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Pact for Skills
  • Call for proposals
  • Open

Develop and deploy new curricula and knowledge exchange practices relevant to bio-based systems

This call contributes to the EU Initiative on Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing, EU Bioeconomy Strategy and its action plan, Zero Pollution Action Plan, EU strategy for a Sustainable Blue Economy and CBE JU Widening Strategy and Action Plan.

Details

Status
Open
Publication date
19 May 2025
Opening date
Deadline model
Single-stage
Deadline date
18 September 2025, 17:00 (CEST)
Industrial Ecosystem
  • Agrifood
  • Cross-sectoral
  • Aerospace & defence
  • Automotive
  • Construction
  • Energy intensive industries
  • Microelectronics
  • Renewable energy
  • Textile
  • Other
Level of funding
  • EU level

Description

Overview

Objectives

Collaboration between university/higher education and industry is a necessary condition for innovation and essential for greater competitiveness of the circular bioeconomy sector(s). Besides technical/technological development, training and re/up/skilling of (future and present) bioeconomy professionals is essential. Key skills could include digital skills, biotech/biomanufacturing, environmental sustainability assessment and circularity, toxicology/risk assessment, ecodesign and safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) concept for bio-based products, business development, process development etc. Soft skills and cross-sectorial skills remain an important aspect, as well as overall open-mindedness to new knowledge, points of views and cultural differences.

Activities/actions supported

The scope of this topic covers higher education, vocational training, as well as post-graduate and executive courses, as relevant for training students and reskilling and upskilling adult professionals, as needed for the emerging circular bio-based economy.

Proposals under this topic should:

  • Establish a network of industry and universities/RTOs.
  • Mobilise the network to co-create a set of curricula for education, training and retraining/reskilling/upskilling of students and professionals in the field of circular bio-based systems. Curricula should include both STEM and SSH disciplines.
  • Test the implementation of the developed curricula with pilot groups of students and professionals.

Anticipated outcomes

Projects results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes:

  • Developed and validated curricula, related to skills’ development for the sustainable bio-based systems and increased circularity.
  • Deployment of EU-wide actions supporting the acquisition of new skills, as relevant for the sustainable and circular bio-based systems.

Institution providing the funding

European Commission

Size of funding

EUR 172,137,258.88

Conditions

Overview of eligibility criteria

Any legal entity, regardless of its place of establishment, including legal entities from non-associated third countries or international organisations (including international European research organisations) is eligible to participate (whether it is eligible for funding or not), provided that the conditions laid down in the Horizon Europe Regulation have been met, along with any other conditions laid down in the specific call/topic. 

More information on eligibility can be found in Section B - Eligibility of the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023-2025 General Annexes.

Overview of award criteria

In the first stage of a two-stage submission, applicants will be requested to submit only an outline application (which will be evaluated against only two award criteria: ‘Excellence’ and ‘Impact’). Successful applicants will be invited to submit a full application for the second stage (which will be evaluated against the full set of award criteria).

More information on eligibility can be found in Section F - Procedure of the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023-2025 General Annexes.

Procedures

Application procedures

Application forms can be found here: https://www.cbe.europa.eu/open-calls-proposals

Application support available

Application forms can be found here: https://www.cbe.europa.eu/open-calls-proposals

Useful links

Link to funding opportunity

Link to the programme for more info