Industrial biotechnology approaches for improved sustainability and output of industrial bio-based processes
European Comission
ExpectedOutcome :
A successful proposal will contribute to all Destination ‘’Zero pollution’ and in particular impacts related to enhancing circular bio-based systems to operate according to planetary boundaries, replacing fossil-based systems and their carbon footprint, mitigating climate change, restoring biodiversity and protecting air, water and soil quality along supply chain of biological feedstock and industrial value chains within the EU and Associated Countries and across borders. Furthermore, it will contribute by substituting harmful chemicals by safer, less toxic and generally more sustainable alternatives notably by boosting innovative biotechnology and other related technologies to create zero-pollution bio-based solutions.
Industrial biotechnology has a high potential to contribute to increased sustainability and in particular ‘zero pollution’ ambition of the European Green Deal, in respect to the (circular) industrial bio-based processes.
Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following outcomes:
- Improved environmental sustainability, especially in terms of reduced toxicity, and overall safety to live organisms and ecosystems, of industrial bio-based processes, and of chemical and materials outputs, aligned with the EU climate-goals and zero-pollution ambition of the European Green Deal, in particular by lowering the input requirements in terms of e.g., land use, (virgin) feedstocks, water and energy, and by general advancement of non-toxic / zero-pollution production processes with positive impacts on water, air and soil quality.
- Improved industrial competitiveness by developing scalable, flexible and robust multi-product manufacturing, responding to current trends in the industrial biotechnology (e.g., on-demand production, small-volume outputs, lower capital expenditure, digital / artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, lower/minimal dependence on scarce natural resources, especially in terms of biological feedstocks), ensuring links to EU / Associated Countries industrial ecosystems (SMEs, EU Partnerships such as Circular Bio-based Europe JU).
- Enhanced social engagement and understanding of advanced bio-based innovation and in particular biotechnology among broad sectors of society, with active social innovation supported via dialogue with e.g., NGOs, end-user and consumer groups, schools or science centres etc.
Enhanced market up-take linked to improved governance[1] enabled by dialogue with regulatory actors and supporting networks, and by improved public awareness.
Scope :
- The scope covers a wide array of biotechnology techniques, including targeted and specific approaches for DNA modification, including synthetic engineering at gene or genome level, in line with the binding regulatory requirements, including related necessary technical aspects in other fields, such as synthetic biology, cell sorting, automation, robotics, IT data/digital/AI innovations, or the ‘biofoundry’ concept[2], [3]. Approaches based on improved enzymatic solutions should carefully consider a parallel topic[4], to avoid overlaps, and create synergies.
- Environmental improvements, especially reduced pollution/toxicity and lowered impacts should be verified and demonstrated by established methodology of life cycle assessment, and the monitoring approaches throughout the project need to be clearly established.
- Production of biofuels and bioenergy is excluded from scope, to avoid overlaps with Horizon Europe Cluster 5. Health applications need to be carefully considered to avoid possible overlaps with activities supported under Horizon Europe Cluster 1.
- Clear communication and dissemination activities are an essential element, including awareness raising, engagement of societal actors (NGOs, consumer organisations, professional organisations). Proposals should include a dedicated task, appropriate resources and a plan on how they will collaborate with other projects funded under this topic and other relevant topics.
- International cooperation options may be considered, for win-win cooperation, and pursued if contributing to the European industrial competitiveness.
- In this topic the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement.
Specific Topic Conditions :
Activities are expected to achieve TRL 6-8 by the end of the project – see General Annex B.
[1] See parallel topic HORIZON-CL6-2023-GOVERNANCE-01-6: Co-creation and trust-building measures for biotechnology and bio-based innovation systems.
[2] http://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/10/biofoundries-the-new-factories-for-genetic-products/.
[3] http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/bd16d851-en/index.html?itemId=/content/component/bd16d851-en.
[4] HORIZON-CL6-2023-CIRCBIO-01-5: Broadening the spectrum of robust enzymes and microbial hosts in industrial biotechnology.
General conditions
- Admissibility conditions: described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System
- Eligible countries: described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide .
Other eligibility conditions: described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes
Financial and operational capacity and exclusion: described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes
Evaluation and award:
Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes
Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual
Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement: described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes
- Legal and financial set-up of the grants: described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes
Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025). [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf]].
Specific conditions
- Specific conditions: described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme]
Documents
Call documents:
Standard application form — call-specific application form is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE RIA, IA)
Standard evaluation form — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
MGA
Call-specific instructions
Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?"
Additional documents:
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2024 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2024 – 13. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme and Rules for Participation Regulation 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual