will thus need to work together with the above-mentioned CCRI counterparts and, if needed, refine their work plan together with the Commission.

The target group for this topic includes organisations that support circular economy at the local and regional scale. These may include research and technology organisations, associations of cities and regions, and other organisations providing technical assistance to local and regional circular economy initiatives and projects.

Among other entities, organisations that have already received funding from Horizon 2020 or Horizon Europe under CCRI demonstration and project development assistance topics (LC-GD-3-2-2020; HORIZON-CL6-2021-CIRCBIO-01-01; HORIZON-CL6-2021-CIRCBIO-01-02) and/or are currently officially one of the CCRI Associated Partners can be eligible for this topic.

Proposals should ensure that all evidence, information and project outcomes will be made accessible through the CCRI website.

Proposals funded under this topic must form part of the instruments for the implementation of the CCRI. This means proposals must:
 

• cooperate with the CCRI and its CCRI-CSO by means of sharing initiative knowledge and experiences gained through the implementation of the Coordination and Support Action as well as participating in the CCRI’s main events (e.g. general conferences and coordination meetings);
• ensure the proposed activities are complementary to those of the CCRI-CSO;
• clearly specify how the Coordination and Support Action will ensure synergies and complementarities with other circular economy projects and initiatives (including those recognised as CCRI projects and Associated Partners);
• explicitly integrate these obligations into their proposal’s work plan.

For more information, please see the work programme, call text and call documents.

Successful proposals are expected to contribute to the Horizon Europe Destination ‘Circular economy and bioeconomy sectors (2023/24)’. This destination and its topics target climate-neutrality, zero pollution, fair and just circular and bioeconomy transitions.

Proposals should:
 

• Ensure close cooperation with the CCRI and the CCRI-CSO, and contribute to CCRI´s goals and activities, for instance by participating in relevant activities and sharing knowledge that can be transferred to the Pilot Group and Fellows and beyond.
• Facilitate, in cooperation with the CCRI-CSO, the exchange of knowledge and best practices on circular economy innovation, including innovative technologies, business models and governance as well as methodologies for supporting local and regional initiatives based on the latest knowledge in management, behavioural science and other relevant areas.
• Provide, in collaboration with the CCRI-CSO, technical support to local and regional circular economy initiatives in order to increase the chance of success of circular systemic solutions. The projects should complement the support provided by the CCRI-CSO to the Pilot Group and Fellows, either by targeting cities and regions not already supported by the CSO and/or covering additional circular economy topics and dimensions not already addressed by the CCRI-CSO;
• Organise workshops, webinars, training, capacity-building and/or peer-learning activities in coordination with the CCRI-CSO, in order to support the development and implementation of circular systemic solutions as well as facilitate knowledge and experience transfer for further outreach and replication in European territories.
• Develop, in cooperation with the CCRI-CSO, relevant case studies of local and regional circular economy measures, activities and policies, identifying and presenting the respective strengths and weaknesses. These case studies could be used for replication and dissemination across the EU and Associated Countries.
• Support the CCRI-CSO in the development of guidance and policy recommendations for local and regional authorities on how to address identified technical, regulatory, and financial obstacles to the transition to the circular economy as well as on the development and the implementation of circular economy initiatives at local and regional scale.
• Promote, in collaboration with the CCRI-CSO, the concept of circular economy to cities and regions that are in the early stage of circular economy transition, in order to help them build their understanding of the concept and the opportunities of a circular system.

The total indicative budget for the topic is €2.5 million. The indicative number of grants is one.

1. The European Commission publishes the call for proposals on the Funding and Tenders Portal.
2. The call is open for a typical period of around five months, during which applicants can submit their proposal.
3. Horizon Europe calls can be single or two-stage application processes. In this case, the call is a single-stage process. This requires a structured proposal of max. 45 pages to be filled in, including objectives and innovation approach (excellence), tangible impacts that can be achieved through the project (impact) and the project planning and tasks (quality). These documents are to be uploaded to the portal in pdf format alongside administrative information on the beneficiaries, affiliated entities or others, to be filled in on the portal. All participants need to possess a Participant Identification Code (PIC number, a 9-digit number registered on ECAS). For more information, please see the work programme and the call documents.
4. Proposals submitted within the deadline will be evaluated by experts against evaluation criteria.
5. Winning proposals will be invited to sign a grant agreement with the Commission.

Planned opening date: 22 December 2022

Deadline date: 28 March 2023, 17.00 Brussels time