The funded consortia comprise a total of 416 beneficiaries from 33 countries, who submitted their proposals in 2024. This includes:
- Two ‘flagship innovation actions’ receiving almost €40 million in funding for the construction of Europe’s very first industrial biorefineries.
- Fifteen ‘innovation actions’ granted a total of €109.5 million to support the scaling up of prototypes for bio-based solutions.
- Ten ‘research and innovation actions’ receiving over €38 million in total to explore the potential of new or improved solutions through research and technology developments in laboratory or controlled environments.
- Three ‘coordination and support actions’ supporting CBE JU’s strategic activities with nearly €10 million, such as the new working group for primary producers and CBE JU’s broadening strategy.
Together, these projects will play a crucial role in achieving the objectives of the CBE JU Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) and in building a competitive, resilient, and sustainable bio-economy for Europe.
“I am proud to see how small businesses, large industries, researchers, and primary producers are joining forces to deliver tangible solutions for a greener future,” sad Nicoló Giacomuzzi-Moore, Executive Director of CBE JU. “By investing in innovation across sectors and regions, we are not only reducing our dependence on fossil resources but also boosting European competitiveness, creating quality jobs in rural areas, and building resilient value chains”
Significant Interest
Interest in the 2024 call was particularly high, with 298 proposals submitted—an 84% increase compared to the previous year. In total, applicants requested over €1.4 billion in funding across 18 topics. Approximately half of the beneficiaries are ‘newcomers,’ who had not previously received funding from CBE JU or its predecessor, the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU).
This demonstrates the effectiveness of the programme’s outreach efforts and its commitment to inclusivity. Of these new beneficiaries, nearly two out of three are private companies, indicating sustained and growing interest from the private sector in the circular bio-economy. Almost a third are small and medium-sized enterprises, confirming that the CBE JU programme is a valuable driver of innovation and growth.
A new call for project proposals, with €172 million in funding, is currently open. For more information and the full list of funded projects, please visit the CBE JU website.
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