Benefits of the transition towards sustainable circular bio-based systems from linear fossil-based
Summary
Horizon Europe is the European Union (EU) funding programme for the period 2021 – 2027, which targets the sectors of research and innovation. The programme’s budget is around € 95.5 billion, of which € 5.4 billion is from NextGenerationEU to stimulate recovery and strengthen the EU’s resilience in the future, and € 4.5 billion is additional aid.
Programme Name
Horizon Europe (2021-2027)
Programme Description
Horizon Europe is the European Union (EU) funding programme for the period 2021 – 2027, which targets the sectors of research and innovation. The programme’s budget is around € 95.5 billion, of which € 5.4 billion is from NextGenerationEU to stimulate recovery and strengthen the EU’s resilience in the future, and € 4.5 billion is additional aid.
Benefits of the transition towards sustainable circular bio-based systems from linear fossil-based
Detailed Call Description
To support designing policies to transition away from linear fossil-based systems towards sustainable circular bio-based ones, proposals should:
Consolidate knowledge on current trends in terms of the environmental, economic and social limits of a linear carbon-intensive and fossil-based economy. By limits, we mean technical and structural barriers and/or inability to reach local and global Sustainable Development Goals (e.g. SDGs, climate change mitigation targets, European Green Deal objectives).
Develop new/improve existing methodologies to assess environmental/social/economic impacts of linearity vs circularity in the economy, including on waste production and disposal, non-renewable resources exploitation and loss, geographically (and socially) unbalanced distribution of resources and growth, biodiversity loss at global and local scale. The methodologies should consider circular economy indicators, methods and concepts developed or under development in existing initiatives, including Commission’s ongoing work on the circular economy monitoring framework and R&I activities.
Assess the environmental/social/economic impacts of the EU’s current linear fossil-based economy. This should include aspects related to the geographical distribution of oil origins and global trade, direct and indirect environmental impacts of fossil-based value chains on a life cycle base, including on, but not limited to, climate change, resource use including land, water and marine space, air/water/soil quality, ecosystems services and biodiversity. Costs arising from environmental and social impacts should be internalised in the economic impacts assessment.
Develop and compare multiple scenarios of transitioning from fossil-based to circular bio-based systems, modelling the replacement of the fossil-based activities, with a focus on the most carbon-intensive ones, with bio-based systems, including innovative solutions, at EU and global scale. Environmental/social/economic impacts of bio-based systems should be assessed with validated methodology, considering also the benefits of applying a circular approach to the bio-based systems. Biogenic carbon capture utilization (BCCU) solutions for bio-based systems via nature-based solutions (e.g. in soils or long-term circular bio-based materials) should be part of the assessment. Scenarios should compare the impacts of fossil-based and bio-based solutions, and include social aspects and social innovation, especially at the socio-technical interfaces of innovative solutions.
Identify knowledge gaps in the assessment of the sustainability of the transition from fossil-based to circular bio-based systems and in the comparison between alternative scenarios as described under point d).
Identify priorities in the transition from fossil-based to circular bio-based systems, according to scenarios analysed in the project and develop guidelines and policy recommendations.
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
100%
EU contribution per project: €2,00 million
Programme Category
EU Competitive Programmes
Total Budget
€4,00 million
Thematic Categories
Environment and Climate Change
Research, Technological Development and Innovation
Eligibility for Participation
Central Government
Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
State-owned Enterprises
Call Opening Date
28/10/2021
Call Closing Date
15/02/2022
National Contact Point(s)
Research and Innovation Foundation 29a Andrea Michalakopoulou Street, 1075 Nicosia
T.Th. 23422, 1683 Nicosia
+357 22205000
Email: support@research.org.cy
