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Horizon Europe Cluster 6 — Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources & Environment

Horizon Bioeconomy: Industrial & Environmental Biotech

Funds three €4M lump-sum grants for industrial and environmental biotech — synthetic biology, gene editing, biofoundries — not health biotech or biofuels.

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Europe is trying to build biotech and biomanufacturing into a real industrial base, not just a research topic — cleaner chemicals, materials and processes made with biology instead of fossil inputs, backed by the coming EU Biotech Act. This topic funds the underlying technology behind that shift, and it means industrial and environmental biotech specifically, not the health applications most peopl

Developing and advancing key enabling technologies for industrial and environmental biotechnology and biomanufacturing — synthetic and molecular biology, gene editing, metabolic engineering, microbiome science, and biofoundry approaches — aimed at clean growth and environmental solutions, with pilot-scale validation encouraged. Funded work has to integrate digital technologies (AI/ML, bioinformatics) and converge with nature-based solutions such as carbon sequestration and biodiversity protection, following circular-economy principles, with environmental and human-health safety assessed quantitatively from the outset. Proposals must also produce policy and industry recommendations grounded in a risk-benefit assessment. Health biotechnology and biofuel or bioenergy applications are out of scope — those sit under Horizon Europe Clusters 1 and 5 instead.

CycleiHow often this grant runs — e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.Annual
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.17 Sept 2026
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.22 weeks
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.
Award typeiThe form of funding — grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Grant
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.0%
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.€12M

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Last verified: 25 Aug 2026Funder reference: HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-07Source: ec.europa.eu