CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

Erts

ANNEX to GB decision no 10 /2023

In accordance with the Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2085 and with Article 33 of the Financial

Rules of the CBE JU.

The work programme is made publicly available after its adoption by the Governing Board.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

List of acronyms, definitions and abbreviations ............................................................................... 4

Foreword .......................................................................................................................................... 6

1.1. Mission statement of the CBE JU ..................................................................................... 8

1.2. Background and link with the SRIA ................................................................................. 10

1.3. Strategy for the implementation of the programme ........................................................ 11

2. Work programme 2024 ........................................................................................................... 13

2.1. Executive summary 2024 ................................................................................................ 13

2.2. Operational activities 2024 .............................................................................................. 15

2.2.1. Objectives, indicators and risks .............................................................................. 15

2.2.3. Calls for proposals .................................................................................................. 22

2.2.4. Cooperation, synergies and cross-cutting themes and activities ........................... 95

2.3. Support to operations ...................................................................................................... 96

2.3.1. Communication, dissemination and exploitation .................................................... 96

2.3.2. Indicative budget ..................................................................................................... 98

2.3.3. Indicative list of events ............................................................................................ 98

2.3.4. Procurement and contracts ..................................................................................... 99

2.3.5. Other support operations ...................................................................................... 100

2.4. Governance activities .................................................................................................... 110

2.4.1. Governing Board ................................................................................................... 110

2.4.2. Executive Director ................................................................................................. 110

2.4.3. States’ representatives group ............................................................................... 110

2.4.4. Scientific Committee ............................................................................................. 111

2.4.5. Deployment Groups .............................................................................................. 112

2.5. Strategy and plans for the organisational management and internal control systems . 113

2.5.1. Financial procedures ............................................................................................. 114

2.5.2. Ex ante and ex post controls ................................................................................. 114

2.5.3. Audits .................................................................................................................... 115

3. Budget Year 2024 ................................................................................................................. 117

4. Annexes ................................................................................................................................ 125

4.1. IKAA Plan ...................................................................................................................... 125

4.2. Glossary ......................................................................................................................... 127

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

LIST OF ACRONYMS, DEFINITIONS AND

ABBREVIATIONS

AAR Annual Activity Report

AWP Annual Work Programme

B2B Business-to-Business

B2C Business-to-Consumer

BBI JU Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking

BIC Bio-based Industries Consortium

CA Commitment Appropriations

CAPEX Capital Expenditure

CAS Common Audit Service

CBE JU Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking

CCS Carbon capture and storage

CCU Carbon capture and use

CEN European Committee for Standardization

CSA Coordination and Support Action

CIC Common Implementation Centre

EC European Commission

ECA European Court of Auditors

EFTA European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and

Switzerland)

FLAG Flagship Action

FWC Framework Contract

GB Governing Board

HR Human Resources

IA Innovation Action

IAS Internal Audit Service

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

ICF Internal Control Framework

ICS Internal Control Standards

IKAA In Kind contribution to Additional Activities

IKOP In Kind Contribution to Operational Activities

OPEX Operational Expenditure

SRIA Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda

TRL Technology readiness level

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

FOREWORD

Dear Reader,

I am delighted to present to you the 2024 Annual Work Programme for the Circular Bio-based

Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU). This document is the result of a strong collaboration of the

European Commission, the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) and the CBE JU Programme

Office. It presents the 2024 call for project proposals and a robust set of support activities that

allow for the efficient and effective running of the organisation.

CBE JU will continue to support the scaling up of technologies leading to industrial deployment,

thus boosting investment and job creation, while aiming at achieving the goals outlined in the

Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) 2030. In addition, the partnership will involve a

wider range of stakeholders including the primary sector, regional authorities, and investors to

support the deployment of bio-based solutions. To deliver on its objectives, the partnership will

fund projects that respect the principles of circularity, sustainability, and planetary boundaries.

Consequently, CBE JU will significantly contribute to the EU’s climate targets for 2030, paving the

way for climate neutrality by 2050, and advancing circular and sustainable production in line with

the European Green Deal while increasing Europe’s strategic autonomy and industrial

competitiveness.

The Annual Work Programme includes the 2024 call for proposals with an anticipated overall

indicative budget of EUR 211 million, which will support the strategic orientations defined in the

SRIA. The call will fund Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs), Coordination and Support Actions

(CSAs), and will devote a stronger focus to Innovation Actions (IAs) which include Flagships.

CBE JU will continue to build on the achievements of its predecessor, the Bio-based Industries

Joint Undertaking (BBI JU), by ensuring the continuation of running projects. The successful

conclusion of the BBI JU legacy projects is also providing for excellent examples of deployment of

bio-based and circular solutions in Europe. A new reporting tool will be offered to CBE JU

beneficiaries to provide a safe and modern platform where information about projects’ outcomes

can be stored and elaborated, helping to report on the actual achievement of the CBE JU

community and the CBE JU initiative.

CBE JU will continue its communication activities to promote the added value of the bioeconomy

in Europe. In 2024, the Programme Office intends to showcase the outcome of the CBE JU

Stakeholder Forum, will further promote CBE JU among the European Institutions, and will

contribute to the implementation of the bioeconomy strategy as a key sector in the realisation of

the European Green Deal goals, in a sustainable and inclusive way.

The strengthening of the CBE JU community will be an important aspect of the work for the year

ahead. In particular, I would like to mention the implementation of the widening participation

strategy and the establishment of the deployment groups on finance and investment and on

primary producers. I am sure that these actions will further reinforce the role of the JU in the

deployment of the bioeconomy, by involving a larger number of new stakeholders and ensuring

concrete outcomes.

In 2024, a new Executive Director will take up duties; over the last year and a half the Programme

Office team and myself have ensured a smooth running of CBE JU activities along the lines of our

high professional standards. I would like to thank all colleagues for their commitment and their

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

support during this period, it is a pleasure to work in such a dynamic and stimulating working

environment.

We look forward to the next challenges for CBE JU and for the bioeconomy inviting you to join us

in ‘Building a greener, safer and better Europe’.

Nicoló Giacomuzzi-Moore

CBE JU acting Executive Director

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

1.1. MISSION STATEMENT OF THE CBE JU

Advancing a competitive bioeconomy for a sustainable future is the primary mission of the Circular

Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU).

In the context of the European Green Deal

1,2,3

, A Clean Planet for All Communication

and the

Farm to Fork

, the European bio-based sector, including SMEs, regions and primary producers,

should become climate neutral, more circular and more sustainable while remaining competitive

on the global market. A strong, resource efficient and competitive bio-based innovation ecosystem

can decrease Europe’s dependency on and accelerate the substitution of non-renewable fossil raw

materials and mineral resources.

CBE JU is thereby supporting research and innovation activities in the field of sustainable bio-

based solutions under the umbrella of Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation

programme for the 2021-2027 period. CBE JU fosters the development of new technologies and

processes to use all available sources of sustainable biomass and turn it into sustainable and

circular bio-based products. By replacing non-renewable fossil resources with waste and

sustainably sourced biomass to produce industrial and consumer goods, the bio-based industries

will help Europe become the world’s first climate-neutral continent while increasing the

sustainability and circularity of production and consumption systems and be part of a just economic

transition.

Those activities will be carried out in close collaboration between stakeholders along the entire

bio-based value chain, including primary producers and processing industries, consumer brands,

SMEs, research and technology centres and universities. CBE JU also aims to support the

deployment of bio-based innovation at regional level with the active involvement of local actors

and with a view to reviving rural, coastal and peripheral regions. International participation from

third countries is welcome as an important element to advance a sustainable bioeconomy globally.

Its public-private funding scheme will boost innovation and market deployment and pave the way

for future investments. To this end, the CBE JU will organise calls for proposals aimed at supporting

research, demonstration and deployment activities. To deliver on its objectives, CBE JU should

only fund projects that respect the principles of circularity, sustainability and planetary boundaries.

CBE JU will build on the success and achievements of its predecessor, the Bio-based Industries

Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) while enlarging its scope and addressing the remaining challenges of

Europe’s bio-based industries.

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52019DC0640&from=EN

https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/edace3e3-e189-11e8-b690-01aa75ed71a1/language-en/format-

PDF/source-149755478

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52020DC0380&from=EN

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52020DC0098&from=EN

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52020DC0381&from=EN

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

The general and specific objectives of CBE JU, as per Article 46 of the Council Regulation (EU)

2021/2085

of 19 November 2021 (hereinafter the Council Regulation) establishing the Joint

Undertakings under Horizon Europe

, are reported below in Figure 1.

General objectives

Specific objectives

Figure 1 CBE JU general and specific objectives.

Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2085 of 19 November 2021 establishing the Joint Undertakings under Horizon Europe and

repealing Regulations (EC) No 219/2007, (EU) No 557/2014, (EU) No 558/2014, (EU) No 559/2014, (EU) No 560/2014, (EU)

No 561/2014 and (EU) No 642/2014, OJ L 427, 30.11.2021, p. 17–119

Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2085 of 19 November 2021 establishing the Joint Undertakings under Horizon Europe and

repealing Regulations (EC) No 219/2007, (EU) No 557/2014, (EU) No 558/2014, (EU) No 559/2014, (EU) No 560/2014, (EU) No

561/2014 and (EU) No 642/2014

1. Accelerate

the innovation

process and

development

of bio-based

innovative

solutions

Increase the research and innovation capacity and

development sustainable bio-based innovations, by

ensuring that sustainability issues and environmental

performance are integrated throughout the whole

innovation chain.

Increase and integrate the research and innovation

capacity of stakeholders across the EU to unlock

bioeconomy potential

even in regions with

underdeveloped capacity.

Increase cross-disciplinary research and

innovation activities, reaping its benefits for the

development and demonstration of sustainable

bio-based solutions.

2. Accelerate

market

deployment of

the existing

mature and

innovative bio-

based solutions

Reduce the risk for research and innovation

investment in bio-based companies and projects.

Reinforce the integration of bio-based research

and innovation in EU bio-based industries and

increase the involvement of R&I actors, including

feedstock providers, in the bio-

based value

chains.

Ensure that circularity and environmental

considerations, including contributions to climate

neutrality and zero pollution

objectives, are

considered in the development and implementation

of R&I bio- based projects and facilitate societal

acceptance.

3. Ensure

a high level of

environmental

performance

of bio-based

industrial

systems

1.1

1.2

1.3

2.1

2.2

3.1

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

1.2. BACKGROUND AND LINK WITH THE SRIA

To achieve the objectives set out in the Council Regulation, the CBE JU Programme Office will

implement Annual Work Programmes that will support:

- the acceleration of the innovation process and development of bio-based innovative

solutions by funding actions (ranging from CSAs to RIAs and IAs ending TRL 6) focusing

on testing and upscaling the use of novel technologies for converting bio-based feedstock

into useful, innovative, environmentally sustainable and circular solutions;

- the acceleration of market deployment of existing mature and innovative bio-based

solutions by promoting and supporting actions to scale up innovative bio-based processes,

products, and applications starting from at least TRL 5 and ending at TRL 7-8, including

Flagships, across Europe;

- the development of a high level of environmental performance of bio-based industrial

systems through different types of actions, ranging from CSAs to RIAs up to targeted IAs.

The strategic priorities identified in the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA)

for each

CBE general and specific objectives will be used as baseline in each topic:

FEEDSTOCK

Strategic priority 1.1.1 - Ensure the availability and quality of sustainable bio-based

feedstock

Strategic priority 1.3.1 - Protect and enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services in bio-

based feedstock supply systems

Strategic priority 2.1.1 - Demonstrate the sustainable supply of bio-based feedstock

PROCESSING

Strategic priority 1.1.2 - Develop innovative production systems in the bio-based industry

Strategic priority 1.3.2 - Improve environmental performances of bio-based processes

Strategic priority 2.1.2 - Deploy innovative production technologies

PRODUCTS

Strategic priority 1.1.3 - Develop innovative bio-based products

Strategic priority 2.1.3 – Scale-up production and market uptake of innovative bio-based

products

CROSS-CUTTING

Communication

Strategic priority 1.2.1 - Stimulate research activities in countries and regions with

underdeveloped R&I capacity for bio-based systems

Strategic priority 1.2.2 – Increase the awareness and capacity of national and regional

research support agencies for industrial bio-based systems

Strategic priority 1.2.3 - Facilitate the development of expertise in bio-based fields by

improving higher education and skills development

Strategic priority 2.1.4 - Build policy makers’ awareness and acceptance of bio-based

solutions

Strategic priority 3.1.3 – Facilitate social acceptance of bio-based applications

Finance

Strategic priority 2.2.1 – Improve the risk profile of bio-based projects

Strategic priority 2.2.2 - Develop investment tools and approaches that mitigate the

investment risk in bio-based systems

Environmental

sustainability

framework

Strategic priority 3.1.1 - Set effective and robust environmental sustainability and circularity

criteria for bio-based systems

Strategic priority 3.1.2 - Incorporate the environmental sustainability and circularity criteria

in bio-based systems

Figure 2 CBE JU SRIA Strategic priorities mapped along the value chain (Feedstock – Processing – Products) and the identified

cross cutting issues.

cbeju-sria.pdf

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

1.3. STRATEGY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE

PROGRAMME

CBE JU programming

The CBE JU strategic and programming documents are developed jointly by both partners (EC

and BIC) with the support of the Programme Office.

A structured co-creation process is foreseen for the formulation of calls included in the Annual

Work Programmes, based on the SRIA and the lessons learned from previous calls, as monitored

and reported by the CBE JU Programme Offices. The CBE JU Scientific Committee and states’

representatives group will be also consulted on the draft Annual Work Programmes.

Types of actions

The CBE JU calls fund three types of actions:

 Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) include activities of 'testing', 'demonstrating' and

'piloting'. These activities aim to establish new knowledge or to explore the feasibility of a new

or improved technology, product, process, service, or solution. These may include basic and

applied research, technology development and integration, testing, demonstration, and

validation on a small-scale prototype, in a laboratory or simulated environment.

 Innovation Actions (IAs) include activities of 'testing', 'demonstrating' and 'piloting' and also

aim at scaling up activities from prototype, in a (near to) operational environment, industrial or

otherwise, to large-scale product validation and market replication.

Flagships

are an important and specific type of Innovation Action which aim to support the

first application/deployment in the EU market of an innovation that has already been

demonstrated but not yet applied/deployed in the EU market (first-of-its-kind innovation).

 Coordination and Support Actions (CSAs) address needs to i) structure stakeholder

communities; ii) support dissemination and exploitation of research or innovation projects; iii)

exploit synergies of scale among projects; iv) raise awareness in specific areas; v) support

technological visions (e.g. road-mapping, user cases, etc.) and outreach (e.g. events,

publications, etc.); vi) promote international cooperation with specific regions and/or

technological areas for any of the above-mentioned activities; vii) undertake other activities

similar in nature to those above (i.e., this is not an exhaustive list).

Other possible types of actions, like Pre-commercial Procurement Action (PCPs), may also be

considered if relevant to attain the objectives of the CBE JU in future CBE JU AWP. In addition,

financial support to third parties may be included in specific call topics and funded as part of the

received grants from CBE JU via financial support to third parties. This could be the case for

training and mobility of researchers, or prizes.

Flagship projects are strategically relevant, with very ambitious objectives and large-scale impacts expected, and of potential

substantial size with regard to the financial volume, the number of project partners and the running time.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

Technological Readiness Level (TRL)

The technological readiness level scale, defined in the General Annex B of the Horizon Europe

Main Work Programme

, will be used as reference in the CBE JU call to indicate the appropriate

technological context as following:

• RIAs projects are expected to be at the level of laboratory or simulated environments and

expected to deliver TRL 3-5 at the end of the projects.

• IAs projects are demonstration activities in relevant and operational environments and

expected to deliver TRL 6-8 at the end of the projects. In particular, Flagship projects will need

to deliver TRL 8 at the end of the projects.

The end TRL will be specified in each RIAs and IAs topic.

Figure 3 CBE JU types of actions along the TRL scale.

wp-13-general-annexes_horizon-2023-2024_en.pdf

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

2. WORK PROGRAMME 2024

2.1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2024

The CBE JU is a EUR 2 billion public-private partnership between the European Union,

represented by the European Commission, and the Bio-based Industries Consortium. It is

established under Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation programme, for the period

2021-2031. The CBE JU is not a direct continuation of the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking,

but rather a programme that builds on its achievements and aims at addressing its shortcomings.

The Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), adopted by the CBE Governing Board

(GB), identifies the strategic priorities and the essential research and innovation actions required

to achieve the objectives of the CBE JU, as defined in the Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2085 of

19 November 2021 establishing the Joint Undertakings under Horizon Europe.

The scope of CBE JU is underpinned by the updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy (2018) and is in

line with the European Green Deal objectives – to produce major contributions to the EU climate

targets by delivering innovative bio-based solutions and paving the way for Europe to become the

first climate neutral continent by 2050; protecting and enhancing biodiversity; combating pollution;

reducing fossil resource dependence; and deploying a just transition.

CBE JU will, in particular, aim at strengthening the European bioeconomy primary sectors of the

land and sea and its industries by combining the ‘public’ interests, pursued by the EC, and the

‘private’ interests of bio-based industries, such as: increasing the competitiveness of the EU

economy, job creation, balanced regional development and economic cohesion, climate and

environmental performance, creating better market conditions, removal of barriers, de-risking

investment, increasing resource efficiency, improving circular technologies and operations while

engaging all actors in the bio-based systems.

The SRIA is the basis for the CBE JU Annual Work Programmes that contain the call for proposals,

developed jointly by both partners under the coordination of the Programme Office, and taking into

account the recommendations of the advisory bodies. Six calls for proposals are foreseen during

the lifetime of the partnership for a total indicative operational budget of EUR 976.5 million.

Progress towards the achievement of the CBE JU objectives will be monitored through a set of

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The monitoring and reporting of CBE activities, including KPIs,

will be undertaken on an annual basis and reflected in the Annual Activity Report (AAR).

During the CBE JU Governing Board meeting of October 2023, the acting Executive Director

presented the following priorities for 2024 focussing on four areas:

1. Governance:

• Ensure the transition to new Executive Director maintaining efficiency in CBE

daily operations.

• Establish the Deployment Group on finance and investments, taking stock of the

conclusion of the study launched by EIB.

• Propose to the Governing Board the scope and objectives of the Deployment

group on Primary Producers and launch its establishment.

• Ensure follow up of the conclusions of the Strategic Governing Board meeting.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

• Approve the monitoring method for the financial contributions to CBE JU.

• Implement the CBE JU widening strategy action plan 2023-2024 with the support

of the founding partners and the SRG.

2. Programme implementation

• Finalise the CBE JU grant agreements preparation and kick-off of the CBE

projects from calls 2023.

• Promotion of the CBE JU call 2024 and its evaluation.

• Coordinate the AWP 2025 preparation and the Multi-annual programming

document revision.

• Launch of the new web-based KPIs reporting tool and integrate it in the CBE JU

website.

• Coordinate the AWP 2025 preparation according to the established CBE JU

programming procedure and the Multi annual programming.

3. Communication and stakeholders’ management

• Promote the CBE JU flagship through the new project exhibition and by

participation to their inauguration events.

• Focus the communication on specific stakeholders’ groups, e.g. primary

producers.

• Promote the impact of the bioeconomy and CBE JU projects on the local

communities.

• Promote the launch of the CBE JU deployment groups.

• Follow up on the conclusion of the CBE JU Stakeholder forum.

4. Administration and finance

• Lead the implementation of the back-office arrangement - HR support.

• Contribute to the back-office arrangement in other key areas (IT, logistics,

procurement).

• Finalise the office set-up in line with the new ways of working in collaboration with

the other JUs.

• Phase out the BBI JU budget in an efficient way.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

2.2. OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES 2024

2.2.1. Objectives, indicators and risks

Scope of the activities

As presented in the SRIA, the CBE JU will fund projects focused on ‘the production of bio-based

chemicals, materials, food and feed ingredients and soil nutrients. Biofuels, bioenergy, food and

feed, pharmaceuticals and medical devices are not within the remit of the partnership’

The boundary between the industrial activities that are in or out of this scope is difficult to define in

a precise way because of multiple outputs from bio-based operations or multiple use of the same

bio-based material or product. For example, the production of food is excluded from the scope but

processes producing food may have co-products that are within the scope and side streams that

can be used as feedstock for producing bio-based products within the CBE JU scope. Another

example is bioethanol, that can be used as biofuel, which is then excluded from the scope, but

when used as an input to other chemicals’ production it is included within the scope. There are

many other such examples.

The guiding principles for evaluating if an industrial activity falls within the scope of the partnership

will be based on:

a) assessment of what is the main application of the bio-based product produced and if this

main use falls into the scope;

b) the principle of cascading use of biological resources aiming to best valorise the

sustainable use of feedstock

In line with above, biorefineries for sustainable processing of biomass into an array of added-value

products (e.g. bioactive substances, chemicals and materials) will fall under the scope if the focus

of the project is on materials; while energy production is a complementary activity that improves

the overall resource efficiency of the production process and it takes place in accordance with the

cascading principle.

The feedstock for bio-based operations should respect local ecological limits and protect and

enhance biodiversity and ecosystems services and should come from short supply chains as much

as possible. Additional requirements are included in the dedicated section.

All supported activities must also demonstrate the potential of bio-based solutions in terms of

climate and environmental performance, and circularity. Activities that do not meet the agreed

requirements of climate and environmental performance will not be supported. In line with the

circularity objective, attention will be given to activities that enable the conversion of bio-waste,

residues and side-streams into added-value circular bio-based solutions. Supported industrial

activities should contribute to local and regional economies, while reducing the dependency on

imports of natural resources.

cbeju-sria.pdf

A non-exhaustive list of bio-based feedstock in the scope of CBE is included in Annex V of SRIA (cbeju-sria.pdf)

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

CBE JU objectives and Key Performance Indicators

CBE JU will contribute to the general and specific objectives set in the Council Regulation

establishing the Joint Undertakings (Figure 1) and the main challenges described in the SRIA

(Figure 2), via its portfolio of funded projects. To this end, the programme will be monitored against

the targets set at

o Horizon Europe programme level

o Horizon Europe partnerships level

o Specific CBE JU level with the KPIs defined in the SRIA Annex IV and described

in the CBE JU KPI Handbook

The operational monitoring is based on indicators which are common to all Horizon Europe

programme and include for example the following: 1) time to inform (TTI) all applicants of the

outcome of the evaluation of their application from the final date for submission of proposals (target

TTI max: 153 calendar days); 2) time to grant (TTG) measured from the call deadline to the grant

signature (target TTG < 245 days). CBE JU will ensure the efficiency of all operations and the

results of its operational monitoring will be included in the AAR.

The monitoring of the KPIs at HE partnership level is embedded into the bi-annual monitoring

mechanism managed by the EC, while the monitoring of the specific CBE JU KPIs defined in the

SRIA are monitored is based on data collected from the yearly project reporting over the course of

the CBE JU programme.

The progress of all levels of KPIs against their respective targets is reported in the CBE JU AAR.

In addition, the CBE Programme Office has the legal obligation to monitor, continually and

systematically, the implementation of its programme, as well as to report and to disseminate the

results of this monitoring on an annual basis.

Horizon Europe programme analysis (europa.eu)

A robust and harmonised framework for reporting and monitoring European Partnerships in Horizon Europe - Publications

Office of the EU (europa.eu)

CBE JU KPIs-Handbook.pdf (europa.eu)

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

Table 1 CBE KPIs - Call 2024 Topics

2024.IA-Flag01

2024.IA-Flag02

2024.IA-Flag03

2024.IA-01

2024.IA-02

2024.IA-03

2024.IA-04

2024.IA-05

2024.IA-06

2024.IA-07

2024.R-01

2024.R-02

2024.R-03

2024.R-04

2024.R-05

2024.S-01

2024.S-02

2024.S-03

1.1 N of primary producers, involved as project beneficiaries and/or engaged in value chains at project level X X X X X X X

1.2 N of bio- waste management actors, involved as project beneficiaries and/or engaged in value chains at project level

2 N of innovative bio-based value chains created or enabled based on sustainably-sourced biomass X X X X X X X X X X X

3.1 N of projects using feedstock generated with practices that contribute to enhance biodiversity X X X X X X X X

3.2

N of projects using feedstock generated with practices aiming at zero-pollution (soil, water, air) and/or at reducing water

consumption

X X X X X

X X

3.3 N of projects using feedstock generated with practices contributing to climate change mitigation and/or adaptation

X X X X X X X X

4.1 N of projects with innovative & sustainable processes that contribute to GHG emission reduction X X X X X X X X X X

4.2 N of projects developing innovative & sustainable processes that improve on resource efficiency and zero-waste X X X X X X X X X X X

4.3 N of projects developing innovative & sustainable processes enabling to address zero pollution X X X X X X X X X

4.4 N of projects with innovative & sustainable processes with improved energy efficiency X X X X X

4.5 N of products with improved life cycle environmental performance X X X X X X X X X X X X X

5.1 N of innovative products that are biodegradable, compostable, recyclable, reused or upcycled (circular by design) X X

5.2 N projects developing circular production practises (incl. industrial & industrial urban symbiosis) X

6.1

N of innovative bio-based dedicated outputs, with novel or significantly improved properties vs relevant alternatives X X X X X X X X X X

6.2 N of innovative bio-based drop in outputs meeting applications requirements X X X X X

7 N of brand owners involved as project partners and/or engaged with other mechanisms X X X X X

8 N of actions implemented at project level to attract investment and/or to create awareness in the investment/funding community

9 N of projects contributing to develop the skills and capacity needed by the EU bio-based sector

10.1 N of participants from the underrepresented EU countries and region X X

10.2 N of regional hubs established and operated to process bio-based feedstocks and other cooperation aspects X

10.3 N of projects with synergies with other funding programmes at EU, national or regional level X X X

Improve participation of regions and countries with high unexploited potential and strategic interest to develop it

Unlock sustainable and circular bio-based feedstock for the industry

Ensure environmental sustainability of feedstock

Improve environmental sustainability of bio-based production processes and value chains

Expand circularity in bio-based value chains

Increase innovative bio-based outputs and products

Improve the market uptake of bio-based products

CBE KPIs: Objectives and Units of measurement

CBE JU AWP 2024 topics

Strategic participation and integration of feedstock producers and suppliers towards large-scale valorisation of sustainable biomass

Attract investment on the bio-based sector

Increase resilience and capacity in the bio-based sector

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

Risk management

The CBE JU conducted a risk assessment exercise over the achievement of objectives described

in this work programme for the year 2024. The assessment evaluated the root causes of each

identified risk and their potential consequences, taking into account the existing controls as well

as the convergences and inter-dependencies between risks. This process is documented in the

internal risk register of the organisation, which incorporates a description of the responsive action

plans, detailing the action owners and individual deadlines.

As a result, a total of five risks have been identified and described in the risk register with different

degrees of importance, convergence and inter-dependency. For one additional threat the

conditions and data for assessment were not mature enough to conclude on both likelihood and

impact of their potential realisation. The risk register remains an internal living document and the

management of identified risks will be ensured through appropriate mitigating actions, wherever

possible, and continuously monitored by CBE JU throughout the year.

The CBE JU did not identify for 2024 any critical risk that needs to be publicly disclosed with

possible reservations to be made by the management towards the effective achievement of the

objectives of the year. Overall, the risk assessment exercise confirmed the trend of previous years

and some additional risks have been absorbed or reduced by an increased effectiveness of the

Internal Control Framework of the organisation as well as by a consolidated internal experience in

managing its core activities. In these areas, the CBE JU Programme Office demonstrates that it is

operating to high quality operational standards and efficiency of operations is continuously being

tested, while workload patterns and the stability of external services are closely monitored.

Still, a high and significant level of concern is maintained for 2024 and beyond because of the

impact of the current geopolitical and economic scenarios in Europe and on the sector of

intervention of the CBE JU initiative. Following what already observed in 2022, also in the course

of 2023 the CBE JU project portfolio continued to report implementation delays, mainly due to

disruption of feedstock supply, increase of energy prices and inflation. CBE JU projects are highly

exposed to these events being industry driven (out of 1.5k participations in CBE JU projects, 60%

are private for-profit companies and notably ~40% are SMEs) and private investment decisions or

commitments into ongoing and future projects might suddenly be re-prioritised. The CBE JU

governance bodies and its management functions are fully engaged in monitoring these risks, in

fostering communication channels with projects’ consortia and in preserving the qualitative and

timely achievement of the multi annual strategic objectives of the initiative.

Finally, the likelihood of occurrence of a risk that is present in the register of the organisation since

2018 has been increased for 2024 because of the actual realisation of the risk in the course of

2023 and the same potential impact level is retained for 2024. Two CBE JU internal objectives on

allocation of human resources – specifically: a) to keep CBE JU operations at the highest quality

and efficiency standards and b) to ensure that the necessary and competent human resources are

timely available and working in safely conditions – are challenged by structural constraints that

currently insist on the resources made available to the Financial and Administration Unit. The

allocation of human resources and their management exposed the overall organisation to different

treats since its early set up and incremental controls have been put in place as a result of yearly

action plans. Additional mitigating actions are planned for 2024 and the residual threats to the

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

achievement of yearly objectives are not assessed as critical at the moment of drafting this work

programme.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

2.2.2. Scientific priorities, challenges and expected impacts

The topics of this AWP are highly relevant to meet the commitments set out in the European

Green Deal and the Fit for 55 package and to achieve the ambitious EU targets of reducing

net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 (compared to 1990) and becoming

the first climate neutral continent by 2050. They will contribute to the transition from a fossil to

a sustainable bio-based economy, in line with the objectives set out in the updated EU

Bioeconomy Strategy and its Action Plan

and will support the commitments set under the

UN Sustainable Development Goals

(SDGs) and the COP 21 Paris Climate Agreement

The scientific priorities of this AWP are aligned with the CBE JU specific objectives and the

strategic priorities, as identified in the SRIA

. As shown in Table 3, the topics of this AWP will

cover all priorities identified along the three main blocks (feedstock, processing and products)

and focus on cross-cutting actions notably the one dedicated to the environmental

sustainability framework.

Table

2 AWP 2024 topics links to the CBE JU Specific Objectives

https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/775a2dc7-2a8b-11e9-8d04-01aa75ed71a1

https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/

https://ec.europa.eu/clima/eu-action/international-action-climate-change/climate-negotiations/paris-agreement_en

https://www.cbe.europa.eu/system/files/2022-06/cbeju-sria.pdf

2024.IA-Flag01

2024.IA-Flag02

2024.IA-Flag03

2024.IA-01

2024.IA-02

2024.IA-03

2024.IA-04

2024.IA-05

2024.IA-06

2024.IA-07

2024.R-01

2024.R-02

2024.R-03

2024.R-04

2024.R-05

2024.S-01

2024.S-02

2024.S-03

1.1.-Increase cross-disciplinary research and

innovation activities, reaping its benefits for the

development and demonstration of sustainable bio-

based solutions.

X X

X X X X X X X

1.2 - Increase and integrate the research and

innovation capacity of stakeholders across the EU

to unlock bioeconomy potential even in regions

with underdeveloped capacity.

X X X X

1.3-Increase the research and innovation capacity

and development sustainable bio-based

innovations, by ensuring that sustainability issues

and environmental performance are integrated

throughout the whole innovation chain.

X X

2.1- Reinforce the integration of bio-based

research and innovation in EU bio-based

industries and increase the involvement of R&I

actors, including feedstock providers, in the bio-

based value chains.

X X

X X X X X X X X X X X X X

2.2- Reduce the risk for research and innovation

investment in bio-based companies and projects.

3.1- Ensure that circularity and environmental

considerations, including contributions to climate

neutrality and zero pollution objectives, are

considered in the development and

implementation of R&I bio- based projects and

facilitate societal acceptance.

X X X

X X X X X X X X X

3. Ensure a high level of

environmental performance

of bio-based industrial

systems

CBE JU Specific Objectives

CBE JU TOPICS AWP2024

1. Accelerate the innovation

process and development

of bio-based innovative

solutions

2. Accelerate market

deployment of the existing

mature and

innovative biobased

solutions

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

Table 3 AWP 2024 topics links to the SRIA strategic priorities

2024.IA-Flag01

2024.IA-Flag02

2024.IA-Flag03

2024.IA-01

2024.IA-02

2024.IA-03

2024.IA-04

2024.IA-05

2024.IA-06

2024.IA-07

2024.R-01

2024.R-02

2024.R-03

2024.R-04

2024.R-05

2024.S-01

2024.S-02

2024.S-03

1.1.1 - Ensure the availability and quality of sustainable bio-based

feedstock

X X X X

1.3.1 - Protect and enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services in bio-

based feedstock supply systems

X X

2.1.1 - Demonstrate the sustainable supply of bio-based feedstock

X X X

X X

X X X

1.1.2 - Develop innovative production systems in the bio-based industry

X X

1.3.2 - Improve environmental performances of bio-based processes

X X X X X

2.1.2 - Deploy innovative production technologies

X X

1.1.3 - Develop innovative bio-based products

X X X X

2.1.3 – Scale-up production and market uptake of innovative bio-based

products

X X

X X X

1.2.1 - Stimulate research activities in countries and regions with

underdeveloped R&I capacity for bio-based systems

X X X X

1.2.2 – Increase the awareness and capacity of national and regional

research support agencies for industrial bio-based systems

1.2.3 - Facilitate the development of expertise in bio-based fields by

improving higher education and skills development in the private sector

2.1.4 - Build policy makers’ awareness and acceptance of bio-based

solutions

3.1.3 – Facilitate social acceptance of bio-based applications

X X X X X

2.2.1 – Improve the risk profile of bio-based projects

2.2.2 - Develop investment tools and approaches that mitigate the

investment risk in bio-based systems

3.1.1 - Set effective and robust environmental sustainability and

circularity criteria for bio-based systems

3.1.2 - Incorporate the environmental sustainability and circularity

criteria in bio-based systems

X X X

X X X X X X X

CBE JU TOPICS AWP2024

SRIA Strategic priorities

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

2.2.3. Calls for proposals

2.2.3.1 Specific requirements for the CBE JU Call 2024

In this chapter, the topics identified for the CBE JU call 2024 are presented together with their

expected outcomes, their scope and specific topics’ requirements. In addition, the ‘Specific CBE

JU requirements’ are presented at the beginning of this chapter together with the general call

conditions specified in section 2.2.3.3. Please also note that a Glossary (Annex 4.2) contains the

description of important terms which are marked with an * in the topic text.

In addition to the requirements set at topic level, all proposals should address the CBE JU specific

requirements set for the respective type of action(s). Rather than repeating these specific

requirements in each topic, they are presented in this section and summarised in the following

table, highlighting the part of the proposal where they should be addressed.

Specific CBE JU requirement

Type of action

Where to include it in Part B

Feedstock sourcing

(eligibility condition

e below)

RIA and IA, incl. FLAG

Part B

–

Structured question

(Y/N) in the introduction

Feedstock sustainability requirements

RIA and

IA, incl. FLAG

Part B

–

Structured question

(Y/N) in the introduction

Description of feedstock

RIA and IA, incl. FLAG

Part B

– 1.2 Methodology

Environmental performance

- Ex-ante

assessment

•

identification of environmental issues

•

estimation of environmental

sustainability performance,

•

estimation of carbon removal potential

RIA and IA, incl. FLAG

Part B

– 1.2 Methodology

Environmental sustainability and

circularity

- Ex-post assessment

•

Dedicated task for RIA

•

Dedicated task or WP (LCA) for IA non-

FLAG

•

Dedicated task or WP (LCSA) for FLAG

RIA

FLAG

Part B

–

3.1 Workplan and

resources

Multi

-actor approach (MAA)

IA, incl. FLAG

RIA and CSA, when

specified

Part B

– 1.2 Methodology

Economic aspects:

•

Economic viability

•

Business case and business model

•

Business plan

RIA

IA, incl. FLAG

FLAG

Part B

–

2.2 Measures to

maximise impact Dissemination,

exploitation and communication

FLAG:

Annex (Business plan)

Digital technologies

RIA and IA, incl. FLAG

Part B

– 1.2 Methodology

Cross

-disciplinary aspects and Social

Sciences and Humanities (SSH)

RIA and IA, incl. FLAG

Part B

– 1.2 Methodology

Recommendations to stakeholders

IA, incl. FLAG

Part B

–

3.1 Workplan and

resources

Table 2 CBE JU Specific Requirements for Call 2024

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

Feedstock sourcing (eligibility condition)

RIAs and IAs, including Flagships

Consortium shall confirm in Part B, via a structured question (Y/N), that:

• If the bio-based feedstock is processed in EU/EEA/EFTA countries, the bio-based feedstock

comes from such countries or from neighbouring

Associated Countries;

• If the bio-based feedstock is processed in an Associated Country, the bio-based feedstock

comes from the same country or from neighbouring EU/EEA/EFTA countries.

For limited samples of bio-based feedstock for the purpose of testing processes or technologies

this eligibility condition does not apply.

Feedstock sustainability requirements

RIAs and IAs, including Flagships

Proposals should also include information on how the feedstock is produced respecting local

ecological limits, and ensuring protection, enhancement and restoration of biodiversity and

ecosystems services. As much as possible, the feedstock should come from short supply chains.

To ensure the environmental sustainability of feedstock, the consortium should confirm in the Part

B via a structured question (Y/N) that, if funded, it will comply with the following:

a) Climate change mitigation:

i. will not impact ‘Land with high carbon stock’

ii. will have low/zero ILUC risk and promote carbon sequestration, when applicable

iii. will aim at reducing GHG emissions from the extraction and/or cultivation

b) Biodiversity protection:

i. when applicable, will implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for a reduced use

of plant protection products and not apply those identified as ‘candidate for

substitution’

ii. will contribute to biodiversity-friendly sustainable forest management practices

, when

applicable

iii. will not have an impact on protected species and habitats

In view of establishing sustainable short biomass logistics.

https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/glossary-item/land-high-carbon-stock_en

Although the ‘Commission Implementing Regulation 2022/996 on rules to verify sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions

saving criteria and low indirect land use change-risk criteria‘ focuses on biofuels , the principles of ‘additional biomass’ eligible

for low-ILUC risk certification (Articles 24, 25 and 26) may apply to the biomass used within the scope of CBE JU. See also the

‘Annex VIII Minimum requirements on the process and method for certifying low indirect land-use change (ILUC) risk biomass’,

which includes a ‘Non-exhaustive list of yield increase additionality measures’ (Table 1). Some ‘Examples of essential soil

management practices to promote soil carbon sequestration and promote soil quality’ are reported in Annex VI Table 1, as well.

The ‘Methodology for determining the emissions from the extraction or cultivation of raw materials’ is described in ANNEX VII

of the above-mentioned 2022/996/EU.

Commission Directive (EU) 2019/782 on products containing active substances of Group 3

According to the Biodiversity strategy for 2030 and action plan and the Forest strategy for 2030

According to Natura 2000 framework and to the Staff Working Document ‘Criteria and guidance for protected areas

designations’ (SWD(2022) 23)

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

iv. will not introduce invasive species

and/or high-risk plants

v. will not impact protected areas (terrestrial or marine) with high biodiversity value,

including highly biodiverse grasslands

c) Zero pollution ambition (air/water/soil):

i. will avoid open air burning of stubble/crop residues

ii. will contribute to the reduction of chemical pesticides and more hazardous pesticides

use

, when applicable

iii. will contribute to the reduction of nutrient losses by at least 50% and of the overall use

of fertilisers

, when applicable

d) Water resources protection:

i. will not deplete surface or groundwater resources beyond replenishment capacities

Description of the feedstock

Proposals should describe the feedstock to be used under Part B section 1.2. Methodology, and

ensure that it:

• is under the scope of the feedstocks foreseen in CBE JU SRIA (including Annex V)

;

• under the condition of respecting the ‘food first’ and ‘cascading use’ principles, surplus

streams from agricultural biomass processing such as carbohydrates, or oils, can be used

as feedstock for CBE JU projects.

Environmental performance, sustainability and circularity (ex-ante & ex-post

assessment)

RIAs and IAs, including Flagships

The proposals should include an ex-ante assessment of environmental performance in Part B

- Section 1.2. Methodology:

• An identification of the environmental critical issues early on and the explanation on

how the project will steer the development process in the right direction.

• An ex-ante estimation of the environmental sustainability performance, including

climate neutrality, resource efficiency, zero pollution (addressing the impacts on air, water,

soil quality, where relevant) and circularity of the proposed processes/products, compared

to benchmark(s) selected by the consortium and described in the proposal. The

benchmark(s) should be based on the best performing processes/products and should be

Invasive Alien Species (IAS) are animals and plants that are introduced accidentally or deliberately into a natural environment

where they are not normally found, with serious negative consequences for their new environment. The list of Invasive Alien

Species is in Annex I of the Regulation (EU) 1143/2014 on invasive alien species which entered into force on 1 January 2015.The

European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN) is an online platform that aims to facilitate access to existing information

on alien species from a range of sources. EASIN includes a Species Search and Mapping tool, allowing for basic and advanced

search of a database including over 14 000 alien species in Europe, and showing their distribution on a map.

The updated list of high risk plants, plant products or other objects for which introduction into the Union territory shall be

prohibited pending a risk assessment are available here https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/invasivealien/index_en.htm.

See RED II, Article 29, point 3, letter d)

According to Farm to Fork Strategy and action plan and the Biodiversity strategy for 2030 and action plan.

Communication ‘Ensuring availability and affordability of fertilisers’

See also the definition of quantitative status in the Water Framework Directive (DIRECTIVE 2000/60/EC)

Bio-based feedstock may include bio-waste from imported products. A non-exhaustive list of bio-based feedstock in the scope

of CBE is included in Annex V of SRIA.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

duly justified in the proposal. The proposal should provide a detailed justification to

demonstrate how it will improve environmental performances compared to the selected

benchmark(s) and if available provide relevant references and calculations.

• If applicable, a preliminary assessment of the carbon removal

potential (i.e., CCU*

and/or CCS*).

In addition, proposals should include as part of the project an ex-post assessment of the

environmental sustainability and circularity of all the products and processes developed and

of their improvements compared with benchmark(s) and describe it in Part B - Section 3.1 Work

plan and resources. More specifically:

RIAs: proposals should include a dedicated task to use the early-stage data to assess the

potential improvements of the environmental performances of processes and/or products

developed in the project. Clearly define the scope, assumptions and limits of your

assessment.

IAs: proposals should include a dedicated work package or task to assess ex-post the

environmental impacts and circularity of the products and/or processes developed, using

life-cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies, as part of the project.

Flagships: proposals should include a dedicated work package or task for full assessment

of the environmental impacts and circularity of the developed products and/or processes,

using life-cycle-sustainability assessment (LCSA) methodologies, as part of the project.

The life-cycle assessment (LCA) and life-cycle-sustainability assessment (LCSA)

methodologies should be based on widely used standards and certifications, and they should make

use of accepted and validated approaches

. They should use Commission recommendations and

the European norms

, technical reports and technical specifications. In particular, LCAs should

use the standards developed by CEN/TC 411 for bio-based products

. Applicants should consider

the cradle-to-grave or cradle-to- cradle designs, justifying the choice and describing the

methodology.

IAs, including Flagships

Applicants should foresee in the proposal the publication of the outputs of LCA or LCSA

assessment of environmental impacts, following the principles of open science (FAIR data) and

use the possibilities offered by the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) to store and give access

to research data. This should be integral part of the overall Open Science strategy of the project

and therefore duly described in Part B – Section 1.2 Methodology and performed e.g., through the

publication of peer-review scientific papers, and/or the uploading of data of the life cycle inventory

The concept of carbon removal has been introduced by the Commission Communication on sustainable carbon cycles

(COM(2021)800) and in the Commission proposal for a Regulation on an EU certification for carbon removals. See the Glossary

‘Carbon removal’’

See ‘Life cycle thinking and the use of LCA in policies around the world‘, 2017

E.g. the Product and Organisation Environmental Footprint methods as defined in the EU Recommendation 2279/2021

European Committee for Standardisation Technical Committee 411 on bio-based products

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

(LCI) to the EOSC database, and/or sharing the data and the outputs with the European

Knowledge Centre for Bioeconomy

Multi-actor approach

IAs, including Flagships and those RIAs/CSAs when explicitly mentioned in the topic text

Applicants should include the multi-actual approach in their concept and describe it in Part B under

Section 1.2. Methodology.

The multi-actor approach is a form of responsible Research & Innovation (R&I), it aims to make

the R&I process and its outcomes more reliable, demand-driven, shared and relevant to society. It

also aims to have these outcomes shared more extensively.

A multi-actor project ensures the genuine and sufficient involvement of a targeted array of actors,

which serves the objectives of the topic. These actors include: i) researchers, ii) farmers / farmers'

groups and associations, iii) foresters / foresters’ groups and associations, iv) aquaculture

producers, v) fishers / fishers’ groups and associations, vi) advisors, vii) food and bioeconomy

businesses, viii) other businesses, ix) consumer associations, x) local communities, xi) citizens,

xii) civil society organisations including NGOs, and xiii) government representatives. Which key

actors are relevant to participate depends on the objective of the proposal. The genuine and

sufficient involvement of such actors should take place all over the whole course of the project:

from participation in development of the project idea, planning and experiments to implementation,

communication and dissemination of results and to a possible demonstration phase.

Building blocks for the project proposal are expected to come from science as well as from practice:

it is a ‘co-creation’ process to develop solutions and create ‘co-ownership’ of results for (end-)

users and practitioners. This will contribute to and speed up the acceptability and uptake of new

ideas, approaches and solutions developed in the project.

Therefore, a multi-actor project proposal should demonstrate

• how the proposed objectives and planning are targeting the needs/problems/challenges of and

opportunities for all actors involved;

• how the description of the project concept and including the composition of the consortium

reflects a balanced choice of relevant key actors who have complementary types of knowledge

(scientific, practical, etc.), and must ensure that project results which should be ready for

practice are broadly implemented; the involvement of the relevant actors is not limited to the

consortium partners and should be fit for purpose for the project concept;

• how the project intends to use existing practices and tacit knowledge. This should be illustrated

in the proposal with a sufficient number of high-quality knowledge exchange activities outlining

the precise and active roles of the different non-scientific actors in the work. The cross-

fertilisation of skills, competencies and ideas between actors should generate innovative

findings and solutions that are more likely to be applied on a wide scale;

https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/bioeconomy_en

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

• how the project will facilitate the multi-actor engagement process by making use of the most

appropriate methods and expertise;

• the project's added value: how it will complement existing research and best practices;

• how the project will result in practical and ready to use knowledge, approaches, tools or

products, that are easily understandable and freely accessible;

• how these outputs ready for practice will feed into the appropriate dissemination channels to

reach all concerned actors.

In addition, to ensure EU-wide communication in all areas related to the European Innovation

Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-AGRI) and the common agricultural

policy (CAP) specific objectives, in particular agriculture, forestry and rural development, this

knowledge should also be summarised in an appropriate number of ‘practice abstracts’ in the

common EIP-AGRI format.

For areas falling outside the remit of EIP-AGRI and CAP specific objectives, other similarly

effective solutions ensuring dissemination at EU level should be sought. Where applicable, it is

strongly recommended that interactive innovation groups, such as EIP-AGRI Operational Groups

funded under Rural Development Programmes, become involved.

Economic aspects

RIAs: should include in Part B - Section 2.2. Measures to maximise impact - Dissemination,

exploitation and communication an assessment of the economic viability of the products and

processes to be developed, including:

- considerations on the potential market and quantitative information on the market size and

trends;

- an analysis of key value chain(s);

- projections and estimates of costs of production/revenues of products or technologies,

when possible.

IAs, incl. Flagships: should be based on a sound business case. the consortium should present

in Part B - Section 2.2. Measures to maximise impact - Dissemination, exploitation and

communication of their business case together with the specifications of an inclusive business

model, covering all actors of the value chain (from feedstock providers through to the final sellers).

A business case is a justification for investing in a project to generate a profitable business,

typically related to pursuing an opportunity or solving a problem. It may include:

- technical, economic, market, social, environmental and regulatory aspects, even if only at

a qualitative level;

- an evaluation of risks, costs and benefits of the proposed project versus alternatives,

though it may involve a relatively high level of uncertainty.

A business model is a description of the way in which a commercial activity generates revenues

and value for its customers/ involved stakeholders. It includes:

- the actors involved and the relationships among them;

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

- a description and quantification of the costs and revenues, but no time dimensions or

specific actions.

Flagships: should additionally include a detailed preliminary business plan in a separate Annex

together with their business case and business model. A business plan is a detailed description

of how the business will be developed. It includes:

- a quantification of the cost structure, financing thereof, and foreseen revenues,

- a description of the actions to be performed, their timing and the actors involved;

- technical, economic, market, social, environmental and regulatory aspects and

- a description of risks and possible contingencies.

The business plan is based on data, as much as possible, and/or assumptions (to cover areas

where data are not available). The level of uncertainty is lower than in the business case.

Digital technologies

Applicants should consider applying and/or adapting existing/mature or novel digital technologies

provided that they are instrumental to achieving the project’s outcomes and scope.

RIAs and IAs, including Flagships, should consider the applications of digital technologies

among the following areas: i) chemicals, materials, catalysts and process design & modelling

(including bioinformatics) ii) process monitoring, control and optimisation iii) tracking and tracing,

and iv) data analytics and data management.

IAs, including Flagships, should consider also i) (real-time) process monitoring, control and

optimisation (including environmental performance) ii) predictive maintenance and plant

engineering.

Cross-disciplinary aspects and involvement of Social Sciences and Humanities

All proposals should foster cross-disciplinarity and consider the social, economic, behavioural,

institutional, historical and/or cultural dimensions, as appropriate, of the proposed circular bio-

based innovations. Applicants should therefore ensure that contributions from the SSH are

integrated at various stages of their proposed project, and the actions required, participants and

disciplines involved. Whenever relevant, applicants should consider public awareness raising,

social engagement and social impact aspects with respect to circular bio-based solutions.

Recommendations to stakeholders

IAs, including Flagships

Proposals should include an action in Part B – 3.1 Workplan and resources on

opportunities/challenges to be addressed for targeted stakeholders, including, where possible,

national/regional stakeholders, investors and brand owners. Applicants should include

recommendations on how to improve the implementation and/or overcome hurdles and gaps of

current policies in the concerned fields.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

2.2.3.2 Topics 2024

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024-IAFlag-01 Bio-based value chains for valorisation

of sustainable oil crops

Type of action Innovation Action-Flagship

Indicative budget The total indicative budget for the topic is EUR 20 million

Expected EU

contribution per

project

It is estimated that a contribution of EUR 20 million would allow these

outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not

preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting different

amounts

TRL TRL 8 at the end of the project.

Link to CBE JU

Specific Objectives

1.1: Increase the intensity of cross-

disciplinary research and

innovation activities

2.1: Reinforce the integration of bio-based research and innovation

in the Union bio-based industry and increase the involvement of R&I

actors including feedstock providers in the bio-based value chains

3.1: Ensure the integration of circularity and environmental

sustainabi

lity requirements, contribution to climate neutrality and

zero pollution ambition in the development and implementation of

bio-

based research and innovation and facilitate societal

acceptance.

Link to CBE JU SRIA

1.1.1: Ensure the availability and quality of sustainable bio-based

feedstock

1.2.1: Stimulate research activities in countries and regions with

underdeveloped R&I capacity for bio-based systems

1.3.1: Protect and enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services in

bio-based feedstock supply systems

2.1.1: Demonstrate the sustainable supply of bio-based feedstock

3.1.2: Incorporate the environmental sustainability and circularity

criteria in bio-based systems

CBE JU KPIs 1.1. Number of primary producers, involved as project beneficiaries

and/or engaged in value chains at project level

3.1 Number of projects using feedstock generated with practices that

contribute to enhance biodiversity

3.2 Number of projects using feedstock generated with practices

aiming at zero-pollution

(soil, water, air) and/or at reducing water

consumption

3.3 Number of projects using feedstock generated with practices

contributing to climate change mitigation and/or adaptation

4.2 Number of projects developing innovative & sustainable

processes that improve on resource efficiency and zero-waste

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

4.5 Number of products with improved life cycle environmental

performance

10.3 Number of projects with synergies with other funding

programmes at EU, national or regional level

Expected outcomes

The successful proposals will facilitate the large-scale deployment of oil crops for biorefining

applications in line with the EU Bioeconomy Strategy

the Long-term vision for the EU rural

areas

, and the updated EU Industrial Strategy

and will allow reaching the objectives of the

Circular Economy

and Zero Pollution Action Plan

, the Biodiversity Strategy

, and the

objectives of R&I Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’.

Project results should contribute to the following expected outcomes:

• Establishment of oil crop production systems at large scale not interfering with (and where

applicable establishing synergies with) food value chains through sustainable cultivation

practices

compatible with the objectives of biodiversity protection and restoration.

• Preservation or enhancement of soil health, soil carbon sequestration potential, soil

regeneration, contributing to environmental benefits

• Oil yield, quality and purity meeting biorefinery processing requirements (if a benchmark is

available: significant increase in oil yield, quality and purity), while maximising land use

efficiency, and minimising ILUC, and ensuring - at the minimum - no negative impact on

the environment.

• Availability of bio-based products from targeted oil crops meeting market requirements,

including via a

pplication testing.

• Significantly improved sustainability, strategic autonomy, resilience and competitiveness

of the European bio-based industry while reducing the dependence on imported feedstock.

• Contribution to revitalization of European rural areas across the whole value chain through

cooperation between primary producers and biorefinery operators.

• Creation of ‘green’, fair and skilled jobs and new and local business opportunitiesSocial

acceptance of circular bio-based solutions and products.

Scope

Developing and deploying climate-positive industrial crop feedstock in Europe compatible with the

objectives of biodiversity protection is essential for the EU’s strategic autonomy and industrial

competitiveness. Oil crops are key feedstock for numerous bio-based chemicals and materials;

their large variety could enable the enhancement of existing bio-based value chains and the

creation of new ones.

European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Review of the 2012 European Bioeconomy Strategy,

Publications Office, 2018, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2777/086770

Brussels, 30.6.2021, COM/2021/345 final

Brussels, 5.5.2021 COM(2021) 350 final

Brussels, 11.3.2020 COM(2020) 98 final

Brussels, 12.05.2021, COM(2021) 400 final

Brussels, 20.5.2020, COM(2020) 380 final

Sustainable cultivation practices include enhanced focus on biodiversity and ecosystem services (including pollinator-

friendliness), improved soil health, carbon storage, water efficiency

Considering the local specificities

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

The scope covers the industrial use of plant oil crops including cascading use of their side-

streams/residues. Algae are out of scope of this topic, as well as biofuel applications. Respecting

the ‘food first’ principle, multipurpose oil crops are in scope.

Proposals under this topic should:

• Demonstrate large scale cultivation of low-ILUC-risk oil crops, providing environmental

gains and enhanced ecosystem services

at local scale, to:

i. validate sustainable agronomic practices and cultivation schemes (including where

applicable cultivation on marginal

and/or contaminated soils) in view of further

integration of the crops in scope into current practices; implement measures to

ensure avoidance of potential negative effects of large-scale cultivation systems

(e.g. impact of monocultures/risk of habitat destruction, introduction of invasive

species etc);

ii. prove high yield/productivity maximising land use efficiency, taking into account

where applicable any trade-offs between lower yield with additional social and

environmental benefits (including long-term effects), and break-even costs.

The feedstock in scope can include established oil crops as well as promising ones

(already proven at least at TRL 6). Proposals may also include a limited amount of activities

at lower final TRL, e.g. small field trials, on crop breeding approaches adapted to local

pedo-climatic conditions, including via gene editing, to speed up the crop and trait

optimisation

, in view of further upscale beyond the project duration.

• Demonstrate innovative biorefinery processes at large scale to convert oils from the

targeted crops into bio-based SSbD

chemicals and materials. The demonstration should

include aspects related to optimisation of oil extraction and treatment, conversion of oil into

intermediates and products, process(es) yield and selectivity as well as resource efficiency.

Chemical, biotech and physical-chemical approaches are in scope.

• Address downstream processing (separation and purification) to ensure that biorefinery

products meet final application requirements. The scope should also include cascading

valorisation of co-products, residual biomass and side streams considering all steps of the

value chain, to benefit the overall business case.

• Assess the replication potential of the demonstrated value chain(s) across Europe, taking

into consideration different environmental and cultivation conditions.

• Perform an assessment of environmental impacts

including aspects related to land use,

required inputs, CO

footprint from cultivation and harvesting and further processing of

targeted crops, biodiversity impacts

• Moreover, include a task to integrate assessment based on the safe-and-sustainable-by-

design (SSbD) framework

, developed by the European Commission, for assessing the

safety and sustainability of demonstrated bio-based chemicals and bio-based materials.

Examples include: i. Catch cropping ii. Relay cropping iii. Intercropping. Developments and optimisation of the growing schemes

can come from: i) Mechanisation ii) Crop growth cycle (precocity) of main and catch crop iii) Agronomics, including species

rotation/association etc.

See glossary.

The traits may be related to promising but not yet optimised oil crops and the demonstration of their final application e.g.

primarily to ensure the high yield, but also covering for such traits as seed shattering, or asynchronous flowering, causing losses

and inefficient harvesting, or reduced toxicity, or other aspects affecting oil quality and performance, as relevant, and may also

include the environmental optimisation e.g. improved water stress or water scarcity tolerance, better adaptation to various

aspects of the soil marginality, increased carbon sequestration etc.

Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design, see glossary.

Ongoing initiatives on Natural Capital accounting concepts for sustainable industrial oil crops can be potentially taken into

account (in case data is available).

Biodiversity assessment should include in particular impacts on the pollinators, other invertebrates, small mammals, birds, soil

organisms and plant agrobiodiversity, surrounding habitats, potential invasiveness of selected oilseed crops.

See glossary.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

Under this context, projects are expected to contribute to and develop recommendations

that can advance further the application of the SSbD framework.

• Depending on the selected type of soils, measures for ensuring the safety for the operators

and end-users as well as the environment should be ensured (in particular but not

exclusively in case of contaminated soils).

• Develop guidelines for recommendations to farmers, biorefinery operators and policy

makers (in particular local and regional authorities) to ensure mutual benefits.

• Address any regulatory bottlenecks or related issues relevant to the targeted end

market(s), ensuring compatibility in the perspective of potential future scale-up.

• Maximise the socio-economic impact, by identifying strategies for engaging local

communities and stakeholders and providing support training, and proposing incentives

and/or other schemes for adopting sustainable oilseed crops for biorefineries in a value

chain approach, for example (but not exclusively) in case of areas facing environmental

pressures such as drought, biodiversity decline, etc or socio-economic difficulties such as

depopulation, disadvantaged communities and others.

Proposals should implement the multi-actor approach and ensure adequate involvement of all key

actors in the value chains relevant for this topic, across the sustainable circular bio-based system,

including primary biomass producers (farmers) and other rural and civil society actors (including

SMEs and NGOs) bio-based industries, end-users, local communities, local and regional

authorities, education and research sectors, including on social innovation practices based on

effective cooperation models.

Proposals may consider making existing/new industrial assets (e.g., labs, test rigs, etc.) accessible

to researchers, SMEs, etc., for visiting, or training and testing bio-based processes.

Proposals should seek for links and complementarities and avoid overlaps with past, ongoing and

upcoming EU funded projects, including those funded under H2020, HEU and the BBI JU and CBE

as well as with other instruments

Proposals should also describe their contribution to the Specific CBE JU requirements, presented

in section 2.2.3.2.

e.g. MIDAS and MARGINUP! under call HORIZON-CL6-2022-CIRCBIO-01-02 ‘Marginal lands and climate-resilient and

biodiversity-friendly crops for sustainable industrial feedstocks and related value chains’. H2020 (COSMOS), BBI JU

(FIRST2RUN, LIBBIO), HE Cluster 6 (CARINA, MIDAS). Include a task to cooperate with CBE JU ongoing and parallel projects

related to agricultural business models (e.g. BRILIAN, ROBOCOOP-EU), HORIZON-CBE-2024-XX CSA: New forms of

cooperation in agriculture and the forest-based sector. This also applies to the cooperation with projects funded under the parallel

topics in the present call, which is encouraged, as relevant.

In particular the topic HORIZON-MISS-2022-SOIL-01-04 Remediation strategies, methods and financial models for

decontamination and reuse of land in urban and rural area.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024-IAFlag-02 Bio-based dedicated platform

chemicals via cost-effective, sustainable and resource-efficient

conversion of biomass.

Type of action Innovation Action - Flagship

Indicative budget The total indicative budget for the topic is EUR 20 million

Expected EU

contribution per

project

It is estimated that a contribution of EUR 20 million would allow these

outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not

preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting different

amounts

TRL TRL 8 at the end of the project.

Link to CBE JU

Specific Objectives

2.1: Reinforce the integration of bio-based research and innovation

in the Union bio-based industry and increase the involvement of R&I

actors including feedstock providers in the bio-based value chains

3.1: Ensure the integration of circularity and environmental

sustainability requirements, contribution to climate neutrality and

zero pollution ambition in the development and implementation of

bio-

based research and innovation and facilitate societal

acceptance.

Link to CBE JU SRIA 2.1.1: Demonstrate the sustainable supply of bio-based feedstock

2.1.2: Deploy innovative production technologies

2.1.3: Scale up production and market uptake of innovative biobased

products

3.1.2: Incorporate the environmental sustainability and circularity

criteria in bio-based systems

CBE JU KPIs

2 Number of innovative bio-based value chains created or enabled

based on sustainably-sourced biomass

3.1 Number of projects using feedstock generated with practices that

contribute to enhance biodiversity

3.2 Number of

projects using feedstock generated with practices

aiming at zero-

pollution (soil, water, air) and/or at reducing water

consumption

3.3 Number of projects using feedstock generated with practices

contributing to climate change mitigation and/or adaptation

4.1 Number of projects with innovative & sustainable processes that

contribute to GHG emission reduction

4.2 Number

of projects developing innovative & sustainable

processes that improve on resource efficiency and zero-waste

4.3 Number of proj

ects developing innovative & sustainable

processes enabling to address zero pollution

4.4 Number of projects with innovative & sustainable processes with

improved energy efficiency

4.5 Number

of products with improved life cycle environmental

performance

6 Increase innovative bio-based outputs and products

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

7 Improve the market uptake of bio-based products

Expected outcomes

Projects are overall expected to address the EU Bioeconomy Strategy

and its action plan, the

EU Zero pollution ambition for a toxic-free environment under the Chemicals Strategy for

Sustainability

and the Zero Pollution Action Plan, the EU Industrial strategy,

the EU Biodiversity

strategy 2030,

as well as and the co-implementation of the Transition Pathway

for the

chemicals industry.

Project results should contribute to the following expected outcomes:

• Sustainable, large-scale production of bio-based platform chemicals with dedicated*

chemical structures and availability of a broader range of bio-based chemicals meeting

market and technical performance requirements, hence also facilitating the market uptake

of bio-based solutions.

• Improved circularity and resource efficiency of bio-based value chains via practical

application of circular bioeconomy, encompassing the resource- and energy-efficient,

cascading use of sustainably-sourced biomass.

• Significantly improved sustainability, strategic autonomy, resilience and competitiveness

of the European chemical industry and with cascading impact in other downstream sectors.

• Reduce the fossil feedstock dependence of chemicals production and/or minimising

biomass imports dependencies of the bio-based industries.

• Significant improvement of environmental and safety performance across the value chain

against specified fossil and/or bio-based benchmarks.

• New skilled job opportunities and investments in the bio-based sectors.

• Societal relevance and social acceptance of circular bio-based solutions and products.

Scope

Overall, bio-based platform chemicals, according to their chemical structure, can be classified as

dedicated*, drop-ins* or smart drop-ins*. There is often medium/high TRL maturity when it comes

to the production of bio-based dedicated chemicals. However, cost competitiveness and the

sustainability of production can often be hindering factors for further upscaling and uptake of

dedicated bio-based platform chemicals.

Proposals under this topic should:

• Demonstrate cost-effective, sustainable and resource-efficient large scale production

processes for obtaining one or more bio-based dedicated platform chemicals. Both

upstream and downstream process aspects are in scope. The overall objective should

target improving process efficiency, lowering CAPEX/OPEX, lowering the E-factor

(process waste) and improving process safety. Enabling process technologies in scope

include chemical, physicochemical, biotech or hybrid technologies, as well as process

intensification and symbiosis concepts, if applicable to attain improvements in resource

efficiency and sustainability performance.

Updated Bioeconomy Strategy 2018.

The EU’s chemicals strategy for sustainability towards a toxic-free environment.

Brussels, 5.5.2021 COM(2021) 350 final.

Biodiversity strategy for 2030.

Transition pathway.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

• Indicate clearly the targeted feedstock(s), including availability and process flexibility

aspects in relation to feedstock composition, if relevant. The cascading valorisation of

secondary biomass and residual streams is also in scope.

• Validate (end TRL: 5 and above) the further conversion and integration of produced

chemicals into final products. The chosen bio-based chemical(s) should be validated in

market-relevant application(s).

• Include a task to integrate assessment based on the safe-and-sustainable-by-design

(SSbD) framework, developed by the European Commission, for assessing the safety and

sustainability of chemicals and materials.

Under this context, projects are expected to

contribute with and develop recommendations that can advance further the application of

the SSbD framework.

Proposals should implement the multi-actor approach (MAA) and ensure adequate involvement of

all key actors in the value chains relevant for this topic and across the sustainable circular bio-

based system, including B2B end-users and feedstock providers.

Proposals may consider making existing/new industrial assets (e.g., labs, test rigs, etc.) accessible

to researchers, SMEs, etc., for visiting, or training and testing bio-based processes.

Proposals should seek for links and complementarities and avoid overlaps with past, ongoing and

upcoming EU funded projects, including those funded under H2020, HEU and the BBI JU and CBE

Proposals should also describe their contribution to the Specific CBE JU requirements, presented

in section 2.2.3.1.

See document defining the framework and criteria: Safe and sustainable by design.

More specifically, provide thresholds that can support the criteria definition and improvements for the assessment SSbD

methodologies, including any specificities related with bio-based chemicals. Recommendations should also include identification

of data gaps, especially safety, environmental, but also socio-economic factors, as well as priorities for data collection.

Examples from the BBI JU/CBE JU portfolio include, without the list being exclusive: LUCRA (IA), COUNTLESS (IA),

PULP2VALUE (IA-DEMO), BIOFOREVER (IA-DEMO), AFTERBIOCHEM (FLAGSHIP), PEFERENCE (FLAGSHIP),

WASTE2FUNC (IA-DEMO) and others.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024-IAFlag-03 Bio-based value chains for valorisation

of sustainable natural fibre feedstock

Type of action Innovation Action - Flagship

Indicative budget The total indicative budget for the topic is EUR 20 million

Expected EU

contribution per

project

It is estimated that a contribution of EUR 20 million would allow these

outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not

preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting different

amounts

TRL TRL 8 at the end of the project.

Link to CBE JU

Specific Objectives

1.1: Increase the intensity of cross-

disciplinary research and

innovation activities

2.1: Reinforce the integration of bio-based research and innovation

in the Union bio-based industry and increase the involvement of R&I

actors including feedstock providers in the bio-based value chains

3.1: Ensure the integration of circularity and environmental

sustainability requirements, c

ontribution to climate neutrality and

zero pollution ambition in the development and implementation of

bio-

based research and innovation and facilitate societal

acceptance.

Link to CBE JU SRIA 1.1.1: Ensure the availability and quality of sustainable bio-based

feedstock

1.3.1: Protect and enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services in

bio-based feedstock supply systems

2.1.1: Demonstrate the sustainable supply of bio-based feedstock

3.1.2: Inco

rporate the environmental sustainability and circularity

criteria in bio-based systems

CBE JU KPIs

1.1 Number of primary producers, involved as project beneficiaries

and/or engaged in value chains at project level

3.1 Number of projects using feedstock generated with practices that

contribute to enhance biodiversity

3.2 Number of projects using feedstock generated with practices

aiming at zero-

pollution (soil, water, air) and/or at reducing water

consumption

3.3 Number of projects using feedstock generated

with practices

contributing to climate change mitigation and/or adaptation

4.2 Number of projects developing innovative & sustainable

processes that improve on resource efficiency and zero-waste

4.5 Number of products with improved life cycle environmental

performance

10.3 Number of projects with synergies with other funding

programmes at EU, national or regional level

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

Expected outcomes

The successful proposals will facilitate the large-scale deployment of fibre crops and wood fibres

for biorefining applications in line with the EU Bioeconomy Strategy

and the updated EU

Industrial Strategy

and will allow reaching the objectives of the Circular Economy

and Zero

Pollution Action Plan

, the Biodiversity Strategy

68,

the Long-term vision for the EU rural areas

and the objectives of the R&I Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ (in particular, contribution to its

objective to reduce soil pollution and enhance restoration and improve soil structure to enhance

soil biodiversity), as well as the upcoming European partnership on Agroecology. Contribution to

the Mission Restore our Oceans and Waters’ in regards to reduction of microplastics pollution.

Project results should contribute to the following expected outcomes:

• Implementation of (environmentally and economically) sound value chains for biorefinery

applications based on sustainable bio-based fibre feedstock, enabling diversification of

business opportunities and income sources for all actors in the bio-based sectors via

cooperation between primary producers and bio-based industries.

• Availability of bio-based products (based on fibres) meeting market requirements including

via application testing

• Improved circularity and resource efficiency of bio-based value chains via practical

application of circular bioeconomy, encompassing the resource- and energy-efficient,

cascading use of sustainably sourced biomass.

• Significantly improved sustainability, strategic autonomy, resilience and competitiveness

of the European bio-based industry while reducing the dependence on imported feedstock.

• Contribution to revitalization of European rural areas across the whole value chain through

cooperation between primary producers and biorefinery operators.

• Creation of ‘green’, fair and skilled jobs and new and local business opportunities

• Social acceptance of circular bio-based solutions and products.

Scope

Developing and deploying sustainable climate-positive natural fibre feedstock is essential for

supporting numerous existing bio-based value chains as well as for potentially creating new ones.

Sustainable agricultural and forestry practices can deliver feedstock meeting industry requirements

(such as fibre yield, quality) while ensuring all aspects of sustainability, thus offering significant

opportunities not only for industrial competitiveness, but also for climate change mitigation, rural

development, and transition to low carbon bioeconomy.

The scope covers the establishment of industrial fibre crop production systems, compatible with

the biodiversity protection and enhancement, and soil health, not interfering with (and where

applicable taking advantage of synergies with) with food value chains through sustainable

European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Review of the 2012 European Bioeconomy Strategy,

Publications Office, 2018, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2777/086770.

Brussels, 5.5.2021 COM(2021) 350 final.

Brussels, 11.3.2020 COM(2020) 98 final.

Brussels, 12.05.2021, COM(2021) 400 final.

Brussels, 20.5.2020, COM(2020) 380 final.

Brussels, 30.6.2021, COM/2021/345 final.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

cultivation practices

as well as maintenance or enhancement of soil health, soil carbon

sequestration potential, soil regeneration, contributing to environmental benefits

The scope includes fibres from primary non-woody crops and/or wood-based fibres, as well as

fibres from the respective residues and side streams. The scope excludes algae, while higher

aquatic plants are included proven they have a starting TRL at least 6. Both long and short fibre

applications are in scope. Natural fibres (including modified fibres) are in scope, while synthetic

bio-based fibres are excluded. The scope also includes tackling bottlenecks in trait optimization

and cultivation practice

where applicable.

Proposals under this topic should:

• When targeting non-woody fibre crops

and their residues:

o Demonstrate large scale cultivation of fibre crops, aiming at high land use

efficiency, low-ILUC-risk and high yield (or increase in crop yield with respect to a

specific benchmark), providing environmental gains and enhanced ecosystem

services75 at local scale, to:

i. validate sustainable agronomic practices and cultivation schemes or growing

systems through sustainable practices

(including where applicable cultivation

on marginal

and/or contaminated soils) in view of further integration of the

crops in scope into current practices; implement measures to ensure

avoidance of potential negative effects of large-scale cultivation systems (e.g.,

impact of monocultures/risk of habitat destruction, introduction of invasive

species etc);

ii. prove high yield/productivity maximising land use efficiency, taking into account

where applicable any trade-offs between lower yield with additional social and

environmental benefits (including long-term effects), and break-even costs.

The feedstock in scope can include established fibre crops as well as promising ones

(already proven at least at TRL 6). Proposals may also include activities at lower final

TRL, e.g., small field trials, on crop breeding approaches adapted to local pedo-climatic

conditions, including via gene editing, in view of further upscaling beyond the project

duration.

• When targeting wood-based fibres

and their residues:

o Demonstrate sustainable, transparent and traceable wood raw material supply

chain, providing environmental gains and enhanced ecosystem services at local

Sustainable cultivation practices include enhanced focus on biodiversity and ecosystem services (including pollinator-

friendliness), improved soil health, carbon storage, water efficiency.

Considering the local specificities.

The traits may be related to promising but not yet optimized fibre crops feedstock and the demonstration of their optimised final

application (e.g., primarily to ensure the high yield or other aspects affecting fibre quality and performance, as relevant), and may

also include the environmental optimization (e.g., improved water stress or water scarcity tolerance, better adaptation to various

aspects of the soil marginality, increased carbon sequestration etc).

The cultivation approaches should also integrate elements that provide environmental gains and enhanced ecosystem services

(examples include: I. catch cropping ii. Relay cropping iii. Intercropping b. Developments and optimisation of the growing schemes

can come from: i) Mechanisation ii) Crops’ growth cycle (precocity) of main and catch crop iii) Agronomics, including species

rotation/association etc) at local scale

Including short rotation coppice.

Examples include: i. Catch cropping ii. Relay cropping iii. Intercropping. Developments and optimisation of the growing schemes

can come from: i) Mechanisation ii) Crop growth cycle (precocity) of main and catch crop iii) Agronomics, including species

rotation/association etc.

Sustainable cultivation practices include enhanced focus on biodiversity and ecosystem services (including pollinator-

friendliness), improved soil health, carbon storage, water efficiency.

See glossary.

Excluding short rotation coppice, which is already covered under the first point.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

scale, and covering high yield (or increase in fibre yield with respect to a specific

benchmark), aiming at high land use efficiency.

o Sustainable, traceable and transparent wood raw material supply chain including

avoidance of deforestation aiming at improving biodiversity and carbon sinks.

Proposals may also include activities (at lower final TRL) on wood species breeding

approaches adapted to local pedo-climatic conditions, including by specific techniques

such as precision breeding and somatic embryogenesis.

• Demonstrate innovative biorefinery processes to convert fibre feedstock into SSbD bio-

based materials and products. The scope includes garment applications, technical

textiles, composites, nonwovens, fibre-based packaging among others. The

demonstration should include aspects related to optimisation of fibre extraction yield,

mechanical physical-chemical properties, fibre fineness, resource efficiency.

Chemical, biotech and physical-chemical approaches may be considered.

• The scope also covers cascading valorisation of co-products, residual biomass and

side streams from all steps in the value chain, to benefit the overall business case.

• Assess the replication potential of the demonstrated value chain(s) across EU/EEA/AC

taking into consideration different environmental and cultivation/growth conditions.

• Perform an assessment of environmental impacts

including aspects related to land

use, required inputs, CO

footprint from cultivation, harvesting and processing of

targeted crops/feedstock, biodiversity impacts

• Include a task to integrate assessment based on the safe-and-sustainable-by-design

(SSbD) framework, developed by the European Commission, for assessing the safety

and sustainability of demonstrated biochemicals and biomaterials. Under this context,

projects are expected to contribute with and develop recommendations that can

advance further the application of the SSbD framework.

• Develop guidelines or recommendations for farmers, forest owners and biorefinery

operators and policy makers (in particular, local and regional authorities), to ensure

mutual benefits.

• Address any regulatory bottlenecks or related issues relevant to the targeted end

market(s), ensuring compatibility in the perspective of potential future scale-up.

• Maximise the socio-economic impact at territorial level, by identifying strategies for

engaging local communities and providing support, for example (but not exclusively) in

case of areas facing environmental pressures such as drought, biodiversity decline,

etc or socio-economic difficulties such as depopulation, disadvantaged communities

and others.

Proposals should implement the multi-actor approach and ensure adequate involvement of all key

actors in the value chains relevant for this topic, across the sustainable circular bio-based system,

including primary biomass producers (farmers and forest owners) and other rural and civil society

actors (including SMEs and NGOs), bio-based industries, end-users/consumers, local

communities, local and regional authorities, education and research sectors, including on social

innovation based on effective cooperation models.

Proposals may consider making existing/new industrial assets (e.g., labs, test rigs, etc.) accessible

to researchers, SMEs, etc., for visiting, or training and testing bio-based processes.

The LCA data may be used to create a Natural Capital account for nature positive industrial fibre crops to be potentially fed

into the business case for such changes in practice.

Biodiversity assessment should include in particular impacts on the pollinators, other invertebrates, small mammals, birds, soil

organisms and plant agrobiodiversity, surrounding habitats, potential invasiveness of selected fibre crops.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

Proposals should seek for links and complementarities and avoid overlaps with past, ongoing and

upcoming EU funded projects, including those funded under H2020, HEU and the BBI JU and CBE

Proposals should also describe their contribution to the Specific CBE JU requirements, presented

in section 2.2.3.1.

It is encouraged to assess a possibility of engaging in international cooperation, taking care of

safeguarding the European industrial competitiveness.

E.g., project FIBSUN. Include a task to cooperate with CBE JU ongoing and parallel projects related to agricultural business

models (e.g. BRILIAN, ROBOCOOP-EU), HORIZON-CBE-2024-01 CSA: New forms of cooperation in agriculture and the forest-

based sector.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024-IA-01 Bio-based materials and products for

biodegradable in-soil applications

Type of action Innovation Action

Indicative budget The total indicative budget for the topic is EUR 15 million

Expected EU

contribution per

project

It is estimated that a contribution of EUR 7.5 million would allow

these outcomes to be addressed

appropriately. Nonetheless, this

does not preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting

different amounts

TRL TRL 7-8 at the end of the project.

Link to CBE JU

Specific Objectives

2.1 Reinforcing the integration of bio-based research and innovation

throughout industrial bio-based systems and innovation throughout

industrial bio-based systems and increase the involvement of R&I

actors including feedstock providers in the bio-based value chains.

3.1 Ensuring the integration of circularity an

d environmental

sustainability requirements, contribution to climate neutrality and

zero pollution ambition in the development and implementation of

biobased research and innovation and facilitate societal acceptance

Link to CBE JU SRIA 2.1.2: Deploy innovative production technologies

2.1.3 -

Scale up production and market uptake of innovative

biobased products

3.1.2: Incorporate the environmental sustainability and circularity

criteria in bio-based systems.

CBE JU KPIs 1.1. Number of primary producers, involved as project beneficiaries

and/or engaged in value chains at project level

4.3 Number of projects developing innovative & sustainable

processes enabling to address zero pollution

4.5 Number of products with improved life cycle environmental

performance

5.1 Number of innovative products that are biodegradable,

compostable, recyclable, reused or upcycled (circular by design)

6 Increase innovative bio-based outputs and products

7 Improve the market uptake of bio-based products

Expected outcomes

In line with the objectives of the Circular Economy

and Zero Pollution Action Plan

, and the EU

Plastics Strategy

and the recommendation in the Communication – EU policy framework on bio-

Brussels, 11.3.2020 COM(2020) 98 final

Brussels, 12.05.2021, COM(2021) 400 final

https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/plastics-strategy_en

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

based, biodegradable and compostable plastics

the successful proposals will facilitate the

deployment of sustainable bio-based biodegradable materials and products for applications in soil.

Successful proposals will also contribute to the implementation of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy

and the updated EU Industrial Strategy

. Moreover, successful proposals will deliver significant

contribution to the objectives of the R&I Missions ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’, in particular objectives

‘Reduce soil pollution and enhance restoration’ and ‘Prevent erosion’, as well as Mission ‘Restore

our Oceans and Waters by 2030’ in particular ‘Make the blue economy carbon-neutral and circular’

and ‘Prevent and eliminate pollution of our oceans, seas and waters’.

Project results should contribute to the following expected outcomes:

• Availability of safe and sustainable by design bio-based solutions aiming at zero waste and

zero pollution, with decreased environmental on soil, biodiversity and climate.

• Contribution to industrial competitiveness and resource independence of bio-based value

chains in EU/EEA/EFTA countries and ACs.

• Improved circularity and resource efficiency via practical application of circular

bioeconomy.

• Social acceptance of circular bio-based solutions and products.

• Innovative manufacturing processes to enable the safe biodegradation of bio-based

materials and products according with the environmental conditions and time frame for

specific applications.

Scope

Some plastics applications such as those in agriculture, infrastructure or landscaping are intended

to be used in the open environment. Plastic mulch films, for example, are used extensively within

a range of arable and horticultural cropping settings to prevent evaporation of water from the soil,

avoid fluctuations in soil temperature, protect the crops and increase their yield. Geotextiles and

geomembranes find widespread application in landscaping, construction and roadworks to

stabilise and improve mechanical properties of soil, collect and transport groundwater and prevent

contamination between different kinds of soil. Additional plastics applications in agriculture include

greenhouses, pheromones dispensers, clips, pots, etc. The improper or unintentional disposal of

plastic products and their degradation may result in soil pollution and environmental contamination.

While in some cases recovery from the environment for reuse or recycling would be feasible, for

some applications it is either impossible or disproportionally expensive and biodegradable (in soil)

alternatives may be preferable, provided that the products are able to meet technical performance

requirements throughout their use.

Proposals under this topic should:

• Demonstrate and deploy innovative production processes for SSbD bio-based products for

biodegradable

-in- soil applications, addressing the problem of (micro)plastics release in

soil and their further dispersion in runoff water. This topic focuses on products used in soil,

for example mulch films, tarpaulins, geonets, geotextiles, geomembranes, etc. and plastics

applications in agriculture, for example, greenhouses, pheromones dispensers, clips, pots

etc; select one or more product categories, providing a justification of the selection based

on the relevance of products in the actual market and/or on environmental considerations

https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/communication-eu-policy-framework-biobased-biodegradable-and-

compostable-plastics_en.

Updated Bioeconomy Strategy 2018.

Brussels, 5.5.2021 COM(2021) 350 final.

For biodegradability in soil refer to existing standards, when applicable, e.g., EN 17033:2018 for biodegradable mulch films.

Also, taking into account the progress of the upcoming revision of the Regulation on fertilising product.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

(e.g., the threats posed by the conventional non-biodegradable solutions for the same

applications).

• The topic does not cover marine and aquatic applications as a main focus. However, spill

over of the developed product streams towards other replication sectors (including

marine/aquatic) can be considered, in order to widen market applications.

• Design the products for biodegradation in soil according to the environmental conditions

and application timeframe, while ensuring technical performances meeting market

requirements throughout the useful life of the product. Moreover, the topic also addresses

eco-design and testing of reusability and/or recyclability depending on the final

application(s) and use conditions.

• Demonstrate safe biodegradability of bio-based products designed for specific applications

in open environments (soil) under ranges of physical/chemical environmental conditions,

including extreme conditions (e.g., temperature, pH) where applicable. Safe

biodegradability entails avoiding eco-toxicity, microplastic dispersion and any

environmental impacts - from bio-based products including their additives and other

components- on natural ecosystems and their services, including on the soil fertility, during

and after degradation. All these aspects should be monitored and assessed, also in the

phase of dispersion in runoff water.

• Perform validation trials of the developed bio-based products with the involvement of end

users (for example, in case of applications for agriculture are selected, primary sector

should be involved).

• Develop a proposal for appropriate labelling of products when applicable and provide clear

instructions on their use and on disposal options after use. This task should include the

consultation of targeted stakeholders, e.g., end users. Training of end users should also

be envisaged.

• Contribute with recommendations related to standards for biodegradability in soil.

• Include a task for projects funded under this topic to collaborate and align the proposals

for appropriate labelling, and the recommendations related to standards.

• Include a task to integrate assessment of the demonstrated bio-based products based on

the safe and sustainable by design (SSbD) framework, developed by the European

Commission, for assessing the safety and sustainability of chemicals and materials.

Under this context, projects are expected to contribute with and develop recommendations

that can advance further the application of the SSbD framework.

Proposals should seek for links and complementarities and avoid overlaps with past, ongoing and

upcoming EU funded projects, including those funded under H2020, HEU

, the BBI JU and CBE

, and the Missions ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ and ’Restore our oceans and water’. Collaboration

among projects from the same topic are encouraged.

Proposals should also describe their contribution to the Specific CBE JU requirements, presented

in section 2.2.3.1.

See document defining the framework and criteria: Safe and sustainable by design.

More specifically, provide thresholds that can support the criteria definition and improvements for the assessment SSbD

methodologies, including any specificities related with bio-based plastics. Recommendations should also include identification of

data gaps, especially safety, environmental, but also socio-economic factors, as well as priorities for data collection.

Such as FIRST2RUN (H2020-BBI-JTI-2014), GRACE (H2020-BBI-JTI-2016), UNLOCK (H2020-BBI-JTI-2020),REBIOLUTION

(HORIZON-CL6-2022-CIRCBIO-02-two-stage), MINAGRIS (H2020-SFS-2020-2), PAPILLON (H2020-SFS-2020-2), ELLIPSE

(HORIZON-JU-CBE-2022).

For example, ‘HORIZON-JU-CBE-2023-R-05 Pre-normative research to develop standards for biodegradability of bio-based

products in controlled and in open environments’

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024-IA-02 Sustainable micro-algae as feedstock for

innovative, added-value applications

Type of action Innovation Action

Indicative budget The total indicative budget for the topic is EUR 15 million

Expected EU

contribution per

project

It is estimated that a contribution of EUR 7.5 million would allow

these outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Noneth

eless, this

does not preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting

different amounts

TRL TRL 6-7 at the end of the project.

Link to CBE JU

Specific Objectives

2.1 Reinforcing the integration of bio-based research and innovation

throughout industrial bio-based systems and innovation throughout

industrial bio-based systems and increase the involvement of R&I

actors including feedstock providers in the bio-based value chains.

3.1 Ensuring the integration of circularity and environmental

sustainability requirements, contribution to climate neutrality and

zero pollution ambition in the development and implementation of

biobased research and innovation and facilitate societal acceptance

Link to CBE JU SRIA 2.1.1 Demonstrate the sustainable supply of bio-based feedstock

2.1.2 Deploy innovative production technologies.

2.1.3 Scale up production and market uptake of innovative bio-based

products.

3.1.2 Incorporate the environmental sustainability and circularity

criteria in bio-based systems.

3.1.3 Facilitate social acceptance of bio-based applications

CBE JU KPIs

1.1 Number of primary producers, involved as project beneficiaries

and/or engaged in value chains at project level

2 Number of innovative bio-based value chains created or enabled

based on sustainably sourced biomass

4.5 Number of products with improved

life cycle environmental

performance

7 Improve the market uptake of bio-based products

Expected outcomes

In line with the objectives of the Bioeconomy Strategy

and the Zero Pollution Action Plan

successful proposals will facilitate the deployment of industrial systems based on sustainable bio-

based feedstock. These systems will also contribute to new EU strategy for a Sustainable Blue

Economy implementation and address the EC Communication Towards a Strong and Sustainable

EU Algae Sector,

by demonstrating improved environmental performances, maximum resource-

and energy-efficiency, and optimal cascading use of bio-based feedstock, aiming for ‘zero waste’

Updated Bioeconomy Strategy 2018.

Brussels, 12.05.2021, COM(2021) 400 final.

COM(2022) 592 final ‘Towards a Strong and Sustainable EU Algae Sector’.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

and ‘zero-pollution’ operations. Contribution to the objectives of the R&I Mission ‘Restore our

Oceans and Waters by 2030, in particular objective 3 ‘Make the blue economy carbon- neutral and

circular’.

Project results should contribute to the following expected outcomes:

• Implementation of (environmentally and economically) sustainable micro-algae-based

biorefinery processes.

• Availability of a broader range of micro-algae-based products meeting market

requirements.

• Social acceptance of circular bio-based solutions and products.

• Decreased energy, water, nutrients and in general resource requirements for micro-algae

production and processing with respect to state-of-art.

• Improved environmental impact with respect to fossil- and/or bio-based state-of-the-art

counterparts (if existing).

Scope

The valorisation of micro-algae and cyanobacteria into bio-based products is increasing but still

relatively limited. Past R&I activities related to strain, process and technology developments have

brought significant progress for high-value/low-volume specialties based on micro-algae, produced

in bioreactors. At the other end of the spectrum, low-value/higher volume products are produced

at large scale in open ponds. There is a range of products for which production technologies are

available, but not cost competitive. Presently there is a need to upscale production technologies,

including downstream separation and purification, which would allow to cover the mid-price range

of products in a cost-effective way, thereby contributing to increasing the market penetration of

micro-algae derived chemicals and products.

Proposals under this topic should:

• Demonstrate optimised production, harvesting, and product extraction from micro-algae

cyanobacteria and/or other phototrophic bacteria, including aspects related to automation

and control when applicable, including a specific focus on downstream separation and

purification (quality and purity) of end products depending on final application

requirements. Products in scope are those ingredients and intermediates in the medium

price range, for which process technologies exist but are currently not cost-competitive

enough to meet market demands. The objective is broadening the range of viable products

beyond the high-end products for niche markets whose high value presently justifies the

use of high-cost technologies.

• Reduce OPEX and CAPEX with respect to state-of-art, demonstrate the downstream

conversion of the produced feedstock into added value products with clear market

applications. Cascading and circular use of by-products and side streams is also fully in

scope.

• Ensure that production and conversion of the feedstock are cost-competitive, resources

efficient and sustainable (in terms of land use, water use, energy use including RES when

it provides added value to the overall business case, nutrients intake, CO

and effluents).

Regarding the optimized production, consider strain selection, optimization, accumulation

(intracellular storage) and extraction of desired products, their yield, stability, toxicity, and

quality, including purity.

• Include a task to integrate assessment based on the safe-and-sustainable-by-design

(SSbD) framework, developed by the European Commission, for assessing the safety and

Phototrophic, heterotrophic and mixed micro-algae strains are in scope

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

sustainability of chemicals and materials

. Under this context, projects are expected to

contribute with and develop recommendations that can advance further the application of

the SSbD framework.

Proposals must apply the concept of the ‘multi-actor approach’ and ensure adequate involvement

of all key actors in the value chains relevant for this topic, across the sustainable circular bio-based

system, including end users and consumers (when targeting B2C products).

Proposals should also describe their contribution to the Specific CBE JU requirements, presented

in section 2.2.3.1.

Proposals should seek for links and complementarities and avoid overlaps with past, ongoing and

upcoming EU funded projects, including those funded under H2020, HEU and the BBI JU and CBE

, and should ensure a link and synergy with the ‘Restore our Oceans and Waters’ Mission

100

and parallel activities supporting the EU Algae initiative. Collaboration among projects from the

same topic are encouraged.

See document defining the framework and criteria: Safe and sustainable by design.

More specifically, provide thresholds that can support the criteria definition and improvements for the assessment SSbD

methodologies, including any specificities related with bio-based chemicals. Recommendations should also include identification

of data gaps, especially safety, environmental, but also socio-economic factors, as well as priorities for data collection.

Previous BBI JU projects: SpiralG (H2020-BBI-JTI-2017), MULTI-STR3AM (H2020-BBI-JTI-2019), SCALE (H2020-BBI-JTI-

2020), MAGNIFICENT (H2020-BBI-JTI-2016), ABACUS (H2020-BBI-JTI-2016), VALUEMAG (H2020-BBI-JTI-2016), REDWine

(H2020-BBI-JTI-2020). Previous Horizon2020 projects: SABANA, BIOSEA, ASTRAL, NOMORFILM, INCOVER, SATGAE,

VOLATILE, NENU2PHAR, PRODIGIO, ProFuture, NewTecAqua, NextGenProteins, WATER2RETURN. HORIZON projects:

CIRCALGAE, REALM. Mission Ocean projects: LOCALITY, AlgaePro BANOS.

100

In particular to Objective 3: Make the blue economy carbon-neutral and circular.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024-IA-03 Enlarging the portfolio of commercially

produced bio-based SSbD solvents

Type of action Innovation Action

Indicative budget The total indicative budget for the topic is EUR 15 million

Expected EU

contribution per

project

It is estimated that a contribution of EUR 7.5 million would allow

these outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this

does not preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting

different amounts

TRL TRL 6-7 at the end of the project.

Link to CBE JU

Specific Objectives

2.1 Reinforcing the integration of bio-based research and innovation

throughout industrial bio-

based systems and increase the

involvement of R&I actors.

3.1 Ensuring the integration of circularity and environmental

sustainability requirements, contributio

n to climate neutrality and

zero pollution ambition in the development and implementation of

bio-

based research and innovation and facilitate societal

acceptance.

Link to CBE JU SRIA 2.1.1: Demonstrate the sustainable supply of bio-based feedstock

2.1.2: Deploy innovative production technologies.

2.1.3: Scale up production and market uptake of innovative bio-

based products.

3.1.2: Incorporate the environmental sustainability and circularity

criteria in bio-based systems

CBE JU KPIs 2 Unlock sustainable and circular bio-based feedstock for the

industry

3 Ensure environmental sustainability of feedstock

4 Improve environmental sustainability of bio-

based production

processes and value chains

6 Increase innovative bio-based outputs and products

7 Improve the market uptake of bio-based products

Expected outcomes

Projects are expected to address the EU Bioeconomy Strategy

101

and its action plan, the zero

pollution ambition for a toxic free environment under the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and

the Zero Pollution Action Plan,

102

the EU Industrial strategy,

103

the EU Biodiversity strategy

101

Updated Bioeconomy Strategy 2018.

102

The EU’s chemicals strategy for sustainability towards a toxic-free environment

103

Brussels, 5.5.2021 COM(2021) 350 final

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

2030,

104

as well as and the co-implementation of the Transition Pathway for the Chemical

Industry.

105

Project results should contribute to the following expected outcomes:

• Availability of a broader range of bio-based safe and sustainable by design (SSbD)

solvents meeting market and technical performance requirements while delivering

environmental and safety performance benefits, further facilitating of the market uptake of

scalable bio-based solutions across the value chain.

• Significant improvement of environmental and safety performance across the value chain

against specified fossil and/or bio-based benchmarks.

• Significantly improved sustainability, safety, strategic autonomy, resilience and

competitiveness of the European chemical industry and with cascading impact in other

downstream sectors.

• Reduce the fossil feedstock dependence of chemicals production and/or minimising

biomass imports dependencies of the bio-based industries.

• Improved circularity and resource efficiency via practical application of circular

bioeconomy, encompassing the resource- and energy-efficient, cascading use of

sustainably sourced biomass

106

• Societal relevance and social acceptance of circular bio-based solutions and products.

Scope

Solvents play an essential role in many applications, from production processes (both upstream

and downstream steps), including recycling processes, to being essential components in final

products. The EU bio-based production share is 1.5% (1% CAGR*), indicating a ‘young’ market.

107

The safety of solvents (conventional or not) is a concern; hence there is growing interest in safe

and sustainable alternatives.

Proposals under this topic should:

• Demonstrate sustainable and efficient production process(es)

108

for obtaining bio-based

solvents which can be then applicable as SSbD alternatives in one or more of the following

applications: i) production processes and/or ii) recycling, decontamination or pollution

control processes; and/or iii) formulation ingredients/additives. The focus should be to

address safety and sustainability challenges of market-relevant solvents, including the

ones under the SVHC* and SoCs* categories.

• Clarify the relevant feedstock in scope including availability and process flexibility aspects

in relation to feedstock composition if relevant. The cascading valorisation of secondary

biomass and residual streams is also in scope.

• Demonstrate that the targeted bio-based solvents are applicable in the most relevant final

processes and/or products with critical market volumes or processing applications. This

includes testing and validating (end TRL: 5 and above) the novel solvents in final products

104

Biodiversity strategy for 2030

105

Transition pathway (europa.eu)

106

Feedstock chosen should ensure that there is no competition with food/feed, as well as adhere to environmental sustainability

requirements (including biodiversity, etc.) – further described under ‘specific requirements’ section of the CBE AWP.

107

Spekreijse, J., Lammens, T., Parisi, C., Ronzon, T. and Vis, M., Insights into the European market for bio-based chemicals,

EUR 29581 EN, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2019, ISBN 978-92-76-01500-0, doi:10.2760/739561,

JRC112989.and ‘Road2Bio’ BBI JU project.

108

Enabling process technologies may include chemical, physicochemical, biotech or hybrid technologies while symbiosis

concepts are welcomed, if applicable to attain resource efficiency and sustainability with regards to attaining the targeted bio-

based solvents.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

and/or processes to assess the impact on end-product and process design, overall impact,

and performances.

• Include a task to integrate assessment based on the safe-and-sustainable-by-design

(SSbD) framework, developed by the European Commission, for assessing the safety and

sustainability of chemicals and materials.

109

Under this context, projects are expected to

contribute with and develop recommendations that can advance further the application of

the SSbD framework.

110

The safety and environmental performance assessment must

account for the full value chain and the most relevant final application(s) and end-of-life ,

ensuring safety for workers, end users / consumers as well as the environment.

• Assess the social sustainability performance of the bio-based solutions via S-LCA.

Proposals must apply the concept of ‘multi-actor approach’ and ensure adequate involvement of

all key actors in the value chains relevant for this topic and across the sustainable circular bio-

based system including end users, such as B2B stakeholders and brand owners.

Proposals should seek for links and complementarities and avoid overlaps with past, ongoing and

upcoming EU funded projects, including those funded under H2020, HEU and the BBI JU and CBE

JU.

111

Collaboration among projects from the same topic are encouraged.

Proposals should also describe their contribution to the Specific CBE JU requirements, presented

in section 2.2.3.1.

109

See document defining the framework and criteria: Safe and sustainable by design.

110

More specifically, provide thresholds that can support the criteria definition and improvements for the assessment SSbD

methodologies, including any specificities related with bio-based surfactants. Recommendations should also include identification

of data gaps, especially safety, environmental, but also socio-economic factors, as well as priorities for data collection.

111

For example from the BBI JU portfolio, without the list being exclusive: RESOLUTE (FLAGSHIP; end: 2023), RESOLVE (RIA;

end: 2020) and GREENSOLRES (IA, end:2021).

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024-IA-04 Circular and SSbD bio-based construction

& building materials with functional properties

Type of action Innovation Action

Indicative budget The total indicative budget for the topic is EUR 15 million

Expected EU

contribution per

project

It is estimated that a contribution of EUR 7.5 million would allow

these outcomes to be addressed appropriately.

Nonetheless, this

does not preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting

different amounts

TRL TRL 6-7 at the end of the project.

Link to CBE JU

Specific Objectives

2.1: Reinforce the integration of bio-based research and innovation

throughout industrial bio-based systems

3.1: Ensure the integration of circularity and environmental

sustainability requirements, contribution to climate neutrality and

zero pollution ambition in the development and implementation of

bio-based research and innovation

Link to CBE JU SRIA 2.1.2: Deploy innovative production technologies.

2.1.3: Scale up production and market uptake of innovative bio-

based products.

3.1.2: Incorporate the environmental sustainability and circularity

criteria in bio-based systems

CBE JU KPIs

2 Unlock sustainable and circular bio-based feedstock for the

industry

3 Ensure environmental sustainability of feedstock

4 Improve environmental sustainability of bio-

based production

processes and value chains

6 Increase innovative bio-based outputs and products

7 Improve the market uptake of bio-based products

Expected outcomes

In line with the objectives of the Circular Economy and Zero Pollution Action Plan, the revision of

the Construction Products Regulation

112

the Waste Framework Directive

, but also the EU

Construction transition pathway

113

the successful proposals will facilitate the demonstration and

deployment of sustainable bio-based construction materials. Successful proposals will also

contribute to the implementation of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy and the updated EU Industrial

Strategy.

Project results should contribute to the following expected outcomes:

• Uptake of circular bio-based solutions in construction and renovation of buildings, with

possible spillovers to other large volume markets (e.g., transport and furniture).

112

Brussels, 30.3.2022 COM(2022) 144 final.

113

Construction transition pathway.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

• Bio-based materials performance meeting market and regulatory requirements.

• Improved environmental and health & safety profile compared to current equivalent,

conventional products.

• Contribution to improved air quality (including indoor air quality) by preventing air pollution.

• Increased end user/consumer awareness and acceptance of SSbD bio-based solutions.

Scope

Buildings produce about 40% of the world’s CO

emissions, throughout the phases of material

production, construction, useful life of the construction facility and end-of-life of its components,

contributing to environmental pollution. To meet the increasing demand for sustainable, circular,

energy efficient buildings and construction materials, there is a need to adopt cost effective,

environmentally appropriate technologies and upgrade traditional techniques to increase

circularity. Bio-based materials and products can often provide more sustainable and circular

solutions and at the same time confer useful functional properties. At the same time, their scalability

and environmental sustainability needs to be clearly demonstrated compared to conventional

building materials.

Proposals under this topic should:

• Demonstrate bio-based products with tailored functional properties for large-scale

applications in construction and renovation of buildings. Products in scope are functional

elements such as (but not limited to) acoustic and thermal insulation panels, façade

elements, interior fittings, foams, membranes, door structures, window frames. Examples

of target functionalities include durability; fire retardancy; water barrier, moisture transfer,

antimicrobial, antifungal/mould prevention, corrosion prevention among others. While the

primary focus should be on construction and building products, proposals can also consider

replication of the developed solutions in other large market sectors such as transport and

furniture among others.

• Assess the compatibility of the innovative solutions developed with the built environment

in terms of materials and of planning, construction, maintenance, renovation and/or

demolition practices. Assess the compliance of products with the relevant regulatory

framework and provide recommendations to overcome any identified bottleneck. Perform

field trials of the newly developed materials and products involving end users (assessment,

training and awareness raising). When applicable, test the compatibility with other

components relevant to the final application.

• Ensure health and safety requirements of workers and end users/consumers are met,

including indoor air quality benefits when applicable.

• Demonstrate improved environmental profiles compared to conventional (fossil or bio-

based) materials in the production, use phase and end of life (including disassembly for

easier recycling where applicable, reduction of waste and sustainable waste

management).

• Demonstrate sustainable and resource efficient production routes.

• Include a task to integrate assessment based on the safe-and-sustainable-by-design

(SSbD) framework, developed by the European Commission, for assessing the safety and

sustainability of chemicals and materials. Under this context, projects are expected to

contribute with and develop recommendations that can advance further the application of

the SSbD framework.

Proposals should seek for links and complementarities and avoid overlaps with past, ongoing and

upcoming EU funded projects, including those funded under H2020, HEU and the BBI JU and CBE

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

114

. Synergies with projects from Processes4Planet and the New European Bauhaus Academy

initiative are encouraged. Proposals should also describe their contribution to the Specific CBE JU

requirements, presented in section 2.2.3.1.

114

BARBARA (H2020-BBI-JTI-2016), ReInvent (H2020-BBI-JTI-2017), ECOXY (H2020-BBI-JTI-2016), FIBSUN (HORIZON-JU-

CBE-2022), CBE JU project funded under topic HORIZON-JU-CBE-2023-2-S-01 (CBE JU supporting activities for the New

European Bauhaus Academy, a network for re-skilling and upskilling towards a sustainable construction ecosystem), HORIZON-

CL6-2021-ZEROPOLLUTION-01-06, HORIZON-CL6-2021-CIRCBIO-01-01, HORIZON-CL6-2022-CIRCBIO-02-01, HORIZON-

CL6-2023-CIRCBIO-01-08, HORIZON-CL6-2024-CIRCBIO-01-03, HORIZON-CL6-2024-CIRCBIO-02-5, HORIZON-CL6-2024-

CLIMATE-01-05

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024-IA-05 Selective and sustainable (co)-production

of lignin-derived aromatics

Type of action Innovation Action

Indicative budget The total indicative budget for the topic is EUR 15 million

Expected EU

contribution per

project

It is estimated that a contribution of EUR 7.5 million would allow

these outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this

does not preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting

different amounts

TRL TRL 6-7 at the end of the project.

Link to CBE JU

Specific Objectives

2.1 Reinforcing the integration of bio-based research and innovation

throughout industrial bio-

based systems and increase the

involvement of R&I actors.

3.1 Ensuring the integration of circularity and environmental

sustainability requirements, contributio

n to climate neutrality and

zero pollution ambition in the development and implementation of

bio-

based research and innovation and facilitate societal

acceptance.

Link to CBE JU SRIA 2.1.1: Demonstrate the sustainable supply of bio-based feedstock

2.1.2: Deploy innovative production technologies.

2.1.3: Scale up production and market uptake of innovative bio-

based products.

3.1.2: Incorporate the environmental sustainability and circularity

criteria in bio-based systems

CBE JU KPIs 2 Unlock sustainable and circular bio-

based feedstock for the

industry

3 Ensure environmental sustainability of feedstock

4 Improve environmental sustainability of bio-

based production

processes and value chains

6 Increase innovative bio-based outputs and products

Expected outcomes

Projects are overall expected to address the EU Bioeconomy Strategy

115

and its action plan, the

Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability

116

(under the EU Zero pollution ambition for a toxic free

environment), the EU Industrial strategy,

117

the EU Biodiversity strategy 2030,

118

as well as and

the co-implementation of the Transition Pathway for the chemicals industry

119

115

Updated Bioeconomy Strategy 2018.

116

The EU’s chemicals strategy for sustainability towards a toxic-free environment.

117

European Industrial Strategy.

118

Biodiversity strategy for 2030.

119

https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/chemicals/transition-pathway_en.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

Project results should contribute to the following expected outcomes:

• Scaling-up the cascading use of lignocellulosic biomass with improved atom economy,

upcycling lignin. Significantly contributing to divesting from fossil resources, also

considering the aromatics platform.

• Improved sustainability, strategic autonomy, resilience and competitiveness of the

European chemical industry while reducing the fossil feedstock dependence in other

downstream sectors.

• Significant improvement of environmental and safety performance across the value chain

against specified fossil and/or bio-based benchmarks.

• Availability of broader range of bio-based chemicals meeting market and technical

performance requirements, facilitating the market uptake of scalable bio-based solutions.

• Societal relevance and social acceptance of circular bio-based solutions and products.

Scope

Aromatics production is a billion € market and the share of EU is around 25 %. Aromatics have

impact on applications such as solvents, agrochemicals, dietary supplements, while also being

important in plastics production and other materials (e.g. resins, polyurethanes). The demand for

chemicals from renewable sources is rapidly increasing and there is an urgent need for alternative

feedstock and sustainable technologies to produce aromatics in bio-based industry. Lignin is

available at large volumes and currently mostly downcycled because of the lower feasibility to

obtain scaled up, selective aromatic streams, of which there are very few alternatives to fossil-

based aromatics. Approximately, only 1-2% of the lignin annual production is used in chemicals

production.

Proposals under this topic should:

• Demonstrate the efficient, cost-competitive and sustainable production of aromatic bio-

based chemicals from lignin, including phenols, alkylphenols, BTX (Benzene, toluene and

xylenes) and/or other aromatics.

• Address the upstream processing of lignocellulosic biomass and the downstream

processing of lignin to obtain targeted aromatics, demonstrating high yield and selectivity

for the targeted aromatics. Under this context, consider the integration of advanced

analytical characterisation capabilities of lignin and lignin-derived aromatics if applicable.

• Describe reaction mechanisms and pathways leading to the production of the targeted bio-

based aromatics in the context of further advancing process scale-up during or beyond the

project duration.

• Clarify the relevant feedstock in scope including availability and process flexibility aspects

in relation to feedstock composition if relevant. The cascading valorisation of secondary

biomass and residual streams is also in scope.

• Include a task to integrate assessment based on the safe-and-sustainable-by-design

(SSbD) framework, developed by the European Commission, for assessing the safety and

sustainability of chemicals and materials.

120

Under this context, projects are expected to

contribute with and develop recommendations that can advance further the application of

the SSbD framework.

121

The safety and environmental performance assessment must

120

See document defining the framework and criteria: Safe and sustainable by design.

121

More specifically, provide thresholds that can support the criteria definition and improvements for the assessment SSbD

methodologies, including any specificities related with bio-based chemicals. Recommendations should also include identification

of data gaps, especially safety, environmental, but also socio-economic factors, as well as priorities for data collection.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

account for the full value chain and the most relevant final application(s) and end-of-life ,

ensuring safety for workers, end users / consumers as well as the environment.

• Test and validate (end TRL: 5 and above) the bio-based aromatics for their further

conversion or integration further down the value chain.

Proposals must implement the multi-actor approach and ensure adequate involvement of all key

actors in the value chains relevant for this topic, across the sustainable circular bio-based system,

including B2B actors, end users as well as feedstock providers.

Proposals should seek for links and complementarities and avoid overlaps with past, ongoing and

upcoming EU funded projects, including those funded under H2020, HEU and the BBI JU and CBE

JU.

122

Collaboration among projects from the same topic are encouraged.

Proposals should also describe their contribution to the Specific CBE JU requirements, presented

in section 2.2.3.1.

122

For example, from the BBI JU/CBE JU portfolio, without the list being exclusive: *WOODZYMES* (RIA), *SWEETWOODS*

(FLAGSHIP), and *COUNTLESS* (IA).

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024-IA-06 Innovative bio-based adhesives and

binders for circular products meeting market requirements

Type of action Innovation Action

Indicative budget The total indicative budget for the topic is EUR 15 million

Expected EU

contribution per

project

It is estimated that a contribution of EUR 7.5 million would allow

these outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this

does not preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting

different amounts

TRL TRL 6-7 at the end of the project.

Link to CBE JU

Specific Objectives

2.1: Reinforce the integration of bio-based research and innovation

throughout industrial bio-

based systems and increase the

involvement of R&I actors including feedstock providers in the bio-

based value chains

2.2: Reduce the risk for research and innovation investments in bio-

based companies and projects

3.1: Ensure the integration of circularity and environmental

sustainability requirements, contribution to climate neutrality and

zero pollution ambition in the development and implementation of

bio-based research and

innovation and facilitate societal

acceptance.

Link to CBE JU SRIA 1.3.2 - Improve environmental performances of bio-based processes

2.1.2 - Deploy innovative production technologies

2.1.3 - Scale up production and market uptake of innovative bio-

based products

3.1.2 -

Incorporate the environmental sustainability and circularity

criteria in bio-based systems

CBE JU KPIs

2 Number of innovative bio-based value chains created or enabled

based on sustainably sourced biomass

4.1 Number of projects with innovative & sustainable processes that

contribute to GHG emissions reduction

4.2 Number of projects developing innovative & sustainable

processes that improve on resource efficiency and zero-waste

4.3 Number

of projects developing innovative & sustainable

processes enabling to address zero pollution

4.5 Number

of products with improved life cycle environmental

performance

5.1 Number of

innovative products that are biodegradable,

compostable, recyclable, reused or upcycled (circular by design)

6.1 Number of innovative bio-based dedicated outputs, with novel or

significantly improved properties vs relevant alternatives

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

Expected outcomes

In line with the objectives of the Circular Economy

123

and Zero Pollution Action Plan

124

, the EU

Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and the Transition Pathway for the Chemical Industry and its

co-implementation, the successful proposals will facilitate the deployment of sustainable bio-based

adhesives. Successful proposals will also contribute to the implementation of the EU Bioeconomy

Strategy

125

and the updated EU Industrial Strategy

126

Project results should contribute to the following expected outcomes:

• Diversification of the bio-based adhesives and binders product portfolio and increase of

their range of application.

• Product performance meeting market and regulatory requirements.

• Proof-of-concept demonstration of new bio-based adhesive and binder applications under

representative conditions.

• Improved sustainability and circularity compared to existing market counterparts.

• Improved health and safety profile compared to existing market products.

• Increased end user/consumer awareness and acceptance of SSbD bio-based solutions.

Scope

Adhesives and binders are used in several sectors; their strength, ease of application and stability

are of significant help in the manufacture and service of products. However, certain conventional

fossil-based products can present significant health and safety and environmental issues at

production, use and end of life phases. The chemical composition of and volatile substances

released from conventional synthetic adhesives and binders raise health and safety concerns;

moreover they are often based on formaldehyde or epoxy resins, some of which are under scrutiny

as candidate substances of concern. Bio-based solutions could represent safer alternatives,

provided they match application requirements in terms of cost, performance and end of life.

Proposals under this topic should:

• Demonstrate the cost-competitive and resource efficient production of SSbD bio-based

adhesives and/or binders, as alternatives to conventional fossil-based chemicals posing

environmental and health & safety concerns.

• Demonstrate that the developed adhesives and/or binders meet target application

requirements in terms of technical performances, such as shelf life and durability, load-

bearing, fire resistance, resistance to chemicals and temperature, mechanical strength

etc. Besides the technical properties of the adhesives and binders, proposals should also

consider their application to the final product(s), targeting solutions allowing easy

assembly/installation and debonding, as well as compatibility with recycling streams, for

improved circularity of the product.

123

Brussels, 11.3.2020 COM(2020) 98 final.

124

Brussels, 12.05.2021, COM(2021) 400 final.

125

European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Review of the 2012 European Bioeconomy

Strategy, Publications Office, 2018, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2777/086770.

126

Brussels, 5.5.2021 COM(2021) 350 final.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

• Include a task to integrate assessment based on the safe-and-sustainable-by-design

(SSbD) framework, developed by the European Commission, for assessing the safety and

sustainability of chemicals and materials.

127

Under this context, projects are expected to

contribute with and develop recommendations that can advance further the application of

the SSbD framework.

128

. Where applicable, a comparison with the fossil-based and/or bio-

based state-of-the-art counterparts should be added.

Proposals must implement the multi-actor approach and demonstrate the involvement of all

concerned key actors in the bio-based systems, such as researchers and technology providers,

bio-based processing industries, waste management operators, end-users and consumers.

Proposals should seek for links and complementarities and avoid overlaps with past, ongoing and

upcoming EU funded projects, including those funded under H2020, HEU and the BBI JU and CBE

JU.

129

Collaboration among projects from the same topic are encouraged.

Proposals should also describe their contribution to the Specific CBE JU requirements, presented

in section 2.2.3.1.

127

See document defining the framework and criteria: Safe and sustainable by design.

128

More specifically, provide thresholds that can support the criteria definition and improvements for the assessment SSbD

methodologies, including any specificities related with bio-based adhesives. Recommendations should also include identification

of data gaps, especially safety, environmental, but also socio-economic factors, as well as priorities for data collection.

129

For example from the BBI JU/CBE JU portfolio, CHAMPION (H2020-BBI-JTI-2019), VIOBOND (H2020-BBI-JTI-2020),

VIPRISCAR (H2020-BBI-JTI-2017), SusBind (H2020-BBI-JTI-2017), SuperBark (HORIZON-JU-CBE-2022).

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024-IA-07 Innovative conversion of biogenic gaseous

carbon into bio-based chemicals, ingredients, materials

Type of action Innovation Action

Indicative budget The total indicative budget for the topic is EUR 15 million

Expected EU

contribution per

project

It is estimated that a contribution of EUR 7.5 million would allow

these outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Nonethe

less, this

does not preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting

different amounts

TRL TRL 6-7 at the end of the project.

Link to CBE JU

Specific Objectives

2.1: Reinforce the integration of bio-based research and innovation

throughout industrial bio-based systems.

3.1: Ensure the integration of circularity and environmental

sustainability requirements, contribution to climate neutrality and

zero pollution ambition in the development and implementation of

bio-based research and innovation

Link to CBE JU SRIA 2.1.1: Demonstrate the sustainable supply of bio-based feedstock

2.1.2: Deploy innovative production technologies

3.1.2: Incorporate the environmental sustainability and circularity

criteria in bio-based systems

CBE JU KPIs 4.1 Number of projects with innovative & sustainable processes that

contribute to GHG emissions reduction

4.2 Number

of projects developing innovative & sustainable

processes that improve on resource efficiency and zero-waste

Expected outcomes

In line with the objectives of the Circular Economy

130

and Zero Pollution Action Plan

131

, as well as

the 2021 Communication on Sustainable Carbon Cycles targets

132

, the successful proposals will

facilitate the deployment of sustainable products based on conversion of biogenic gaseous carbon

from renewable resources. Successful proposals will also contribute to the implementation of the

EU Bioeconomy Strategy

133

and the updated EU Industrial Strategy

134

Projects results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• Industrial symbiosis in the bio-based sector to reduce GHGs emissions.

• Improved environmental performances and resource efficiency of bio-based processes.

130

Brussels, 11.3.2020 COM(2020) 98 final.

131

Brussels, 12.05.2021, COM(2021) 400 final.

132

‘At least 20% of the carbon used in the chemical and plastic products should be from sustainable non-fossil sources (i.e.

waste, sustainable biomass and atmosphere) by 2030, in full consideration of the EU’s biodiversity and circular economy

objectives and of the upcoming policy framework for bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics’ COM(2021) 800

Communication on Sustainable Carbon Cycles.

133

European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Review of the 2012 European Bioeconomy

Strategy, Publications Office, 2018, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2777/086770.

134

Brussels, 5.5.2021 COM(2021) 350 final.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

• Improved and upscaled CCU technologies in the bio-based systems

135

• Enhanced carbon removal potential of bio-based systems as storage of carbon from

biogenic gaseous emissions into circular and/or long-lasting bio-based chemicals and/or

ingredients and/or materials

136

Scope

Biogenic gaseous carbon

137

from bio-based systems and biorefineries can be used as a

sustainable feedstock to replace fossil carbon to obtain chemicals (including polymers), ingredients

and materials while further contributing to reducing CO

emissions and to increasing carbon

sequestration in circular and/or long-lasting bio-based products and materials. The resulting

innovative value chains have the potential to turn a problem (related to carbon gaseous emissions

in the atmosphere) into an opportunity for EU socio-economic growth and global strategic

autonomy for raw materials, while mitigating negative impacts to climate change and biodiversity

preservation. Bio-based industry can lead the way to such untapped potential providing examples

which could be in the future adapted and replicated also by big emitters of CO

, including those

out of the scope of this topic.

Proposals under this topic should focus on carbon in gaseous emissions from biomass-based

systems and industrial biorefineries or any other bio-based operation (including emissions from

primary sectors) as main feedstock for further conversion. Biogenic gaseous carbon emissions

from plants dedicated to the production of bioenergy from biomass combustion and from syngas

are not in scope.

Proposals under this topic should:

• Demonstrate the efficient capture and further conversion of biogenic gaseous carbon from

selected source(s) into ingredients, chemicals and polymers and/or materials within the

scope of the CBE. Different conversion routes are in scope.

• Demonstration should address the implementation of necessary measures to maximize

productivity of targeted output.

• The demonstration should also address: i) flexible and economically viable systems for

capture and/or potential purification of selected biobased gaseous stream based on the

specific characteristics of the selected feedstock and targeted use ii) efficient recovery and

purification of obtained ingredients/chemicals/materials proving the fulfilment of

requirements for targeted applications.

• Assess the replication/adaptation potential of the proposed technological approach(es) to

other sources of biogenic carbon through the analysis of the range of current/potential

sources of biogenic carbon emissions from biorefineries/bio-based industrial activities.

• Include a task to integrate assessment based on the safe-and-sustainable-by-design

(SSbD) framework, developed by the European Commission, for assessing the safety and

sustainability of chemicals and materials. Under this context, projects are expected to

135

‘…we need to recycle carbon from waste streams, from sustainable sources of biomass or directly from the atmosphere, to

use it in place of fossil carbon in the sectors of the economy that will inevitably remain carbon dependent. The circular economy

and the sustainable bioeconomy sectors can address this objective and should promote technological solutions for carbon capture

and use (CCU) and the production of sustainable synthetic fuels or other non-fossil based carbon products.’ COM(2021) 800

Communication on Sustainable Carbon Cycles.

136

The ‘carbon storage products’ is one of the carbon removal activities defined in the proposal for a Regulation establishing a

Union certification framework for carbon removals COM (2022) 672, together with permanent removal and carbon farming. In the

same proposed regulation, the concept of long-lasting is mentioned (although not fully defined) in: Article 2 - Definitions ‘..For the

purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions apply: (a) ‘carbon removal’ means either the storage of atmospheric or

biogenic carbon within geological carbon pools, biogenic carbon pools, long-lasting products and materials, and the marine

environment, or the reduction of carbon release from a biogenic carbon pool to the atmosphere..’, Article 6 Long-term storage

‘…An operator or group of operators shall demonstrate that a carbon removal activity aims at ensuring the long-term storage of

carbon’

137

CBE SRIA 2022, glossary: biogenic gaseous carbon = Carbon in gaseous emissions from biomass-based industrial

ecosystems and biorefineries or any other bio-based operation.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

contribute with and develop recommendations that can advance further the application of

the SSbD framework. Where applicable, a comparison with the fossil-based counterparts

of the same chemicals/ingredients/materials should be added.

• Assess the carbon removal* potential of the developed technologies, and apply monitoring

systems to allow for reporting and verification to be recognised as contributing to EU

climate and environmental objectives (following the upcoming European certification

framework

138

Proposals should seek for links and complementarities and avoid overlaps with past, ongoing and

upcoming EU funded projects, including those funded under H2020, HEU and the BBI JU and CBE

139

, Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe

140

and Processes4Planet PPP

141

. Collaboration among

projects from the same topic are encouraged.

Proposals should also describe their contribution to the Specific CBE JU requirements, presented

in section 2.2.3.1.

138

Proposal_for_a_Regulation_establishing_a_Union_certification_framework_for_carbon_removals.pdf.

139

REDwine, HICCUPS and SynoProtein.

140

For example, BioRECO2VER, ENGICOIN, BIOCONCO2, CELBICON, VIVALDI, CO2SMOS.

141

HORIZON-CL4-2024-TWIN-TRANSITION.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024-RIA-01 Valorisation of polluted/contaminated

wood from industrial and post-consumer waste streams

Type of action Research and Innovation Action

Indicative budget The total indicative budget for the topic is EUR 7 million

Expected EU

contribution per

project

It is estimated that a contribution of EUR 3.5 million would allow

these outcomes to be addressed appropriat

ely. Nonetheless, this

does not preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting

different amounts

TRL TRL 5 at the end of the project.

Link to CBE JU

Specific Objectives

2.1 Reinforcing the integration of bio-based research and innovation

throughout industrial bio-

based systems and increase the

involvement of R&I actors.

3.1 Ensuring the integration of circularity and environmental

sustainability requirements, contribution to climate neutrality and

zero pollution ambition in the development and implementation of

bio-

based research and innovation and facilitate societal

acceptance.

Link to CBE JU SRIA 2.1.2: Deploy innovative production technologies.

2.1.3: Scale up production and market uptake of innovative bio-

based products.

3.1.2: Incorporate the environmental sustainability and circularity

criteria in bio-based systems

CBE JU KPIs 4.2 N of projects developing innovative & sustainable processes that

improve on resource efficiency and zero-waste

4.4 N of projects with innovative & sustainable processes with

improved energy efficiency

5.2 N of projects developing circular production practises (incl.

industrial & industrial urban symbiosis

Expected outcomes

In line with the objectives of the Circular Economy

142

and Zero Pollution Action Plan

143

, the EU

Forest Strategy

144

and the Waste Framework Directive

145

, the successful proposals will facilitate

the deployment of sustainable bio-based solutions based on recovery and recycling of post-

142

Brussels, 11.3.2020 COM(2020) 98 final.

143

Brussels, 12.05.2021, COM(2021) 400 final.

144

Brussels, 16.7.2021 COM(2021) 572 final.

145

https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/waste-and-recycling/waste-framework-directive_en.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

consumer wood streams. Successful proposals will also contribute to the implementation of the

EU Bioeconomy Strategy

146

and the updated EU Industrial Strategy

147

Project results should contribute to the following expected outcomes:

• New systems combing sorting, cleaning and valorisation of post-consumer and post-

industrial wood waste into eco-designed sustainable bio-based products.

• New cross-sectoral and multidisciplinary approach fostering the development of innovative

circular business models through the cooperation among different actors.

• Decreased wood waste to landfill, incineration and all unsustainable practices, and

associated environmental impacts.

• Decontaminated wood waste validated as suitable feedstock for products in at least two

application sectors.

• Social acceptance of circular bio-based solutions and products.

Scope

Post-consumer and post-industrial wood waste is an abundant secondary feedstock mainly coming

from construction and furniture, but also secondary packaging. Policies around Europe are

prompting separate collection and recycling of wood waste. Despite the great potential of urban

and industrial wood waste to be exploited through a circular bioeconomy approach, this complex

waste stream is difficult to be recycled/reprocessed, as it often features contaminants in the form

of additives (glues, varnishes, paints, additives, etc..), pollutants (wood treatment products and

heavy metals), and contaminating materials (glass, plastics, metals, etc.).

Proposals under this topic should:

• Develop innovative, adaptive/flexible, sustainable and efficient technologies for separating

wood content derived from industrial and post-consumer wood waste streams

148

from

impurities, pollutants and contaminants

149

. Examples of such wood waste streams include

wood from furniture; construction and demolition waste; pallets; boxes and crates and

many others. Develop sustainable valorisation/conversion/recycling routes for

decontaminated wood waste into bio-based intermediates/chemicals/materials/products.

• Assess the reduced environmental impacts and the increased circularity in the developed

treatment of the selected wood waste streams, also in comparison with the current

treatments, if possible.

• Target at least two different applications/sectors considering economic viability and

environmental sustainability.

• Describe how contaminants will be safely and sustainably isolated and treated. When

applicable, assess and develop processes for treatment and potential valorisation of

organic and/or inorganic contaminants.

• Consider health and safety (H&S) aspects including safety of end-users and operators;

• Perform a survey of the current regulatory framework ruling the management and

valorisation of wood waste at EU level and provide recommendations to address potential

bottlenecks.

146

European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Review of the 2012 European Bioeconomy

Strategy, Publications Office, 2018, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2777/086770.

147

Brussels, 5.5.2021 COM(2021) 350 final.

148

Side-streams or by-products of the forest primary sector and pulp and paper industries are not in the scope of this topic.

149

For a classification of wood waste, see also the document ‘Waste Wood Assessment Guidance for the UK Waste Wood

Industry’ and other guidance provided by the Wood Recyclers Association (WRA) https://woodrecyclers.org/.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

• Include a task to integrate assessment based on the safe-and-sustainable-by-design

(SSbD) framework, developed by the European Commission, for assessing the safety and

sustainability of chemicals and materials.

150

Under this context, projects are expected to

contribute with and develop recommendations that can advance further the application of

the SSbD framework

151

Proposals must apply the concept of ‘multi-actor approach’ and ensure adequate involvement of

all key actors in the value chains relevant for this topic, across the sustainable circular bio-based

system, including local communities, municipalities, waste management companies and

consumers (when targeting B2C products).

Proposals should seek for links and complementarities and avoid overlaps with past, ongoing and

upcoming EU funded projects, including those funded under H2020, HEU and the BBI JU and CBE

152

. Moreover, projects should consider liaising with P4P and NEB initiative.

Proposals should also describe their contribution to the Specific CBE JU requirements, presented

in section 2.2.3.1.

150

See document defining the framework and criteria: Safe and sustainable by design.

151

More specifically, provide thresholds that can support the criteria definition and improvements for the assessment SSbD

methodologies, including any specificities related with the targeted bio-based products. Recommendations should also include

identification of data gaps, especially safety, environmental, but also socio-economic factors, as well as priorities for data

collection.

152

Example of previous or ongoing projects: EcoReFibre (HORIZON-CL4-2021-RESILIENCE-01), WOODCIRCUS (HORIZON

2020-SC5-2018-1), BioREG (H2020-BB-2016-2017). Projects from the call HORIZON-JU-CBE-2023-2-S-01

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024-RIA-02 Biotech routes to obtain bio-based

chemicals/ materials replacing animal-derived ones

Type of action Research and Innovation Action

Indicative budget The total indicative budget for the topic is EUR 7 million

Expected EU

contribution per

project

It is estimated that a contribution of EUR 3.5 million would allow

these outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this

does not preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting

different amounts

TRL TRL 4-5 at the end of the project.

Link to CBE JU

Specific Objectives

1.1: Increase the intensity of cross-

disciplinary research and

innovation activities

1.2: Increase and integrate the research and innovation capacity of

stakeholders across the Union

1.3 Increase and integrate the research and innovation capacity for

add

ressing environmental challenges and development of more

sustainable bio-based innovations

Link to CBE JU SRIA 1.1.2 - Develop innovative production systems in the bio-based

industry

1.3.2 - Improve environmental performances of bio-based processes

1.1.3 – Develop innovative bio-based products

3.1.3 – Facilitate social acceptance of bio-based applications

CBE JU KPIs

2 Number of innovative bio-based value chains created or enabled

based on sustainably sourced biomass

4.1 Number of projects with innovative & sustainable processes that

contribute to GHG emissions reduction

4.2 Number

of projects developing innovative & sustainable

processes that improve on resource efficiency and zero-waste

4.3 Number

of projects developing innovative & sustainable

processes enabling to address zero pollution

4.5 Number

of products with improved life cycle environmental

performance

6.1 Number of innovative bio-based dedicated outputs, with novel or

significantly improved properties vs relevant alternatives

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

Expected outcomes

In line with the objectives of the Circular Economy

153

and Zero Pollution Action Plan

154

, as well as

the Farm to Fork Strategy

155

, the successful proposals will contribute to the development of

sustainable bio-based products. Successful proposals will also contribute to the implementation of

the EU Bioeconomy Strategy

156

and the updated EU Industrial Strategy

157

Project results should contribute to the following expected outcomes:

• Novel, scalable and more sustainable biotech production routes for bio-based and non-

animal-derived chemicals and/or materials replacing animal-derived ones.

• Performance(s) of bio-based chemicals and/or materials meeting end users’ requirements

for final products.

• Availability of safe and sustainable by design bio-based products.

• Positive socio-economic impacts along the value chain, from feedstock suppliers to

chemicals and materials producers to end users.

• Social acceptance of circular bio-based solutions and products.

Scope

Several industries (examples being in, cosmetics ingredients, but also in textile, leather, chemical

and material production) utilise animal-derived raw materials as a basis to produce a wide range

of products. Examples include hormones, amino acids/peptides, animal oils and fats, fibres,

casein, collagen, bone, blood, feathers, leather, etc. Animal derivatives are often characterised by

a variable composition and pose sustainability issues due to land use for feed and animal breeding

and related environmental footprint but also the animal welfare concerns. There is a growing

consumer awareness and drive to move away from animal-derived products in mass-market

products. Moreover, the possible presence of pathogens is a critical issue which impacts safety

and requires costly downstream purification. Plant-based, fungi-, algae or microbial streams and

related side-streams can provide a safer, more sustainable and consistent alternative.

Proposals under this topic should:

• Develop biotech routes for sustainable bio-based alternatives to (a set of) animal-derived

product(s). Define, develop and test the related biotech routes and subsequent

downstream (separation, purification) up to pilot scale (TRL 5). While the focus of this

action is on bio-based materials and/or chemicals, co-production of other bio-based

ingredients (including for food and feed) is in scope, fulfilling the cascading approach for

maximum valorisation of the feedstock. Any non animal-based biomass feedstock in the

scope of the CBE JU is considered in scope for this topic.

• Characterise the properties of the resulting bio-based material(s)/chemical(s); address

validation into final product(s) to test compatibility with market requirements.

• Assess the compatibility with relevant norms and regulations, including Health&Safety

aspects when considering consumer applications.

153

Brussels, 11.3.2020, COM(2020) 98 final.

154

Brussels, 12.05.2021, COM(2021) 400 final.

155

With reference to the Farm to Fork target of ‘reducing climate and environmental impact of animal breeding’ Brussels,

20.5.2020, COM(2020) 381 final.

156

European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Review of the 2012 European Bioeconomy

Strategy, Publications Office, 2018, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2777/086770.

157

Brussels, 5.5.2021 COM(2021) 350 final.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

• Include a task to integrate a prospective assessment based on the safe-and-sustainable-

by-design (SSbD) framework, developed by the European Commission, for assessing the

safety and sustainability of chemicals and materials.

158

Under this context, projects are

expected to contribute with and develop recommendations that can advance further the

application of the SSbD framework

159

• Perform a socio-economic impact assessment identifying challenges and opportunities

across new and existing value chains.

• Involve end users starting from the early stages of development to assess market

acceptance of the newly developed bio-based materials/products. When addressing

consumer products, involve consumers in the testing and validation phase.

Proposals must implement the multi-actor approach and ensure adequate involvement of all key

actors in the value chains relevant for this topic, across the sustainable circular bio-based system.

in particular, involve end users (e.g., consumers and brand owners) or other stakeholders such as

NGOs and regulatory actors.

Proposals should also describe their contribution to the Specific CBE JU requirements, presented

in section 2.2.3.1.

Proposals should seek for links and complementarities and avoid overlaps with past, ongoing and

upcoming EU funded projects, including those funded under H2020, HEU and the BBI JU and CBE

JU. Collaboration among projects from the same topic are encouraged.

158

See document defining the framework and criteria: Safe and sustainable by design.

159

More specifically, provide thresholds that can support the criteria definition and improvements for the assessment SSbD

methodologies, including any specificities related with bio-based chemicals and materials. Recommendations should also include

identification of data gaps, especially safety, environmental, but also socio-economic factors, as well as priorities for data

collection.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024-RIA-03 Sustainable, bio-based alternatives for

crop protection

Type of action Research and Innovation Action

Indicative budget The total indicative budget for the topic is EUR 10 million

Expected EU

contribution per

project

It is estimated that a contribution of EUR 5 million would allow these

outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not

preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting different

amounts

TRL TRL 4-5 at the end of the project.

Link to CBE JU

Specific Objectives

1.1: Increase the intensity of cross-

disciplinary research and

innovation activities

1.2: Increase and integrate the research and innovation capacity of

stakeholders across the Union

1.3 Increase and integrate the research and innovation capacity for

addressing environmental challenges and development of more

sustainable bio-based innovations

2.1: Reinforce the integration of bio-based research and innovation

in the Union bio-based industry and increase the involvement of R&I

actors including feedstock providers in the bio-based value chains

Link to CBE JU SRIA 1.1.2 - Develop innovative production systems in the bio-based

industry

1.3.1 - Protect and enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services in

bio-based feedstock supply systems

1.3.2 - Improve environmental performances of bio-based processes

1.1.3 – Develop innovative bio-based products

3.1.3 – Facilitate social acceptance of bio-based applications

CBE JU KPIs

1.1. Number of primary producers, involved as project beneficiaries

and/or engaged in value chains at project level

2 Number of innovative bio-based value chains created or enabled

based on sustainably sourced biomass

4.1 Number of projects with innovative & sustainable processes that

contribute to GHG emissions reduction

4.5 Number

of products with improved life cycle environmental

performance

6.1 Number of innovative bio-based dedicated outputs, with novel or

significantly improved properties vs relevant alternatives

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

Expected outcomes

In line with the objectives of the Circular Economy

160

and Zero Pollution Action Plan

161

, as well as

the Farm to Fork Strategy

162

and the Biodiversity Strategy

163

, notably to the targets to reduce by

50% the overall use and risk of chemical pesticides and reduce the use by 50% of the more

hazardous pesticides by 2030, the successful proposals will contribute to the transition to an

sustainable and environmental friendly agriculture through the development of sustainable bio-

based products for crop protection. Successful proposals will also contribute to the implementation

of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy

164

, the updated EU Industrial Strategy

165

and to the objectives of

the EU R&I Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’.

Project results should contribute to the following expected outcomes:

• Increased availability of widely accessible and cost-efficient alternatives for prevention and

(bio)control of plant pest with improved environmental performance (e.g., reduced effects

on non-target organisms, natural resources, humans and the environment).

• Reduced reliance on hazardous plant protection products and favour low risk plant

protection solutions, to sustain crop productivity and food security while contributing to

sustainable agriculture and/or forestry.

• Minimised pesticides impact on human and animal health, terrestrial and aquatic

ecosystems, drinking water, soils and the food chain.

Scope

FAO estimates that up to 40 % of food crops are lost due to plant pests and diseases globally

every year. Plant protection products (PPPs) are used to protect crops and other plants from pests

and diseases. Biopesticides are a promising alternative to chemical synthetic pesticides and tend

to have lower health and environmental risks.

The development of sustainable bio-based alternatives to chemical synthetic pesticides in the EU

remains challenging, as each feedstock source requires specific considerations on logistics,

processing and transformation technologies, as well as final product development and validation.

In addition, food and feed safety as well as human health aspects need to be fully elaborated to

enable a placing on the market of the end-products.

Moreover, the lack of alternatives to deal with some pests and diseases affect agricultural

sustainability and poses a challenge for food security. Further efforts will be needed to support

farmers in the transition to achieve the ambitious targets of the Farm to Fork Strategy. In addition,

climate change is altering pests’ behaviour and geographical distribution, which may further

increase the risk of introducing pests to new areas and the severity of the impact.

Proposals under this topic should:

• Develop and test innovative processes for obtaining safe and sustainable bio-based

alternatives for crop protection. Development of fertilisers (including biostimulants) is not

160

Brussels, 11.3.2020, COM(2020) 98 final.

161

Brussels, 12.05.2021, COM(2021) 400 final.

162

With reference to the Farm to Fork target of ‘reducing the use of, and dependency on, chemical pesticides in general, and the

use of more hazardous pesticides in particular’ Brussels, 20.5.2020, COM(2020) 381 final.

163

Brussels, 20.5.2020, COM(2020) 380 final.

164

European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Review of the 2012 European Bioeconomy

Strategy, Publications Office, 2018, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2777/086770.

165

Brussels, 5.5.2021 COM(2021) 350 final.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

in scope but proposals can explore synergistic strategies employing crop protection

products and fertilisers.

• Assess the potential risks and benefits of the chosen alternative in view of safety and

sustainability in accordance with established scientific risk assessment methodologies and

relevant EU regulatory frameworks related to their manufacturing and placing on the

market. In addition, include a task to integrate a prospective assessment based on the

safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) framework, developed by the European

Commission, for assessing the safety and sustainability of chemicals and materials.

166

Under this context, projects are expected to contribute with and develop recommendations

that can advance further the application of the SSbD framework

167

. Where applicable, a

comparison with the fossil-based state-of-the-art counterparts should be added.

• Develop and test the effectiveness of alternatives to chemical synthetic pesticides for

selected crops covering a variety of climatic and soil conditions. Address innovative

solutions for product delivery on field, including precision farming approaches through

enabling digital technologies and/or formulation and optimisation aspects to ensure

controlled release at an optimal dosage.

• Implement a participatory approach fostering the cooperating among farmers and bio-

based industries in Europe including the exchange of knowledge and best practices,

capacity building, training and education activities enabling farmers/growers to adopt the

proposed solution reducing the use and risk of chemical synthetic products for crop

protection.

Proposals must implement the multi-actor approach and ensure adequate involvement of all key

actors in the value chains relevant for this topic, across the sustainable circular bio-based system

in particular primary biomass producers, academic community and the bio-based industry.

Proposals should also describe their contribution to the Specific CBE JU requirements, presented

in section 2.2.3.1.

Proposals should seek for links and complementarities and avoid overlaps with past, ongoing and

upcoming EU funded projects, including those funded under H2020, HEU and the BBI JU and CBE

168

, Horizon 2020

169

and Horizon Europe

170

. Collaboration among projects from the same topic

are encouraged. Proposals should liaise also with relevant initiatives in EU including the Mission

‘A Soil Deal for Europe’, in particular with activities concerning the objectives ‘reduce soil pollution

and enhance restoration’ and ‘improve soil structure to enhance soil biodiversity.’

166

See document defining the framework and criteria: Safe and sustainable by design.

167

More specifically, provide thresholds that can support the criteria definition and improvements for the assessment SSbD

methodologies, including any specificities related with bio-based crop protection products. Recommendations should also include

identification of data gaps, especially safety, environmental, but also socio-economic factors, as well as priorities for data

collection.

168

B-Ferst (H2020-BBI-JTI-2018), SUSFERT (H2020-BBI-JTI-2017), BIOVEXO (H2020-BBI-JTI-2019), PHERA (H2020-BBI-JTI-

2019), BIOBESTicide (H2020-BBI-JTI-2019).

169

LEX4BIO (H2020-RUR-2018-2), SEA2LAND (H2020-RUR-2020-1), Nutri2Cycle (H2020-SFS-2017-2).

170

HORIZON-CL6-2023-FARM2FORK-01-7- Innovations in plant protection: alternatives to reduce the use of pesticides focusing

on candidates for substitution and Horizon Europe project RATION (https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101084163).

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024-RIA-04 SSbD bio-based coating materials for

applications under demanding and/or extreme conditions

Type of action Research and Innovation Action

Indicative budget The total indicative budget for the topic is EUR 7 million

Expected EU

contribution per

project

It is estimated that a contribution of EUR 3.5million would allow these

outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not

preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting different

amounts

TRL TRL 4-5 at the end of the project.

Link to CBE JU

Specific Objectives

1.1: Increase the intensity of cross-

disciplinary research and

innovation activities

1.2: Increase and integrate the research and innovation capacity of

stakeholders across the Union

1.3: Increase and integrate the research and innovation capacity for

dressing environmental challenges and development of more

sustainable bio-based innovations

Link to CBE JU SRIA

1.1.2: Develop innovative production systems in the bio-based

industry

1.3.2: Improve environmental performances of bio-based processes

1.1.3: Develop innovative bio-based products

3.1.3: Facilitate social acceptance of bio-based applications

CBE JU KPIs

2 Number of innovative bio-based value chains created or enabled

based on sustainably sourced biomass

4.1 Number of projects with innovative & sustainable processes that

contribute to GHG emissions reduction

4.3 Number

of projects developing innovative & sustainable

processes enabling to address zero pollution

4.5 Number

of products with improved life cycle environmental

performance

6.1 Number of innovative bio-based dedicated outputs, with novel or

significantly improved properties vs relevant alternatives

Expected outcomes

In line with the objectives of the Circular Economy

171

and Zero Pollution Action Plan

172

, the EU

Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and the Chemicals Transition Pathway and its co-

implementation, the successful proposals will facilitate the deployment of sustainable bio-based

coatings. Successful proposals will also contribute to the implementation of the EU Bioeconomy

171

Brussels, 11.3.2020 COM(2020) 98 final.

172

Brussels, 12.05.2021, COM(2021) 400 final.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

Strategy

173

, the updated EU Industrial Strategy

174

and the Biodiversity Strategy

175

. Moreover,

successful proposals, depending on application, will potentially deliver significant contribution to

the objectives of the R&I Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030’ in particular to Objective

3: ‘Make the blue economy carbon-neutral and circular’ and indirectly to Objective 2: ‘Prevent and

eliminate pollution of our oceans, seas and waters’.

Project results should contribute to the following expected outcomes:

• Diversified portfolio of bio-based coatings with high technical performances.

• Increased range of applications of bio-based coatings into final products used under

demanding and/or extreme conditions.

• Improved sustainability and circularity compared to existing (fossil-based) counterparts.

• Improved health and safety profile compared to existing (fossil-based) counterparts.

Scope

Coating materials are used in a wide range of industries (such as transport, construction,

processing industry, textiles, energy, electronics, telecommunications, water and waste

management). They protect the product, communicate information to the user, increase its lifetime,

and confer performance and functionality (e.g. anticorrosion, antimicrobial, antifouling). At present,

coatings are mostly fossil- based or of mineral origin. Some paints and synthetic coatings are under

scrutiny or have been banned altogether for their health & safety and environmental impacts. Safer

and more environmentally friendly alternatives are needed. The main technical challenges in

developing bio-based coatings are obtaining stable and homogenous formulations meeting market

requirements in term of performance while showing potential cost-effectiveness in the perspective

of further scale-up.

Proposals under this topic should:

• Develop innovative and efficient processes to obtain SSbD bio-based alternative(s) to (a

set of) conventional coating(s) for applications under demanding and/or extreme conditions

where e.g. high durability; resistance to fire, extremes temperatures, chemical agents,

weather, fouling and mould, corrosion; hydrophobicity are needed. One or more relevant

end-use sectors could be targeted, without limitation.

• Assess the functional properties of the developed coatings against application-driven

parameters, including new systems to apply the coatings where relevant. Involve end users

in the testing and validation activities. Moreover, address the end-of-life of the targeted

final product(s), ensuring that the bio-based coating is not hindering the circularity of the

final product(s).

• Include a task to integrate a prospective assessment based on the safe-and-sustainable-

by-design (SSbD) framework, developed by the European Commission, for assessing the

safety and sustainability of chemicals and materials.

176

Under this context, projects are

173

European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Review of the 2012 European Bioeconomy

Strategy, Publications Office, 2018, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2777/086770.

174

Brussels, 5.5.2021 COM(2021) 350 final.

175

Brussels, 20.5.2020, COM(2020) 380 final.

176

See document defining the framework and criteria: Safe and sustainable by design.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

expected to contribute with and develop recommendations that can advance further the

application of the SSbD framework.

177

• Perform a preliminary techno-economic feasibility analysis of the subsequent scale-up

phase, including market considerations (demand; target price; competing products;

estimated lead time).

Proposals should also describe their contribution to the Specific CBE JU requirements, presented

in section 2.2.3.1.

Proposals should seek for links and complementarities and avoid overlaps with past, ongoing and

upcoming EU funded projects, including those funded under H2020, HEU and the BBI JU and CBE

178

. Collaboration among projects from the same topic are encouraged.

177

More specifically, provide thresholds that can support the criteria definition and improvements for the assessment SSbD

methodologies, including any specificities related with bio-based coatings. Recommendations should also include identification

of data gaps, especially safety, environmental, but also socio-economic factors, as well as priorities for data collection.

178

PERFECOAT (H2020-BBI-JTI-2020), LIGNICOAT (H2020-BBI-JTI-2020), ECOFUNCO (H2020-BBI-JTI-2018), REFUCOAT

(H2020-BBI-JTI-2016), Glaukos (H2020-BBI-JTI-2019), BIOnTop (H2020-BBI-JTI-2018), BioBarr (H2020-BBI-JTI-2016),

BIORING (HORIZON-JU-CBE-2022), SuperBark (HORIZON-JU-CBE-2022).

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024-RIA-05 Innovative bio-based food/feed

ingredients

Type of action Research and Innovation Action

Indicative budget The total indicative budget for the topic is EUR 7 million

Expected EU

contribution per

project

It is estimated that a

contribution of EUR 3.5 million would allow

these outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this

does not preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting

different amounts

TRL TRL 4-5 at the end of the project.

Link to CBE JU

Specific Objectives

1.1: Increase the intensity of cross-

disciplinary research and

innovation activities

1.2: Increase and integrate the research and innovation capacity of

stakeholders across the Union

1.3: Increase and integrate the research and innovation capacity for

addressing environmental challenges and development of more

sustainable bio-based innovations

Link to CBE JU SRIA 1.1.2: Develop innovative production systems in the bio-based

industry

1.3.2: Improve environmental performances of bio-based processes

1.1.3: Develop innovative bio-based products

CBE JU KPIs 2 Number of innovative bio-based value chains created or enabled

based on sustainably sourced biomass

4.1 Number of projects with innovative & sustainable processes that

contribute to GHG emissions reduction

4.2 Number of projects developing innovative & sustainable

processes that improve on resource efficiency and zero-waste

4.3 Number

of projects developing innovative & sustainable

processes enabling to address zero pollution

4.5 Number

of products with improved life cycle environmental

performance

6.1 Number of innovative bio-based dedicated outputs, with novel or

significantly improved properties vs relevant alternatives

Expected outcomes

In line with the objectives of the Circular Economy

179

and Zero Pollution Action Plan

180

, as well as

the Farm to Fork Strategy

181

, the new regulation on the assessment and authorisation of feed

179

Brussels, 11.3.2020, COM(2020) 98 final.

180

Brussels, 12.05.2021, COM(2021) 400 final.

181

With reference to the Farm to Fork target of ‘reducing climate and environmental impact of animal breeding’ Brussels,

20.5.2020, COM(2020) 381 final.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

additives

182

, food additives, food enzymes and food flavourings

183

as well as the regulation for the

re-evaluation of programme of approved food additives

184

, the successful proposals will contribute

to the development of sustainable and healthy bio-based food and feed ingredients other than

proteins. Successful proposals will also contribute to the implementation of the EU Bioeconomy

Strategy

185

, to the updated EU Industrial Strategy

186

and to Europe’s food security and Farm2Fork

strategy ambition.

Project results should contribute to the following expected outcomes:

• Increased availability of affordable bio-based functional ingredients for food and feed with

high nutritional and health properties.

• Increased safety and sustainability of food and feed value chains.

• Reduction of use of food and feed ingredients from unsustainable sources.

• New and better organoleptic and nutritional properties for healthy food and feed

ingredients, increasing consumer acceptance.

Scope

Human and animal nutrition are two key areas where the bio-based industries can play an

important role in addressing the present societal and climate challenges. Considerable attention is

given to the mobilisation of alternative sources of proteins, fibres and carbohydrates, due to the

increasing world population and the current unsustainable animal protein production systems. In

addition to proteins, fibres and carbohydrates where significant advancements are under way,

there is still the need to develop and validate at pilot scale breakthrough innovations in other food

and feed ingredients which play an important role in human and animal health such as prebiotics,

postbiotics, vitamins, peptides, oligosaccharides, fats, emulsifiers, enhancers of digestibility. In

addition to those having a direct role in nutrition, other ingredients have an indirect, but nonetheless

key, role in promoting healthier food and feed systems by enhancing organoleptic properties,

texture, colour, palatability, digestibility etc. Unlocking this opportunity alongside with the current

push to healthier and sustainable food chains makes the market of sustainable food and feed

ingredients extremely promising for high tech bio-based applications.

Proposals under this topic should:

• Develop innovative food and/or feed ingredients from sustainably sourced bio-based

feedstock. The innovation in scope can be related to i) breakthrough processes to obtain

known food/feed ingredients, and/or ii) novel food/feed ingredients. Ingredients in scope

include bioactive compounds, antioxidants, prebiotics, postbiotics, vitamins, peptides,

oligosaccharides; fats; emulsifiers; taste, texture, palatability and digestibility enhancers;

colourants, functional/’precision proteins’ (i.e. proteins obtained, for example but not only,

from precision fermentation process) among others. Besides the technical properties of the

targeted ingredients (organoleptic, nutritional, prevention of intolerances/allergies),

proposals should also consider their affordability. The production of bulk proteins, fibres

and carbohydrates used as main nutritional component is not in scope per se; however the

182

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1773 of 26 November 2020.

183

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1823 of 2 December 2020.

184

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/148 of 8 February 2021.

185

European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Review of the 2012 European Bioeconomy

Strategy, Publications Office, 2018, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2777/086770.

186

Brussels, 5.5.2021 COM(2021) 350 final.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

development of complex food and feed formulations involving the application of innovative

functional ingredients working in synergy with them is in scope.

• Any production technique is in scope; proposals are required to pay particular attention to

environmental, social and economic sustainability of the chosen pathway (including

ingredients’ sources and availability/supply and the use of natural resources such as land,

water, energy). In addition to production processes, proposals should consider

downstream separation and purification processes to meet the targeted quality for final

application aligned with food and safety legal requirements. Circular solutions, e.g.

exploiting residual streams, are also in scope and could provide additional socio-

environmental benefits. In this case proposals need to take particular care and adopt

monitoring solutions to ensure that neither pathogens nor contaminants from the starting

residual stream is injected back in the loop.

• Test the properties of the functional ingredients developed, alone and/or in combination

and, if applicable, their effect on product formulations according to established testing

procedures. Moreover, proposals should test the safety of developed ingredients through

in vitro toxicological tests.

• Address the regulatory aspects relevant to the targeted end market(s), ensuring

compatibility in the perspective of potential future scale-up.

• Involve end users starting from the early stages of development to assess market

acceptance of the new ingredients. When addressing consumer products, involve

consumers to gain insight of their perception and future chances of market uptake.

Proposals must implement the multi-actor approach and ensure adequate involvement of all key

actors in the value chains relevant for this topic, in particular involving farmers, feedstock providers,

bio-based industry, end users (e.g. consumers and brand owners) and regulatory actors.

Proposals should also describe their contribution to the Specific CBE JU requirements, presented

in section 2.2.3.1.

Proposals should seek for links and complementarities and avoid overlaps with past, ongoing and

upcoming EU funded projects, including those funded under H2020, HEU and the BBI JU and CBE

187

. Collaboration among projects from the same topic is encouraged.

187

Agrimax (H2020-BBI-PPP-2015-2-1), BIOSEA (H2020-BBI-JTI-2016), MAGNIFICENT (H2020-BBI-JTI-2016), EXCornsEED

(H2020-BBI-JTI-2017), INGREEN (H2020-BBI-JTI-2018), SUSTAINEXT (HORIZON-JU-CBE-2022), RoboCOOP-EU

(HORIZON-JU-CBE-2022).

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024-CSA-01 New forms of cooperation in agriculture

and the forest-based sector

Type of action Coordination and Support Action

Indicative budget The total indicative budget for the topic is EUR 4 million

Expected EU

contribution per

project

It is estimated that a contribution of EUR 4 million would allow these

outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not

preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting different

amounts.

Legal and Financial

Set up of the Grant

Agreements

The rules are described in General Annex G and section 2.3.3.3 of

this Work Programme. The following exceptions apply:

Beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties. The

support to third parties can only be provided in the form of grants.

The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 60

000. A maximum EUR 300 000 of the EU funding can be allocated

to this purpose

TRL Non-technological action

Link to CBE JU

Specific Objectives

1.1 Increase the intensity of cross-

disciplinary research and

innovation activities

2.1 Reinforcing the integration of bio-based research and innovation

throughout industrial bio-

based systems and increase the

involvement of R&I actors.

3.1 Ensuring the integration of circularity and environmental

sustainability requirements, contribution to climate neutrality and

zero pollution ambition in the development and implementation of

bio-based research and innovation and facilitate societal acceptance

Link to CBE JU SRIA 1.1.1 Ensure the availability and quality of sustainable bio-based

feedstock

1.2.1 Stimulate research activities in countries and regions with

underdeveloped R&I capacity for bio-based systems

1.3.1 Protect and enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services in

bio-based feedstock supply systems

2.1.1 Demonstrate the sustainable supply of bio-based feedstock

3.1.2 Incorporate the environmental sustainability and circularity

criteria in bio-based systems

CBE JU KPIs

1.1. Number of primary producers, involved as project beneficiaries

and/or engaged in value chains at project level

3.1 Number of projects using feedstock generated with practices that

contribute to enhance biodiversity

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

3.2 Number of projects using feedstock generated with practices

aiming at zero-pollution (

soil, water, air) and/or at reducing water

consumption

3.3 Number of projects using feedstock generated with practices

contributing to climate change mitigation and/or adaptation

Expected outcomes

In line with the objectives of the Circular Economy

188

and Zero Pollution Action Plan

189

, the Long-

term vision for the EU rural areas

190

, as well as the Biodiversity Strategy

191

, the successful

proposals will facilitate creation and uptake of innovative forms of cooperation among primary

producers and bio-based industries. Successful proposals will also contribute to the

implementation of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy

192

and the updated EU Industrial Strategy

193

Enhanced synergies and complementarities with actions under the R&I mission ‘A soil deal for

Europe’.

Project results should contribute to the following expected outcomes:

• Identification of new forms of cooperation among primary producers and other rural actors,

and between them and bio-based industries, in circular bio-based businesses.

• Increased potential of innovative cooperative and circular bio-based business models for

primary producers and other rural actors in different regions and pedo-climatic zones in

Europe.

• Better awareness on the added-value bio-based products (including e.g. food ingredients

or food supplements) and products with improved sustainability characteristics (e.g.

resource efficiency, environmental impact, circularity, social sustainability, etc.) and their

scaling up potential.

• Creation of ‘green’, fair and skilled jobs and new and local business opportunities with

potential for replication across the EU.

• Identification of new forms of cooperation of primary producers and other rural actors in

circular, biobased businesses.

• Improved circularity and resource efficiency of bio-based value chains via practical

application of circular bioeconomy, encompassing the resource- and energy-efficient,

cascading use of sustainably sourced biomass.

• Significantly improved sustainability, strategic autonomy, resilience and competitiveness

of the European primary sectors while reducing the fossil feedstock dependence.

Scope

The circular use of waste, by-products and residues from agriculture, forestry, and the agri-food

industry can lead to the creation of new economic opportunities in rural areas. However, primary

producers are often not fully integrated in bio-based value chains, and thus, benefits are not

188

Brussels, 11.3.2020 COM(2020) 98 final.

189

Brussels, 12.05.2021, COM(2021) 400 final.

190

Brussels, 30.6.2021, COM/2021/345 final.

191

Brussels, 20.5.2020, COM(2020) 380 final.

192

European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Review of the 2012 European Bioeconomy

Strategy, Publications Office, 2018, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2777/086770.

193

Brussels, 5.5.2021 COM(2021) 350 final.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

sufficiently distributed among value chain actors. In addition, actors in the bio-based economy

need a specific understanding on processes optimisation and high degree of investments in

innovation and technologies.

This topic addresses diverse forms of cooperation among primary producers and beyond in wider

value networks as well as suitable business models to create high-value bio-based products in

vertically integrated value chains via advanced biorefineries. A more efficient collaboration poses

several opportunities for primary producers: a significant bargaining power as a consequence of

higher production volumes, economies of scales, stronger competitiveness and better access to

market, portfolio diversification in production while reducing risks and creating new economic

benefits, better investment capacity due to pooling resources and control over the whole

production, facilitated access to information and to new knowledge.

Proposals under this topic should:

• Assess the feasibility and suitability of new forms of cooperation among primary producers

(e.g. cooperatives) to optimise harvesting, logistics and processing of particularly

secondary or underutilised biomass for the manufacturing of innovative products in the

scope of the CBE JU (including the management and recycling of waste produced during

the transformation process).

• Develop wider value networks, clusters, and other forms of collaboration in the bio-based

sectors and stimulate the interactions between the key actors to reduce the limiting factors

such as seasonality of biomass, initial costs or high market competition.

• Use of technologies and logistics in a symbiotic and resource-efficient way to further

accelerate the deployment of a circular and sustainable bioeconomy.

• Identify and develop solutions to overcome the barriers for the valorisation of underutilised

biomass, taking into account the regional conditions as well as the perspective of primary

producers and the industry.

• Demonstrate the economic and sustainable feasibility of the production of high added-

value bio-based products with tangible market applications, thereby following the food first

and the cascading use principles.

• Develop economic viable long-term business plans and marketing strategies as well as

other non-financial benefits (e.g. education training, technical assistance, access to new

technologies and innovations, market information, etc.). Identify new skilled job

opportunities in primary production and investments in underrepresented rural areas

• Develop environmental impacts assessment models as well as social benefits to constantly

optimising the production along the entire value chain.

• Identify bottlenecks and opportunities in existing EU level policy frameworks in order to

facilitate creation and uptake of innovative forms of cooperation among primary producers

and bio-based industries. On this basis, provide recommendations for a cross-sectoral EU

level policy framework and suggestions for concrete actions supporting the development

of the European bio-based economy.

• Support the piloting and scaling up of the production of new high-added-value products

including under the innovative regional clusters. Proposals may involve financial support

to third parties to provide direct support (e.g., in the form of cascading grants) to actions

related to teaming supporting the development of local value chains). Beneficiaries may

provide financial support to third parties. The support to third parties can only be provided

in the form of grants. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 60

000. A maximum EUR 300 000 of the EU funding can be allocated to this purpose.

• Develop suitable governance models to ensure the practical feasibility of implementing

such cooperations in specific and varying institutional contexts across European countries.

Such models need to consider existing regulatory environments, governance structures as

well as stakeholder views and preferences.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

Proposals must implement the multi-actor approach and demonstrate the involvement of all

concerned key actors, such as primary producers, landowners, researchers, regional authorities,

environmental organisations, and consumers).

Proposals should seek for links and complementarities and avoid overlaps with past, ongoing and

upcoming EU funded projects

194

, including those funded under H2020, HEU and the BBI JU.

Proposals should also describe their contribution to the Specific CBE JU requirements, presented

in section 2.2.3.1.

194

i.e HORIZON-CL6-2024-CircBio-02-6-two-stage.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024-CSA-02 Mobilize inclusive participation in bio-

based systems and supporting the CBE JU widening strategy and its

action plan

Type of action Coordination and Support Action

Indicative budget The total indicative budget for the topic is EUR 3 million

Expected EU

contribution per

project

It is estimated that a contribution of EUR 3 million would allow these

outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not

preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting different

amounts.

Legal and Financial

Set up of the Grant

Agreements

The rules are described in General Annex G and section 2.3.3.3 of

this Work Programme. The following exceptions apply:

Beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties. The

support to third parties can only be provided in the form of grants.

The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 60

000. A maximum EUR 300 000 of the EU funding can be allocated

to this purpose

TRL Non-technological action

Link to CBE JU

Specific Objectives

1.2: Increase and integrate the research and innovation capacity of

stakeholders across the Union

2.1: Reinforce the integration of bio-based research and innovation

throughout industrial bio-

based systems and increase the

involvement of R&I actors including feedstock providers in the bio-

based value chains

Link to CBE JU SRIA 1.2.1: Stimulate research act

ivities in countries and regions with

underdeveloped R&I capacity for bio-based systems

1.2.2: Increase awareness and capacity of national and regional

research support agencies for industrial bio-based systems

2.1.4: Build policy makers’ awareness and acceptance of bio-based

solutions

CBE JU KPIs 10.1 Number of participants from the underrepresented EU countries

and regions

10.2 Number of regional hubs, established and operated to process

bio-based feedstock, and other cooperation aspects10.3 Number of

projects with synergies with other funding programmes at EU,

national or regional level

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

Expected outcomes

In line with the objectives of the Circular Economy

195

and Zero Pollution Action Plan

196

, the Long-

term vision for the EU rural areas

197

, as well as the Biodiversity Strategy

198

, the successful

proposals will enhance cooperation and participation of stakeholders from underrepresented

countries and regions in the European bio-based economy landscape. Successful proposals will

also contribute to the implementation of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy

199

and the updated EU

Industrial Strategy

200

. Enhanced synergies and complementarities with actions under the R&I

missions ‘A soil deal for Europe’ and ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters’.

Project results should contribute to the following expected outcomes:

• Increased innovation capacity of regional bio-based stakeholders in countries and regions

with less mature bio-based ecosystems, especially from the areas covered by the CBE JU

Widening Participation Strategy.

• Greater participation of less represented countries and regions in the CBE JU programme

and in all actions of the CBE JU; and inclusive engagement of newcomers from the

industrial sector, market operators, civil society and policy makers.

• Identified and improved connections among actors within local innovation ecosystems

(e.g., industry-governance and research-governance), promoting teaming and exchange

of best practice across the EU.

• Full implementation of the CBE JU widening strategy at national and/or regional level

through the engagement of relevant national and regional R&I clusters and industrial

associations.

• Synergies with other funding programmes at EU, national or regional level.

Scope

Stimulating research activities in countries and regions with underdeveloped R&I capacity for bio-

based systems is a stated priority of the CBE JU Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA)

and is monitored by a specific KPI 10 ‘Improving the participation of regions and countries with

high unexploited potential and strategic interest to develop it’.

In this context, a dedicated Widening Participation strategy

201

for the CBE JU was endorsed by

the CBE JU Governing Board together with its first Action Plan for the period 2023-2024

202

, which

includes a list of concrete actions to step up the participation of under-represented countries in the

CBE JU programme.

This CSA is one of the measures aiming at supporting the practical implementation of the CBE JU

Widening Participation and its action plans.

195

Brussels, 11.3.2020 COM(2020) 98 final.

196

Brussels, 12.05.2021, COM(2021) 400 final

197

Brussels, 30.6.2021, COM/2021/345 final.

198

Brussels, 20.5.2020, COM(2020) 380 final.

199

European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Review of the 2012 European Bioeconomy

Strategy, Publications Office, 2018, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2777/086770.

200

Brussels, 5.5.2021 COM(2021) 350 final.

201

https://www.cbe.europa.eu/system/files?file=2023-09/CBE-JU-widening-strategy.pdf.

202

https://www.cbe.europa.eu/system/files?file=2023-09/CBE-JU-widening-action-plan-2023-2024.pdf.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

Proposals under this topic should:

A. Foster stakeholder engagement and collaboration:

• Target stakeholders from countries

203

and regions

204

covered by the CBE JU Widening

Participation strategy. The participation in the consortia of stakeholders from other

countries and regions is encouraged, if aimed at the exchange of best practice and mutual

learning and at fostering capacity building.

• The development of joint projects could be promoted, facilitating the exchange of

knowledge and collaboration between bio-based clusters in different regions.

B. Develop capacity building and raise awareness

• Provide a support/knowledge transfer platform for all stakeholders in the bio-based

economy, especially focussing on attracting newcomers, with a particular attention to

industrial representatives. This may cover the creation of an online platform with

information resources, webinars or training courses, aiming at the exchange of best

practices.

• Incorporate actions on increasing awareness about CBE JU, via a co-

creation/participatory/ trust building approach, including in local languages as appropriate.

The proposed activities shall leverage on relevant existing national and regional

programmes in the bioeconomy sector, to empower the local biobased sectors.

• Provide recommendations for the growth of the bio-based sector and for an increased

engagement of all stakeholders in the targeted countries and regions, aimed at policy

makers and replicators. Recommendations can also cover any newly identified bottleneck

preventing the participation of local stakeholders in bio-based activities

205

to increase their

engagement, including information and exchange sharing in local languages, as relevant.

C. Promote synergies

• Synergies with relevant (macro-)regional networks such as the BIOEAST Initiative

206

are

encouraged.

• Analyse the possibility of establishing collaborations with relevant bio-based funding

programmes at EU, national or regional level with a particular focus on European Structural

and Investment Funds (ERDF, ESF+, CF, EAFRD, EMFF), the implementation of

Recovery and Resilience Facility and the Just Transition Fund, to maximise the impact of

complementary funding in the bio-based sector.

• Synergies with relevant EC funded projects is also expected. An inventory of relevant EC

funded projects is included in the CBE JU Widening strategy. This list represent the state

of the art and should be considered by the applicants when proposing new measures.

• Proposals may involve financial support to third parties to provide direct support (e.g., in

the form of cascading grants) to actions related to teaming. Beneficiaries may provide

financial support to third parties. The support to third parties can only be provided in the

203

EU countries that are included in the list of Horizon Europe Widening Countries and that were underrepresented through the

BBI JU programme implementation: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta,

Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, as defined in Art. 349 TFEU.

204

Regions that are classified as ‘less developed’ or ‘transition’ by cohesion policy, and that were underrepresented through the

BBI JU programme implementation. Considering the high number of relevant regions, macro-regional areas (e.g. Central-Eastern

European, Mediterranean, Baltic, Atlantic, etc.) could be considered in the development of targeted actions, upon common

identified bottlenecks or characteristics (e.g. feedstock availability).

205

The CBE JU Widening Participation action plan 2023-2024 includes in annex the list of identified bottlenecks, resulting from

an ad hoc survey and a workshop involving national representatives and national contact points from EU widening countries.

206

www.bioeast.eu

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

form of grants. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 60 000. A

maximum EUR 300 000 of the EU funding can be allocated to this purpose.

Proposals should seek for links and complementarities and avoid overlaps with past, ongoing and

upcoming EU funded projects, including those funded under H2020, HEU and the BBI JU and CBE

JU.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024-CSA-03 Supporting the CBE JU Deployment

Group on Primary Producers

Type of action Coordination and Support Action

Indicative budget The total indicative budget for the topic is EUR 3 million

Expected EU

contribution per

project

It is estimated that a contribution of EUR 3 million would allow these

outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not

preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting different

amounts.

Legal and Financial

Set up of the Grant

Agreements

The rules are described in General Annex G and section 2.3.3.3 of

this Work Programme. The following exceptions apply:

Beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties. The

support to third parties can only be provided in the form of grants.

The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 60

000. A maximum EUR 300 000 of the EU funding can be allocated

to this purpose

TRL Non-technological action

Link to CBE JU

Specific Objectives

1.1 Increase the intensity of cross-

disciplinary research and

innovation activities

2.1 Reinforcing the integration of bio-based research and innovation

throughout industrial bio-

based systems and increase the

involvement of R&I actors.

3.1 Ensuring the integration of circularity and environmental

sustainability requirements, contribution to climate neutrality and

zero pollution ambition in the development and implementation of

bio-based research and innovation and facilitate societal acceptance

Link to CBE JU SRIA 1.1.1 Ensure the availability and quality of sustainable bio-based

feedstock

1.2.1 Stimulate research activities in countries and regions with

underdeveloped R&I capacity for bio-based systems

1.3.1 Protect and enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services in

bio-based feedstock supply systems

2.1.1 Demonstrate the sustainable supply of bio-based feedstock

3.1.2 Incorporate the environmental sustainability and circularity

criteria in bio-based systems

CBE JU KPIs 1.1. Number of primary producers, involved as project beneficiaries

and/or engaged in value chains at project level

3.1 Number of projects using feedstock generated with practices that

contribute to enhance biodiversity

3.2 Number of projects using feedstock generated with practices

aiming at zero-p

ollution (soil, water, air) and/or at reducing water

consumption

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

3.3 Number of projects using feedstock generated with practices

contributing to climate change mitigation and/or adaptation

10.1 Number of participants from the underrepresented EU countries

and region

10.2 Number of regional hubs established and operated to process

bio-based feedstocks and other cooperation aspects

10.3 Number of projects with synergies with other funding

programmes at EU, national or regional level

Expected outcomes

Successful proposals will contribute to the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, the Common Agriculture

Policy, the Common Fisheries Policy, the EU Forest Strategy for 2030 and the Long-Term Vision

for Rural Areas by supporting the CBE Deployment Group on primary producers and contributing

to the uptake of economically viable and environmentally sustainable solutions in agriculture,

forestry and aquaculture & fisheries primary sectors.

Project results should contribute to the following expected outcomes:

• Support services to the CBE JU Deployment Group of primary producers to successfully

meet their expected objectives and carry out the proposed tasks

207

• An efficient, active, engaged, and well-coordinated Deployment Group on primary

producers maintained and at least for a period of three years.

• Enhanced impact of the CBE JU Deployment Group of primary producers by means of

implementing high-quality actions and delivering outstanding outcomes.

• Improved overall facilitation, organisation, communication and dissemination of activities

stemming from the CBE JU Deployment Group of primary producers and their results at

European and national level.

• Enhanced cooperation with existing initiatives, networks and projects relevant for the

activities of the CBE JU Deployment Group of primary producers.

Scope

Primary producers are at the beginning of the circular bio-based value chains as biomass

suppliers

208

. They also play an important role as producers and end-users of bio-based products

and innovations. As such, they have a critical role in the deployment of circular and bio-based

innovations. However, do not always fully benefit from the opportunities that this can offer to them

and are often not entirely integrated into the bio-based value chains together with other actors.

The long-term economic viability of novel bio-based business models, from which the primary

producers can benefit, is sometimes uncertain and affected by associated technical barriers but

also by policy, regulatory & legal barriers as well as for other unpredictable climatic or global

circumstances.

207

CBE Governing Decision adopting the concept note which defines among others, the scope, objectives and tasks of the

deployment group on primary producers.

208

SRIA Annex V. Table V.1: Potential feedstock for the bio-based industry.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

The CBE JU Deployment Groups are established in accordance with articles 22 and 56 of the

Council regulation establishing the Joint Undertakings

209

, taking also into consideration the CBE

Impact Assessment

210

and the CBE JU Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda

211

Under this framework, a specific Deployment Group of primary producers will be established to

provide advice to CBE JU on critical issues encountered by primary producers with an impact on

the deployment of circular bio-based solutions and innovations. In particular, the Deployment

Group on primary producers will address opportunities and challenges faced by the primary sector

which constitutes critical issues for the deployment of circular bio-based solutions and innovations

and to ensure that primary producers benefit from their involvement in new and innovative circular

and bio-based value chains.

The Deployment Group will be composed by a flexible and balanced group of stakeholders

representing the primary sector, including the agricultural; forestry; and fisheries & aquaculture

primary sectors

212

. The proposal should engage primary producers from different regions and

pedo-climatic zones in Europe.

Proposals under this topic should:

• Put in place the working modalities and tools to maintain a robust, active, engaged, and

well-coordinated as well as effective CBE JU Deployment Group on Primary Producers for

at least three years.

• Support the CBE JU Deployment Group on Primary Producers in developing and updating

of an action plan to meet its objectives

213

, while taking into consideration the particularities

and specificities of each one of the identified primary sectors. Provide the means and

mechanisms to implement the above-mentioned action plan.

• Facilitate the organisation of regular CBE JU Deployment Group on Primary Producers

meetings (in-person and virtual), assist in the dialogue among the different stakeholders

and sectors and prepare the reports and conclusions arising from the meetings.

• Organise ad-hoc technical working groups to discuss specific topics, as needed, and

thereby ensure that the relevant expertise is well covered to achieve tangible results.

• In the case of face-to-face meetings of the CBE JU Deployment Group on Primary

Producers, if requested, reimburse the travel and accommodation costs of the experts.

• Assist the Deployment Group on Primary Producers in the preparation of tangible outputs,

such as policy reports, analyses, or recommendations targeted for the CBE JU Governing

Board, but, also if needed, translated into other languages.

• Identify, and set-up efficient mechanisms to follow-up on the challenges faced by the

primary sector with impact on the deployment of circular bio-based solutions and

innovations and other critical issues identified by the CBE JU Deployment Group on

Primary Producers, as well as opportunities (e.g., successful business models, success

stories with replicability potential, etc.).

209

Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2085 of 19 November 2021 establishing the Joint Undertakings under Horizon Europe

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32021R2085&from=EN.

210

SWD(2021) 37 final PART 17/19 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52021SC0621&from=EN.

211

CBE JU Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda.

212

For the purpose of the DEG and in line with the definition comprised in the CBE key performance indicators’ handbook, primary

producers are defined as entities operating in the agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture primary sectors performing

activities related to the production, harvest, handling, and storage of biological resources before being moved to either processing

or distribution. The production of biological resources is a key part of the activities of the entity.

213

CBE Governing Decision adopting the concept note which defines among others, the scope, objectives and tasks of the

deployment group on primary producers.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

• Develop collaboration structures and methods between primary producers and the

industry, involving Bio-based Industries Consortium, for the creation of bio-based value

chains offering them mutual benefits.

• Perform other additional activities to support the activities of the CBE JU Deployment

Group on Primary Producers, maximising its impact, and multiplying its effect, including

dissemination and communication activities in different languages, as needed (e.g.,

promotional material, digital dissemination tools, networking and stakeholder management

tools, events, seminars, etc.) and activities to enhance cooperation with the rest of

stakeholders that are part of the value chains.

• Connect and build on the work already done through existing initiatives and networks, such

as the Common Agricultural Policy and the European and national CAP, the EIP-AGRI and

the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems, as well as other relevant initiatives

and networks for the fishery and aquaculture sectors; and propose and implement actions

to ensure synergies with them for enhanced deployment (e.g. in terms of capacity building,

knowledge exchange, exchange of good practices, development of skills, promotion, etc.).

• Identify, in close cooperation with the CBE JU Deployment Group on Primary Producers,

areas for which analysis of past and ongoing R&I projects is needed according to the needs

and priorities of the group.

Prepare a final report at the end of the CSA aimed at ensuring continuity of actions in the future

and build-up upon on the results of the CSA:

• Proposals may involve financial support to third parties to provide direct support (e.g., in

the form of cascading grants) to actions related to teaming). Beneficiaries may provide

financial support to third parties. The support to third parties can only be provided in the

form of grants. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 60 000. A

maximum EUR 300 000 of the EU funding can be allocated to this purpose.

Collaboration with the project that will be selected under the topics HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024 CSA-

01 and HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024 CSA-02 is strongly encouraged.

A Steering Board comprised of representatives from both the European Commission and the Bio-

based Industries Consortium will be established to guide the project toward achieving the

envisioned impacts outlined in the topic description.

The CSA should consider further specifications and requirements stemming from the Deployment

Group final scope and setting.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

Indicative budget per topic - call HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024

Topic Million EUR

Innovation actions – flagship

Horizon-JU-CBE-2024-IAFlag-01 Bio-based value chains for valorisation of sustainable oil crops

Horizon-JU-CBE-2024-IAFlag-02 Bio-based dedicated platform chemicals via cost-effective,

sustainable and resource-efficient conversion of biomass

Horizon-JU-CBE-2024-IAFlag-03 Bio-based value chains for valorisation of sustainable natural fibre

feedstock

Innovation actions

Horizon-JU-CBE-2024-IA-01 Bio-based materials and products for biodegradable in soil applications

Horizon-JU-CBE-2024-IA-02 Sustainable microalgae as feedstock for innovative, added-value

applications

Horizon-JU-CBE-2024-IA-03 Enlarging the portfolio of commercially produced SSbD solvents

Horizon-JU-CBE-2024-IA-04 Circular and SSbD bio-based construction & building materials with

functional properties

Horizon-JU-CBE-2024-IA-05 Selective and sustainable (co)-production of lignin-derived aromatics

Horizon-JU-CBE-2024-IA-06 Innovative bio-based adhesives and binders for circular products

meeting market requirements

Horizon-JU-CBE-2024-IA-07 Innovative conversion of biogenic gaseous carbon into bio-based

chemicals, ingredients, materials

Research and innovation actions

Horizon-JU-CBE-2024-RIA-01 Valorisation of polluted/contaminated wood from industrial and post-

consumer waste streams

Horizon-JU-CBE-2024-RIA-02 Biotech routes to obtain bio-based chemicals/ materials replacing

animal-derived ones

Horizon-JU-CBE-2024-RIA-01 Sustainable, bio-based alternatives for crop protection

Horizon-JU-CBE-2024-RIA-03 SSbD bio-based coating materials for applications under demanding

and/or extreme conditions

Horizon-JU-CBE-2024-RIA-04 Innovative bio-based food/feed ingredients

Coordination and support actions

Horizon-JU-CBE-2024-CSA-01 New forms of cooperation in agriculture and the forest-based sector

Horizon-JU-CBE-2024-CSA-01 Mobilize inclusive participation in bio-based systems and

supporting the CBE JU widening strategy and its action plan

Horizon-JU-CBE-2024-CSA-01 Supporting the CBE JU Deployment Group on Primary Producers

Total

213

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

2.2.3.3 Conditions of the calls and calls management rules

This section sets the general conditions applicable to calls and topics for grants under this Annual

Work Programme. It also describes the evaluation and award procedures and other criteria.

Call management and general conditions

Call identifier: HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024

Call opening: 24 April 2024

214

Call deadline: 18 September 2024 17:00:00 (Brussels local time) - (single stage call)

Indicative budget: EUR 213 million

In terms of general conditions, the calls included in this AWP will follow General Annexes A to F

of the General Annexes of Horizon Europe Main Work Programme 2023-2024 mutatis mutandis

(subject to additional conditions or derogations reflected in the section below). If any additional

derogation or exception applies, it is indicated in the specific conditions table for the topic. There

is no derogation from the Horizon Europe Rules for Participation.

Admissibility

The conditions are described in Annex A of the General Annexes to the Horizon Europe Work

Programme 2023–2024 which shall apply mutatis mutandis to the actions covered in this AWP,

taking into consideration the following:

Page limits

 Innovation Actions, including Flagships: the page limit of the application is 70 pages (Part

B).

 Research and Innovation Actions: the page limit of the application is 50 pages (Part B).

Dissemination and Exploitation plan

 All types of actions: A first version of the ‘plan for the dissemination and exploitation including

communication activities’ of the project's results should be included in the Part B of the

proposal in line the standard HE application forms. This plan is an admissibility condition,

unless the work programme topic explicitly states otherwise.

Eligibility

The conditions, including countries eligible for funding, type of actions and definition of TRL are

described in Annex B of the General Annexes to the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023–

214

The Executive Director may decide to open the call up to one month prior to or after the envisaged date of publication.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

2024 which apply mutatis mutandis to the actions covered in this Work Programme, taking into

consideration the following:

Given the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the involvement of Belarus, there is currently

no appropriate context allowing the implementation of the actions foreseen in this programme with

legal entities established in Russia, Belarus, or in non-government controlled territories of Ukraine.

Therefore, such legal entities are not eligible to participate in any capacity. Exceptions may be

granted on a case-by-case basis for justified reasons. This criterion also applies in cases where

the action involves financial support given by grant beneficiaries to third parties established in

Russia, Belarus or in non-government-controlled territories of Ukraine (in accordance with Article

204 of the Financial Regulation No 2018/1046).

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria

The criteria are described in Annex C of the General Annexes to the Horizon Europe Work

Programme 2023–2024 which shall apply mutatis mutandis to the actions covered in this Work

Programme.

Award criteria

If admissible and eligible, the proposals will be evaluated and ranked, depending on the type of

action, against the award criteria reported in the table below.

 Innovation Actions: In bold, it is highlighted the additional aspects that will be used for

Innovation Actions, including Flagships.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

Excellence Impact

Quality and efficiency of the

implementation

Coordination

and support

actions (CSA)

Clarity and pertinence of the

project’s objectives.

Quality of the proposed

coordination and/or support

measures, including

soundness of methodology.

- Credibility of the pathways

to achieve the expected

outcomes and impacts

specified in the work

programme, and the likely

scale and significance of

the contributions from the

project.

- Suitability and quality of the

measures to maximise

expected outcomes and

impacts, as set out in the

dissemination and

exploitation plan, including

communication activities.

- Quality and effectiveness

of the work plan,

assessment of risks, and

appropriateness of the

effort assigned to work

packages, and the

resources overall.

- Capacity and role of each

participant, and the extent

to which the consortium as

a whole brings together

the necessary expertise.

Research and

innovation

actions (RIA)

Innovation

actions (IA),

including

Flagships

Clarity and pertinence of the

project’s objectives, and the

extent to which the

proposed work is ambitious

and goes beyond the state

of the art.

Soundness of the proposed

methodology, including the

underlying concepts,

models, assumptions, inter-

disciplinary approaches,

appropriate consideration of

the gender dimension in

research and innovation

content, and the quality of

open science practices,

including sharing and

management of research

outputs and engagement of

citizens, civil society and

end-users where

appropriate.

Innovation

actions (IA),

including

Flagships

- Ability to ensure the level

of in-kind contribution to

operational activities

(IKOP)

215

defined in the

call/topic as % of total

projects eligible costs (IAs

15% and IA-Flagship

20%)

216

Scores and weighting

Evaluation scores will be awarded for the criteria, and not for the different aspects listed in the

table above. For full applications, each criterion will be scored out of 5.

 All types of actions: For the criteria ’excellence’ and ’implementation’ the threshold will be 3,

whereas for the criterion ’impact’ the threshold will be 4. The overall threshold, applying to the

sum of the three individual scores, will be 11.

To determine the ranking for all ‘Innovation actions’ including Flagships, the score for ‘Impact’ will

be given a weight of 1.5.

215

Contributions by private members, constituent entities or the affiliated entities of either, by international organisations and by

contributing partners, consisting of the eligible costs incurred by them in implementing indirect actions less the contribution of that

joint undertaking and of the participating states of that joint undertaking to those costs.

216

Please refer to the Annexes to be included in the proposal described below.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

Proposals that pass the individual threshold AND the overall threshold will be considered for

funding, within the limits of the available call budget. Other proposals will be rejected.

Documents

The documents including the submission of proposals are described in Annex E of the General

Annexes to the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023–2024 which shall apply mutatis mutandis

to the actions covered in this Work Programme, taking into consideration the following:

Annexes

The following separate Annexes should be included in the proposal.

 Innovation Actions, including Flagships: For all legal entities that are member of the BIC

consortium, a certification from BIC attesting this fact should be included in the proposal

217

 Only for Flagship topics: a detailed business plan.

Evaluation procedure and ranking

The entire evaluation procedure, including indicative timetable for evaluation and for signature of

the grant agreement, and ranking are described in Annex F of the General Annexes to the Horizon

Europe Work Programme 2023–2024 which shall apply mutatis mutandis to the actions covered

in this Work Programme, taking into consideration the following:

Hearings

• Only for Flagship topics: As part of the evaluation procedure, the CBE JU will organise

hearings with applicants of all Flagships proposals.

Legal and financial set-up of the grant agreements

The legal and financial set-up of the grant agreements, including funding rates, are described in

Annex G of the General Annexes to the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023–2024 which shall

apply mutatis mutandis to the actions covered in this Work Programme, taking into consideration

the following:

Funding rate

 Innovation actions: up to 60% of the eligible costs (except for non-profit legal entities,

where the funding rate is up to 100% of the total eligible costs).

In addition to the standard provisions, the following specific provisions in the model grant

agreement will apply:

217

Each entity participating in the proposal with a PIC number has to provide a separate certificate.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

IPR-CBE JU right to object

According to the Horizon Europe rules, and as foreseen in article 16 of the Grant Agreement, and

in order to protect Union interests, the right for joint undertaking to object to transfers of ownership

of results or to grants of an exclusive licence regarding results should apply to participants.

Therefore, the provisions set out in General Annex G to the Horizon Europe work programmes on

the right to object apply generally.

Consortium agreement (article 7 of the HE Model Grant Agreement)

In line with Horizon Europe Model Grant Agreement, the consortia of the proposals selected for

funding must have internal arrangements set out in a written consortium agreement between the

beneficiaries regarding their operation and coordination, to ensure that the action is implemented

properly.

Contribution to the monitoring framework of the CBE JU – KPIs projects’ reporting

For monitoring the contribution of each project to the CBE JU objectives and indicators, as

described in the SRIA, all projects will have to report on an annual basis their KPIs progress during

the course of Horizon Europe.

The reporting shall consist of filling a template questionnaire in a secure online data collection

platform managed by the CBE JU. The projects will need to submit all information included the

questionnaire(s) relevant for their type of action. The submission of the questionnaire(s) shall be

integrated as a specific annual deliverable in the grant agreement. The template questionnaire(s)

with the KPIs Handbook will be made available online at the time of the publication of this AWP.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

2.2.4. Cooperation, synergies and cross-cutting themes and

activities

The Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2085 and the CBE JU SRIA establish strong grounds for

synergies and cooperation, in particular with Horizon Europe and other Union’s initiatives, as well

as with programmes at National and Regional level that have an inherent potential for the bio-

based sector. To maximise the synergies and cooperation, the CBE JU is foreseen to implement

specific actions in 2024 with the following programmes and mechanisms.

a) Horizon Europe programme:

- HE missions: CBE JU will continue ensuring synergies at both programming and projects’

level with Restore our Ocean and Waters, A Soil Deal for Europe and the New European

Bauhaus missions.

- HE partnerships: CBE JU will continue to cooperate to ensure strategic alignment with co-

programme partnership such as Processes4Planet. CBE JU will also pose particular attention

in collaborating with the co-funded partnerships that falls within the scope of Horizon Europe

Cluster 6 - Food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and environment, such as the

Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership and the Safe and Sustainable Food Systems as well

as relevant EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), such as EIT Food.

- In Pilar I and III, other interesting synergies will be explored with the:

o Marie Skłodowska-Curie Staff Exchange action to fund short-term inter-sectoral

exchanges of staff members involved in CBE JU actions.

o European Innovation Council Accelerator to support the upscale of the bio-

based solutions developed by highly innovative SMEs in Europe.

b) EU programme and funding instruments: cooperation and synergies with the following funding

programmes will be pursued:

- InvestEU Fund (2021-2027) as this is an important part of the Green Deal Investment Plan

and could support the mobilization of further investments in the bio-based sector.

- Innovation Fund as this is the EU fund for climate policy which aims at bringing to the market

solutions to decarbonise European industry and support its transition to climate neutrality while

fostering its competitiveness.

- LIFE programme as this is an EU's funding instrument for environment and climate actions.

c) National and regional programmes: CBE JU will continue to interact with Member States

through the States Representatives Group to explore possible funding synergies at regional

level with the European Structural and Investment Funds (ERDF, ESF+, CF, EAFRD and

EMFF) and at national level with the national recovery and resilience plans, while continuing

strengthening the adoption of policy and funding initiatives in the bioeconomy field.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

2.3. SUPPORT TO OPERATIONS

2.3.1. Communication, dissemination and exploitation

CBE JU communication: a strategic approach

The annual communication work programme is based on the multi-annual CBE JU communication

strategy, which sets three objectives:

• Promote CBE JU funding opportunities

• Demonstrate the CBE JU achievements

• Highlight the CBE JU impacts

This document defines the 2024 communication priorities under each objective, along with the

communication channels and budget.

Communication priorities in 2024

• Promoting CBE JU funding opportunities

Promoting the third CBE JU call will be at the heart of the 2023 communication activities and as

every year will include a dedicated call page on the website along with useful material for potential

applicants. The in-person CBE JU Info Day will take place in Brussels in April, with a remote

participation option. The online CBE JU networking platform will be the main interaction hub for

potential applicants and will provide such features as partner search, ideas pitching and meeting

scheduling.

CBE JU Programme Office will take part in national and regional info days across Europe and will

pay attention to good geographical and sectoral distribution, in line with the CBE JU widening

participation strategy. As a pilot, CBE JU will launch communication campaigns in a few widening

countries and target specific stakeholder groups, such as primary producers. Communication

material will be adapted to the local language to reach a higher impact.

Funding opportunities will be promoted at every high-level event with CBE JU’s participation.

Results of the 2023 call will be highlighted in a dedicated campaign in the second quarter of

2024, with a focus on the new projects.

• Demonstrating the CBE JU achievements

In 2024, several CBE JU-funded flagship projects will reach important milestones (e.g.

inauguration of the plant, launch of the production, successful completion of the project), which the

partnership will support via dedicated communication actions, in collaboration with the projects’

teams.

CBE JU will work with the network of project communicators to actively promote project milestones

(e.g. innovation breakthrough, take-up of bio-based solutions by large industries) and results.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

CBE JU will also work on a visual representation of the project portfolio and KPIs on the website,

to create a better overview of the achievements.

The partnership will bring the travelling exhibition of bio-based products made by CBE JU-funded

projects to EU institutions and will target in particular the Committee of Regions, the European

Parliament, as well as the Council.

Communication activities will support developments in the CBE JU governance (e.g. establishment

of a deployment group and appointment of a new Executive Director).

At the end of November, CBE JU will celebrate its third anniversary and take stock of what has

been achieved so far. An integrated communication campaign will support this milestone.

• Highlighting the CBE JU impacts

The impacts communication will focus on the local communities, in terms of creating new kinds of

jobs and alternative income sources in rural and coastal areas. Various application areas of bio-

based solutions for everyday use will be on the spotlight when addressing larger audiences.

CBE JU will continue highlighting other socio-economic, as well as environmental impacts of the

initiative based the annual activity report and in the context of relevant EU policies.

As for promoting funding opportunities, communication activities related to highlighting impacts will

support the widening participation strategy. Material in local language will be prepared to this effect.

Communication tools and channels

The CBE JU website will remain its main information hub. All communication activities will link to

the web content. CBE JU will keep on updating and improving information on the web, in particular,

for a better visualisation of achievements.

CBE JU newsletter and social media accounts (LinkedIn, YouTube and, to a smaller extent, X)

will drive CBE JU’s digital communication and support campaigns. Increasing the follower base

and reaching higher engagement rate on these channels will remain a priority action in 2024.

CBE JU will embrace the opportunity to connect with its community, reach out to new audiences

and showcase the partnership at national, European and international in-person events. The

events organised by CBE JU will however provide a remote participation option for those who

cannot attend in person.

Public relations and advocacy will target CBE JU’s stakeholders in support to the communication

priorities. Strengthening media relations with relevant bioeconomy outlets and building new

media partnerships will continue to be a priority in this field.

CBE JU will collaborate with its vast network of multipliers (governing and advisory bodies,

national contact points, project teams and, if possible, influential personalities) to share the

messages with their audiences.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

2.3.2. Indicative budget

Title Description Amount, €

Events and campaigns

Organisation of CBE JU Info Day,

participation in at least 15 key events,

organisation of awareness raising and

networking activities, campaigns

142,500

Communication material Publications, videos, promotional material 128,000

Communication tools

Website, digital dissemination tools,

networking and stakeholder management

tools, communication equipment

78,000

Public relations

Media relations and partnerships, prizes,

sponsorship, branding

75,000

Total 423,500

2.3.3. Indicative list of events

Event Date(s) Place CBE JU role

EU Bioeconomy conference 14-15 March Brussels, Belgium Speaker, exhibitor

BIOKET 19-21 March Reims, France Speaker

CBE JU Info Day 23 April

Brussels, Belgium &

online

Organiser

World Bio Markets 15 May The Hague,

Netherlands

Speaker, exhibitor

EUBCE 24-27 June Marseille, France

Speaker, session

organiser, exhibitor

Plant-based Summit TBC TBC TBC

IFIB 2024 TBC TBC TBC

EFIB 2024 TBC TBC TBC

EUCYS award ceremony September TBC Sponsor of the bio-

based economy

award

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

2.3.4. Procurement and contracts

For the year 2024 the CBE JU will implement its administrative budget also by means of

procurement procedures and contracts, supporting the administrative and operations services in

accordance with its financial rules

218

. It is essential that the CBE JU makes the most efficient use

of its resources by using existing framework contracts and service level agreements (SLAs) with

EC services.

As part of the BOA procurement, Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking leads as contracting authority

the common JU’s procurement that have been identified in the BOA procurement as the ones that

will achieve efficiency gains and economies of scale, this will cover in 2024 among others: data

protection, building management and IT.

The table below provides a summary of tenders planned for 2024 under administrative budget and

the related procurement procedure expected to be used on the basis of the information currently

available. It may be subject to modifications.

Subject

Indicative/Maximum

amount, €

Type of procedure

Indicative

timeline

Studies

50 000

Middle valued

Negotiated procedure

Q1-Q4

Policy support in the

implementation of the

programme

50 000

Middle valued

Negotiated procedure

Q1-Q4

Media Relations

50 000

Middle valued

Negotiated procedure

Q1-Q4

218

https://www.bbi.europa.eu/sites/default/files/BBI_GB_12_19_revised_Financial_Rules.pdf.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

100

2.3.5. Other support operations

2.3.5.1. IT and logistics

ICT security

The new Cybersecurity Regulation and Information Security Regulation required a close

cooperation between European Union Institutions and bodies (EUIBAs), CERT-EU services and

DIGIT for a correct implementation of the new information security rules. The CBE JU will further

improve its framework for governance, risk management and control in the area of cybersecurity

and implement a baseline of cybersecurity measures in compliance with CERT-EU best practices

and EC methodologies like ITSRM2. Moreover, the programme office will have to conduct regular

maturity assessments and put in place a plan of activities, including dedicated internal training, to

increase awareness and skills on cybersecurity matters. The work started in 2023 to improve

security and compliance with mobile devices accessing CBE IT resources will continue in 2024.

CBE JU KPI reporting tool - phase 2: implementation

The deliverables of the study project conducted in 2022 under the DIGIT-XM framework contract

(FWC) were used for a main development project started in 2023 under the DIMOS VI framework

contract, with the objective to develop a secure and user-friendly electronic platform that supports

the data gathering of both BBI and CBE projects. In 2024 this process will continue with a fine-

tuning of the data collection workflow and the processing of data collected from project

coordinators with Power BI technologies, to deliver meaningful and effective visualisation of KPI

reporting for CBE and BBI projects.

Meeting rooms 2-3-4

After the final confirmation of the permanence in the White Atrium building of JUs, CBE JU will

proceed with the upgrade of the common meeting rooms 2-3-4 located in the common meeting

area on the first floor, that will be equipped with optimised technology for hybrid meetings following

the successful experience with meeting room 1. The implementation of such upgrade will follow

the outcomes of a study project started in 2023 to assess functional requirements and produce

high-level budget estimations along with technical drawings that could be used in the

implementation phase.

Transition to New Managed ICT Services FWC

After the last specific contract under the current framework contract (FWC) expired at end of April

2023, a new contract will be in place in 2024 under a new FWC to provide continuity of managed

ICT services.

Transition from EFSA FWC. To CLOUD II DPS

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

101

After the framework contract (FWC) used to procure the non-SaaS cloud services (EFSA Cloud

broker FWC) expired at the end of 2023, some requirement to host infrastructure-as-a-service

(IaaS) workloads should be fulfilled while most of the workloads are being transferred to SaaS

providers. After the expiration of the CLOUD II FWC in Q3 2023, the CLOUD III. Direct Purchasing

System (DPS) of the European Commission's Directorate for Informatics will be used as the new

procurement channel, with DIGIT acting as a broker for software procurement.

Introduction of AGM platform for meetings

After the initial deployment, configuration and test phase started in 2023, CBE JU will be able to

rely on the AGM platform (an online service offered by PMO) for the organisation of CBE JU

advisory bodies (SRG,SC and DEG) meetings and reimbursement of experts. AGM offers a

reliable and paperless electronic workflow for the invitations, organisation, and reimbursement

processes of meetings.

Ethical AI for data-driven empowerment

European Union is leading responsible innovation and regulation around the emerging technology

of the so-called ‘artificial intelligence’, which is the usage of big quantities of data (like the ones

generated from the activities of EU bodies, institutions and agencies) to feed algorithms able to

extract meaning, information and knowledge from such data. The use of Artificial Intelligence tools

is already supported and financed by the EC in many fields like agriculture, transport, health, public

administration and manufacturing.

CBE JU wants to explore this technological development, and during 2024 will follow a process

like the one already adopted for example by DG SANTE in identifying opportunities to ‘maximise

the benefits from the huge amount of data it available in the organisation’. In a similar way, CBE

JU will start to identify internal use cases for AI open-source tools, based on the in-house

processing of corporate data with no exposition over the internet, which may be used to empower

the work of programme unit and communication officers with an automated treatment,

organization, classification and visualization of data to support human-based decisions linked to

operational activities.

The framework for the evaluation and introduction of AI tools in the CBE IT environment will be the

‘Open Source Strategy‘ adopted by the European Commission, the Ethics guidelines for

trustworthy AI, developed by the High-level expert group on artificial intelligence appointed by the

European Commission, the risk-based approach that is shaping the regulatory framework on

Artificial Intelligence still under discussion.

2.3.5.2. Building management

The current contract to rent the office space in the building White Atrium the ‘Convention d’Usufruit

of 16 November 2010’ expires at the end of 2024. The management of the tender procedure for

the JUs’ premise falls under the back-office arrangement for public procurement and will be dealt

with in 2023. As soon as the procedure is finalised, a new contract will be signed jointly with the

other JUs and some adaptation work will be needed to adjust the office setup to the increased staff

of CBE JU.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

102

2.3.5.3. Human resources

HR management

The CBE JU Programme Office will continue implementing its activities in compliance with the

applicable rules and procedures to support the appropriate management of public and private

funds under the leadership of the Executive Director, who is the Chief Executive responsible for

the day-to-day management of the CBE JU in accordance with the decisions of the Governing

Board.

In the HR domain, the CBE JU aims to achieve its goals through a solid HR Strategy covering

effective recruitment procedures, proper allocation and administration of resources and in

developing, motivating and retaining valuable/high qualified staff while maintaining an optimal and

efficient working environment.

After concluding the recruitment of all staff, on the HR side the priorities are to provide colleagues

with the best conditions to perform and deal with the growing workload. The office structure will be

slightly adapted to fully take advantage of the New Ways of Working. Staff is provided with reliable

IT infrastructure, IT equipment and IT tools for shared remote working, lending ergonomic furniture

and materials, they are in condition to enjoy full flexibility for what concern the remote work and

the presence in office. CBE JU staff will continue to be provided with clear guidelines and

framework to continue enjoying the new work experience in the New Ways of Working.

This objective will be implemented in four main HR areas:

Staff implementation and recruitment

In 2024, the CBE JU will reach its full staff establishment plan. Therefore, no additional

recruitments are foreseen.

The CBE JU will give the opportunity to trainees to acquire a first-hand experience as well as an

understanding of the objectives and activities of the JU. With these traineeships, the CBE JU will

benefit from the input of enthusiastic young graduates, who can give a fresh point of view and up-

to-date academic knowledge, which will further enhance the everyday work of the JU.

The HR function will also perform an analysis on how the Programme Office should evolve in the

near future in terms of staff allocation ensuring that the organisation achieve its objectives. This

will also serve as a basis for potential revisions of the staff establishment plan, to be decided by

the CBE JU governing Board.

Legal matters and HR management

In 2024, the CBE JU will continue to develop its internal guidelines and strengthen its legal

framework, paying particular attention to how EC staff implementing rules apply to the JU

particularities. Following the adoption of the EC implementing rules on working time and hybrid

work the HR function will develop in 2024 internal guidelines. The Programme Office will also

organise an annual appraisal and reclassification exercise.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

103

New staff implementing rules are expected to be adopted in 2024 in consultation with DG HR and

the Standing Working Party

219

Learning and development opportunities for better efficiency and staff engagement and

motivation

The CBE JU promotes the continuous development of its staff to ensure that they are competent

in their roles and can respond to the challenges of their job in fast changing world. Learning and

development is also a tool to engage staff, ensuring their professional growth. Learning and

development is an integral part of the CBE JU human resources policy and serves the interests of

both the individual and the organisation. Therefore, in 2024 the HR function will continue to develop

a learning and development framework focusing on the following priorities:

 Collaborative working and knowledge-sharing in order to favour effective teamwork

across the whole organisation;

 Vision, leadership and effective management of people, projects and processes in an

increasingly complex world, with increasing pressure on staff;

 Staff well-being in order to foster the quality and safety of the staff in the working

environment and to maintain their wellbeing while teleworking from home in the context of

the new ways of working and the hybrid return to the office. Staff well-being is a key factor in

determining the CBE JU long term effectiveness.

The HR function will also organise coaching opportunities for specific key functions and team

coaching to help staff to develop their growth and potential within the organisation. Moreover,

teambuilding activities will be organised in order to foster and promote team spirit and strengthen

the collaboration among staff members. In addition, several common learning events will be

organised in house in order to build common working methods and to further foster the cohesion

in the team. Tailor-made training will be organised to reinforce the knowledge and use of IT tools

as part of the digitalisation of our processes (e.g.: ARES, SYSPER, SYSTAL…).

The HR function will also continue to improve the CBE JU Intranet to improve the communication

within the team and facilitate the access to key documents for staff. In addition, the HR function

will continue to build on the CBE JU agreed corporate values and these values will be integrated

in the staff assessment process. A Staff Engagement Survey will be organised to gain insight into

job satisfaction, employee commitment, engagement and motivation. The aim of our annual staff

engagement survey is to use the insight gained, to address possible issues and to make targeted

improvements where necessary.

Digitalisation of the HR processes and transition to the New Ways of Working in 2024, the HR

function will continue to implement the digitalisation of the CBE JU HR processes in the context of

the Back Office HR.

219

The Standing Working Party, composed of DG HR, representatives of agencies and partner DGs, has been created by the

Commission to discuss and draft implementing rules to the Staff Regulations in agencies, allowing the harmonisation of HR rules

in the agencies network.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

104

In 2024 a new Executive Director will be appointed and the HR function will ensure an effective

phase in by providing the mandatory training and the key information in the HR domain.

2.3.5.4. Strategy for achieving efficiency gains, synergies through

back office arrangements

The Single Basic Act (SBA) of the Joint Undertakings establishes that the Joint Undertakings shall

achieve synergies via the establishment of back-office arrangements (BOA), operating in some

identified areas. Article 13 of the SBA identifies Human Resources Support among the areas where

common BOA can be set up. In that respect, CBE JU expressed its willingness to be the lead JU

for the BOA HR and IHI JU the back-up JU.

The BOA HR will implement actions in three main areas of HR Support: recruitment, HR legal

framework and HR digitalisation. Its objective is to maximise synergies among the JU’s, harmonise

procedures by valorising best practices, ensure coherent HR support services, achieve efficiencies

and economies of scale, increase the negotiation power of JU’s operating under the SBA towards

contractors and service providers.

The Joint Undertakings that are under the Single Basic Act

220

will contribute to BOA HR Support,

together with EuroHPC and SESARJU that will participate on specific initiatives in line with their

internal priorities and according to their own specificities

221

Scope of the BOA HR support

In line with the proposal of an enhanced coordination of the Network of JUs’ HR officers, the

conclusion of a Service Level Agreement (SLA) among the JU’s has been deemed necessary

since a clear commitment to the execution of the BOA HR Annual Work Plans must be made by

the JU’s under the coordination of the Lead JU.

This SLA is expected to be signed by each participating JU in Q4 2023 and the actual

implementation of the BOA HR to start in 2024 focusing on the three predefined areas of HR

support:

Recruitment

- Alignment and harmonisation of the JUs’ recruitment processes: the JU’s will valorise the

best practices by establishing a common selection process based on the existing relevant legal

framework. This common selection process shall then be applied across all JU’s when

launching a selection procedure. This project will include for example the creation of common

templates, scoring guides, platforms and tools that will provide a consolidated ground for

individual and common selection procedures and recruitments.

220

Circular Biobased Europe, Clean Aviation, Clean Hydrogen, Europe’s Rail, EDCTP3 Global Health, Smart Networks and

services, Key Digital Technologies (and in the future Chips JU), Innovative Health Initiative,

221

SESAR JU despite being part of the SBA, is exempted by the provisions related to the Back-office arrangements

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

105

- Organisation of joint selection procedures: in order to increase efficiency gains the JU’s

will organise as much as possible joint selection procedures for common profiles with same

grades. This practice is already in place but will be further strengthened in 2024.

- Establishment and sharing of reserve lists/ job profiles library: the JUs will continue to

share their reserve lists to shorten their recruitment processes and time-to-recruit and will start

to work on the harmonisation of job profiles.

HR legal framework

The JUs share a common legal framework in the HR domain, therefore, additional synergies can

be achieved by enhancing the existing collaboration in this area. The focus in 2024 will be on:

- Inter-JU network of Confidential Counsellors (CCs): currently the JUs share a common

network of confidential counsellors and regularly organise joint calls for expression of interest

to expand the network. Training, information campaigns and joint actions are also organised

to promote the JUs staff well-being and raise awareness on psychological and sexual

harassment and to prevent interpersonal conflicts.

In 2024, this initiative will be extended to a larger number of JUs most notably the newly established

JUs that will have the possibility to join the inter-JU network of Confidential Counsellors and benefit

from the resources of this network.

- Collaboration with the EU agencies network (EUAN) and the European Commission: the

JU’s will continue to attend EUAN meetings including possible ad-hoc participation of the HR

Officers to different working groups. The JUs will continue to liaise with DGHR /PMO about

common HR matters and seek advice for specific topics.

- Establish a common HR strategy in well identified areas where the JU’s have strong interest

in speaking with one voice towards staff and towards other EU institutions (e.g., learning and

development, staff motivation and mobility, new ways of working, employee health and

wellbeing, work life balance, recruitment and selections).

- Inter JU’s HR Officers network: the JUs HR Officers will continue to meet bi-weekly to share

best practices and also provide support to the newly established JUs. To this purpose, a

common collaborative platform will be created (Teams) to facilitate the interactions between

HR Officers, the exchange of information and documents.

HR digitalisation

In 2024, the JUs will continue to move towards a digitalisation of HR processes and will work on

the harmonization of their IT systems in the HR area.

The newly established JU’s will receive support in the onboarding of HR tools already used by the

other JU’s (e.g. SYSPER, SYSTAL) and good practices will be shared among HR Officers in the

use of their IT systems.

In the same context, the JU’s will also take part in the HR Transformation programme led by the

European Commission and will participate to the meetings and contribute to the projects of the first

wave (2023-2024).

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

106

In 2024, the JU’s will concretely implement the actions defined in the 2024 BOA HR Annual Work

Plan expected to be agreed by all participating JUs in Q4 2023. This action plan will include actions

such as the organisation of training of common interest for all JUs staff (e.g., info session on

harassment prevention), the reinforcement of sharing of existing reserve lists, the onboarding of

new JU’s using SYSTAL (e-recruitment tool), best practices on selection and recruitment etc.

2.3.5.5. Staff establishment plan

Function

group and

grade

2023 2024

Authorised budget

Actually filled

as of 31/12

Authorised budget

Permanent

posts

Temporary

posts

Permanent

posts

Temporary

posts

Permanent

posts

Temporary

posts

AD 16

AD 15

AD 14 1

AD 13

AD 12 1

AD 11 1

AD 10

AD 9 3

AD 8 4

AD 7

AD 6

AD 5

TOTAL AD 10

AST 11

AST10

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

107

AST 9

AST 8

AST 7

AST 6

AST 5 1

AST 4 1

AST 3

AST 2 1

AST 1

TOTAL AST

AST/SC 6

AST/SC 5

AST/SC 4

AST/SC 3

AST/SC 2

AST/SC 1

TOTAL

AST/SC

TOTAL

AD+AST+

AST/SC

GRAND TOTAL 13 12 13

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

108

Contract Agents

FTE

corresponding

to the

authorised

budget 2023

Executed

FTE as of

31/12/2023

Headcount

as of

31/12/2023

FTE

corresponding

to the

authorised

budget 2023

Function Group IV 10 10 10 10

Function Group III 6 6 6 6

Function Group III

Function Group I

TOTAL 16 16 16 16

Seconded

National

Experts

FTE

corresponding

to the

authorised

budget 2021

Executed

FTE as of

31/12/2021

Headcount

as of

31/12/2021

FTE

corresponding

to the

authorised

budget 2022

FTE

corresponding

to the authorised

budget 2023

TOTAL

Recruitment forecast 2024 following retirement/mobility or new requested posts

Job title

in the

Type of contract (Official, CA,

TA)

TA/Official CA

Function group/grade of

recruitment internal

(Brackets) and external

(single grade)

foreseen for publication

Recruitment

Function Group (I,

II, III and IV)

Due to

foreseen

retirement/

mobility

New post

requested

due to

additional

tasks

222

Internal

(brackets)

External

(brackets)

222

As included in the legal and financial statement of the Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2085, of 19 November.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

109

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

110

2.4. GOVERNANCE ACTIVITIES

2.4.1. Governing Board

CBE JU’s Governing Board (GB) has overall responsibility for the strategic orientation and the

operations of the CBE JU and shall supervise the implementation of its activities in accordance

with Article 17 of the Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2085.

The GB is composed of five representatives of the European Commission on behalf of the EU, and

five representatives of BIC.

The indicative key decisions of the GB in the year 2024 are listed below:

Key decisions in 2024 – timetable Quarter (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4)

Appointment of the new Executive Director Q1

Approval of the evaluation outcome for Call 2023 Q1

Assessment of the Annual Activity Report 2023 Q2

Adoption of the AWP 2025 Q4

2.4.2. Executive Director

The Executive Director is the chief executive responsible for the day-to-day management of the

CBE JU in accordance with the decisions of the Governing Board.

The Governing Board appointed Nicoló Giacomuzzi-Moore as the CBE JU Executive Director ad

interim as from 1 September 2022, until the appointment of the new Executive Director, to perform

the tasks defined in Article 19 of the Council Regulation (EU) No 2021/2085. The mandate of the

CBE JU Executive Director ad interim finished on 31 August 2023.

In order to maintain business continuity, the Governing Board approved deputising rules and since

1 September 2023 Nicoló Giacomuzzi-Moore is the acting Executive Director until the conclusion

of the recruitment procedure.

2.4.3. States’ representatives group

The States’ representatives group (SRG) is one of the advisory bodies of CBE JU. In line with

Article 20 of the of the Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2085, the SRG provides recommendations

and the opinion of EU’s Member States and associated countries on the CBE JU, including: the

progress of the programme implementation, the draft annual work programmes, the annual activity

report, as well as other measures taken to address specific objectives of the initiative.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

111

During 2024, at least two SRG meetings are planned: one in Q1 and the second in Q3. Additional

meetings could take place, if needed. In all the meetings, the SRG members will be invited to report

information about national and regional activities and initiatives linked to CBE JU with a view to

ensure complementarities and identify areas of cooperation with the CBE JU.

SRG Timetable for 2024

SRG meeting will focus on: discussing SRG's comments to the 1

draft of the

CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2025; presenting the results from the Call 2023

evaluation and information on the granted projects; presenting the progress of the

CBE JU programme progress and achievements and other updates from EC and

BIC on relevant initiatives for CBE.

SRG meeting will focus on: discussing the final draft of the CBE JU Annual

Work Programme 2025; presenting the Call 2023 submission statistics; and

presenting the progress of the CBE JU programme progress and achievements

and other updates from EC and BIC on relevant initiatives for CBE, among any

other relevant activities.

2.4.4. Scientific Committee

The Scientific Committee (SC) is one of the advisory bodies of CBE JU. According to Article 21

and 55 of the Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2085, the SC provides advice to the Governing Board

on the scientific priorities to be addressed in the annual work programmes and feedbacks on the

scientific achievements described in the annual activity report. It will suggest, in view of the

progress of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda and individual actions, corrective

measures or re-orientations to the governing board, where necessary; and will provide

independent advice and scientific analysis on specific issues as requested by the Governing

Board.

The SC is composed by 15 independent experts with a balanced representation of world-wide

recognised experts from academia, industry, SMEs, non-governmental organisations and

regulatory bodies. During 2024, at least two SC meetings are planned: one in Q1 and the second

in Q3. Additional meetings could take place, if needed.

SC Timetable for 2024

SC meeting will focus on: discussing SC's comments to the 1

draft of the

CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2025, presenting the results from the Call 2023,

presenting the progress of the CBE JU programme progress achievements and

discussing EC and BIC initiatives and activities relevant to CBE JU

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

112

SC meeting will focus on: discussing the final draft CBE JU Annual Work

Programme 2025, presenting the Call 2024 submission statistics, presenting the

CBE JU programme progress and discussing EC and BIC initiatives and activities

relevant to CBE JU

2.4.5. Deployment Groups

In accordance with Article 22 and 56 of the Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2085, the CBE JU

Deployment Groups are new types of advisory bodies that will play a key role in the creation of

favourable conditions for deployment of sustainable circular bio-based solutions in their thematic

area. They are established to advise the CBE JU Governing Board on issues critical to market

uptake of bio-based innovation and are expected to provide their opinion on request from the

Governing Board, but they may also act on their own initiative.

Without prejudging the future decision of the Governing Board, the following Deployment Groups

are planned to be established in 2024:

• The Deployment Group on finance & investment will be established in two phases: during

the first phase, the European Investment Bank (EIB) will carried out a study to analyse the

challenges of the biobased sector, the current investment instruments, to identify gaps and

proposed recommendations as well as key stakeholders/actors who should be involved in the

DEG F&I. In parallel, the core group of the DEG F&I will be established and will prepare the

Action plan to be presented to the GB.

• The Deployment Group on the primary sector will build on the work already initiated in BBI

to support the participation of primary producers & enhance their role in the bio-based value

chains, including the Action Plan

223

agreed by the members of the Task Force on 8 October

2021. The main objectives of this group will be to address the challenges faced by the primary

producers that might hinder the deployment of circular bio-based solutions and innovations

while ensuring that primary producers benefit from their involvement in new and innovative

circular and bio-based value chains. A note for the GB will present the scope, objectives, tasks

and composition of this Deployment Group including the procedure and conditions for its

establishment and functioning of this DEG.

223

Following the publication of the Study Participation of the agricultural sector in the BBI JU: business models, challenges and

recommendations to enhance the impact on rural development, a Task Force was created with representatives from the EC (DG

AGRI and DG RTD), BIC and CBE JU to analyse the feasibility and the impact of the proposed recommendations and set up an

Action Plan to prioritize, in an effective and in a coherent way, its implementation.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

113

2.5. STRATEGY AND PLANS FOR THE

ORGANISATIONAL MANAGEMENT AND

INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEMS

The Internal Control Framework (ICF), approved in 2019, provides reasonable assurance to the

GB regarding the achievement of BBI JU’s objectives as well as those of the CBE JU. In line with

the requirements expressed in the CBE JU Financial Rules and in the EU Financial Regulation

224

it shall:

• Ensure that operational activities are effective and efficient. The CBE JU meets its

objectives defined in the AWP using the adequate human and financial resources.

• Ensure that legal and regulatory requirements are met. The CBE JU operates in full

accordance with all legal and regulatory requirements.

• Ensure that reporting is reliable. The CBE JU management produces regular, reliable and

easily accessible management information on financial management, use of resources and

progress on the achievement of operational objectives.

• Ensure that assets and information are safeguarded. The CBE JU managers take the

measures necessary to ensure the completeness and preserve the integrity of the data on

which management decisions are taken and reports are issued.

All the CBE JU management processes and functions concur to these four objectives granting the

largest possible preventive, detective and corrective controls in line with the available resources.

In 2024 the CBE JU will continue to run its operations by improving the quality level of programme

implementation while integrating the corrective actions that were identified in the past.

The main activities that will be performed include the following:

• Report on compliance and effectiveness of internal control in the annual activity report;

• Carry out periodic review of risks at least yearly in the context of preparing the annual work

programme;

• Coordinate visits of the European Court of Auditors and of the external auditor of CBE JU

accounts;

• Liaise with the auditors of the Internal Audit Service;

• Follow up on the implementation of action plans on audit recommendations and on

observations of the discharge authority;

• Ensure a smooth implementation of the findings of the ex post audit strategy and optimise

the JU’s specific audit efforts based on the analysis of the ex-post audits and of the

specificities of CBE JU beneficiaries.

224

Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on the financial rules

applicable to the general budget of the Union, amending Regulations (EU) No 1296/2013, (EU) No 1301/2013, (EU) No

1303/2013, (EU) No 1304/2013, (EU) No 1309/2013, (EU) No 1316/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) No 283/2014, and Decision

No 541/2014/EU and repealing Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

114

2.5.1. Financial procedures

In 2024, the CBE JU will continue to improve its financial procedures in both the administrative and

grant management areas, in line with its Manual of Financial Procedures as well as the general

EU financial regulatory framework and IT tools used for financial transactions performed by the

CBE JU.

On the grants side the majority of transactions will continue to be dealt with via the corporate tools

COMPASS/SYGMA, with certain grants-related transactions being performed directly in the EC

accounting system ABAC, or completed in ABAC following initiation in other tools (e.g.

COMPASS/SYGMA or EMI). Staff will continue to be trained adequately to ensure maximum

competence in the use of the IT tools as well as the various different transactions which can arise

(e.g. grant amendments, the participant guarantee fund mechanism, recoveries).

On the administrative side, the business procedures already in force should ensure high-quality

processing, optimal budgetary implementation and accurate accounts. There will be continued

monitoring of these procedures to evaluate their efficiency and fine-tune or update them where

necessary.

The administration and finance unit and the programme unit will continue to coordinate with

corporate services in order to ensure coherent understanding and implementation of the financial

rules. This will also ensure the speedy and efficient verification and validation of all transactions.

2.5.2. Ex ante and ex post controls

Ex ante controls

There is a full set of processes and procedures which regular application in 2024 will continue to

provide reasonable assurance that the principles of sound financial management have been

applied to each transaction. In particular, ex ante controls on operational expenditure will be

implemented by the CBE JU in line with the adopted Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe ex ante

control strategies.

In order to implement ex ante controls, desk reviews will be performed by the CBE JU Programme

Office; on top of this reviews periodic reports will be carried out by external experts and ad-hoc

technical reviews can also be launched when deemed necessary. The CBE JU will continue to

update and develop internal procedures defining the ex ante controls to be performed and taking

into account risk-based and cost-effectiveness considerations.

In 2024, the CBE JU will continue to cooperate with the Fraud and Irregularities in Research (FAIR)

Committee of the R&I family as well as with the CAS, in line with the H2020 working arrangements

for OLAF cases. Relevant Programme Office staff has received training on fraud detection and

prevention; the possibility to deepen the knowledge in this field will continue to be promoted within

the learning and development framework of the CBE JU.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

115

For what concerns the prevention of possible double funding, the CBE JU will continue to

collaborate with EC services and the Research Executive Agency in order to detect at an early

stage possible overlapping during the grant agreement preparation, subsequent to the adoption of

the ranking list by the Governing Board. Any possible overlapping at the level of topic definition is

monitored by EC services responsible for the preparation of relevant work programmes. Regarding

possible double funding controls during the project implementation, the grant management tools

launches automatically a double funding and plagiarism check during GAP and the Programme

Office implements any appropriate measure in accordance.

Ex post controls

In 2024, ex post controls of operational expenditure will continue to be implemented in line with

the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe audit strategies. The Common Implementation Centre (CIC)

of the European Commission developed these audit strategies in cooperation with all its clients

(i.e. the entities that implemented the Horizon 2020 budget: Services of the European Commission,

Executive Agencies and Joint Undertakings).

The main objective of the ex-post controls is to provide the individual Authorizing Officers with the

necessary elements of assurance in a timely manner, thus allowing them to report on the budget

expenditure for which they are responsible. Ex-post controls on operational expenditure contribute

in particular to:

• assessing the legality and regularity of expenditure on a multi-annual basis;

• providing an indication of the effectiveness of the related ex-ante controls;

• providing the basis for corrective and recovery mechanisms, if necessary.

The Common Audit Service (CAS) of the European Commission is the part of the CIC serving all

Horizon Europe stakeholders in the implementation of the audit strategy. Its mission is to deliver a

corporate approach for the audit cycle: audit selection, planning, application of rules, relations with

beneficiaries and management information on the audit process.

The CBE JU is effectively integrated in this control chain: it participates in the audit process

definition and in the monitoring of its implementation in continuous collaboration with CAS and its

clients. The main objectives of the cooperation are to align operations and exploit synergies on the

common audit effort. The efficiency gains should reduce the audit costs and the administrative

burden on auditees, always in line with the specific objectives for ex-post controls explained above.

In 2024, the CBE JU will continue to implement the results of the ex post audits on its beneficiaries

and will provide adequate reporting through the budget discharge process.

2.5.3. Audits

The audit environment is an accountability pillar within the CBE JU’s internal control Framework

since it provides reasonable assurance about the state of effectiveness of risk management and

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

116

control processes and serves as a building block for the annual Declaration of Assurance of the

Executive Director.

In 2024, the CBE JU will continue to ensure the coordination and support to the audits carried out

by the Internal Audit Service (IAS), and the Court of Auditors (ECA) and by the external auditor of

the CBE JU accounts. The CBE JU will also continue to follow up and confirm the implementation

of the relevant recommendations.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

117

3. BUDGET YEAR 2024

The 2024 budget covers all administrative needs for 2024 as well as H2020 and H Europe

operational activities. It is noted that the budget of the JU shall be adapted to take into account the

amount of the Union contribution as laid down in the budget of the Union. The only potential

updates to the budget relate to any change in EFTA rate for 2024. The EFTA rates in use for 2024

are 2.11% for all BBI JU remaining budget (‘frontloaded’ by the EC from the previous MFF), and

for CBE JU, 2.89% (the rate used for 2023).

The 2024 budget covers all administrative needs for 2024 as well as H2020 and H Europe

operational activities. It is noted that the budget of the JU shall be adapted to take into account the

amount of the Union contribution as laid down in the budget of the Union. The EFTA rates in use

are 2.11% for 2023 for all BBI JU remaining C1 budget (‘frontloaded’ by the EC from the previous

MFF), and 3.54% for CBE JU for 2024.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

118

STATEMENT OF REVENUE (EUR)

Heading Item Budget 2024 CA Budget 2024 PA

Amended budget

2023 CA

Amended budget

2023 PA

Executed budget

2022 CA

Executed budget

2022 PA

EU contribution (excl. third

countries contribution/EFTA)

144,173,389

153,717,118

149,712,288 98,131,007 250,079,489 41,725,553

of which Administrative (BBI) 1001

0 0 1,912,288 1,912,288 2,174,051 2,174,051

of which Administrative (CBE) 1007

1,691,126 1,691,126 800,000 800,000 812,045 812,045

of which Operational (BBI) 1002

0 0 0 10,885,723 0 38,739,457

of which Operational (CBE) (no

EFTA)

0 0 0 0 0 0

of which Operational (CBE)

225

1007

142,482,263 152,025,992 147,000,000 84,532,996 247,093,393 0

Third countries contribution

(including EFTA)

226

5,103,738 5,441,586 4,311,769 2,736,162 6,169,137 883,333

of which Administrative EFTA

(BBI)

1001

0 0 40,349 40,349 45,872 65,930

of which Administrative EFTA

(CBE)

1007

59,866 59,866 23,120 23,120 20,058 20,058

of which Operational EFTA

(BBI)

1002

0 0 0 229,689 0 0

of which Operational EFTA

(CBE)

1008

5,043,872 5,381,720 4,248,300 2,443,004 6,103,207 817,403

Industry (financial)

contribution

1,750,991 1,750,991 2,775,757 2,775,757 3,052,026 3,052,026

225

For 2024 amended operational payment appropriations (including EFTA) include EUR 1 million for the budget of the expert evaluators for the CBE Call 2023 (managed by REA on behalf of CBE) – moved from Title 2 under BBI

JU to Title 3 under CBE JU

226

The amended budget figure takes into account an EFTA rate of 2.11% used for BBI JU remaining budget for 2023 (calculated annually up to the end of the BBI JU programme), as well as a rate of 3.54% for the 2024 EU

administrative and operational contribution to the CBE JU.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

119

Heading Item Budget 2024 CA Budget 2024 PA

Amended budget

2023 CA

Amended budget

2023 PA

Executed budget

2022 CA

Executed budget

2022 PA

of which Administrative (BBI) 1003

0 0 1,952,637 1,952,637 2,219,923 2,219,923

of which Administrative (CBE) 1009

1,750,991 1,750,991 823,120 823,120 832,103 832,103

Other

0 0 0 0 0 0

SUB-TOTAL revenues

151,028,118 160,909,694 156,799,815 103,642,926 259,300,651 45,660,911

C2 reactivation of unused

appropriations from

administrative expenditure

227

2,186,852 2,199,997 2,201,480 2,589,376 1,135,769 1,566,182

of which from 2019 (BBI)

0 0 0 0 35,769 266,182

of which from 2020 (BBI)

0 0 38,010 446,848 1,100,000 1,300,000

of which from 2021 (BBI)

78,155 269,769 1,013,470 813,694 0 0

of which from 2022 (BBI)

729,860 1,148,627 150,000 328,834 0 0

of which from 2022 (BBI)

0 0 0

of which from 2022 (CBE)

0 0 387,896 0 0 0

of which from 2022 (CBE)

922,832 312,452 0 0 0 0

of which from 2022 (CBE)

56,005 69,149 612,104 1,000,000 0 0

227

Unused budgetary commitment and payment appropriations from prior years’ administrative budget, which can be reactivated in the budgets of up to 3 subsequent years following the year of origin, in accordance with the ‘N+3’

rule applicable to Joint Undertakings. Amounts in italics are included at chapter level in the expenditure statement.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

120

Heading Item Budget 2024 CA Budget 2024 PA

Amended budget

2023 CA

Amended budget

2023 PA

Executed budget

2022 CA

Executed budget

2022 PA

of which from 2023 (CBE)

400,000 400,000 0 0 0 0

C2 reactivation of unused

appropriations from

operational expenditure

228

68,683,112 27,118,677 67,581,955 30,000,000 476,647 28,803,205

of which from 2018 (voted) 2031

0 0 0 0 0 0

of which from 2019 (voted) 2031

0 0 0 0 476,647 0

of which from 2020 (voted)

(BBI)

2033

0 0 281,955 0 0 28,803,205

of which from 2021 (voted)

(BBI)

2033

18,679,114 18,589,502 0 30,000,000 0 0

of which from 2022 (voted)

(CBE)

2033

0 0 66,300,000

0 0 0

of which from 2022 (voted)

(BBI)

2033

3,703,998 8,000,000 0 0 0 0

of which from 2022 (voted)

(CBE)

2033

43,700,000 529,175 1,000,000 0 0 0

of which from 2023 (voted) BBI 2033

763,799 0 0 0 0 0

of which from 2023 (voted)

CBE

2033

1,863,201 0 0 0 0 0

SUB-TOTAL reactivations

70,869,964 29,318,674 69,783,435 32,589,376 1,612,416 30,369,387

TOTAL REVENUES

221,898,082 190,228,368 226,583,249 136,232,302 260,913,067 76,030,298

228

Unused budgetary commitment and payment appropriations from prior years’ operational budget, which can be reactivated in the budgets of up to 3 subsequent years following the year of origin, in accordance with the ‘N+3’

rule applicable to Joint Undertakings

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

121

STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURE (EUR)

Title/

Heading

Budget 2024 CA Budget 2024 PA

Amended

budget 2023

Amended

budget 2023

Executed

budget

2022 CA

229

Executed

budget

2022 PA

% Ratio

2022 CA

to 2024

% Ratio

2022 PA

to 2024

Chapter

1 Staff Expenditure

3,270,300 3,270,300 3,231,044 3,231,044 2,863,114 2,761,346 87.55% 85.46%

Staff in active

employment

2,860,400 2,860,400 2,791,144 2,791,144 2,560,681 2,583,931 89.52% 90.96%

Staff recruitment /

Miscellaneous

expenditure

75,000 75,000 76,000 76,000 18,500 9,514 24.67% 12.52%

Mission and duty

travels

60,000 60,000 60,000 60,000 35,000 17,606 58.33% 29.34%

Other staff costs

(socio-medical

structure)

264,900 264,900 293,900 293,900 238,933 185,316 90.20% 63.05%

Entertainment and

representation

expenses

10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 9,979 100.00% 99.79%

Other

administrative

expenditure

1,940,547 1,940,547 2,320,470 2,320,470 1,649,749 1,860,336 85.01% 80.17%

Rental of buildings

and associated

costs

365,000 365,000 408,628 408,628 301,915 301,241 82.72% 73.72%

229

Only BBI JU budget was executed in 2022. Around EUR 1.6 million of administrative budget for CBE JU was carried over to be reactivated in 2023 and 2024 budgets. The reactivated (C2) appropriations in 2022 were included

at budget chapter level, so the execution shown at this level is of total C1 and C2 appropriations. The total C2-only execution, administrative and operational, is also indicated in italics towards the end of the table. For CA this

reached 66% (admin) and for PA 94% (admin) and 100% (operational).

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

122

Title/

Heading

Budget 2024 CA Budget 2024 PA

Amended

budget 2023

Amended

budget 2023

Executed

budget

2022 CA

229

Executed

budget

2022 PA

% Ratio

2022 CA

to 2024

% Ratio

2022 PA

to 2024

Chapter

Administrative

information

technology)

428,000 428,000 407,719 407,719 353,941 427,606 82.70% 104.88%

Movable property

and associated

costs

5,000 5,000 4,000 4,000

5,440 0.00% 136.00%

Current

administrative

expenditure

35,000 35,000 33,000 33,000 44,057 39,951 125.88% 121.06%

Telecommunication

s and postal

charges

26,000 26,000 24,000 24,000 8,733 12,460 33.59% 51.92%

Expenditure on

formal meetings

49,800 49,800 78,400 78,400 11,400 7,614 22.89% 9.71%

External

communication,

information,

publicity

423,500 423,500 664,000 664,000 281,859 421,027 66.55% 63.41%

27 Service contracts

408,247 408,247 450,723 450,723 320,203 343,126 78.43% 76.13%

Experts’ contracts

and evaluations (in

T3 under H Europe)

0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00% 0.00%

29 Expert reviewers

200,000 200,000 250,000 250,000 327,642 301,872 163.82% 120.75%

Reactivations of

prior year unused

administrative

budget

230

2,186,852 2,199,997 2,201,480 2,589,376 752,561 1,477,388 N/A N/A

of which from 2019

(BBI)(included at

chapter level)

0 0 0 0 35,769 266,182

N/A N/A

of which from 2020

(BBI)(included at

chapter level)

0 0 38,010 446,848 716,795 1,211,206 N/A N/A

230

rule applicable to Joint Undertakings. Figures shown in italics are already included at chapter level in Titles 1 and 2.

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

123

Title/

Heading

Budget 2024 CA Budget 2024 PA

Amended

budget 2023

Amended

budget 2023

Executed

budget

2022 CA

229

Executed

budget

2022 PA

% Ratio

2022 CA

to 2024

% Ratio

2022 PA

to 2024

Chapter

of which from 2021

(BBI)(included at

chapter level)

78,155 269,769 1,013,470 813,694 0 0 N/A N/A

of which from 2022

(BBI) (included at

chapter level)

729,860 1,148,627 150,000 328,834 0 0 N/A N/A

of which from 2022

(CBE) (included at

chapter level)

922,832 312,452 0 0 0 0 N/A N/A

of which from 2022

(CBE) (included at

chapter level)

0 0 387,896 0 0 0 N/A N/A

of which from 2022

(CBE)

56,005 69,149 612,104 1,000,000 0 0 N/A N/A

of which from 2023

(CBE)

400,000 400,000 0 0 0 0 N/A N/A

Operational

expenditure

146,526,135 156,407,712 151,248,300 98,091,411 120,470,825 47,430,727 82.18% 79.88%

32 Expert evaluators

1,000,000 1,000,000 1,667,783 1,667,783 1,000,000 470,825 59.96% 28.23%

Previous years'

calls BBI

0 0 0 11,115,412 0 17,146,350 N/A N/A

Previous years'

calls CBE

140,000,000 0 85,308,217 0 0 0 0

Current year’s call

(s)

144,932,217 0 149,580,517 0 119,470,825 29,813,552 N/A N/A

Reactivations of

prior year unused

operational

budget

231

68,683,112 27,118,677 67,581,955 30,000,000 0 28,803,205 N/A N/A

of which from 2019

0 0 0 0 0 0 N/A N/A

of which from 2020

0 0 0 0 0

28,803,205 N/A N/A

231

rule applicable to Joint Undertakings

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

124

Title/

Heading

Budget 2024 CA Budget 2024 PA

Amended

budget 2023

Amended

budget 2023

Executed

budget

2022 CA

229

Executed

budget

2022 PA

% Ratio

2022 CA

to 2024

% Ratio

2022 PA

to 2024

Chapter

of which from 2021

(BBI)

18,679,114 18,589,502 281,955 30,000,000 0 0 N/A N/A

of which from 2021

(CBE)

0 0 66,300,000 0 0 0 N/A N/A

of which from 2022

(BBI)

3,703,998

8,000,000

0 0 0

N/A N/A

of which from 2022

(CBE)

43,700,000 529,175 1,000,000 0 0 0 N/A N/A

of which from 2023

(BBI)

763,799 0 0 0 0 0

N/A N/A

of which from 2023

(CBE

1,836,201 0 0 0 0 0

N/A N/A

SUB-TOTAL

reactivations

70,869,964 29,318,674 69,783,435 32,589,376 752,561 29,451,258 N/A N/A

TOTAL

EXPENDITURE

221,898,082 190,228,368 226,583,249 136,232,302 124,983,688 52,052,409 57.24% 25.43%

CBE JU ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2024

125

4. ANNEXES

4.1. IKAA PLAN

As stated in the article 51 of Council Regulation 2021/2085, the additional activities are those

directly linked to projects and activities of the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking,

including in particular:

(a) investments in new facilities demonstrating a new value chain, including investments in

durable equipment, tools and accompanying infrastructure, in particular related to regional

deployment and its sustainability verification;

(b) investments in a new innovative and sustainable production plant or flagship;

tools, durable equipment or pilot plants (research centres);

(d) standardisation activities;

(e) communication, dissemination and awareness-raising activities.

The investments directly linked to projects are in particular:

(a) non-eligible investments needed for the implementation of a Circular Bio-based Europe Joint

Undertaking project during the duration of that project;

(b) investment made in parallel with a Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking project,

complementing the results of the project and bringing it to a higher TRL;

project’s results following the closure of the project until the winding up of the Circular Bio-based

Europe Joint Undertaking. In justified cases, the investment related to deployment of results of

projects from the preceding initiative (BBI Joint Undertaking) may be taken into account.

The exact nature of the activities and amount planned will be known only when the Governing

Board will approve the results of the call (selection of projects).

The following IKAA plan is based on data made available in grants awarded under the CBE JU

Call 2022, it will updated once the grant agreement from CBE JU Call 2023 are signed.

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IKAA scope

IKAA

linked to

projects

IKAA

linked to

programme

TOTAL VALUE

estimated

IKAA

2023

estimated

value

2024

estimated

value

2025

estimated

value

2026

estimated

value

2027

estimated

value

2028

estimated

value

2029

estimated

value

2030

estimated

value

2031

estimated

value

(a) investments in new

facilities demonstrating a

new value chain, including

investments in durable

equipment, tools and

accompanying

infrastructure, in particular

related to regional

deployment and its

sustainability verification;

€ 22,142,475 € 133,333 € 3,222,702 € 3,167,702 € 2,462,702 € 3,167,702 € 1,775,000 € 2,658,333 € 3,500,000 € 2,055,000

(b) investments in a new

innovative and sustainable

production plant or

flagship;

N €246,965,380 € 8,510,813 € 26,845,142 € 27,770,277 € 21,021,678 € 21,727,670 € 68,882,800 € 43,882,800 € 18,882,800 € 9,441,400

research and innovation

and justified infrastructure,

including facilities, tools,

durable equipment or pilot

plants (research centres);

Y N €117,142,703 € 52,856,237 € 14,811,592 € 15,791,874 € 6,054,300 € 12,139,300 € 5,422,400 € 5,997,000 € 1,990,000 € 2,080,000

(d) standardisation

activities (not falling in

previous scope of

investments)

Y N € 530,000 € - € - € 40,000 € 115,000 € 42,000 € 43,000 € 93,000 € 93,000 € 104,000

(e) communication,

dissemination and

awareness-raising

activities (not falling in

previous scope of

investments)

Y N € 1,303,848 € 38,700 € 96,300 € 121,300 € 124,300 € 88,400 € 202,848 € 207,000 € 212,000 € 213,000

TOTALS € 388,084,406 € 61,539,083 € 44,975,736 € 46,891,153 € 29,777,980 € 37,165,072 € 76,326,048 € 52,838,133 € 24,677,800 € 13,893,400

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4.2. GLOSSARY

Added-value product = a product with a significantly increased value from a technical, economic

and/or environmental perspective, compared with the starting material or feedstock from which the

product is obtained

B2B product = a product destined to be sold by one business entity to another business entity

B2C product = a product destined to be sold by one business entity directly to the end consumers

Benchmark = a standard product/process/service representative of a specific technological field or

market application, used as reference with which features of another product, process or service

developed are compared. Depending on the bio-based output developed, the benchmark can be fossil-

and/or bio-based

Bio-based = derived from biomass

Biodiversity enhancement (coming on top of biodiversity protection) = refers to reporting practices,

methodologies and tool improvements about the integration and improvement of biodiversity aspects

related to bio-based systems. Note that the European Commission will put forward a proposal for legally

binding EU nature restoration targets

232 Restoring EU’s ecosystems will help to increase biodiversity,

mitigate and adapt to climate change, and prevent and reduce the impacts of natural disasters

Biodiversity protection (see also biodiversity enhancement) = is expected to be a starting condition

for all CBE projects (100 % of projects should comply). Several drivers for biodiversity protection should

be accounted for: climate change mitigation, LULUCF, sea/freshwater pollution, soil pollution, invasive

alien species, direct exploitation of endangered plants, animals, other organisms, and their habitats,

and respective ecosystems services

Bioeconomy = the production of renewable biological resources and the conversion of these resources

and waste streams into value added products, such as food, feed, bio-based products and bioenergy

Biogenic = derived from biomass. Such as ‘biogenic carbon cycle’: the natural carbon cycle

Biomass = material of biological origin excluding material embedded in geological formations and/or

fossilised

(Bio-based) dedicated chemicals = Bio-based chemicals that are produced via a dedicated pathway

and do not have an identical fossil-based counterpart. As such, they can be used to produce products

that cannot be obtained through traditional chemical reactions and products that may offer unique and

superior properties that are unattainable with fossil-based alternatives

(Bio-based) drop-in chemicals = Bio-based versions of existing petrochemicals which have

established markets. They are chemically identical to existing fossil-based chemicals

Bio-based product = a product wholly or partly bio-based

232

The EU #NatureRestoration Law (europa.eu)

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(Bio-based) smart drop-in chemicals = a special sub-group of drop-in chemicals. They are chemically

identical to existing chemicals derived from fossil resources, but their bio-based production pathways

provide advantages compared to the conventional pathways

Biodegradation = complete breakdown of an organic matter by microorganisms, in the presence of

oxygen (aerobic biodegradation) into carbon dioxide, water, and mineral salts of any other elements

present (mineralisation) plus new biomass, or in the absence of oxygen (anaerobic biodegradation) into

carbon dioxide, methane, mineral salts, plus new biomass

Biodegradable = a material or product is biodegradable if it can, under specific environmental

conditions and with the help of microorganisms, naturally break down into basic components (e.g.,

water, carbon dioxide and biomass)

Bio-based polymer = a polymer comprised, at least in part, of building blocks called monomers,

produced from renewable feedstock. Bio-based polymers can lead to a number of products like bio-

based plastics

Bio-waste = defined as biodegradable garden and park waste, food and kitchen waste from

households, restaurants, caterers and retail premises, and comparable waste from food processing

plants (Waste Framework Directive). It does not include forestry or agricultural residues, manure,

sewage sludge, or other biodegradable waste such as natural textiles, paper or processed wood. It also

excludes those by-products of food production that never become waste

Brand owners = refer to industrial stakeholders selling commodities under a registered brand. They

may be existing or new stakeholders of bio-based value chains, contributing thus to the market uptake

of bio-based products

Building block = a molecule which can be converted to various secondary chemicals and

intermediates, and, in turn, into a broad range of different downstream uses. Examples of large markets

for bio-based chemical building blocks are in the production of bio-based polymers, fibres, surfactants,

and solvents

Carbon removal = the carbon removals described in the Communication on sustainable carbon

cycle

233

include ‘recycle carbon from waste streams, from sustainable sources of biomass…to use it

in place of fossil carbon in the sectors of the economy that will inevitably remain carbon

dependent…promote technological solutions for carbon capture and use (CCU) and the production of

sustainable synthetic fuels or other non-fossil based carbon products… upscale carbon removal

solutions that capture CO

from the atmosphere and store it for the long term, either in ecosystems

through nature protection and carbon farming solutions or in other storage forms through industrial

solutions’

CAGR = Compound Annual Growth Rate

233

The concept of carbon removal has been introduced by the Commission Communication on sustainable carbon cycles

(COM(2021)800) and in the Commission proposal for a Regulation on an EU certification for carbon removals. See the Glossary

‘Carbon removal’’

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CCS = Carbon dioxide capture and storage. The geological storage is ruled by Directive 2009/31/EC

234

Other storage are mentioned in the Communication on sustainable carbon cycles

Error! Bookmark not defined.

See the European Commission framework for carbon capture, use and storage

235

CCU = Carbon dioxide capture and use. See the European Commission framework for carbon capture,

use and storage

Circular bio-based system = a full operational system, from feedstock intake through market

application and use of resultant bio-based products, and their end-of-life handling to close the circle

(cradle-to-cradle)

Circular-by-design = including circular economy considerations at the design stage of a product and/or

business model considering their lifecycle. It aims to minimise resource consumption intensity, waste

generation, extend the lifetime of products and optimise production and logistics

Circular economy = a business concept aiming to create a closed-loop system and maintain the value

of products, materials, and resources for as long as possible by returning them into the product cycle

at the end of their use, while minimising the generation of waste. In this economic system, ‘waste’ can

become a feedstock source for another process or value chain

Climate change adaptation = is the process of adapting to climate change, taking action to prepare

for and adjust to both the current effects of climate change the predicted impacts in the future

Climate change mitigation = consists of actions to limit global warming and its related effects. This

involves reductions in human emissions of greenhouse gasses (GHGs) as well as activities that reduce

their concentration in the atmosphere. It is one of the ways to respond to climate change, along with

adaptation

Ecosystem services = the benefits that people obtain from ecosystems. These include provisioning

services such as food and water; regulating services such as flood and disease control; cultural services

such as spiritual, recreational, and cultural benefits; and supporting services, such as nutrient cycling,

that maintain the conditions for life on Earth’ (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment). An ecosystem

service could also include practices that prevent or cut down pollution. People describe e.g., the green

biorefinery to have an ecosystem service function by cutting down the run-off of nutrients that could

otherwise have polluted the surrounding waters.

Emissions (Scope 1, 2 and 3)

= Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions are emissions coming directly

from a company and its controlled entities (including process emissions). Scope 2 emissions come

indirectly from the generation of purchased energy. Scope 3 emissions are all indirect emissions that

are not included in scope 2 and occur in the value chain of the reporting entity, including both upstream

and downstream emissions.

Feedstock = any unprocessed/raw material fed into a manufacturing/conversion process

FMCG = Fast-moving consumer goods

234

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32009L0031

235

https://ec.europa.eu/clima/eu-action/carbon-capture-use-and-storage_en

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Fossil-based = made from fossil resources

GHG emissions = GHGs comprise carbon dioxide (CO

), nitrous oxide (N

O), methane (CH

) and

fluorinated gases. There are direct and indirect emissions that need to be monitored and addressed

(see also emissions (scope 1, scope 2 and scope 3)

HS&E= health, safety and environment

Indirect land use change (ILUC) = displacement of agricultural production into non-croplands (e.g.,

grasslands and forests) due to the destination of croplands previously used for food agricultural

production having been shifted to the production of non-food bio-based products (e.g., biofuels). Indirect

land use change risks causing an increase in greenhouse gas emissions because non-croplands such

as grasslands and forests typically absorb high levels of CO

. By converting these land types to

cropland, negative environmental effects may occur, including increase of atmospheric CO

levels, and

biodiversity loss

Industrial symbiosis/ Industrial-urban symbiosis = the concept affects both material and energy

flows. It refers, partly, to a process by which waste or by-products of an (industry) or an (industrial)

process become the raw material for another. Application of this concept allows for materials to be used

in a more sustainable way and can contribute to circular (bio)economy. Industrial symbiosis creates an

interconnected network that strives to mimic the functioning of ecological systems within which energy

and materials cycles operate in a continuous mode, without waste products. Deploying industrial and/or

industrial-urban symbiosis solutions for energy, water and waste and other by-products can also

contribute to the regional development of circular bio-based systems

Intermediate product = a product (e.g. material) requiring further processing or conversion steps to

obtain the final product

Life cycle assessment (LCA) = assessment of the environmental impacts of a product, process, or

service throughout the entire life cycle. The main references for LCA methodologies are the international

standards ISO 14040 and ISO 14044. Environmental LCA is complemented by life cycle costing

assessment (LCCA), which aims to assess the economic impacts of a product/process/service, and

by social life cycle assessment (S-LCA), which aims to evaluate social implications of a

product/process/service

Life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) = assessment of the environmental, economic, and

social impacts of a product, process, or service throughout the entire life cycle

Marginal land = Low quality land the value of whose production barely covers its cultivation costs (EEA

https://www.eea.europa.eu/help/glossary/gemet-environmental-thesaurus/marginal-land)

Material = a substance or a mixture of substances also resulting from a production process, constituting

one of the components which more complex products are made by

Multi-material, Multi-layered products = products composed of multiple layers where the choice on

material per layer depends on the final product technical characteristics (e.g providing barrier properties,

mechanical strength, heat resistance etc)

Multi-material products, Composites = materials composed of at least two materials of different

properties. When combined, they provide unique and superior properties (e.g. strength and lightweight

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characteristics), compared to those of the individual constituents. The individual components do not

dissolve or blend into each other, with one material being the matrix and combined an additional

material (the reinforcement)

Nature-based solutions = solutions that are inspired and supported by nature, which are cost-

effective, simultaneously provide environmental, social and economic benefits and help build resilience.

Such solutions bring more, and more diverse, nature and natural features and processes into cities,

landscapes and seascapes, through locally adapted, resource-efficient and systemic interventions

New = refers to a product or a process that entails clearly described innovative and/or advanced

properties or enhancements compared to existing benchmarks (for example a ‘new material’ does not

mean that such types of material currently does not exist on the market, but it means that the material

has properties that are unmatched by existing benchmark products available on the market)

Novel = novel technologies are such as new, emerging, so far unused for bio-based feedstock

conversion; novel bio-based feedstock

Organisational innovation= an idea, a new product, a new method, a new service, a new process, a

new technology, or a new strategy adopted by an organisation

Outputs = referring to the following product categories: i) Chemicals (platform chemicals, additives,

solvents, surfactants…), ii) Materials, 3) other products related with end use. Use established

classification for reporting, for example the one in: EU Biorefinery outlook 2030

Plastic = any synthetic or semisynthetic organic polymer entailing the property of plasticity, i.e., the

ability to deform without breaking. For example, thermoplastics and thermosetting polymers are the two

types of plastic

Platform chemical = intermediate molecules which can be converted to a wide range of chemicals or

materials

Primary biomass producers = biomass feedstock suppliers (primary and/or secondary biomass),

including the following sectors: agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and aquaculture/marine

Resource efficiency = means using the Earth's limited resources in a sustainable manner while

minimising impacts on the environment. It allows us to create more with less and to deliver greater value

with less input. Improved energy efficiency addresses technoeconomic feasibility but also

environmental sustainability aspects. Resource efficiency aspects addressed in bio-based processes

covers biomass feedstock valorisation efficiency but also encompasses the other resources such as

water, solvents, (bio)catalysts and other auxiliaries etc.

SSbD = Safe and sustainable by design

Secondary bio-based feedstock = waste that can be recycled in a circular economy and is injected

back into the economy as secondary raw materials. In this context, secondary bio-based feedstock is

any waste that can be used in bio-based processes

Sustainable = this refers to a product/process/system that enhances and creates benefits for the

environment, economy, and society. In a broad sense, sustainability has four dimensions:

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environmental sustainability, productivity, fairness, and macroeconomic stability (European

Commission, ‘Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy 2020’, COM(2019) 650 final, 17 December 2019).

Waste hierarchy =

(a) prevention;(b) preparing for re-use;(c) recycling;(d) other recovery, e.g.

energy recovery; and

(e) disposal, as in the Waste Framework Directive 2008/98.

Zero-pollution ambition = on 12 May 2021, the European Commission adopted the EU Action Plan:

‘Towards a Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil’ (and annexes)- a key deliverable of the European

Green Deal. The action plan aims to strengthen the EU green, digital and economic leadership, whilst

creating a healthier, socially fairer Europe and planet. It provides a compass to mainstream pollution

prevention in all relevant EU policies, to step up implementation of the relevant EU legislation and to

identify possible gaps

Zero waste = preserving the natural resources and significantly reducing/eliminating waste during

production but also across the value chain.