The AGRI-BIOCIRCULAR-HUB project implemented under the Horizon Europe programme (Grant Agreement No. 101186869, the coordinator – APP), announces the launch of an open call for funding directed at small and medium-sized enterprises and startups.
It is designed to support the development, testing, and scaling of innovative solutions that contribute to the transition of the agrifood sector toward the principles of the circular bioeconomy.
Eligibility and Financial Support
The call is open to SMEs and startups legally registered in Poland, Latvia, or Ukraine that meet the EU SME definition (fewer than 250 employees, annual turnover not exceeding EUR 50 million). Proposed solutions must have reached Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 or above. Applications may be submitted by a single entity or by a consortium of up to two eligible organisations.
Successful applicants will receive a grant of EUR 50,000 as a lump sum, covering 100% of project costs with no co-financing requirement. The grant is disbursed in three instalments: 40% as an advance payment, 30% upon submission of the mid-term report, and 30% upon completion. A total of 12 projects will be selected: 4 per eligible country.
Support Programme
In addition to the financial grant, selected teams will benefit from a comprehensive 12-month support programme comprising:
- a dedicated programme adviser from the consortium;
- monthly online workshops covering technology development, branding, market strategy, and investment readiness;
- access to a pan-European network of academic institutions, enterprises, and public bodies across Poland, Latvia, Ukraine, Spain, and Belgium;
- expert mentoring from a network of 10+ technical and business specialists;
- an in-person study visit to a consortium partner facility;
- participation in a mandatory final pitch event before stakeholders and potential investors.
Full intellectual property ownership of all results developed during the project remains with the grant recipient.
Thematic Challenge Areas
Each application must address one of the seven thematic challenges defined by the call:
- Circular nutrients and fertiliser independence.
- Soil health and peat-free growing media.
- Low-emission manure and residue valorisation.
- Water-smart farming and runoff reduction.
- Bio-based farm inputs and end-of-life solutions.
- Data-driven integrated pest management and input reduction.
- Agricultural practices integrating bio-circular principles end-to-end.
The funded activity must be hands-on in nature (pilot, test, validate, optimise) and must not be purely analytical.
Deadlines and Application Procedure
The deadline for submission is 31 July 2026 at 17:00 CEST. Applications are accepted exclusively in electronic format. The official language of application is English.
Indicative call timeline:
- 22 May 2026 — Open Call launches;
- 31 July 2026 — application deadline;
- 1–15 August 2026 — admissibility and eligibility review;
- 16 August – 30 September 2026 — independent expert evaluation;
- by 15 October 2026 — notification of applicants;
- 15 October – 15 November 2026 — sub-grant agreement contracting;
- approximately December 2026 — selected projects begin implementation.
Documents
The full application package, including the Guidelines for Applicants and the Proposal Template, is available on .
AGRI-BIOCIRCULAR-HUB is funded by the European Union under Horizon Europe (Grant Agreement No. 101186869) and is coordinated by APP.