Integrated Biorefineries for a Circular Future

Integrated Biorefineries for a Circular Future is sponsored by Dutch Research Council (NWO). A collaborative research program between NWO and FAPESP focusing on identifying circular biobased alternatives to fossil raw materials in the chemical industry.

KIC Integrated Biorefineries for a Circular Future | NWO The Call for proposals ‘Integrated Biorefineries for a Circular Future – improving society and environment through sustainable industry’ is focussed on joint research between researchers, companies and societal organisations from both the Netherlands and the Brazilian federal state of São Paulo.

The research for this programme is focussed on replacing fossil raw materials currently in use by the chemical industry with circular raw materials derived from biomass. Research should include multiple perspectives on biorefineries including: chemical engineering , (business-)economics, sustainability/environmental, social and legal. The research focuses on two important sub-themes: bio-based raw materials and conversion processes.

We invite researchers to formulate research proposals together with researchers from relevant other disciplines and relevant societal organisations, including companies.

Eligible consortia are composed of the following key members: one main applicant based at a research organisation in the (Kingdom of the) Netherlands, one main applicant based in the State of São Paulo and at least one private co-funder in the form of a company with a presence (main or branch office) in the Netherlands or Brazil. Proposals may also include one or more co-applicants.

Researchers from the State of São Paulo, must consult FAPESP about their eligibility as soon as possible, but no later than 23 June 2026. The main applicants may only submit one proposal within this Call for proposals in the role of main applicant. See the call text for all terms and conditions.

In the period prior to the deadline for submitting a letter of intent, NWO will facilitate one or more online matchmaking activities, depending on the needs of the potential applicants. Participation in these activities is recommended, but not mandatory. The aim of the matchmakings is to bring together and connect researchers from different scientific disciplines and organisations.

Further information about the meetings will be announced via the website. The budget for this Call for proposals is €3,840,000 and is made available by NWO and FAPESP.

Two project sizes are available: small-scale projects with a minimum of €140,000 and a maximum of €290,000 funding (up to €145,000 from NWO, and up to €145,000 from FAPESP); and large-scale projects with a minimum of €350,000 and a maximum of €700,000 funding (up to €350,000 from NWO, and up to €350,000 from FAPESP).

NWO and FAPESP will finance at most 70% of the total project budget; the rest of the funding must be contributed by the compulsory in cash and/or in kind co-funding of 30%. Including the mandatory 30% co-funding. NWO and FAPESP shall never jointly finance less than 50% of the total project budget.

See the Call for proposals for more details. Project duration: Maximum 5 years. Online matchmaking sessions will take place on 26 March and 16 April 2026 (not mandatory).

See the box on this page for further details.

Deadline for submission of the mandatory Letter of intent is 23 June 2026 14:00:00 CET (via e-mail) and 23 June 2026 23:59:59 BRT (SAGe) Deadline for submission of Proposals is 20 October 2026 14:00:00 CEST (ISAAC) and 20 October 2026 23:59:59 BRT (SAGe) The applications submitted within this Call for proposals will be substantially assessed on the basis of the following criteria: Problem definition and analysis (25%) Envisaged impact and route to impact 25%) Quality of the consortium (30%) Quality of the research (20%) See section 4.

3 of the Call for proposals for more details.

The application procedure consists of the following steps: online matchmaking (March/April 2026); letter of intent (23 June 2026); submission of the proposal (20 October 2026); admissibility of the proposal (November 2026); pre-advice assessment committee (Until the end of February 2027); assessment committee meeting (April 2027); decision by the NWO Executive Board and FAPESP Board of Trustees (May/June 2027).

Details about the procedure are described in chapter 4 of the Call for proposals. Contactpersonen bij partners Luana Silva Soares, NWO-biorefinarias@fapesp. br Responsible research data management is an essential component of good research practice.

Prepare a data management plan after the grant is awarded and before the project starts. When you submit your application to NWO via ISAAC and to FAPESP via SAGe, you will also need to enter some details online. In addition, certain details, such as the names and organisations of your consortium members, must additionally be entered separately in the application form.

Therefore, it is advisable to start the submission process of your application at least five days before the deadline of this Call for proposals and to generate an ISAAC account in case you do not have one yet. Proposals that are submitted after the deadline to NWO via ISAAC, or that are not submitted to both funders, will not be taken into consideration.

More information about writing a proposal and which forms you need to use can be found in ISAAC. Please download and use the forms in ISAAC. Below you will find examples of the required forms.

See section 3. 3 of the call text for more details. Applications need to address one of the two following topics: The proposal and the appendix(es) must be drawn up in accordance with the template provided by NWO.

Besides the application form we ask you to also submit a signed co-funding declaration. In a co-funding declaration the co-funder expresses financial support for the project and confirms the co-funding promised. Co-funding declarations from co-funders, which are mentioned in the application, are compulsory as attachments when submitting the proposal.

The co-funding declaration must be signed by an authorised signatory of the co-funder. NWO provides a compulsory format for the co-funding declaration on the funding page of this Call for proposals on the NWO website and in ISAAC.

Downloads for your application KIC Integrated Biorefineries for a Circular Future | call for proposals KIC Integrated Biorefineries for a Circular Future | letter of intent The funding process explained NWO has a fixed procedure for handling all applications. Learn more about how the application procedure is set up – from the moment you apply until a decision is reached.

Online manual grant application system ISAAC ISAAC offers applicants for research funding the possibility to track their application in the assessment process. Do you already have an account in Isaac? Have you submitted the letter of intent?

Have you completed the application form? You can read all the details about the application for funding in the Call for proposals. If you have any questions, please contact the contact person.

S ubmit a letter of intent