Circular Economy grants
60 listings tracked right now · page 1 of 2
Circular economy funding has moved from a niche industrial-decarbonization sub-theme to a top-line priority in the EU (Circular Economy Action Plan, Horizon Cluster 6), the UK (DEFRA Resources & Waste Strategy), and a growing list of MDB programmes. The 2024–2026 wave concentrates on textiles, electronics, plastics, and battery materials. Listed below are the open circular economy grant calls in that landscape, taken from each funder's own notice and re-checked on every refresh.
Industrial grants are capital-heavy and correspondingly slow. The recurring large pots are the EU Innovation Fund, the US Industrial Demonstrations Program, and the UK Industrial Energy Transformation Fund, all of which expect a named site, a credible counterfactual for emissions saved, and matched investment already committed. Smaller circular-economy and waste calls come through EU LIFE, national environment agencies and local authorities, where the eligibility is broader and the cheques are far smaller.
This page lists open circular economy grants currently tracked by Raise Lens — 60 of them right now, sorted with the soonest deadline first. Every listing has been classified against the sustainability taxonomy rather than matched on keywords, so what appears here is circular economy work rather than anything whose description happens to mention it.
17 distinct funders are publishing the circular economy grants on this page. Who is funding matters as much as what: eligibility, reporting burden and the realistic timeline to a decision vary far more between funders than between individual calls, which is why the listing names the funder on every opportunity it opens.
Geographic coverage on this page spans SE-ASIA, GLOBAL, EUROPE. Eligibility is usually tied to where the work happens or where the applying organisation is registered, and the two are not always the same — worth checking before investing time in an application.
8 of these close within the next 30 days. Deadlines are taken from the source listing and re-checked on every refresh, but the originating funder remains the authority — always confirm against the official notice before you submit.
EPSRC-Defra Reimagining Circularity: full stage
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
This is a three-year NetworkPlus funding call from EPSRC and Defra to build research capacity and strengthen community capabilities in circular economy, specifically focused on data/metrics or textiles. Eligible applicants are UK research organisations funded by EPSRC.
'Innovate to transform' support for SME's sustainability transition (CSA)
European Commission (Horizon Europe)
This second open call from the FIERCE programme offers financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to advance their sustainability transition through innovation. It targets European SMEs with projects that help them transform their operations and practices toward sustainability.
UNDP Ocean Innovation Challenge, 5th Call: Marine Pollution Reduction, Coastal and Marine Ecosystem restoration and Sustainable Blue Economy
UNDP Ocean Innovation Challenge (funded by Sida)
Funds implementation-ready private sector solutions that reduce marine pollution, restore coastal and marine ecosystems, and advance a sustainable blue economy in Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, or Viet Nam. Open to registered startups, SMEs, companies and social enterprises worldwide, with deliverable-based contracts of up to USD 100,000 per selected innovator.
Total Energies Sustainability Design Award
Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF)
This award recognises outstanding innovation by young Emiratis in sustainable design and architecture that prioritises environmental and social well-being. Applicants should demonstrate creative practice advancing sustainability through design or architectural interventions.
Fourth Co-funded Transnational Call for Proposals of the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP): Building a Sustainable and Innovative Blue Economy: Leveraging Digital Opportunities and Strengthening Resilience
Agence nationale de la recherche (ANR)
This is a transnational research and innovation call supporting 36-month projects that advance a sustainable, resilient blue economy across European maritime basins. Eligible applicants include research institutions, universities, SMEs, and consortia working on ocean sustainability, digital innovation, coastal resilience, and sustainable bioresources.
Fifth Edition of the Transnational Call for Proposals under the Driving Urban Transitions (DUT) European Partnership, in the Field of the City of the Future
Agence nationale de la recherche (ANR)
This is a transnational research and innovation call funding projects that advance urban sustainability transitions across three pathways: positive-energy neighbourhoods, 15-minute cities, and circular urban economies. It targets public authorities, municipalities, businesses, and research teams developing integrated solutions to help European cities meet Green Deal and SDG commitments.
M-ERA.NET 2026/27 Call for Proposals - Materials Science and Engineering for Innovation in Europe
Agence nationale de la recherche (ANR)
M-ERA.NET 2026/27 is a European research and innovation call funding collaborative projects in advanced materials science, with focus on energy storage, energy conversion, and circular economy applications. The call supports academic and industrial research partnerships across Europe and internationally, targeting societal challenges and technological needs aligned with the EU Green Deal and sustainable development objectives.
Mulighetsstudie For Ombruk Og Fleksibilitet
Enova
Enova offers grants covering up to 50% of costs (maximum NOK 500,000) for feasibility studies that identify circular measures such as reuse of building materials and whole buildings, and flexibility measures that reduce new floor area needed, in the early phase of construction projects. It is aimed at Norwegian construction-sector actors considering reuse or life-extension before demolition or renovation decisions.
Accelerating Scale-up and Pre-piloting of Emerging Chemical Technologies (ASPECT)
DOE-GFO
This DOE cooperative agreement funds research, bench-to-pre-pilot development, and pre-pilot testing of technologies that produce chemicals from alternative and waste feedstocks, across four subtopics for different maturity levels. It is aimed at US research institutions, companies, and consortia developing chemical technologies that can move toward market.
Advancing sustainable maintenance and repair measures for existing buildings
European Commission (Horizon Europe)
This Horizon Europe Innovation Actions call funds projects advancing sustainable maintenance and repair of existing buildings, with a per-project award of up to €5,000,000. It is aimed at consortia of research, industry, public and civil society partners working on building renovation and circular approaches in neighbourhoods.
Demonstration of solid biofuel supply and conversion to high efficiency CHP from fully sustainable regional value chains
European Commission (Horizon Europe)
This Horizon Europe call funds demonstration projects converting sustainable regional solid biofuel supply chains into high-efficiency combined heat and power (CHP) systems. It targets consortia developing fully circular, regionally-integrated bioenergy value chains with awards up to €6.75M per project.
FORESTPathways – International Call for the Forest Sector
Swedish Energy Agency
An international call for proposals targeting innovation and development in the forest sector, including bioeconomy applications. Eligible applicants from participating countries can submit projects advancing forestry, sustainable forest management, and forest-based value chains.
EKOO: Circulaire economie
Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO)
RVO's EKOO subsidy funds collaborative R&D projects developing innovative circular products, processes or services, provided the innovation reaches the market within 10 years of project start. It targets Dutch business-research partnerships, with applications open 22 October to 3 December 2026.
Subsidie Omschakeling Plasticverwerkers 2026 (SOPV)
Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO)
This Dutch RVO subsidy helps businesses that process polymers into plastic semi-finished or finished products run production tests to use more bio-based or recycled plastic. Applications are open from 6 October to 15 December 2026.
DEI+: Circular Economy and Large-Scale Biobased Projects
Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO)
RVO's DEI+ subsidy helps Dutch entrepreneurs test circular-economy or low-CO2 innovations in pilot or demonstration projects at scale. Applications are open from 16 June 2026 to 17 December 2026.
Collective Operations for Business Decarbonization
Agence de la transition écologique (ADEME)
ADEME supports collective decarbonization operations bringing together 10+ companies of any size and sector to develop transition strategies, identify emissions-reduction levers, and plan low-carbon investments. Eligible lead entities include associations, banks, investors, federations, cooperatives, technical centres, and large companies supporting their supply chains.
ORMAT Recycling Objectives
Agence de la transition écologique (ADEME)
ADEME's ORMAT programme co-funds studies and investments that boost material recycling, including sorting and preparation of waste, production and use of recycled raw materials, and battery reuse and remanufacturing. It targets French industrial and recycling project developers seeking to reduce raw material use and decarbonise industry.
Biowaste Study
Agence de la transition écologique (ADEME)
ADEME funds preliminary diagnostic and feasibility studies that structure biowaste sorting, valorisation, composting and animal by-product (SPAN) treatment projects before investment. Eligible applicants include waste producers, collection actors and private operators in the biowaste sector, with funding covering up to 80% of study costs.
Green Fund - Territories of Industry in Ecological Transition
Agence de la transition écologique (ADEME)
ADEME's Fonds vert call funds structuring, environmentally ambitious industrial investments that build key value chains for the ecological transition, plus skills-development investments such as training centres and technical platforms. It is open to projects located within a Territoire d'industrie 2023-2027 perimeter and backed by that territory.
Biowaste Management Investment
Agence de la transition écologique (ADEME)
ADEME funds private actors in biowaste collection and treatment, including new or adapted composting platforms, soft-mobility (bike) food-waste collection, depackaging workshops, and facilities receiving category 2 or 3 animal by-products. Funding covers up to 60% of eligible investment costs for private operators.
Waste Management in Overseas Territories and Corsica
Agence de la transition écologique (ADEME)
ADEME funds studies and structuring investments in Corsica and France's overseas territories to improve waste sorting, recovery and treatment, such as recycling centres, composting platforms, RDF/CSR preparation centres, energy recovery and clean-up of illegal dumps. It is aimed at local public and private project owners with a demonstrated territorial interest.
"Methanation" Study
Agence de la transition écologique (ADEME)
ADEME funds up to 70% of feasibility and pre-construction studies for biogas (méthanisation) projects, covering resource assessment, technology choice, biogas valorisation, economic, regulatory and site constraints. It is aimed at French project developers such as farms, industrial food companies, local authorities and wastewater treatment operators.
Circular Economy in Overseas Territories and Corsica
Agence de la transition écologique (ADEME)
ADEME funds studies, awareness actions and investments supporting circular economy projects in France's overseas territories and Corsica, including reuse, repair, recycling, anti-waste and sustainable food practices. Eligible for organisations developing local circular economy initiatives, with co-financing and feasibility studies required for larger investments.
Study and remediation works for the decontamination of a brownfield site
Agence de la transition écologique (ADEME)
ADEME offers financial support for studies (risk diagnostics, use planning, depollution design, lab and field tests) and subsequent depollution or remediation works for reconverting polluted brownfield sites, limited to former ICPE or mining-code sites. It targets project owners and local actors planning brownfield redevelopment in France.
"Sorting Centers" Study
Agence de la transition écologique (ADEME)
ADEME funds a territorial feasibility study that must precede investment applications for waste sorting or preparation centres, covering non-hazardous business waste, bulky waste, and (in overseas territories and Corsica) household packaging. It is aimed at local authorities and operators planning to create, modernise or extend such a centre, with funding of up to 80% of study cost capped at €50,000.
"Functional Economy" Study
Agence de la transition écologique (ADEME)
ADEME funds up to 80% of the cost of a study that helps French companies design a functional-economy offer, shifting from selling products to providing usage-based services. It targets businesses (and local authorities) that want to restructure their business model, partnerships and revenue streams around a more durable, less material-intensive service.
"Sorting Centre" Investment
Agence de la transition écologique (ADEME)
ADEME offers financial support for feasibility or territorial studies and for investments to create, extend or modernise waste sorting centres, including commercial waste, bulky waste, household packaging (DROM-COM and Corsica), CSR preparation centres (DROM-COM and Corsica) and professional waste recovery sites. It is aimed at project owners in France seeking to build sorting infrastructure across the territory.
Investissement "Ecoconception"
Agence de la transition écologique (ADEME)
ADEME's Investissement Écoconception offers grants of 15% to 60% of eligible costs, capped at €300,000 per project, for French companies investing in eco-designed products or services that follow a diagnostic. It also covers organic (AB) or HVE level 3 food product ranges and certain breakthrough product-service innovations.
Study on reuse, reemployment and repair
Agence de la transition écologique (ADEME)
ADEME co-funds up to 80% of feasibility studies, territorial diagnostics and assistance-to-project-owner missions for reuse, repurposing and repair activities such as recycling centres, repair workshops, upcycling ateliers and repair cafés. It targets French companies and organisations developing circular-economy reuse or repair projects.
Reuse, Reemployment, and Repair Investment
Agence de la transition écologique (ADEME)
ADEME's Reuse, Reemployment and Repair Investment subsidises equipment for preservative collection, storage, flow traceability, repair and refurbishment of objects, for projects that already have a feasibility study. It targets French organisations running reuse or repair projects consistent with their territorial circular-economy strategy.
Packaging Reuse Grants
Agence de la transition écologique (ADEME)
ADEME's Packaging Reuse Grants co-fund feasibility studies, diagnostics, small-scale experiments and reuse equipment so organisations can shift from single-use plastic packaging to reuse models. It is aimed at French businesses and organisations in supply chains seeking to structure circular packaging projects.
Eco-design Study
Agence de la transition écologique (ADEME)
ADEME funds up to 80% of the cost of an eco-design study that helps companies assess and reduce the life-cycle environmental impacts of their products, processes or services. It is aimed at French organisations looking to design lower-impact offers before launching or redesigning them.
Council grant in United Kingdom: Advancing solutions for critical mineral production and recycling, up to $381K, closes 7 Jan 2027
Council
This grant funds early-stage research to develop and validate innovative solutions for extracting, processing, recovering, and recycling critical minerals. Applicants must be based at UK research organisations eligible for UKRI funding.
Advancing solutions for critical mineral production and recycling
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
This grant funds pump-priming research to explore, test and validate disruptive solutions for critical mineral extraction, processing, recovery, recycling and re-mining. Applicants must be based at UK research organisations eligible for UKRI funding.
Grant in the EU and EUROPE: Sustainable Theatre: Collaboration & Development Grants, up to $4,950, closes 15 Jan 2027
organisation
Grants for member theatres of a European theatre network developing collaborative projects that advance climate neutrality across buildings, productions, or operations, using a sector green-practice handbook as guidance. Eligible applicants are European theatres that are members of a pan-European theatre network.
Circular innovative advanced materials: facilitating the transition from design to markets (RIA) (Innovative Advanced Materials for the EU and Made in Europe partnerships)
European Commission (Horizon Europe)
This Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action funds consortia developing circular advanced materials and moving them from design to market, under the Innovative Advanced Materials for the EU and Made in Europe partnerships. It is aimed at research organisations, universities, and industrial partners, with a per-project award of €5M to €6.5M.
Factory processes and automation for de- and re-manufacturing (RIA) (Made in Europe partnership)
European Commission (Horizon Europe)
This Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action funds research on factory processes and automation for de-manufacturing and re-manufacturing, under the Made in Europe partnership. It is aimed at consortia of research institutions, universities, and industrial firms, with awards of €5M–€6.5M per project.
Textile circularity through advanced processing and manufacturing technologies and system approaches (IA) (Textiles for the Future partnership)
European Commission (Horizon Europe)
Horizon Europe Innovation Actions funding advanced processing and manufacturing technologies and system approaches that advance textile circularity, under the Textiles for the Future partnership. Aimed at consortia of industry, research and innovation organisations across Europe, with per-project awards of €4M to €6M.
Strategic Integrated Projects – Environment
European Commission (EC) - LIFE
The EC LIFE Strategic Integrated Projects – Environment call funds large-scale, multi-year environmental and climate projects across the EU, supporting integrated approaches to biodiversity, circular economy, climate adaptation, and pollution reduction. Eligible applicants include public authorities, NGOs, research institutions, and private entities working on coordinated environmental solutions.
Strategic Integrated Projects – Climate Action
European Commission (EC) - LIFE
This European Commission LIFE programme call funds strategic integrated projects that advance climate action across mitigation, adaptation, and nature protection. It is open to public and private organizations, research institutions, and consortia working on climate and environmental solutions in EU member states and associated countries.
University grant in worldwide: Prize for the Environment, closes 23 Mar 2027
University
A global prize for individuals, organisations, and community groups implementing innovative solutions to major environmental challenges. Winners receive prize funds to support project development and implementation, with the requirement to host a student intern from a Scottish university.
STUDY: Gasification of Residual Streams
Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO)
This RVO subsidy supports industrial entrepreneurs working with partners to test or demonstrate innovative or fully developed technologies for gasifying residual streams. Applications are accepted from 18 May 2026 through 31 March 2027.
HORIZON EUROPE - Call 01 - Single-Stage - 2027
Commission européenne
Horizon Europe Cluster 6 call (2027) funding research and innovation on biodiversity, circular bio-based economy, and zero pollution, with each topic tied to a specific budget. It is aimed at consortia of research organisations, universities, companies and other eligible European and associated-country applicants.
Horizon Europe - Cluster 6 Food, bio-economy, natural resources, agriculture and environment
Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO)
Horizon Europe Cluster 6 is an EU co-funded research and innovation programme for researchers, universities, industry and NGOs developing solutions that reduce pressure on soil, air, water, biodiversity and natural resources. Calls are administered in the Netherlands by RVO and submission windows vary by call.
Pre-announcement: Third call for projects under the European FutureFoodS partnership
Agence nationale de la recherche (ANR)
FutureFoodS is a Horizon Europe co-funded partnership call supporting research and innovation projects that advance sustainable, resilient, and equitable food systems in Europe, with emphasis on post-harvest food, green and digital transitions, and alignment with the EU Green Deal and Farm-to-Fork strategy. The call targets complex food-system challenges including climate adaptation, food waste, soil health, biodiversity, nutrition, and socio-economic equity across production, processing, distribution, and consumption.
Hoogwaardige mestverwerking (HMV)
Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO)
The HMV subsidy co-finances 40% of eligible costs for building or converting installations that process livestock manure into higher-value recycled products. It is aimed at businesses registered with RVO as intermediary companies, such as manure transporters or processors.
Raw Material Partnership: RAMP Joint Call 2026 – 23 June 2026
Energimyndigheten (Swedish Energy Agency)
A transnational RAMP Joint Call under the Critical Raw Materials Partnership, co-funded by Energimyndigheten and Vinnova, that supports research and innovation on secure, sustainable raw material supply, processing, and recycling across the value chain. It is aimed at consortia of research institutions, companies, and other stakeholders that submit a two-stage pre-proposal and full application.
Environmental Sustainability
NSF
NSF's Environmental Sustainability program funds engineering research that balances ecological protection with economic stability across circular bioeconomy, industrial ecology, green engineering, ecological engineering, and earth systems engineering. It is aimed at U.S. university-led research teams that must include at least one graduate student.