Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) Work Programme 2026 Published

Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking  (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 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.

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IAFlag-01: Boosting biorefinery competitiveness through biotech 

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IAFlag-02: SSbD bio-based alternatives for fertilising and/or crop protection products

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IAFlag-03: SSbD bio-based solutions for home and/or personal care 

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IAFlag-04: Diversification of nutritional food ingredient sources for increased EU resilience and strategic autonomy 

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IA-01: Biotech routes for valorisation of residual biomass 

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IA-02: Bio-based additives as alternatives to unlock and increase recyclability and/or biodegradability 

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IA-03: Bio-based chemicals and/or materials from woody residues 

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IA-04: High-performance, circular-by-design, bio-based thermosets 

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-IA-05: Films and coatings for circular packaging 

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-RIA-01: Addressing separation and purification challenges in biorefineries

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-RIA-02: SSbD bio-based polymers from alternative sources

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-RIA-03: Develop breakthrough and sustainable bio-based textile fibres

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2026-CSA-01: Supporting industry in the switch to sustainable and circular biobased products and processes

The 2026 call for proposals will open on 23 April and close on 22 September 2026.

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.

If you are interested in submitting a proposal, please contact us and we will be happy to arrange a meeting to discuss this in more detail.
Estelle Waise: estelle.waise@biu.ac.il
Natalie Gordon: natalia.gordon@biu.ac.il
Anna Madar: anna.madar@biu.ac.il
Katie Bleiberg: katherine.bleiberg@biu.ac.il