Take your bio-circular innovation to the European level

AGRI-BIOCIRCULAR-HUB is awarding €50,000 grants to 12 SMEs and startups from Poland, Latvia, and Ukraine to develop, test, or scale innovative solutions for sustainable agriculture and the circular bioeconomy. The call for applications is now closed. Submitted proposals are under evaluation.

About the Open Call

AGRI-BIOCIRCULAR-HUB is a Horizon Europe project connecting research, business, and public institutions across Poland, Latvia, Ukraine, Belgium, and Spain to accelerate innovation in sustainable agriculture and circular bioeconomy.

The call sought solutions at TRL 4 or above that can pilot, test, or validate innovations making a real difference in the agri-food value chain. Selected projects receive a €50,000 lump-sum grant plus 12 months of dedicated mentoring, monthly workshops, access to a pan-European network, and a final in-person pitch event. Grantees keep full ownership of their intellectual property.

Applications closed on 31 July 2026 at 17:00 CEST and are now under expert evaluation. All applicants will be notified of the outcome by 15 October 2026.

Key facts at a glance

The 7 challenge areas

1. Circular nutrients and fertiliser independence Recover and reuse nutrients from organic streams; reduce dependence on synthetic mineral fertilisers.
2. Soil health and peat-free growing media Improve soil quality and develop substrates that replace peat in horticulture.
3. Low-emission manure and residue valorisation Convert manure and crop residues into value-added products while cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
4. Water-smart farming and runoff reduction Improve water efficiency on the farm and reduce nutrient and pollutant runoff.
5. Bio-based farm inputs and end-of-life solutions Develop bio-based alternatives to conventional inputs, including biodegradable packaging and films.
6. Data-driven IPM and input reduction Use data and digital tools for integrated pest management and reducing pesticide / fertiliser use.
7. Agricultural practices integrating bio-circular principles On-farm practices and systems that embed circular bioeconomy principles end-to-end.

Note: The funded activity had to be hands-on (pilot, test, validate, optimise), not purely analytical. Applicants could apply to several challenges with different ideas, but only the highest-ranked proposal per entity will be funded.

Who could apply?

The Open Call was open to SMEs and startups legally registered in Poland, Latvia, or Ukraine. The eligibility conditions applied at the time of submission are summarised below.

Eligible applicants

1. SMEs or startups legally registered in Poland, Latvia, or Ukraine
2. Fewer than 250 employees and turnover ≤ €50M (EU SME definition)
3. Solution at TRL 4 or above
4. Single entity or a consortium of max 2 SMEs / startups
5. Legally incorporated at the moment of application

Not eligible

1. Entities registered outside Poland, Latvia, or Ukraine
2. 250+ employees or exceeding EU SME turnover thresholds
3. Solutions below TRL 4 (still at basic research stage)
4. Consortia of more than 2 entities
5. Entities not yet legally registered as a company

One application per challenge. Applicants could apply to several challenges, but only the highest-ranked proposal per entity will be funded. Applications had to be in English.

What selected projects get

Financial grant €50,000 lump sum, disbursed in 3 instalments: 40% upfront, 30% at mid-point, 30% at completion.

Dedicated adviser A named programme adviser from the consortium accompanies you throughout the 12 months.

Monthly workshops Online sessions covering technology, branding, market strategy, and investment readiness.

Pan-European network Connections across Poland, Latvia, Ukraine, Spain, and Belgium — academia, business, and public institutions.

Expert mentoring Access to a network of 10+ technical, business, and market mentors across all key domains.

Study visit In-person visit to a consortium partner facility. Travel budget should be included in the project budget.

Final pitch event Mandatory in-person presentation of your results to stakeholders and potential investors.

Full IP ownership You retain full ownership of all intellectual property developed during the project. No strings attached.

Application process

1. Read the guidelines The full Guidelines for Applicants PDF remains available in the Documents tab.
2. Check eligibility Eligibility was assessed against the checklist in Section 3 of the guidelines.
3. Choose your challenge Each proposal addressed one of the 7 thematic challenges.
4. Prepare your proposal Proposals used the official template, maximum 15 pages, submitted as PDF.
5. Submit on F6s The online form closed automatically on 31 July 2026 at 17:00 CEST.
6. Evaluation and results Three independent experts assess each eligible application. Results by 15 October 2026.

Call timeline

Documents & downloads

• Open Call Guidelines for Applicants (PDF)
• Open Call Flyer (PDF)
• Proposal Template (DOCX)
• Privacy Notice (PDF)

Note: Additional documents (SME Declaration Form, Declaration of Honour) will be made available during the contracting phase to selected applicants only.

Frequently asked questions

(Summary of FAQ content omitted for brevity; full Q&A available on the page.)

Privacy Notice

This notice explains how your personal data is processed when you apply to the AGRI-BIOCIRCULAR-HUB Open Call. We comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) and Horizon Europe data protection rules.

Effective date: 22 May 2026 Data Controller: SIA FNG Invest Project: AGRI-BIOCIRCULAR-HUB (Grant Agreement No. 101186869)

*Details about data collection, purpose, legal basis, access, transfers, retention, rights, cookies, and contact information are available in the full notice on the page.