AI in Manufacturing Pilot Projects

Films and coatings for circular packaging is sponsored by European Commission — Horizon Europe. Expected Outcome: Successful proposals will contribute to the Circular Economy Action Plan, the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. Projects results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes: Wider availability of bio-based films and coatings for packaging products. Improved technical performances of packaging products compared to fossil based and/or bio-based benchmarks. Improved circularity of packaging products against specified market benchmarks taking into account production, use and EoL. Scope: Many research projects have focused on developing and piloting bio-based coatings and films for application in food and non-food packaging. When targeting packaging, a primary challenge is achieving adequate barrier properties (against oxygen, moisture, grease and volatiles), as bio-based materials are typically more hydrophilic than conventional plastics like PE or PET. Processing methods, including bio-based coating deposition, face scalability and reproducibility issues. Coatings must adhere well to substrates while maintaining technical properties and not hindering sustainable EoL. Printability is another concern, as bio-based surfaces can cause ink issues like smudging or poor adhesion. Durability under stress and operating conditions is still a challenge for certain bio-based applications. Finally, design for sustainability and sustainable EoL are critical to reduce over-packaging, avoid littering and increase circularity, according to the principles set out in the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation . Proposals under this topic should: Demonstrate (at least TRL 6) innovative technologies for obtaining bio-based films and/or coatings suitable for improving performance of packaging products. Both food and non-food packaging are in scope. At least one non-food packaging application should be addressed. While coatings and films must be bio-based, any (bio-based and/or non-bio based) material is in scope as a substrate. Demonstrate (at least TRL 6) the applicability of the developed solution(s) in the manufacturing of packaging product prototypes, ensuring compatibility with industrial packaging manufacturing processes. Assess targeted products properties according to the intended application(s) under conditions occurring during the use phases, including transport and storage. Such properties may include mechanical, barrier, surface properties, resistance to low or high temperatures, weathering, moisture and/or corrosion; compatibility with food contact requirements (when addressing food packaging), printability. Apply the eco-design principles, in line with the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation , to reduce overpackaging and enable/facilitate sustainable at EoL. Test the selected EoL alternatives (at TRL 5 and above). Circular EoL includes mechanical, chemical and/or enzymatic recycling, and composting and their possible combinations. Re-use and remanufacturing are also in scope when compatible with the application and common practices. Landfilling or incineration are out of scope. In addition to the specific requirements applicable for the type of action, as described in section 2.2.3.1 of the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026 [1] , proposals under this topic should: As part of the multi-actor approach (MAA), involve end users and engage consumers (when applicable) starting from the early stages to assess market acceptance of the targeted end-products and incorporate insights into product development. Assess the compatibility with the regulatory framework, in particular the Single Use Plastics Directive (SUP) and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), identify opportunities for bio-based products and/or potential bottlenecks and provide recommendations for addressing them. Include a task to apply the SSbD framework, developed by the European Commission for the assessment of targeted bio-based films and coatings. For Programme areas: Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness, Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment, Bio-based Innovation Systems in the EU Bioeconomy, Horizon Europe (HORIZON) Keywords: Applied and industrial chemistry, Composites (including laminates, reinforced plastics, cermets, combined natural and synthetic fibre fabrics filled composites), Materials engineering (biomaterials, metals, ceramics, polymers, composites, etc.), Polymers and plastics, bio-based coatings, bio-based films, circular packaging, eco-design, end of life, food packaging, non-food packaging, recycling, safe and sustainable by design, STEP-Biotech

Advancing the European bio-based innovation enabled by biotechnology and biomanufacturing concepts is sponsored by European Commission — Horizon Europe. Expected Outcome: Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes: significant advance in the development of innovation in biotechnology, life sciences and/or biomanufacturing concepts, preparing future deployment of bio-based and bio-inspired processes, products and materials, as a basis for sustainable, fair, safe and circular value chains, contributing to decarbonisation, industrial competitiveness and the strategic autonomy of the EU and Associated Countries; improved environmental sustainability of the developed innovative bio-based solutions, with positive and quantifiable impact on climate and biodiversity, and circularity of the European bioeconomy via enhanced resource efficiency, including of biological feedstocks, water and energy, integrating bio-based sector to minimize and remediate waste production. Scope: Actions funded under this topic are relevant to the EU policies related to the European Commission communication on ‘Building the future with nature: Boosting Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing in the EU’, the Life Sciences Strategy, the upcoming EU Biotech Act, and Circular Economy Act, the EU strategy on research and technology infrastructure, the Clean Industrial Deal and the policies related to the digital transition (e.g. AI Act, etc.). It also contributes to the Start-ups and Scale-ups Strategy. Proposals should address the following activities: identify, select and develop further promising selected key technologies underpinning the bio-based innovation/industry, in particular R&D on synthetic/molecular biology, gene editing, metabolic engineering, microbiome [1] , and/or biofoundry approaches, covering all applications aiming at clean growth and environmental solutions. Advancing towards validation at a pilot-scale is encouraged, to enable future exploitation. The applications in health biotechnology, as well as the biofuel/bioenergy area are excluded, to avoid overlaps with Horizon Europe Clusters 1 and 5, respectively; ensure the integration of digital technologies (e.g. AI/Machine Learning, bioinformatics); advance the convergence of biotech and life sciences developed under the first point with Nature-based Solutions, e.g. for environmental applications, carbon sequestration [2] , biodiversity protection/enhancement, aligned with (bio-)circular economy principles (e.g. cascading biomass use), ensuring the environmental fate and sustainability is considered quantitatively at the earliest stage and ensuring safety to human health and environment is addressed and guaranteed; develop recommendations for policy makers and industrial actors, taking into account the available scientifically sound assessment of risks and benefits of the developed solutions. Proposals should involve SMEs – both as project beneficiaries and as external actors – and offer opportunities to newcomers (to Horizon Europe Cluster 6). Proposals should also engage with the civil society stakeholders such as NGOs and consumer organisations to seek stakeholder involvement and acceptance, thus advancing scale-up and facilitating future market uptake. Proposals need to ensure compliance with the ‘Do no significant harm’ (DNSH) principle. Proposals are encouraged to consider, where relevant, the data, expertise and services offered by European research infrastructures [3] , such as EMSO ERIC, EU-OPENSCREEN, ELIXIR, EMBRC ERIC, IBISBA. Efforts should be made to ensure that the data produced in the context of this topic is FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Re-usable). Cooperation with the parallel projects funded under topic HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-10: Bio-based innovation in society: supporting the sustainable way of living is encouraged, to benefit from synergies and avoid overlaps. Similarly, activities should benefit from synergies and avoid overlaps with ongoing projects, e.g. funded under the topic HORIZON-CL6-2022-CIRCBIO-02-05-two-stage: Life sciences and their convergence wi Programme areas: Horizon Europe (HORIZON), Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness, Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment, Bio-based Innovation Systems in the EU Bioeconomy Keywords: Agricultural biotechnology, Bio-based products (products that are manufactured using biological material as feedstock) bio-based materials, bio-based plastics, biofuels, bio-based and bio-derived bulk and fine chemicals, bio-based and bio-derived novel materials, Biochemistry and molecular biology, Bioprocessing technologies (industrial processes relying on biological agents to drive the process) biocatalysis, fermentation, Bioproducts (products that are manufactured using biological material as feedstock) biomaterials, bioplastics, biofuels, bioderived bulk and fine chemicals, bio-derived novel materials, Cell biology and molecular transport mechanisms, Cell biology, Microbiology, DNA synthesis, modification, repair, recombination, degradation, Environmental biotechnology, Environmental biotechnology related ethics, Environmental biotechnology, bioremediation, biodegradation, General biochemistry and metabolism, Industrial biotechnology, Natural resources exploration and exploitation, Other biological topics, Plant sciences, botany, Proteomics, RNA synthesis, processing, modification and degradation, Social innovation, Social sciences, interdisciplinary, bio-based, bio-product, bioeconomy, biofoundry, bioinformatics, biomanufacturing, bioproduct, biotechnology, environmental biotechnology, gene editing, industrial biotechnology, life sciences, microbiome, synthetic biology

Advanced Fuels & Thermal Energy Program (PON 6161: Large-Scale Non-Drop-In Alternative Fuel-Based Resources and Infrastructure) is sponsored by New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). This program supports the development of resources and infrastructure for low-carbon alternative fuels, such as clean hydrogen or ammonia, to reduce emissions in hard-to-electrify sectors. It includes two technical areas: Large-Scale Alternative Fuel-Based Resources (e.