1st Open Call - Preliminary Information
The first ECIV Open Call invites companies, research organizations, public authorities, and civil society to join forces in developing interregional circular economy projects. With a budget of over €9 million, the call supports large-scale innovation initiatives (TRL 6–8) that strengthen European value loops, reduce dependence on virgin raw materials, turn waste into new resources, and foster behavioral and business model change. By connecting diverse partners through the ECIV matchmaking platform, applicants can co-create impactful projects that address urgent circularity missions and accelerate Europe’s transition towards a sustainable and resilient economy.
To support Interregional innovation projects in circular economy (TRL over 6-8) focusing on:
- Improving knowledge and territorial cooperation to develop local - European value loops
- Reducing the extraction and import of virgin raw materials through sustainable resource management in production systems
- Preventing, treating, and recovering waste to turn it into new resources
- Changing behaviors and economic models to accelerate the circular transition.
Companies, research institutes, universities, technological centers, local authorities, public administration, associations, NGOs.
| Total Budget Available | €9,129,770 |
| Budget per Project | Max. €3,000,000 - Min. €500,000 total per project |
| Funding per Beneficiary | Max. €600,000 |
| Budget per Applicant and Project | Min. €50,000 per applicant per project |
- Legal entities from regions in all European Union Member States and United Kingdom are invited to participate in the Open Call and join a consortium composed of at least 3 beneficiaries from 3 different Member States and United Kingdom.
- The consortia must include at least 2 partners located in 2 different regions and states of the ECIV funding organisations.
- All three legal entities must be independent of each other.
- The organisation of the applicants has to be a legal entity and established in a European Union Member State or United Kingdom.
- The principal applicant cannot participate in more than one application as principal applicant in the 1 OPC call.
- Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to use the ECIV matchmaking tool to design their projects collaboratively, ensuring relevance to ECIV’s submissions and increasing the potential for selection and impact within the project portfolio.
Projects must demonstrate their relevance to at least one of the priority challenges as defined by ECIV.
Food and Agro-Food Systems
- minimizing food waste
- volarizing by-products
- developing sustainable food products
Textiles and Fashion
- reducing waste and pollution,
- innovation in sustainable fibers,
- encouraging repair, resale, rental, and recycling
Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE)
- innovation in e-waste management (reuse, refurbishment, repair, recycling, and remanufacturing),
- promotion of modular and repairable design
Circular and Sustainable Packaging
- reducing the use of packaging
- industrializing sustainable recyclable, compostable, biobased or reusable packaging
- increasing the use of secondary raw materials, reducing waste and recovering materials
Energy Systems
- reusing components (e.g., batteries, solar panels, turbines) and materials
- enhancing the energy efficiency of industrial processes and buildings
- supporting the development of renewable energy linked to resource loops
Steel, Metals, and Mining
- valorizing industrial by-products
- promotion of urban mining recovering metals
- increasing the use of secondary raw materials in manufacturing
Water and Wastewater Management
- reducing freshwater usage in industry
- implementing water recirculation/recharge and closed-loop systems
- wastewater treatment and nutrient recovery
Construction and Built Environment
- using circular or sustainably produced bio-based and recycled materials
- implementing design-for-disassembly and material recovery strategies in architecture and urban planning
- reducing construction and demolition waste through reuse, modular building systems, and material passports
