European Commission logo
Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking

Horizon Bioeconomy: Woody Residue Biorefinery

Funds two €7M projects turning bark, sawdust and other woody residues into validated bio-based chemicals or materials for sustainable end products.

ClosedEuropean CommissionEU

Forestry and wood-processing operations produce large streams of bark, sawdust and other woody residues. Much of this material is used for energy or low-value products, while bio-based manufacturers still need better feedstocks. This topic funds industrial projects that turn those residues into higher-value chemicals and materials.

A winning project demonstrates a scalable process at TRL 6 or abo…

Demonstrating at TRL 6 or above scalable technologies that turn woody residues from forestry and wood-processing sites — including bark and sawdust — into bio-based chemicals and/or materials, then validating those outputs in end products at TRL 5 or above. Projects must handle variable feedstock quality across pretreatment, fractionation, conversion, separation and purification; apply eco-design and the Safe and Sustainable by Design framework to the end products; optimise sourcing, storage and transport; and work with local forest owners, managers, cooperatives or sector associations. Incineration is out of scope.

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.-
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.30%
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.€170.8M

Sign up free to see the funding breakdown

Sign up free to see the industries in scope

Sign up free to see the full eligibility

Sign up free to see how to apply

Sign up free to see what you submit

Sign up free to see how they score you

Sign up free to see the timeline

Sign up free to see where teams trip up

Guides for this application

All guides →

More from European Commission

All grants from this funder →
European Commission logo
Open

Digital Europe Programme

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds Europe-wide digital capability development in AI, cybersecurity, semiconductors, hardware, and IoT.

AICybersecurity+3
Oct'26
European Commission logo
Open

Crime prevention approaches, online and off-line, tackling the nexus between addictions and crime

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds research and pilot collaboration between police authorities and civil-society groups to prevent addiction-linked crime across the EU.

€3MNov'26
European Commission logo
Open

Horizon Border Security: Accessible Travel Facilitation

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds two €4M border-crossing tech projects, run with Border or Coast Guard Authorities, built for travelers with disabilities or low digital skills.

DefenseAI
€4MNov'26
European Commission logo
Open

Horizon Border Security: Age Assessment Reliability

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds a €1.33M project, run with border and coast guard authorities, that compares how reliable different ways of estimating a young migrant's age really are.

Defense
€1.3MNov'26
European Commission logo
Open

Horizon Border Security: Surveillance & Drone Detection

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds two €6M projects that build border detection and surveillance tech, run jointly with national Border and Coast Guard authorities.

DefenseIoT & Edge
€6MNov'26
European Commission logo
Open

Horizon Civil Security: Bioterrorism Prevention

🇪🇺European Commission · European Union

Funds a €3M project that reviews how synthetic biology could be misused for bioterrorism and pinpoints where monitoring and regulation fall short.

Synthetic BiologyDefense
€3MNov'26
Ettevõtluse ja Innovatsiooni Sihtasutus (EIS) logo
Open

Horizon Europe EIC Accelerator — Estonian Applicant Support

🇪🇪EIS · Estonia

Funds research teams and institutions for Horizon Europe EIC Accelerator Estonian Applicant Support in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and climate technology.

AIBiotech+12
€2.5M
VLAIO (Agentschap Innoveren & Ondernemen) logo
Open

ICON (Interdisciplinary Cooperative Research)

🇧🇪VLAIO · Belgium

Supports cooperative demand driven research bridging Flemish strategic research centres clusters and at least independent Flemish companies.

AISemiconductors+4
€100K – €3M
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council logo
Open

BBSRC Applicant-Led (Responsive Mode) — Always Open

🇬🇧BBSRC · United Kingdom

Supports United Kingdom bioscience researchers through responsive grants that fund investigator-led foundational innovation.

BiotechAgritech+5
£2M
National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) logo
Open

NRF Centers of Research Excellence

🇰🇷NRF · South Korea

Supports major research centers in Korea that drive strategic science leadership and multidisciplinary team excellence.

AIBiotech+7
₩1.5B – ₩10B
Research Ireland (Taighde Éireann) logo
Open

Research Ireland Frontiers for the Future

🇮🇪Research Ireland · Ireland

Funds high-risk investigator-driven research in Ireland across frontier technology and translational discovery.

BiotechAI+6
€600K – €1.5M
Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) logo
Open

KIAT Regional Industry Strategic R&D Program

🇰🇷KIAT · South Korea

Funds Korean regional teams with coordinated support for collaborative innovation in economic zones and parks.

Advanced ManufacturingAdvanced Materials+3
₩300M – ₩2B