European UnionDeadline PassedNon-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution, Other
Valorisation of untapped forest biomass
HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-RIA-01
Funding Amount
€3.5M - €3.5M
Deadline
18/09/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution, Other
Trusted by
What is the Valorisation of untapped forest biomass Call?
Grant Description
This call supports research and innovation actions to valorise unused and underutilised forest biomass beyond bioenergy, by developing innovative planning tools, decentralised processing units, conversion routes to bio-based chemicals, materials and products, optimising local value chains and logistics, and engaging forest owners and local actors. It addresses climate change mitigation, biodiversity, rural development and circular bioeconomy objectives, aiming to create novel business models, en...
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
Successful projects will contribute to:
• Implementation of the EU Forest Strategy 2030, EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, EU Bioeconomy Strategy, LULUCF Regulation, Carbon Removal Certification Framework and EU Nature Restoration Law.
• Enhanced contribution of the forest-based sector to climate change mitigation and adaptation, forest restoration and resilience, biodiversity conservation and rural development objectives.
• Added value to forest biomass feedstock at the point of origin through optimised transportation and logistics.
• Informed decision-making by forest owners and managers adopting sustainable forest management practices and novel technologies to valorise unused and under-utilised biomass.
• Development of new value chains, innovative business models and technologies yielding novel bio-based chemicals, compounds, materials and products.
• Increased engagement and innovation capacity of regional and local actors, with positive social impacts in rural areas, including additional income sources for forest owners, managers and rural communities through synergies with bio-based industries.
• Implementation of the EU Forest Strategy 2030, EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, EU Bioeconomy Strategy, LULUCF Regulation, Carbon Removal Certification Framework and EU Nature Restoration Law.
• Enhanced contribution of the forest-based sector to climate change mitigation and adaptation, forest restoration and resilience, biodiversity conservation and rural development objectives.
• Added value to forest biomass feedstock at the point of origin through optimised transportation and logistics.
• Informed decision-making by forest owners and managers adopting sustainable forest management practices and novel technologies to valorise unused and under-utilised biomass.
• Development of new value chains, innovative business models and technologies yielding novel bio-based chemicals, compounds, materials and products.
• Increased engagement and innovation capacity of regional and local actors, with positive social impacts in rural areas, including additional income sources for forest owners, managers and rural communities through synergies with bio-based industries.
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
Projects must target valorisation pathways beyond bioenergy and biofuel production for unused and under-utilised forest biomass, including small wood, damaged wood, mixed-forest wood, shrubs, bark, cork, branches, resin and residual streams from fire, flood, drought and disease prevention. Proposals should:
• Adopt decentralised, small-scale, mobile or containerised units accommodating regional and company-size variability.
• Embrace a Multi-Actor Approach, ensuring adequate involvement of all key actors in the value chain.
• Provide recommendations for the development of EU carbon farming certification methodologies for long-lasting products derived from the targeted biomass.
• Apply environmental sustainability safeguards to avoid soil degradation, biodiversity loss and carbon loss, differentiated by forest type and management practice, and assess soil quality impacts.
• Demonstrate synergies with existing policy frameworks and networks (CAP, EIP-AGRI, AKIS).
• Ensure complementarities with past and ongoing Horizon and BBI/CBE JU R&I projects addressing similar challenges.
• Adopt decentralised, small-scale, mobile or containerised units accommodating regional and company-size variability.
• Embrace a Multi-Actor Approach, ensuring adequate involvement of all key actors in the value chain.
• Provide recommendations for the development of EU carbon farming certification methodologies for long-lasting products derived from the targeted biomass.
• Apply environmental sustainability safeguards to avoid soil degradation, biodiversity loss and carbon loss, differentiated by forest type and management practice, and assess soil quality impacts.
• Demonstrate synergies with existing policy frameworks and networks (CAP, EIP-AGRI, AKIS).
• Ensure complementarities with past and ongoing Horizon and BBI/CBE JU R&I projects addressing similar challenges.
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
This is a Horizon-JU Research and Innovation Action under the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2025 (section 2.2.3.1), with a single-stage submission open 03 April 2025 to 18 September 2025 (17:00 Brussels time). Proposals must comply with:
• Admissibility and eligibility criteria (Annex A/E: page limits and layout; Annex B: eligible countries; Annex C: financial/operational capacity; Annex D/F: evaluation and award; Annex G: legal and financial setup).
• Use the updated Part B Application Form template (version dated 04/04/2025) available in the Submission System.
• Implement the Multi-Actor Approach and involve all relevant value-chain actors, including feedstock providers, industrial players, consumers, advisors and policy makers.
• Explore synergies with CAP, EIP-AGRI and the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems.
• Go beyond feedstock sustainability requirements by preventing soil degradation and biodiversity and carbon loss, with safeguards differentiated by forest type and management practice.
• Provide references to and ensure complementarities with past/ongoing R&I projects (e.g., TECH 4 EFFECT, EFFORTE, Opti For Value, Single Tree, Small 4 Good, SMURF).
• Adhere to the Horizon Action Grant Budget-Based Model Grant Agreement (HORIZON-AG) and use the Funding & Tenders Portal for submission.
• Admissibility and eligibility criteria (Annex A/E: page limits and layout; Annex B: eligible countries; Annex C: financial/operational capacity; Annex D/F: evaluation and award; Annex G: legal and financial setup).
• Use the updated Part B Application Form template (version dated 04/04/2025) available in the Submission System.
• Implement the Multi-Actor Approach and involve all relevant value-chain actors, including feedstock providers, industrial players, consumers, advisors and policy makers.
• Explore synergies with CAP, EIP-AGRI and the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems.
• Go beyond feedstock sustainability requirements by preventing soil degradation and biodiversity and carbon loss, with safeguards differentiated by forest type and management practice.
• Provide references to and ensure complementarities with past/ongoing R&I projects (e.g., TECH 4 EFFECT, EFFORTE, Opti For Value, Single Tree, Small 4 Good, SMURF).
• Adhere to the Horizon Action Grant Budget-Based Model Grant Agreement (HORIZON-AG) and use the Funding & Tenders Portal for submission.
Important dates
Open from: 03/04/2025
Deadline:18/09/2025
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