Bioeconomy Giants - OC#2 for Scaling up and Piloting
BIOECONOMY GIANTS supports the piloting and scaling up of high-value bio-based products from agricultural, agri-food and forestry biomass through innovative cooperative business models that empower primary producers.
TYPE OF PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED: The call funds collaborative pilot projects focused on the piloting, validation, demonstration and scaling up of high-added-value bio-based products using secondary or underutilised agricultural, agri-food and forestry biomass. Projects must combine technological or operational innovation at TRL 6–8 with cooperative business and governance models that strengthen the role of primary producers in circular bio-based value chains. Activities must demonstrate progress in biomass valorisation, resource efficiency, technical feasibility, market potential and equitable value-sharing. Funded consortia will also receive mentoring, technical guidance and climate impact assessment support.
SECTORS / DOMAIN: Agriculture, agri-food, forestry, circular bioeconomy, bio-based industries, biomass valorisation, sustainable industrial production and cooperative business models.
INDIVIDUAL OR CONSORTIUM: Applications must be submitted by national or transnational consortia of 2 to 4 partners. Individual applications are not eligible. Each consortium must designate a Lead Applicant and include at least one eligible primary producer or related actor with a meaningful role in project implementation, decision-making and value creation.
SPECIFIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must be established in an EU Member State, including eligible outermost regions and overseas countries and territories, or a Horizon Europe Associated Country. Eligible applicants include SMEs, large enterprises, universities, research and technology organisations, clusters, public bodies and other legal entities. Each consortium must include at least one eligible primary producer or related actor, such as a farm, agricultural or forestry producer, cooperative, producer organisation or other eligible organisation specified in the guidelines. All partners must have verifiable legal status and a valid VAT number or equivalent official tax or business registration number.
SPECIFIC TOPICS OR CHALLENGES: The call adopts a bottom-up approach targeting the valorisation of secondary or underutilised agricultural, agri-food and forestry biomass. Potential applications include sustainable bio-based packaging, bio-based materials, chemical intermediates, food or feed ingredients, speciality chemicals, biofertilisers and organic amendments. All proposals must address bio-based innovation and piloting or scaling up, circular biomass valorisation, cooperative business and governance models, market potential and value chain resilience, and measurable results with future replication or scaling-up potential. Proposed solutions must be within TRL 6–8. Primary producers must actively participate in decision-making and benefit-sharing. Projects focusing solely or primarily on bioenergy or biofuel production are excluded. Selected consortia must also participate in climate impact assessment activities, test the COOMPY Tool for cooperative business modelling and organise at least one BIOECONOMY GIANTS Open Day.
PROJECTS DURATION: Funded pilot projects must run for 7 months, starting in March 2027 and ending in September 2027. Shorter implementation periods are not accepted.
BUDGET, FUNDING RATES AND PAYMENT CONDITIONS:
Funding rate: 100% of eligible direct costs, provided as a lump-sum grant.
Budget conditions / limitations: The total call budget is €280,000, supporting up to 4 projects with a maximum grant of €70,000 per consortium and €60,000 per individual legal entity. Each partner must allocate at least 40% of its own budget to personnel costs. Subcontracting may not exceed 30% of the total project budget, and other direct costs may not exceed 40%. Indirect costs are not eligible.
Payments: An indicative payment schedule provides 45% pre-financing upon signing the Sub-Grant Agreement (March 2027), 35% following approval of the interim report (July 2027), and the remaining 20% following approval of the final report (October 2027). Interim and final payments are conditional on the successful implementation of the funded activities and approval of the respective technical reports.
Links
Closes
31/12/2026
Max funding per project
70.000€