Development of Bio-Based Polymers from Alternative Sources

The European Commission is soliciting applications to support the development of innovative and scalable bio-based polymer solutions derived from alternative feedstocks. This initiative aims to advance sustainability and circular economy goals by focusing on sustainable feedstock diversification, the creation of scalable processes for safe and sustainable by design (SSbD) bio-based polymers, and the expansion of high-performance bio-based polymer portfolios for new market applications. The call explicitly excludes primary biomass from agriculture and forestry as feedstocks and requires projects to develop efficient synthesis and extraction processes at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5. Projects are expected to adopt a multi-actor approach, involving various stakeholders from feedstock providers to end-users, and must integrate the European Commission's Safe and Sustainable by Design framework for polymer assessment. Collaboration and alignment with existing Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020 projects are also emphasized. The total budget for this call is EUR170,760,699, with EUR6.5 million dedicated to the SSbD bio-based polymers topic. Eligibility is open to any legal entity, with specific registration requirements for participation.