The call is a matchmaking activity designed to help applicants access funding for future Open Calls.

Open Call #2 (February 2025): Provides up to €60,000 per partner (total €240,000 per consortium) for 2-4 entity consortia to design and implement 16 demonstrators. Funding depends on the successful delivery of technical and business reports during a 12-month program.
Open Call #3 (planned for 2026): Offers €60,000 per new MSME to extend and scale value chains from Open Call #2. Additional MSMEs will be invited later to further develop value chains.
Type of projects to be funded
The call seeks projects that adopt and validate tools from the initiative, focusing on implementing circular strategies such as recycling, remanufacturing, or refurbishing. Selected supply chains should aim to enhance circularity indexes in final products and production processes.

Sectors / domain
Targeted sectors include, but are not limited to:

Basic metals
Construction
Electrical equipment
Furniture
Leather
Machinery and equipment
Motor vehicles
Wood products
Plastics
Other industries aligned with circular economy objectives
Individual or consortium
Applicants must form consortia with at least two value chain entities, centered around manufacturing organizations from all sectors. Consortia must include:

One manufacturing MSME or Mid-Cap (up to €50,000 funding).
At least one and up to two additional entities (up to €50,000 funding each), such as recyclers, upcyclers, repairers, or waste collectors, who contribute to enabling a circular loop.
One DIH/RTO/MSME taking on a role such as regional circularity hub, technology enabler, networking/dissemination partner, or coordination partner (up to €40,000 funding). This entity does not count toward the required two supply chain nodes.
Specific eligibility requirements
Eligible participants include:

Manufacturing SMEs (MSMEs) and micro-SMEs
Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs/eDIHs)
Academic institutes (universities)
Research institutes and other non-profit research entities
Entities must be based in EU Member States, Horizon Europe associated countries, or the UK (under specific conditions).

Specific topics or challenges
Projects should focus on implementing circular strategies such as:

Recycling
Remanufacturing
Refurbishing
Solutions should demonstrate novel business models and production operations that enhance the circularity of final products and processes.

Project duration
12 months.

Budget, funding rates, and payment conditions
Funding rate:
60% of eligible costs for profit-making entities.
100% of eligible costs for non-profit or academic organizations.
Budget limit: Up to €60,000 per partner, with a maximum of €240,000 per consortium.
Payments: Funds will be disbursed based on the successful delivery of technical and business reports during the 12-month implementation program.