The call is relevant for cities and regions that are looking to valorise sustainable macroalgae systems for innovative, added-value applications. This call asks for a proven industrial scalability potential of sustainable and more diverse range of cultivation,pretreatment and valorisation options for macroalgae species. To achieve this, the project should apply a multi-actor approach by ensuring adequate involvement of all key actors in the relevant value chains, including relevant local/regional authorities, to address coastal governance aspects, as well as end-users and consumers, when targeting B2C products.

All stakeholders of the bio-based industries ecosystem including public authorities can apply for CBE JU funding. CBE JU calls for project proposals are open to any legal entity, be it private or public, for-profit or not-for-profit organisation, including:

• Large companies
• Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs)
• Research and technology organisations (RTOs)
• Universities
• Associations

Proposals should select and optimise macroalgal feedstocks, focusing on applications with high market potential. In line with the EU Algae Initiative, harvesting macroalgae from the wild is excluded, as the topic focuses on cultivation. Projects should also demonstrate cultivation in suitable and scalable sustainable systems, as well as environmentally sustainable and cost-efficient biomass production, harvesting and storage. Both cultivation in open environment and in closed systems are in scope. Multitrophic and mixed cultivation approaches (e.g. multiple algae species, algae and fish/shellfish farming etc) are in scope, as well as algae-mediated remediation and the use of nature-based solutions.

The total indicative budget for the topic is EUR 14 million. It is estimated that a contribution of EUR 7 million would allow these outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting different amounts

Cities and regions can apply for funding through the following steps. Cities and regions have to select the relevant call and draft a proposal with the required details. With the CBE JU networking platform, cities and regions can find partners to build a consortium. The proposal can be submitted using the Funding and tender opportunities portal using an EU login. All the members of the consortium must have a 9-digit Participant Identification Code (PIC) to apply for funding. Draft your project proposal in the submission service section of your topic page. This link becomes available when the call opens. Fill in all the required information and submit the proposal before the call deadline.

Call launch: 3 April 2025

Call deadline: 18 September 2025 17:00 CET