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Strategic Analysis
A winning proposal under @HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-RIA-01 must demonstrate robust downstream separation and purification breakthroughs validated across at least three distinct industrial- or demo-scale biorefinery use cases. Success hinges on delivering drastic process intensification, replacing toxic solvents with green or water-based alternatives, and systematically cutting thermal/electrical energy and water demand while embedding the European Commission's Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework. Consortium design must ensure mandatory CBE JU compliance by including certified BIC members guaranteeing at least 5% IKOP, a multi-actor approach, and clear technological synergies with previous BBI/CBE JU initiatives.
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.
No expected impacts identified for this destination.
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.
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.
Circular Economy Act
mediumThe "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
mediumThe "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.
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.
Specific requirements
EU space data infrastructures
If the project uses satellite-based Earth observation, positioning, navigation or timing data/services, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS. Other sources may be added but not substitute EU infrastructures.
Civil applications only
Horizon Europe funds exclusively civil applications. Research with exclusive military or dual-use application is excluded.
Gender Equality Plan
Having a Gender Equality Plan (GEP) is an eligibility criterion for public bodies, research organisations, and higher education institutions from Member States and Associated Countries.
Open Science
Mandatory open access to peer-reviewed scientific publications and responsible management of research data (FAIR principles, DMP required).
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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 rigorously assess compliance with CBE JU RIA-specific eligibility criteria, scored requirements, and core technical mandates:
Everything the call asks for, seen from the call's point of view. Each line shows what answers it, and which partner carries it.
This matrix lists everything the call asks for: outcomes, impacts, scope, the requirements buried in the call text, and policy alignment. Sign up free and GrantForge tracks each line against the concept you build.
| Requirement | Covered by | Carried | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope activities | |||
| SC1Develop 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; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC2applying process intensification including through reduction of process steps; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC3reducing thermal and/or electric energy and water consumption. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC4Address compatibility of the innovative separation and purification solutions with existing upstream technologies or develop solutions that address simultaneously the upstream and downstream challenges. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC5Test 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. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC6Include 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 . | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC7Ensure 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. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected outcomes | |||
| EO1Enhancing competitiveness, efficiency, sustainability, circularity and safety of industrial biorefineries. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO2Efficient, selective and scalable separation and purification technology platform(s) with high potential to be integrated within existing and/or new biorefineries. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO3Purity and stability of targeted intermediates/product(s) compatible with further conversion requirements. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Other requirements | |||
| REQ1Application of the European Commission Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) frameworkProposals must include a task to apply the European Commission Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework for the assessment of targeted biorefinery products obtained using the developed separation and purification processes. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ2Complementarities and synergies with past and ongoing Horizon and BBI/CBE JU projectsEnsure 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) and BBI JU/CBE JU projects. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ3Implementation of the Multi-Actor ApproachConsortium design requires demonstrating the mandatory Multi-Actor Approach. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ4Adherence to food first and cascading biomass principlesProposals must adhere to the 'food first' and cascading biomass principles. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected impacts | |||
| No expected impacts in this call. | |||
| Underlying policies | |||
| POL1eu bioeconomy strategyPromotes sustainable use of biological resources. Relevant for proposals involving bio-based materials or circular bioeconomy models in urban manufacturing. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| POL2chemicals strategy for sustainabilityThe 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. | · | · | Sign up to track |
The binding rules of this call. Items marked auto are verified by GrantForge from the call and the template. The others are yours to confirm.
LMIC entities auto-eligible
Low/middle-income country entities are automatically eligible for funding.
EU space data infrastructures
If the project uses satellite-based Earth observation, positioning, navigation or timing data/services, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS. Other sources may be added but not substitute EU infrastructures.
Civil applications only
Horizon Europe funds exclusively civil applications. Research with exclusive military or dual-use application is excluded.
Gender Equality Plan
Having a Gender Equality Plan (GEP) is an eligibility criterion for public bodies, research organisations, and higher education institutions from Member States and Associated Countries.
Open Science
Mandatory open access to peer-reviewed scientific publications and responsible management of research data (FAIR principles, DMP required).
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.
Proposals must guarantee a minimum 5% In-Kind Contributions to Operational Activities (IKOP) to meet CBE JU specific scoring mandates. This requires including certified BIC members in the consortium and explicitly uploading their membership certificates as an annex. Failure to provide this documentation will severely compromise the evaluation.
Source: evaluation_pre_award
The core technical mandate requires validation across at least three distinct biorefinery use cases at an industrial or demo scale. Proposals relying on lab-scale environments or presenting fewer than three concrete use cases will fail the primary technical proof point assessment.
Source: scope
Your separation and purification technologies cannot merely be generic improvements. The methodology must explicitly target and measure success against at least two of three priority vectors: green solvent substitution, process intensification, or significant reductions in thermal/electric energy and water consumption.
Source: scope
Evaluators expect a specific, dedicated task applying the European Commission's Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework. This must include ex-ante environmental benchmark comparisons to prove systemic compatibility and alignment with the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability.
Source: scope
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