Biotech for Climate Resilient Crops and Plant-Based Biomanufacturing

The main goal of this opportunity is to support the development of sustainable and nutritious food from plants, focusing on innovative, climate-smart crops and plant-based ingredients. It aims to improve the sustainability, efficiency, biodiversity, and resilience of the European food supply chain. Projects should contribute to reducing dependency on imports and securing long-term competitiveness. The scope covers Member States and Associated Countries of the European Union, with a focus on breakthrough technologies that enhance plant growth, stress resistance, resource use efficiency, and nutritional value. The grant supports research and innovation projects that align with major EU sustainability and food strategies.

• Projects must meet general and specific eligibility requirements described in the EIC Work Programme 2025.
• Applicants can be single entities or consortia from eligible countries, with specific rules for the number and diversity of consortium members.
• Eligible applicants include universities, research organizations, SMEs, start-ups, and natural persons; mid-caps and large companies are not allowed for single-beneficiary projects.
• Proposals must focus on climate-resilient crops and/or high-value plant-based ingredients, aiming for breakthrough technologies at TRL4.
• Projects should address stress tolerance, water and nutrient efficiency, plant reproduction under stress, and crop nutritional value.
• Proposals should use multi-omics approaches, advanced technologies, and consider regulatory aspects, while aligning with sustainability, biodiversity, and resilience goals.

Examples:

• A university-led consortium developing drought-resistant wheat using advanced gene editing and multi-omics analysis.
• An SME and research institute partnership creating cost-effective, high-protein ingredients from native European legumes.
• A start-up validating new plant biomanufacturing techniques to improve nutrient profiles in leafy greens under controlled laboratory conditions.

• Direct personnel costs (researchers, technicians, project management) essential for R&I work.

• Equipment & consumables required for experiments, prototyping, and device development.

• Subcontracting costs for specialized expertise or services not available within the consortium.

• Travel, workshops & networking expenses for collaboration, dissemination, and participation in portfolio-wide activities.

• Piloting ad‑hoc portfolio activities such as joint events, shared toolkits, or commercialization preparation (up to €50,000 per project).

• Budget for this Call: 120,000,000€
• Number of Grants attributed: 8
• Minimum value per project: 500,000€
• Maximum value per project: 4,000,000€
• Maximum project duration: 48 months

• Applicants must meet both the general and specific eligibility requirements for this Challenge.
• Single legal entities or consortia from Member States or Associated Countries can apply.
• Two-entity consortia must include independent legal entities from two different eligible countries.
• Consortia of three or more must include at least three independent legal entities, each from a different country, with at least one in a Member State.
• Eligible entities include universities, research organizations, SMEs, start-ups, and natural persons.
• Mid-caps and larger companies cannot apply as single beneficiaries.
• Eligibility depends on the composition of the network or partnership for consortia applications.