Biotech Pathways Initiative

Bio-based chemicals and/or materials from woody residues is sponsored by European Commission — Horizon Europe. Expected Outcome: Successful proposals will contribute to the EU Forest Strategy for 2030, the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, the Carbon Removal Certification Framework Regulation, the updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy and the upcoming Circular Economy Act. Projects’ results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes: Increased availability of bio-based chemicals and/or bio-based materials from woody residues. Increased sustainability of forest-based value chains in cooperation with local forestry owners/cooperatives. Improved end-of-life (EoL) of bio-based products from woody residues. Scope: Besides thin branches, leaves and needles, which are usually left on the soil to maintain the long-term viability of the forest and soil in good condition, forestry and forest industry operations generate large amounts of woody residues which are typically used for energy or low value applications. Established process technologies for round wood and wood chips are not well suited for other streams from the forest industry which are abundantly available at production sites and could be exploited as a source of feedstock for the bio-based industries. Thus, there is the need to demonstrate techno-economic feasibility of innovative valorisation pathways to increase the value which can be derived from residues from the wood and forest-based industries while also improving sustainability compared to state-of the art valorisation routes. Proposals under this topic should: Demonstrate (TRL 6 and above) innovative technologies to obtain bio-based chemicals and/or materials from woody residues. Feedstock in scope includes woody residues generated at forestry and/or at industrial processing sites, including, but not limited to, bark, sawdust or residues from wood harvesting and processing. Demonstration should cover the optimal combination of innovative and scalable technologies aimed at maximising yield, selectivity and productivity across upstream pretreatment/fractionation, further conversion into chemicals/materials, separation/purification processes. The proposed technologies should address flexibility to feedstock quality variability. Validate (TRL 5 and above) the obtained chemicals/materials into end products. Assess the products’ performance and ensure that they fulfil technical performance requirements according to the end market application(s). Apply the eco-design principles, in line with the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation , to the end-product(s) for sustainable EoL and test it at TRL5 and above. Incineration is not in 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), ensure close collaboration with local forest owners and managers, including cooperatives and/or sectorial associations. Optimise biomass supply chain models, including sourcing, storage and/or transport as relevant for selected woody residues. Include a task to apply the SSbD framework, developed by the European Commission for the assessment of targeted chemicals/materials and derived bio-based product(s). For more information on the SSbD framework and criteria, refer to Safe and sustainable by design . Ensure complementarities with past and ongoing R&I projects addressing similar challenges, including projects funded under Horizon 2020/Horizon Europe (under Cluster 6 and other Clusters of Horizon Europe) and BBI JU/CBE JU projects. [1] https://www.cbe.europa.eu/reference-documents 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: Forest ecosystem services, Forestry, Forestry, biomass production (e.g. for biofuels), Materials engineering, bio-based chemicals, bio-based materials, bio-conversion, biomass logistics, biomass supply, eco-design, forest management, forestry, safe and sustainable by design, woody residues, STEP-Biotech

IHI European HealthCare Incubator Network is sponsored by European Commission — Horizon Europe. Expected Impact: The action under this topic is expected to achieve the following impacts and contribute to the following EU policies/initiatives: deliver innovative, early technology solutions that contribute to addressing strategic unmet public health needs across multiple therapy areas to improve prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment; leverage the unique network and scale of IHI JU members to create a pipeline to support innovative startups in the health industry, fully integrated into European initiatives in support of start-ups and entrepreneurship; drive early cross-sector health R&D and innovation to strengthen the European healthcare industry’s global competitiveness, contributing to the EU Industrial Strategy and Pharmaceutical Strategy objectives; create a sustainable network of European healthcare incubators to guide and support highly talented and innovative early-stage companies; harness digital health and data-sharing technologies (e.g., AI and big data) to enable interoperable health solutions, contributing to the European Health Data Space (EHDS) and improved evidence based care;- the action should generate a portfolio of early‑stage companies that have undergone rigorous multi‑industry validation, significantly increasing their credibility with investors, regulators, and healthcare systems. This ‘industry quality seal’ should enhance the selected startups’ ability to secure follow‑on financing; by integrating corporate expertise into a pan‑European incubator network, the action should reduce fragmentation, support faster clinical and eventually commercial decision‑making, and enable more innovators to navigate regulatory and reimbursement pathways successfully. This should contribute to the objectives of the EU to accelerate the translation of research into deployable health technologies. The Network should serve as a feeder mechanism into wider EU support structures, ensuring that promising companies can transition smoothly into later‑stage funding and scale‑up opportunities. This complementarity should maximise the added value of EU public funding while avoiding duplication and reinforcing Europe’s position as a globally competitive hub for health innovation. The action under this topic should synergise with relevant EU programmes and contribute to several key EU strategies and policies: Life Science strategy, the proposed Biotech Act (especially the biotechnology development accelerators as referred to in article 5 of the Commission proposal), Industrial strategy, Pharmaceutical strategy, EU4Health Programme, Digital Europe Programme, Testing and Experimental Facility for Health AI and Robotic (TEF-Health), European Innovation Council (EIC) programmes, EU Competitive Compass, Choose Europe initiative, Startup and Scale-up strategy by the European Commission. Additionally, the action under this topic should synergise with the forthcoming European Startup and Scaleup Hubs and, in particular, encourage connection into the Network from the Call ‘European Startup and Scaleup Hub Pilot Call – HORIZON-EIE-2026-02-CONNECT-01’. Furthermore, the action has the potential to support Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, EU Mission on Cancer, Healthier Together – EU Non-Communicable diseases initiative, Joint Action for Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes in Europe, or the Cardiovascular Health Plan. Applicants should demonstrate in the proposal how these synergies will avoid duplication, ensure complementarity with existing EU efforts, and provide early-stage companies with continuity and scale up pathways. Expected Outcome: This call topic responds to the pressing need for a collaborative approach to accelerating the research-to-market pathway and fostering innovation and competitiveness in the European healthcare sector. Accordingly, the action under this topic must contribute to all of the following outcomes: 1. A sustainable European HealthCare Incubator Network (hereafter, the ‘Network’) linking incubators from t Programme areas: Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness, Health, Innovative Health Initiative, Horizon Europe (HORIZON) Keywords: Competitiveness, innovation, research and development, Decrease technological and industrial risks, Health care, Incubator companies, Investment readiness, Related to SME and start-up support, SME support, Start-up companies, European HealthCare Incubator Network, IHI, IHI JU, Innovative Health Initiative, Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking, Joint Undertaking Deadline stages: 2026-10-08, 2027-04-21

Innovation in Oral Care Awards is sponsored by International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) and Haleon. This program funds cross-disciplinary research developing new oral care technologies with broad public health impact, supporting innovative compounds, biomaterials, or devices for routine consumer use. Projects should have a clear pathway to broad consumer access.