HORIZON-CL6-2025-03-GOVERNANCE-06: Strengthening and connecting bioeconomy networks
Updated on 16.06.2025
In line with the European Green Deal, the EU’s climate targets for 2030 and 2050 and the bioeconomy strategy vision for an economic system that acts within planetary and social boundaries, the successful proposal will contribute to the impact of this Destination on effective policy mixes and multi-level governance to enable a just sustainable transition for all.
Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:
- better understanding and increased awareness of the bioeconomy for a fast deployment of bioeconomy potential benefits and solutions, across the Europe, in rural and coastal areas, cities, communities and governments, and in economic sectors among businesses, citizens, and especially young people;
- better coordination of European bioeconomy initiatives, including those funded by EU R&I framework programmes, and of relevant networks, with a view to strengthening knowledge exchange and synthesis on the bioeconomy for an increased uptake of bioeconomy actions and solutions in businesses, in education and in policy, and to accelerate the achievement of the EU bioeconomy strategy objectives with respect to social, economic and environmental sustainability, including climate action as well as biodiversity and ecosystem protection and restoration;
- enhanced networking and cooperation on European bioeconomy between relevant actors and stakeholders at European, national and regional levels, as well as outreach and support to relevant international networks and initiatives to foster fast deployment of bioeconomy and biotechnologies actions and solutions;
- increased buy-in from all relevant actors and stakeholders to collaborate and act as bioeconomy changemakers: including disadvantaged communities, people in vulnerable situations, women, and youth, but also underrepresented stakeholders like NGOs and investors, in and across sectors, communities, regions, and ministries.
Relevance for Circular Systemic Solutions
This call is relevant for cities and regions seeking to strengthen and connect bioeconomy networks across Member States and Associated Countries. Building a cohesive, Europe-wide network is essential for facilitating knowledge exchange, promoting mutual learning, and sharing best practices related to bioeconomy initiatives, governance, and the transition to a sustainable and circular bioeconomy, especially in light of the upcoming review of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy.
The objective of this call is to foster stronger collaboration among stakeholders across sectors, regions, and disciplines. This interconnectedness is key to improving policy coherence, ensuring more effective implementation, and aligning local and national efforts with broader EU objectives.
Applicant criteria
Any type of organisation can apply for Horizon Europe funding as long as they have the operational and financial capacity to carry out the tasks that they propose. For most calls for proposals, you must apply as a team of at least 3 partner organisations from 3 different EU or associated countries. At least one of the 3 partners must be from an EU country. In addition to these 3 partners, organisations from other countries might be able to join your consortium.
More information in the Horizon Europe programme guide. Further details or exceptions are listed on the pages of the call topics in the Funding & tenders portal.
Eligible projects/themes
Proposals should: establish and develop an EU-wide platform (one-stop shop, multilingual) for networking and engagement on the bioeconomy, that brings together EU practitioners, researchers, investors, policy makers and education providers; support of international research and innovation bioeconomy networks and initiatives (e.g. International Bioeconomy Forum or International Advisory Council on Global Bioeconomy) to foster international research collaboration and Science-to-Policy interfaces for bioeconomy; develop communication strategies and tools, and organise events to inform EU, national and regional actors and stakeholders about bioeconomy deployment, successful bioeconomy initiatives and solutions (i.e., open access to industrial demonstrations sites), including from relevant EU-funded R&I projects, and other EU programmes (i.e., Interreg: European Territorial Co-operation); stimulate dialogue on bioeconomy solutions and initiatives, to build relations, exchange knowledge and support mutual learning, across European sectors, stakeholder groups, generations, languages, levels of governance, or professions; align these activities with needs under the EU bioeconomy strategy and related policies including on climate and biodiversity; implement lean business models to manage the platform (e.g. secretariat, operations, events) and its activities in a sustainable manner beyond the end of the project using public and private funding; liaise and collaborate with bioeconomy education institutes for improved skills development initiatives and networks to develop and deploy innovative interactive bioeconomy education material in support of both the informal and formal education at all levels; engage and train investors on the European bioeconomy to foster investment in bioeconomy sectors.
Amount of funding
The total indicative budget for the topic is EUR 4.40 million. The Commission estimates that an EU contribution of around EUR 4.40 million would allow these outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting different amounts.
Application process
- EC publishes calls for proposals on the funding and tenders portal
- The call is open for an usual period of ca. 5 months where applicants can submit they proposal
- Proposals can be single or two-stage application processes. A single stage application process requires the filling in of a structured proposal of max. 45 pages including objectives and innovation approach (excellence), tangible impacts that can be achieved through the project (impact) and the project planning and tasks (quality). If a two stage, the aforementioned would be the second stage application while the first is a simplified proposal of max 10 pages including only excellence and impact sections. These documents are to be uploaded to the portal in pdf format alongside filling in the respective parts of the portal with administrative information on the beneficiares, affiliated entities or others. All participants in a project need to possess a Partipant Identification Code (i.e. PIC number, a 9-digit number registered on ECAS). For more information, please see the work programme and the call documents.
- Proposal submitted within the deadline will be evaluated by experts against evaluation criteria.
- Winning proposals will be invited for signing a grant agreement with the EC.
Deadlines
Opening: 06 May 2025
Deadline: 24 Sep 2025
<5 000
large 500 000-200 000, medium 200 000-50 000, and small cities 50 000-5 000
large metropolitan area >1.5 million, metropolitan area 1.5 million-500 000
predominantly urban regions, intermediate and predominantly rural regions, refer to TERCET typology NUTS 3 region
e.g. commercial, residential, service, industrial
