The European Circular Innovation Valley (ECIV) has released updated Guidelines for Applicants for its first Open Call, providing clearer instructions for organisations interested in developing innovative circular economy solutions across Europe.
The changes in the Guidelines for Applicants represent a small update aligning the indirect cost criteria by merging the three separate cells for Dalarna and Gävleborg and applying the same criteria used for Värmland.
Find them in the Resources section.
With €9.1 million in funding available, the call supports interregional projects that bring together regions, industries, and research communities to develop market-ready circular solutions. Selected projects can receive between €500,000 and €3 million, with up to €600,000 available per participant.
Connecting Europe’s Circular Regions
Horizon Europe initiative ECIV brings together 18 partners from eight countries to create what it describes as Europe’s “dance floor for circular regions” — a collaborative space where innovators can meet, test ideas, and accelerate the transition to circular business models.
The first open call focuses on near-market innovations (Technology Readiness Levels 6–8) that can help transform industrial value chains. Areas of interest include manufacturing, construction, textiles, plastics, and bio-based materials. Projects should demonstrate clear environmental and economic benefits, whether through new technologies, improved design approaches, or business models that extend product lifetimes, reduce waste, and encourage reuse.
Who Can Apply
The call is open to legal entities in the EU and the UK, including companies, universities, research organisations, local authorities, and civil society organisations. Applicants must form a consortium of at least three independent entities from three different countries, with two partners coming from ECIV partner regions.
To help applicants build strong consortia, ECIV offers a matchmaking tool where organisations can connect with potential partners, align their ideas with ECIV’s focus areas, and strengthen their proposals.
Applications must be submitted through the ECIV online platform by 16th March 2026, with results expected in May 2026. Successful projects will run until the end of 2028.
About ECIV
The European Circular Innovation Valley connects regional innovation ecosystems across Europe to develop and scale sustainable circular solutions. With a total budget of €27 million, including €16.3 million dedicated to funding third-party projects, the initiative aims to support more than 35 innovation projects and 30 experimental collaborations by 2029.
For full details, eligibility rules, and application materials, visit www.eciv.eu or contact [email protected]
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Co-funded by the European Union (Grant Agreement No. 101161155). Views and opinions expressed are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EISMEA.
