Circular Bio‑based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) is the EU’s leading partnership for scaling sustainable bio‑based innovations, funding collaborative projects that advance circular value chains, industrial deployment and real‑world impact across Europe.
Key deadlines and updates in the CBE JU
Call opening: 23 Apr 2026
Submission deadline: 22 Sep 2026
BIC Matchmaking event: 21 Apr 2026 (Brussels)
CIRCULAR BIO-BASED EUROPE (CBE)
Funding for circular
bio-based innovation and biorefinery scale-up
Circular Bio‑based Europe
The CBE JU is a €2 billion public-private partnership between the European Union and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC). It funds collaborative projects that advance competitive, sustainable and circular bio-based industries across Europe. CBE operates under the Horizon Europe and builds on the achievements of its predecessor, the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU), while addressing current technological, regulatory and market challenges of the bioeconomy.
Unlike purely research driven programmes, CBE applies to the full innovation chain from applied research to large-scale demonstration and flagship projects. It has a strong focus on industrial deployment, circularity and sustainability impact.
What does the Circular Bio-based Europe support?
CBE funds collaborative projects that strengthen Europe’s bioeconomy by integrating sustainability,
circularity and industrial competitiveness.
Sustainable biomass supply
- Primary and secondary biomass sourcing
- Valorisation of residues, side streams and waste
Bio-based products and value chains
- Chemicals, materials and ingredients
- Substitution of fossil-based products with bio-based alternatives
Innovative bio-based technologies
- Feedstock processing and conversion technologies
- Digital solutions supporting bio- based value chains
Collaboration across the bioeconomy
- Strong cross-sectoral consortia covering the full value chain and all key stakeholders
Circularity and sustainability
- Environmental performance and life cycle sustainability embedded in all projects
- Employing safe-and-sustainable-by- design (SSbD) principles
Who is eligible?
The CBE JU funding is best suited to a consortium developing circular bio-based value chains, technologies and products. The project stages can vary from applied research, innovation actions, industrial demonstration to first-of-its-kind commercial flagship projects. The targeted range of Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) by the end of the project is 5-8 depending on the call type.
Funding type: Grant (with Horizon Europe rules)
Eligible entities:
Large industrial companies
SMEs with innovative technologies
Research and technology organisations
Universities
Other value chain actors
CBE funding calls at a glance
- Total indicative budget (2021–2027): ~€1 billion
- Funding rates:
- Innovation Actions (IA), including Flagships: 60% for companies, 100% for
non-profits - Research & Innovation Actions (RIA): 100%
- Innovation Actions (IA), including Flagships: 60% for companies, 100% for
- Project duration: 3–5 years
- Consortium size: Typically 8–15 partners in at least 3 countries
- Success rates: Often significantly higher than Horizon Europe average,
especially for the higher TRL call topics.
How the proposal process works
- Project scoping and call selection
- Concept and value chain development
- Consortium building based on the value chain
- Objectives, results and impact framing
- Proposal writing (Excellence, Impact, Implementation)
- Budget preparation and quality review
- Submission by the selected coordinator
Recommended preparation time: We strongly recommend getting started at least 4-5 months before deadline, especially for larger or multi country projects
Call types and maturity levels 2026
|
Call type |
TRL at project end |
Typical |
|
Flagship (IA‑Flag) |
TRL 8 |
€20 m |
|
Innovation Actions (IA) |
TRL 6–7 |
€7 m |
|
Research & Innovation Actions (RIA) |
TRL 5 |
€3.25 m |
|
Coordination & Support Actions (CSA) |
n/a |
€1.2 m |
What evaluators really look for
Many proposals fail not because of weak ideas, but because expectations are misunderstood. Evaluators assess:
Excellence: Clear concept, credible innovation beyond the-state-of-the-art.
Impact: Economic, societal and socio-economic impacts regarding the creation and/or distribution of socio-economic value along the whole value chain.
Implementation: Realistic work plan, strong consortium and risk management.
Common weaknesses include:
- Unclear value chain logic
- Insufficient industrial relevance
- Weak impact quantification
- Imbalanced consortium roles
Why Spinverse?
We are a trusted partner for CBE funding proposal preparation. Spinverse has an exceptional track record in preparing successful BBI and CBE proposals. We combine our extensive CBE instrument expertise with well-proven collaborative methods tailored for industrially relevant consortia.
With Spinverse you get:
Reduced preparation time and stress
Clear project structuring and work plans
Independent senior-level quality checks
Strong alignment with evaluator expectations
We understand how to convert complex bio- based value chains into clear, competitive and fundable proposals.
Successful projects with our customers
Spinverse has extensive experience in preparing projects and background studies in the field of sustainable industries. Examples of funded CBE and BBI projects include industrial flagship plants for bio‑based chemicals and materials, circular biorefineries that valorise waste and residues, first‑of‑a‑kind lignin, sugar and bio‑carbon production facilities as well as and large‑scale CO₂ utilisation for bio‑based products.
SUSPENSE
Developing sustainable bio-based adhesives
The four-year SUSPENSE project, coordinated by CHIMAR HELLAS S.A. from Greece, has secured EUR 7.48 million from Circular Bio-based Europe (CBE). The project aims to develop innovative, sustainable bio-based adhesives targeted at replacing conventional fossil-based adhesives used in wood-based panels and insulation materials.
€7.48 m funding • 15 partners • 7 countries
Successful projects with our customers
Spinverse has extensive experience in preparing projects and background studies in the field of sustainable industries.
PROSPER
Promoting the recycling and sorting of bio-based plastics
The 4-year PROSPER project, standing for "Promoting and Supporting Practices for Eco Recycling," targets the effective sorting and recycling of bio-based plastics to foster a circular economy. The project with 18 partners from 6 countries is coordinated by University of Ghent. PROSPER is the first CBE-funded project coordinated by this prestigious Belgian university.
€7.5 m funding • 18 partners • 6 countries
Key planning timeline
5-3 months before deadline
- Call selection and project scoping
- Initial consortium formation
4-2 months before deadline
- Concept development and work plan structuring
- Budget preparation
Final weeks
- Proposal finalisation and quality checks
- Project proposal submission
Talk to our expert
Get in touch to discuss whether the Innovation Fund is the right instrument for your project and how we can support you in building a competitive funding proposal.
Janne Kaukojärvi
Talk to our expert
Get in touch to discuss whether the Innovation Fund is the right instrument for your project and how we can support you in building a competitive funding proposal.
Talk to our expert
Get in touch to discuss whether the Innovation Fund is the right instrument for your project and how we can support you in building a competitive funding proposal.
Talk to our expert
Get in touch to discuss whether the Innovation Fund is the right instrument for your project and how we can support you in building a competitive funding proposal.
Janne Kaukojärvi
Janne Kaukojärvi
Talk to our experts
Get in touch with us to discuss whether the CBE programme fits your innovation ambitions and how Spinverse can support your funding proposal preparation.
Jyrki Salmi
Tapio Lehtinen
