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Addressing Separation and Purification Challenges in Biorefineries

Description

This Research and Innovation Action (RIA) aims to overcome one of the major technological bottlenecks in industrial biorefineries: the efficient, selective and sustainable separation and purification of bio-based products. The topic supports the development of innovative separation and purification technologies that improve the economic viability, resource efficiency and environmental performance of bio-based production processes. Projects should generate scalable solutions that can be integrated into existing or future biorefineries, enabling the production of high-purity bio-based chemicals, materials and ingredients while reducing energy use, waste generation and processing costs.

Funding Amount

  • Expected EU contribution per project: ~ €3.25 million (indicative)
  • Total topic budget: €6.5 million
  • Expected number of funded projects: 2 projects
  • Funding rate: 100% of eligible costs for all eligible participants (including companies and non-profit organisations).

Submission Deadlines

  • Call opening: 23 April 2026
  • Submission deadline: 22 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time (CET)
  • Submission model: Single-stage.

Submission Conditions

  • Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action (RIA).
  • Single-stage application.
  • Projects should achieve an end TRL of 4–5.
  • Technologies must be demonstrated on at least three industrially relevant use cases.
  • Proposal must include a qualitative business case demonstrating industrial and commercial potential after project completion.
  • Proposal must include a preliminary environmental impact assessment.
  • Proposal must satisfy the CBE JU IKOP threshold of at least 5% of the total eligible project costs.
  • Proposal Part B is limited to 50 pages.
  • Standard Horizon Europe and CBE JU eligibility and evaluation rules apply.

Eligible Businesses

Eligible applicants under Horizon Europe include:

  • SMEs
  • Large enterprises
  • Start-ups and scale-ups
  • Universities
  • Research organisations
  • Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs)
  • Biorefinery operators
  • Biotechnology companies
  • Chemical and process engineering companies
  • Separation technology developers
  • Equipment manufacturers
  • Engineering and technology providers
  • Non-profit organisations
  • Other industrial and research partners participating in project consortia.

Eligible Countries

Eligible participants are legal entities established in:

  • EU Member States
  • Horizon Europe Associated Countries
  • Other countries eligible under the Horizon Europe Rules for Participation, where applicable.

Standard Horizon Europe eligibility rules apply.

Target TRL

  • Project end TRL: TRL 4–5
  • Technologies should be validated in a relevant environment, addressing real industrial or demonstration-scale biorefinery challenges while laying the foundation for future industrial deployment.

Expected Outcome

Projects are expected to deliver:

  • Innovative separation and purification technology platforms with high potential for integration into industrial biorefineries.
  • Enhanced competitiveness, efficiency, sustainability, circularity and safety of industrial biorefineries.
  • Reduced processing costs, energy consumption and environmental impacts associated with downstream processing.
  • Increased recovery and purity of valuable bio-based products.
  • Improved scalability of advanced downstream processing technologies.
  • Contributions to:
    • Updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy
    • Circular Economy Act
    • Clean Industrial Deal
    • European Chemical Industry Action Plan
    • Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability.

Scope

Projects should:

  • Develop innovative, scalable separation and purification technologies addressing key bottlenecks in industrial biorefineries.
  • Target an end TRL of 4–5.
  • Develop technologies that can be integrated into existing and/or future industrial biorefineries.
  • Demonstrate and validate the developed solutions on at least three use cases representing different biorefinery processes or different target compounds. The same technology may be used across all three use cases, provided each addresses a different industrial process or target product.
  • Improve one or more of the following:
    • Separation efficiency
    • Product purity
    • Selectivity
    • Energy efficiency
    • Resource efficiency
    • Process sustainability
  • Address separation and purification of bio-based compounds such as chemicals, biomolecules, ingredients or other valuable products generated in biorefineries.
  • Demonstrate compatibility with industrial operating conditions and assess scalability towards industrial deployment.
  • Include:
    • Environmental impact assessment
    • Preliminary techno-economic assessment
    • Qualitative business case demonstrating future industrial potential.
  • Consider integration into existing biorefinery process chains.
  • Build upon relevant Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020, BBI JU and CBE JU project results where appropriate.

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