#CBEScaleUp competition opens

This year’s theme, Scaling up Europe’s bio-based future, invites all CBE JU and BBI JU projects, both ongoing and completed, to share their visual stories of how innovation is becomes industrial reality. Through people, places and technologies, the competition will showcase how Europe’s circular bioeconomy is creating tangible benefits for businesses, communities and the environment.

The competition will culminate in an exhibition and awards ceremony at the CBE JU Stakeholder Forum on 24 March 2026 at The Square, Brussels.

This competition celebrates the innovators and doers who are building Europe’s bio-based future – from research labs and pilot sites to industrial biorefineries. Their work deserves to be seen and their images tell powerful stories of change and impact.

CBE JU Executive Director Nicoló Giacomuzzi-Moore

Showcasing Europe’s scale-up journey

Under the hashtag #CBEScaleUp, participants are encouraged to capture the essence of bio-based innovation in motion – from pilot-scale testing to commercial production, from lab discoveries to market-ready solutions, and from local biomass sources to new circular value chains.

Projects can submit entries across four photo categories and one video category:

• Scaling innovation – Industrial scale-up and innovation in action

• People and skills – The people behind Europe’s bio-based transition

• Circular Europe – Circular and sustainable practices in bio-based ecosystems

• Creative focus – Artistic and detailed representations of transformation

• Video stories – Short videos (max. 25 seconds) showing scale-up in action

Each project can submit up to five photos per category and five videos in total. More details on how to apply can be found here.

Awards and recognition

The winning entries will be exhibited during the CBE JU Stakeholder Forum 2026, featured in CBE JU publications, campaigns and exhibitions throughout 2026, and promoted across CBE JU’s communication channels.

• Grand Prize: Ticket to EFIB 2026 (or equivalent bioeconomy event)

• Category Winners: Exhibition at the Stakeholder Forum 2026

• Audience Award: Most-liked post on CBE JU LinkedIn

Key dates

• Deadline for submissions: 15 January 2026

• Jury evaluation: Late January 2026

• Announcement of shortlisted works: Early February 2026

• Exhibition and awards: 24 March 2026

How to participate

All CBE JU and BBI JU projects are eligible. Submissions must be sent via WeTransfer to multimedia[at]cbe.europa.eu with the subject line: PROJECTNAME_#CBEScaleUp

Photos and videos must comply with the technical and copyright requirements listed on the competition webpage.

By participating, entrants grant CBE JU the right to use submitted materials (with attribution) in its communication and promotional activities. Costs related to participation are eligible project costs.

Join us in capturing how Europe’s circular bioeconomy is scaling up – one image at a time!