Unleashing the potential and advancing the impact of the digitalization/Artificial Intelligence of the climate-neutral bio-based value chains
Horizon Europe Cluster 6 – Circular economy and bioeconomy sectors
Funding Amount
€5.0M - €5.0M
Deadline
17/09/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution
Trusted by
What is the Unleashing the potential and advancing the impact of the digitalization/Artificial Intelligence of the climate-neutral bio-based value chains Call?
Grant Description
This call addresses the integration of artificial intelligence and digital solutions in the bio-based sector to drive a clean, competitive, circular economy and sustainable bioeconomy. Projects will develop and demonstrate high-quality AI tools, algorithms and concepts such as digital twins to enable resource-efficient, climate-neutral bio-based materials, processes and value chains. The call seeks to improve the sustainability, resilience and strategic autonomy of the European bio-based industr...
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
Successful proposals should:
• Contribute to a clean, competitive and circular economy and sustainable bioeconomy by integrating digital solutions/AI, enabling deployment of innovative circular and climate-neutral bio-based materials, processes and value chains with higher resource efficiency.
• Improve sustainability, resilience and strategic autonomy of European bio-based industry by unleashing the full potential of AI, digitalisation and IT solutions to support bio-based innovation.
• Advance and demonstrate opportunities for more sustainable feedstocks, more productive and efficient industrial processes, operations and products (including increased circularity, biodegradability) and improve understanding of the carbon removal potential of bio-based systems.
• Enhance understanding of risks and benefits via new inclusive assessment methods that incorporate advances in technical and social innovation.
• Contribute to a clean, competitive and circular economy and sustainable bioeconomy by integrating digital solutions/AI, enabling deployment of innovative circular and climate-neutral bio-based materials, processes and value chains with higher resource efficiency.
• Improve sustainability, resilience and strategic autonomy of European bio-based industry by unleashing the full potential of AI, digitalisation and IT solutions to support bio-based innovation.
• Advance and demonstrate opportunities for more sustainable feedstocks, more productive and efficient industrial processes, operations and products (including increased circularity, biodegradability) and improve understanding of the carbon removal potential of bio-based systems.
• Enhance understanding of risks and benefits via new inclusive assessment methods that incorporate advances in technical and social innovation.
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
Proposals must:
• Target digital/AI methodologies capable of delivering high sustainability gains (resource efficiency, circularity, climate neutrality) and enhancing competitiveness, strategic autonomy and resilience of European bio-based industry (including SMEs).
• Exclude health biotechnology; focus solely on bio-based sector under current EU bioeconomy strategy.
• Demonstrate clear upscaling from current potential and alignment with parallel actions on AI/digital technologies (database development, predictive capacities, EU-level legislative and initiative frameworks).
• Systematically assess and manage risks and opportunities for ecosystems, applying the Do-No-Significant-Harm (DNSH) principle and findings of the Global Resources Outlook 2024.
• Encourage multi-actor approach and social innovation to engage all relevant stakeholders and address societal perceptions of AI in bioeconomy.
• Integrate citizen engagement and dialogue to seek wider input and support.
• Include a dedicated task to share methodologies and findings with projects funded under this topic and similar ongoing work.
• Leverage data and services from European Research Infrastructures federated under EOSC and relevant Data Spaces, considering specific services such as IBISBA.
• Explore digital twin concepts and, if relevant, generative AI within the proposed solutions.
• Foster links with the Circular Bio-based Europe JU and other Green Deal partnership operations.
• Target digital/AI methodologies capable of delivering high sustainability gains (resource efficiency, circularity, climate neutrality) and enhancing competitiveness, strategic autonomy and resilience of European bio-based industry (including SMEs).
• Exclude health biotechnology; focus solely on bio-based sector under current EU bioeconomy strategy.
• Demonstrate clear upscaling from current potential and alignment with parallel actions on AI/digital technologies (database development, predictive capacities, EU-level legislative and initiative frameworks).
• Systematically assess and manage risks and opportunities for ecosystems, applying the Do-No-Significant-Harm (DNSH) principle and findings of the Global Resources Outlook 2024.
• Encourage multi-actor approach and social innovation to engage all relevant stakeholders and address societal perceptions of AI in bioeconomy.
• Integrate citizen engagement and dialogue to seek wider input and support.
• Include a dedicated task to share methodologies and findings with projects funded under this topic and similar ongoing work.
• Leverage data and services from European Research Infrastructures federated under EOSC and relevant Data Spaces, considering specific services such as IBISBA.
• Explore digital twin concepts and, if relevant, generative AI within the proposed solutions.
• Foster links with the Circular Bio-based Europe JU and other Green Deal partnership operations.
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
• Type of action: HORIZON Innovation Actions; single-stage call, deadline 17 September 2025, 17:00 Brussels time.
• Type of MGA: Horizon Action Grant (Budget-Based).
• Must comply with Horizon Europe General Annexes (Admissibility, Eligibility, Financial and Operational Capacity, Exclusion, Evaluation criteria and processes, Legal and financial set-up).
• Health biotechnology sector is explicitly out of scope.
• Proposals must observe the Do-No-Significant-Harm principle and minimise ecosystem risks.
• A Multi-Actor Approach and social innovation are strongly encouraged; proposals should address skills, job impacts and societal concerns.
• Applicants must include tasks for sharing methodologies and findings with other projects under this topic.
• Projects must leverage EOSC, relevant Data Spaces and European Research Infrastructures (e.g. IBISBA, ESFRI portfolio).
• Applicants should align with EU-level initiatives (EU AI Act, Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative), link to CBE JU operations and coordinate with relevant EU Green Deal partnerships.
• International cooperation with key third countries (USA, Japan, South Korea, India) is encouraged.
• Type of MGA: Horizon Action Grant (Budget-Based).
• Must comply with Horizon Europe General Annexes (Admissibility, Eligibility, Financial and Operational Capacity, Exclusion, Evaluation criteria and processes, Legal and financial set-up).
• Health biotechnology sector is explicitly out of scope.
• Proposals must observe the Do-No-Significant-Harm principle and minimise ecosystem risks.
• A Multi-Actor Approach and social innovation are strongly encouraged; proposals should address skills, job impacts and societal concerns.
• Applicants must include tasks for sharing methodologies and findings with other projects under this topic.
• Projects must leverage EOSC, relevant Data Spaces and European Research Infrastructures (e.g. IBISBA, ESFRI portfolio).
• Applicants should align with EU-level initiatives (EU AI Act, Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative), link to CBE JU operations and coordinate with relevant EU Green Deal partnerships.
• International cooperation with key third countries (USA, Japan, South Korea, India) is encouraged.
Important dates
Open from: 06/05/2025
Deadline:17/09/2025
Application period has ended
Win your grant with Cogrant
How cogrant works
Smart Funding Fit Check
Instantly know if your project fits call criteria. Our system highlights strengths, gaps, and risks, so you only apply when your chances are real.
Intelligent Research Engine
Our research engine digs deeper than any founder could alone. It pulls data about your company, your market, and even your competitors - giving your proposal an edge backed by facts, not fluff.
Full Proposal Development
Our system builds your entire proposal from start to finish, ensuring every section is complete, coherent, and crafted to the highest quality. You focus on your vision — we deliver the winning document.
Expert Review
Our experts run a complete review before delivery, ensuring your draft proposal is accurate, well-structured, and polished. You’ll receive a high-quality draft that’s ready for your final touches before submission.
Our Numbers
Results that speak for themselves
70+
proposals prepared
€36.7M
total funding secured for clients
65%
win rate in highly competitive calls