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

Horizon Bioeconomy: Bio-Based Standards Research

Funds research consortia developing the pre-normative science behind future standards for bio-based chemicals, polymers and other bio-based products.

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Bio-based products — everything from bio-based chemicals to polymers — often can't scale past a lab or a niche market because there's no accepted standard for testing, comparing or ecodesigning them. Buyers, regulators and other manufacturers have no benchmark to test a product against. This topic funds the research that has to happen before a real standard can be written — pre-normative research,

Pre-normative research that fills gaps in the standardization pipeline for one bio-based sector — the topic's own example is intermediate bio-based chemicals or polymers — covering the knowledge, technology, product, process or service needed for ecodesign in that sector, plus the stakeholder engagement with industry, standards bodies and policymakers needed to get a real standard adopted. Bioenergy and biofuel applications are out of scope. Two projects are funded at a fixed €4M lump sum each.

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.€8M

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Last verified: 25 Aug 2026Funder reference: HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-08Source: ec.europa.eu