Grants

This grant aims to strengthen the European HPC and AI ecosystems by establishing a coordinated network of AI Factories (AIFs) and Antennas (AIF+As) to support the adoption and use of HPC for trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) development by startups, SMEs, and the broader private and public sectors, tailored to local and national needs. The initiative supports synergies, knowledge transfer, streamlined user experience, best practices, effective coordination, data access, and regulatory compliance, as well as increasing visibility, outreach to industry, and talent attraction for HPC/AI in Europe.

This grant aims to develop breakthrough processes for creating bio-based textile fibres using sustainably sourced biomass feedstock, including textile waste. The focus is on increasing the availability, scalability, and technical performance of novel, man-made, or modified natural fibres, while ensuring enhanced circularity and minimising microplastic release compared to current benchmarks. Applicants are expected to design these fibres for compatibility with market requirements and existing manufacturing processes, consider their end-of-life impact, and address environmental concerns associated with fossil-based and cotton fibres. Projects indirectly contribute to the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, the Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles, the Clean Industrial Deal, the Ecodesign Sustainable Products Regulation, and the Horizon Europe Mission 'Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030'.

This grant aims to support industrial-scale biorefineries and related value chains to produce Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) bio-based solutions for the home and/or personal care sector, including fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and cosmetics. The goal is to create sustainable alternatives to conventional chemicals and ingredients, ensuring improved sustainability and regulatory compliance. The program seeks to increase availability and market uptake of bio-based products, enhance consumer acceptance, reduce fossil feedstock dependency, and contribute to EU strategic autonomy and environmental goals.

This grant supports implementation of key principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights in the area of posting of workers. It aims to foster equal opportunities, secure and adaptable employment, transparency about employment conditions, social dialogue, and safe and healthy work environments. Specific objectives include promoting transnational cooperation among public authorities and stakeholders, increasing the accessibility and transparency of employment information regarding posted workers, and strengthening the evidence basis through original data collection and analysis.

This grant aims to promote innovative bio-based films and coatings for packaging, enhancing the performance, sustainability, and circularity of packaging products. Projects should demonstrate technologies at TRL 6 or above for food and non-food packaging, ensure compatibility with industrial processes, assess technical and circularity properties, apply ecodesign principles, and address end-of-life (EoL) alternatives like recycling or composting. Regulatory compatibility, market acceptance, and engagement of end users are required. The action is part of the EU's Circular Economy, the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, and the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability.

This grant aims to support projects that develop innovative bio-based thermoset materials with a focus on high technical performance and improved circularity. Proposals are expected to contribute to the Circular Economy Action Plan, Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, the Chemical Industry Action Plan, and the Clean Industrial Deal. Projects should demonstrate resource-efficient production and conversion of bio-based thermosets into circular end-products, meeting demanding market requirements and applying eco-design principles to enable circularity and address end-of-life challenges. Landfilling or incineration options are excluded. Involving end-users early in the project and applying safe and sustainable by design (SSbD) frameworks are required.

This grant aims to enhance the competitiveness, efficiency, sustainability, circularity, and safety of industrial biorefineries by supporting projects focused on scalable separation and purification technology platforms suitable for integration into new and existing biorefineries. It targets improvements in the purity and stability of intermediates and final products, advances in resource efficiency, and overall cost reduction within the biorefinery sector.

This grant supports projects that aim to increase the availability of bio-based chemicals and materials derived from woody residues, contributing to EU strategies for forest sustainability, biodiversity, and circular economy. Projects should demonstrate innovative and scalable technologies to valorise woody residues, validate the chemicals/materials for end products, and apply eco-design principles for sustainable end-of-life. Collaboration with local forest owners, optimisation of biomass supply chains, and application of safe and sustainable by design (SSbD) frameworks are required.

This grant aims to support the development and demonstration (at least TRL 6) of efficient biotechnology-based processes for converting residual biomass into bio-based chemicals, intermediates, polymers, materials, ingredients, and/or enzymes. The focus is on diversifying and valorising biomass feedstocks to increase the added value of residual biomass for biorefinery applications, enable robust and scalable biotech processes, and expand the portfolio of sustainable bio-based products. The initiative contributes to multiple EU strategies, including the Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative, Life Sciences Strategy, and the updated Bioeconomy Strategy.