PRIMARY Open Call
Funding for small consortia to pilot and validate circular bioeconomy solutions that convert underutilised agricultural residues into bio-based products, energy or materials using PRIMARY processing technologies
Type of projects to be funded: Pilot and validation projects that test and adapt PRIMARY processing technologies and circular business model blueprints to convert underutilised agricultural residues into value-added products such as bioenergy, bio-based materials, proteins, or soil inputs, demonstrating their technical feasibility and economic viability in real rural conditions.
Sectors / domain: Bioeconomy, agriculture, circular economy, biomass valorisation and rural innovation focused on the sustainable use of agricultural residues.
Individual or consortium: Applications must be submitted by consortia of two to three partners including at least one technical partner responsible for implementing or operating the processing technology and at least one organisation acting as an end user (e.g., farmer, cooperative, SME, research organisation or public body).
Specific eligibility requirements: Applicants must be legal entities established in countries eligible for Horizon Europe funding and must form a consortium of 2–3 partners. Eligible organisations include SMEs, start-ups, cooperatives, research organisations, public authorities and civil society organisations. Projects must be implemented in rural European regions not already participating in the PRIMARY project.
Specific topics or challenges: Proposals must addres minimum one feedstorck and validate at least one PRIMARY processing concept (biorefinery processes, submerged fermentation, solid-state fermentation, fibre-forming technologies, pelletizing, or pyrolysis/gasification) using underutilised agricultural residues such as grass, greenhouse residues, cotton by-products or olive prunings, while developing and testing a circular business model for the value chain.
Projects duration: 18 months (4 for design, 11 for development and 3 for impact and validation).
Budget, funding rates and payment conditions:
Funding rate: 100% (lum sum).
Budget conditions / limitations: Maximum €150,000 per sub-project for consortia of three partners and €100,000 for consortia of two partners, with a total open call budget of up to €900,000.
Payments: Lump-sum payments linked to deliverables across three phases (20% design phase, 50% development phase, 30% impact and validation phase).
Links
Closes
08/06/2026
Max funding per project
150.000€