High-performance, circular-by-design, bio-based thermosets

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.

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Agency	HORIZON (EU)
Region	EU
Country	N/A
Legal form	Company, NGO, Government organization, Other
Start date	23 Apr 2026
End date	22 Sep 2026
Max funding	7,000,000 EUR per project
Budget	170,760,699 EUR (topic budget 2026 for all actions)
Coverage	Subject to the Horizon Europe rules. See Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Grant application conditions

Admissibility	Proposal page limit and layout as described in Annex A/E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and in Part B of the Application Form.
Eligible Countries	Eligibility of countries follows Horizon Europe rules (see Annex B). Participants from non-EU/Associated Countries may be eligible if specific provisions exist.
Other Eligibility Conditions	Described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes and section 2.2.3 of the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026.
Financial and Operational Capacity	Applicants must demonstrate financial and operational capacity as per Annex C of the General Annexes.
Legal and Financial Set-up	Conditions described in Annex G of the General Annexes.
Technology Readiness Level (TRL)	Demonstration of solutions at least at TRL 6 for production and end-product conversion; selected end-of-life alternatives at TRL 5 and above.
Project Scope	Demonstrate resource-efficient production and conversion of innovative bio-based thermosets targeting both high performance and circularity. Apply eco-design principles to enable product circularity and address end-of-life challenges. Functionalisation with bio- or non-bio-based additives is in scope. Involve end-users (including consumers where relevant) from early stages following the multi-actor approach. Apply the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework as required for targeted materials. Ensure complementarities with other R&I projects (e.g., funded under Horizon 2020/Horizon Europe, BBI JU, CBE JU).
End-of-life Treatments	Landfilling or incineration is out of scope. Alternative EoL solutions (e.g., recycling, reusing, upcycling) must be tested.
Documentation	https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IA-04

Eligible expenses

Evaluation criteria

Business exclusions

Reporting

Application process

Application requirements