The European Green Deal aims to support the transition to an environmentally sustainable and circular economy. A key element is to support research and innovation in several different areas, from biodiversity, food systems and environmental pollution to sustainable access to natural resources and green communities. Much of the funding is channeled through cluster 6 of Horizon Europe, as well as through the Circular Bio-based Europe (CBE) partnership.
The Work Programme 2023-2024 for cluster 6 on Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment contains only four remaining call topics that close on 24 September 2024. 5 million Euros are budgeted for a call topic to fund one project addressing fall armyworm pests and 28 million Euros are allocated to fund 5 projects under three call topics related to land, ocean and water for climate action.
- HORIZON-CL6-2024-FARM2FORK-03-1
- HORIZON-CL6-2024-CLIMATE-02
The work programme for 2025 is under construction and the preliminary launch is expected during Q1 2025. In the draft version for cluster 6, there are 82 dedicated topics.
If you are interested in taking part of the planned call topics for 2025 (draft work programme) for Cluster 6 or for Mission Soil (or other parts of Horizon Europe), please send an email to LU Research Services (forskningsservice@fs.lu.se).
The Circular Bio-based Europe (CBE) partnership
In addition to the opportunities in cluster 6, there are further opportunities from the CBE partnership in 2024. The CBE budget for this autumn’s calls is €213 million and is divided into 18 call themes. In total, the CBE expects to fund around 30 projects, with a deadline for proposals of September 18, 2024.
Read more about all the topics
Although the CBE JU calls follow the same rules and procedures as the Horizon Europe calls, there are some important differences in the project requirements that are worth considering. These include the level of reimbursement to for-profit organisations as well as the scope of the application in terms of page count.
Interested in other Cluster 6 related partnerships?
In connection to cluster 6 there are several collaborative funding initiatives, so called Partnerships:
- Circular Bio-based Europe
- Rescuing Biodiversity to Safeguard Life on Earth (Biodiversa+)
- Climate Neutral, Sustainable and Productive Blue Economy
- Water4all ”Water security for the planet”
- Animal Health and Wellfare
- Agriculture of Data
- Safe & Sustainable Food Systems
- Agroecology ”Accelerating Farming Systems Transition”
Granted Cluster 6 projects at Lund University
At the time of writing, LU have 23 granted Horizon Europe projects connected to Cluster 6, including Mission Soil and the CBE partnership, listed below. Two of these are coordinated from LU. For more information about these projects search their acronym in the LU Research Portal.
Acronym | Titel |
TrAnsformative climate ResilienCe by nAture-baseD solutions in the continental bio-geographical region | |
Boosting photosynthESis To deliver novel CROPs for the circular bioeconomy | |
SCALED-UP PRODUCTION OF NEXT-GENERATION CARBOHYDRATE- DERIVED BUILDING BLOCKS TO ENHANCE THE COMPETITIVENESS OF A SUSTAINABLE EUROPEAN CHEMICALS INDUSTRY | |
Bioprospecting and production of bioactive molecules from European bryophytes | |
CARE – Circular consumption Activities to tRansform households toward material Efficiency | |
CLImate Mitigation and Bioeconomy pathways for sustainable FORESTry (coordinated by LU) | |
CULTIVATE: CO-DESIGNING FOOD SHARING INNOVATION FOR RESILIENCE | |
Demonstration of Dune-Dike hybrid blue-grey Nature-based Solutions | |
Future Agricultural Resource Management and Water Innovations for a Sustainable Europe (coordinated by LU) | |
Fostering European cellular Agriculture for Sustainable Transition Solutions | |
The ForestWard Observatory to Secure Resilience of European Forests | |
Pan-European Food Systems Science Network | |
NATURESCAPES: NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS FOR CLIMATE RESILIENT, NATURE POSITIVE AND SOCIALLY JUST COMMUNITIES IN DIVERSE LANDSCAPES | |
OBSERVATION OF ECOSYSTEM CHANGES FOR ACTION | |
The Path Towards Addressing Adverse Impacts of Light and Noise Pollution on Terrestrial Biodiversity and Ecosystems | |
Understanding pesticide-Pollinator interactions to support EU Environmental Risk Assessment and policy | |
RestPoll: Restoring Pollinator habitats across European agricultural landscapes based on multi-actor participatory approaches | |
Seaweed based market applications | |
Soils for Europe | |
Enhanced Urban Greening Plans for Biodiversity Mainstreaming in Society | |
Water4All – Water Security for the Planet |
Further information
- Planning grants are available from LUfor researchers that apply as a coordinator for a proposal.
- There is still also a possibility to apply for a planning grant for collaborative Horizon proposals from Region Skåne. Planeringsbidrag för fler skånska ansökningar till Horisont Europa – Utveckling Skåne (skane.se)
- We recommend that you sign up as an expert in Horizon Europe.Becoming an external evaluator is a great way to get practical insight into what makes a successful application to the Framework Programme. Read more on our blog; European Commission – Work as an expert
If you are interested to know more about EU-funding or aim to apply for a specific call, don’t hesitate to contact us at Research Services for support.