Publication date:
CBE JU has published its 2026 work programme, announcing €170.7 million funding for call for project proposals to accelerate sustainable and competitive bio-based solutions across Europe. The programme aligns with the CBE JU’s Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda, as well as with the European Commission’s recently presented Strategic Framework for a Competitive and Sustainable EU Bioeconomy, which reinforces the importance of biotechnology, biomanufacturing and circular value chains for Europe’s industrial resilience and competitiveness. The 2026 call topics reflect these priorities while building directly on the achievements from CBE JU’s expanding project portfolio.
The 2026 work programme introduces 13 topics ranging from industrial flagship biorefineries to research actions that strengthen feedstock diversification, circular design, biotech scale-up and market uptake. The 2026 call for proposals will open on 23 April and close on 22 September 2026.
Flagship Innovation Actions (TRL 8)
Boosting biorefinery competitiveness through biotech – €20M
Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) bio-based alternatives for fertilising and/or crop protection products – €20M
SSbD bio-based solutions for home and/or personal care – €20M
Diversification of nutritional food ingredient sources for increased EU resilience and strategic autonomy – €20M
Innovation Actions (TRL 6-7)
Biotech routes for valorisation of residual biomass – €14M
Bio-based additives as alternatives to unlock and increase recyclability and/or biodegradability – €14M
Bio-based chemicals and/or materials from woody residues – €14M
High-performance, circular-by-design, bio-based thermosets – €14M
Films and coatings for circular packaging – €14M
Research and Innovation Actions (TRL 5)
Addressing separation and purification challenges in biorefineries – €6.5M
SSbD bio-based polymers from alternative sources – €6.5M
Breakthrough and sustainable bio-based textile fibres – €6.5M
Coordination and Support Actions
Supporting industry in the switch to sustainable and circular bio-based products and processes – €1.2M
Together, these investments will accelerate safe and sustainable biomanufacturing routes, bring bio-based ingredients and materials to market, reinforce value chain cooperation with primary producers and support regional economic development. The topics also contribute to the implementation of the Clean Industrial Deal and the Competitiveness Compass objectives to reduce fossil dependency, improve resource efficiency and strengthen industrial competitiveness.
With €170.7 million available across 13 targeted topics, the 2026 work programme is set to accelerate Europe’s bio-based transition at a critical moment. It fits perfectly in the new Bioeconomy Strategy and supports the deployment of biotechnology, new value chains and sustainable industrial production across Europe, helping bring bio-based innovation from lab to fab.
CBE JU Executive Director Nicoló Giacomuzzi-Moore
The CBE JU Info Day 2026 will take place on 12 March online, while a dedicated networking event will happen on 21 April in Brussels, Belgium. Registration for in-person attendance will open in January 2026. All stakeholders interested in applying for CBE JU funding will also have the opportunity to engage on the CBE JU networking platform.
The complete topic descriptions and requirements can be found in the CBE JU 2026 work programme. Call topics will be published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, together with full call documentation.
In 2026, CBE JU will also deliver a series of strategic activities, including the CBE JU Stakeholder Forum 2026, a new public dashboard on project results, strengthened monitoring of private contributions and continue working on widening participation and investment mobilisation.