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Horizon Europe
1 phase
Strategic Analysis
This Horizon Europe RIA call targets the development and validation of highly efficient, sustainable, and scalable separation and purification technologies for biorefineries. A winning proposal must demonstrate robust technical innovation, practical application across multiple industrial/demo use cases, and a strong commitment to Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) principles, ensuring compatibility with existing upstream processes.
TRL 2 → 6
Based on programme defaults
Develop scalable separation and purification technologies and test the developed innovative solutions on at least 3 use cases from biorefinery processes at industrial or demo scale. Each technology should address at least two of the following: increase efficiency when using available green solvents (including water), or develop novel ones and in both cases minimise the use of harsh solvents;
applying process intensification including through reduction of process steps;
reducing thermal and/or electric energy and water consumption.
Address compatibility of the innovative separation and purification solutions with existing upstream technologies or develop solutions that address simultaneously the upstream and downstream challenges.
Test and validate the performance of targeted technologies and their effect on selected bio-based product(s). Both novel (not yet available on the market) and well-established bio-based products are in scope.
Include a task to apply the SSbD framework, developed by the European Commission for the assessment of targeted biorefinery products obtained using the developed separation and purification processes. For more information on the SSbD framework and criteria, refer to Safe and sustainable by design .
Ensure complementarities with past and ongoing R&I projects addressing similar challenges, including projects funded under Horizon 2020/Horizon Europe (under Cluster 6 and other Clusters of Horizon Europe) and BBI JU/CBE JU projects.
Enhancing competitiveness, efficiency, sustainability, circularity and safety of industrial biorefineries.
Efficient, selective and scalable separation and purification technology platform(s) with high potential to be integrated within existing and/or new biorefineries.
Purity and stability of targeted intermediates/product(s) compatible with further conversion requirements.
Contribution to the updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy
Contribution to the Circular Economy Act
Contribution to the Clean Industrial Deal
Contribution to the European Chemical Industry Action Plan
Contribution to the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability
EU Bioeconomy Strategy
highPromotes sustainable use of biological resources. Relevant for proposals involving bio-based materials or circular bioeconomy models in urban manufacturing.
If applicable, integration of bio-based solutions and alignment with bioeconomy strategy targets.
Circular Economy Act
highThe "Circular Economy Act" refers to the legislative and policy framework stemming from the EU's Circular Economy Action Plans. It aims to accelerate the transition to a circular economy by promoting sustainable product design, reducing waste, increasing recycling and reuse, and fostering circular business models across key value chains.
Proposals should clearly demonstrate how their advanced manufacturing processes contribute to circularity. This includes aspects like resource efficiency, waste reduction, use of secondary raw materials, design for longevity, repairability, or recyclability, and the development of circular business models within the manufacturing context.
Clean Industrial Deal
highThe "Clean Industrial Deal" refers to the industrial dimension of the European Green Deal, aiming to make European industry more sustainable, competitive, and resilient. It focuses on decarbonization, circularity, resource efficiency, and the development of clean technologies and products, while ensuring a level playing field and supporting innovation.
Proposals should demonstrate how their advanced manufacturing solutions contribute to the green transition of industry, for example, by reducing emissions, improving resource efficiency, enabling circularity, or developing clean technologies. Alignment with the EU's climate and environmental objectives and enhancing industrial competitiveness are key.
Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability
highThe Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) towards a toxic-free environment is a key deliverable of the European Green Deal. It aims to protect human health and the environment better from hazardous chemicals, while boosting innovation for safe and sustainable chemicals. It promotes the shift to chemicals that are safe and sustainable by design, simplifying and strengthening the EU legal framework for chemicals, and ensuring a toxic-free environment.
Proposals should demonstrate how their solutions contribute to the objectives of the CSS, particularly in developing or utilizing safer and more sustainable chemicals, reducing reliance on hazardous substances, promoting circularity in chemical use, and fostering innovation in safe-by-design approaches. For biorefineries, this could involve ensuring the sustainability and safety of processes and products, and minimizing environmental impact.
European Chemical Industry Action Plan
lowThe "European Chemical Industry Action Plan" is not a recognized standalone overarching policy document or strategy published by the European Commission. While the EU has various policies impacting the chemical industry, such as the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, a distinct "Action Plan" with this specific title as an official EU policy is not identifiable.
As this is not a recognized standalone EU policy, evaluators would not specifically expect proposals to reference an "European Chemical Industry Action Plan." However, proposals related to the chemical industry should align with broader EU policies like the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, the European Green Deal, and industrial strategies.
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described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in section 2.2.3 Calls for proposals in the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026
Application form templates
Please use the application form that you will find in the Submission System.
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
Guidance
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Call-specific instructions
CBE JU Call for proposals 2026
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme and Rules for Participation Regulation 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Evaluators will primarily scrutinize the scalability and industrial relevance of the proposed separation and purification technologies, requiring testing on at least three distinct biorefinery use cases at industrial or demo scale (@SC1). A critical aspect will be the explicit and thorough application of the European Commission's SSbD framework for assessing targeted bio-based products (@SC6). Proposals must clearly articulate how they reduce energy and water consumption, minimise harsh solvents, and apply process intensification (@SC1, @SC2, @SC3), while ensuring compatibility with existing upstream technologies (@SC4).
4 key insights you must internalise before writing. Each is grounded in the call text and tells you what evaluators will actually look for. Share these with your consortium before drafting.
A proposal must validate its technology on at least 3 use cases from biorefinery processes at an industrial or demo scale. This is a mandatory threshold, not an ambition. A proposal without consortium partners providing these specific, large-scale validation environments will be deemed non-compliant with the scope.
Source: Scope / Expected Outcomes
The call mandates the inclusion of a task to apply the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework. Evaluators will scrutinize this as a 'critical aspect' and expect an explicit and thorough application. Proposals must structure a dedicated task or work package for this assessment, detailing the methodology and its integration with the technology development.
Source: Evaluation criteria (pre-award)
The core technology must address at least two of the following three challenges: improving/developing green solvents, applying process intensification, or reducing energy and water consumption. A proposal that excels in only one of these areas will fail to meet the minimum scope requirements. Your technical work plan must explicitly demonstrate compliance with this 'two-out-of-three' rule.
Source: Scope / Expected Outcomes
Proposals must explicitly address the compatibility of the new separation solutions with existing upstream technologies. This is a core requirement that signals the project's focus on practical integration, not just standalone innovation. This strongly implies the necessity of including industrial end-users in the consortium to define and validate this compatibility.
Source: Scope / Expected Outcomes
The AI has drafted potential core elements based on the call analysis. To start building your project proposal structure, select the elements that resonate with your consortium's concept. You can refine and rewrite them fully once your project workspace is created.
Current separation and purification methods in biorefineries often suffer from high energy demands, excessive water usage, and reliance on harsh, unsustainable solvents, hindering overall process efficiency and environmental performance.
There is a critical need for innovative separation technologies that are not only efficient but also scalable to industrial or demo levels and compatible with a variety of upstream biorefinery processes and diverse bio-based products, both novel and established.
The development of new bio-based products and processes requires robust frameworks to ensure their inherent safety and sustainability throughout their lifecycle, including the chemicals used and generated during separation and purification, aligning with EU chemical strategies.
Companies operating or planning to operate biorefineries, seeking to improve efficiency, sustainability, and competitiveness through advanced separation and purification technologies.
Organisations involved in the research, development, and commercialisation of separation, purification, and process intensification technologies for industrial applications.
Academics, researchers, and R&I institutions working on bioprocessing, chemical engineering, sustainable chemistry, and circular economy, benefiting from new knowledge, methodologies, and validated technologies.
European and national authorities responsible for developing and implementing policies related to bioeconomy, circular economy, industrial sustainability, and chemicals management, benefiting from evidence-based insights for future regulations and strategies.
To research, develop, and optimise innovative, scalable separation and purification technologies that enhance efficiency, reduce energy and water consumption, and minimise the use of harsh solvents in biorefinery processes.
To rigorously test and validate the performance of the developed technologies on at least three industrial or demo-scale biorefinery use cases, ensuring their compatibility with existing upstream processes and the purity/stability of targeted bio-based products.
To integrate and apply the European Commission's Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework for a comprehensive assessment of the environmental and safety profile of bio-based products obtained through the developed separation and purification processes.
To ensure strong complementarities with relevant past and ongoing R&I projects (H2020, Horizon Europe, BBI JU/CBE JU) and effectively disseminate project findings to the scientific community, industry, and policymakers.
The project will contribute to a more sustainable and competitive European bioeconomy by developing advanced separation technologies that reduce environmental footprint and improve resource efficiency, aligning with the updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy (@EI1).
By enabling more efficient separation and purification, the project will foster circularity, minimise waste generation, and facilitate the valorisation of side streams in biorefineries, aligning with the Circular Economy Act (@EI2).
The developed technologies will significantly reduce thermal and/or electric energy and water consumption in biorefinery processes, contributing to a cleaner and more resource-efficient industrial landscape in Europe, in line with the Clean Industrial Deal (@EI3).
The project will advance the use of green solvents and implement the SSbD framework, leading to safer chemical processes and products, in line with the European Chemical Industry Action Plan (@EI4) and the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (@EI5).