On the map

The European Commission presented today the EU Startup and scaleup strategy with the aim to position the EU as the best place in the world to start and scale global technology-driven companies. The strategy will support many highly innovative small businesses of the bio-based sector, currently in great need of a regulatory push to reach their full potential in Europe. 

Following its 2024 call for proposals, CBE JU has now signed grant agreements with 30 projects. The funded consortia, made of a total of 416 beneficiaries from 33 countries, will develop innovative bio-based solutions at scale to reduce Europe’s reliance on fossil resources, create green jobs, and drive sustainable economic growth.

The CBE JU 2025 call for project proposals is now open for submission. A total of €172 million will be dedicated to advancing competitive circular bio-based industries in Europe across 13 topics. All stakeholders of the circular bio-based sector can apply before the deadline of 18 September 2025, 17:00 Brussels time.

CBE JU founding partners have amended the partnership’s annual work programme to increase the call for projects budget to €172 million and to update its topics. Some CBE JU-specific requirements have changed, and the deadline to submit project proposals is extended.

CBE JU representatives were in Hervás, Spain, yesterday, to celebrate the launch of the SUSTAINEXT biorefinery’s construction. When completed, the plant will process 20 000 tonnes of agricultural sidestreams a year to produce healthy ingredients for various sectors ranging from food to cosmetics, to chemicals.