Demonstrators for clusters of social circular enterprises

The main goal of this opportunity is to help Social Circular Enterprises (SCEs) adapt to the changing circular economy by investing in research, development, and technology. It aims to boost the use and scale of technology solutions, strengthen competitiveness through higher productivity and new market opportunities, and create positive economic, environmental, and social impacts. The focus is on waste streams with strong potential, such as textiles, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), and construction materials. Projects should bring together international groups to improve waste management, processing, and circular market activities across the EU and associated countries.

• Consortium Composition: Projects must involve a demonstrator consortium with at least two clusters. Each cluster should include Social Circular Enterprises (SCEs), for-profit circular companies, research and tech centers. SCEs must be central and benefit directly from the project. Public authorities and SCE federations can also participate when relevant.
• Geographical Scope: The consortium must operate in at least two different EU Member States or Associated Countries.
• Focus Areas: Projects must address textile and construction waste or Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).
• Admissibility Conditions: Proposals must follow blind evaluation rules—no organization or personnel names in abstracts and Part B of the first-stage application.
• Technology Development: Projects should develop or adapt technologies that make waste management more efficient and support SCEs' activities in the circular economy.
• Expected Outcomes: Projects should improve technology use, competitiveness, employment for vulnerable groups, and reduce non-recyclable waste.

Examples:

• A partnership between textile recycling SCEs in Spain and Germany, working with tech centers to automate sorting and processing of textile waste.
• A cross-border project involving SCEs and construction firms in Belgium and the Netherlands, developing new technologies to reuse and recycle building materials.
• A collaboration between electronics repair SCEs in Italy and France, piloting new methods for recovering valuable materials from WEEE.

• Personnel costs for research, development, and demonstration activities
• Costs for purchasing, leasing, or using equipment and technology for waste management
• Materials and supplies directly related to project activities
• Costs for pilot projects and demonstrator installations
• Travel and accommodation for project-related meetings and site visits
• Subcontracting specific tasks or expertise needed for the project
• Costs for dissemination, communication, and exploitation of project results
• Networking and partnership-building expenses
• Training and upskilling activities for SCE staff
• Administrative and project management costs

Restrictions: All costs must fit within the lump sum funding model and be directly linked to the project’s objectives and activities.

• Budget for this Call: 10.000.000€
• Number of Grants attributed: 2
• Budget per project: 5.000.000€

• Applicants must be based in an EU Member State or an Associated Country eligible under the Horizon Europe Programme.
• Consortia must include at least two clusters, each grouping SCEs, circular companies, and research or tech centers.
• SCEs must be at the core of the consortium and directly benefit from the project.
• Projects must involve activities in at least two different eligible countries.
• Proposals must not include organization names, acronyms, logos, or personnel names in the proposal abstract and Part B of the first-stage application.
• Applicants must demonstrate financial and operational capacity to carry out the project.
• Applicants must not be subject to exclusion criteria outlined in the Horizon Europe Programme.
• Public authorities and SCE federations can participate when relevant.