Circular Economy grants — page 2
658 listings tracked right now · page 2 of 14
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 — 658 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.
The funders publishing circular economy grants here include USDA-FS, Launchpad 2026, Agence de la transition écologique (ADEME), among 2 others. 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.
Geographic coverage on this page spans GLOBAL, EUROPE, AFRICA, WEST-AFRICA, LATAM. 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.
3 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.
2026 National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost Share Grant Program
••••• organisation
This funder grant funds community forestry projects that convert wood waste from pruning, removals, and storm events into marketable products (lumber, furniture, biochar, etc.), strengthening local economies and reducing disposal costs. Eligible applicants are communities and organizations with existing forestry plans, industry partnerships, and demonstrated economic, environmental, or workforce benefits.
Global Competition for Climate and Environmental Business Ideas 2026
••••• organisation
ClimateLaunchpad Global Competition 2026 is the world's largest green business ideas competition offering free boot camps, coaching, and mentorship to climate-focused startup founders across 51 countries. Participants progress through national, regional, and global finals to develop and validate their climate innovation business models.
AMI Low-tech 2026
••••• Agency
This is a second-phase call for financial support and accompaniment of low-tech product, process, service, and practice development in Centre-Val-de-Loire, France, targeting winners of the first selection phase. It funds feasibility studies, implementation, and dissemination of low-tech approaches across three priority axes: conceptualization, deployment, and knowledge transfer.
EU support to stakeholders to improve measurement of food waste and help implement food waste prevention in their operations and organisation - 2026-2027
••••• organisation
This EU grant supports stakeholders in measuring food waste and implementing prevention strategies within their operations and organisations. It targets food system actors seeking to reduce waste through improved measurement and operational change.
Reimagining Circularity: full stage
••••• Council
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)
••••• organisation
This is a financial support programme for SMEs undergoing sustainability transitions, part of the FIERCE 2nd Open Call. The grant funds innovation projects that help small and medium-sized enterprises adopt sustainable practices and business models.
Planning and Design for Material Reuse and Component Flexibility
••••• organisation
The funder supports planning and design costs for material reuse and component flexibility in concrete building projects to advance circular construction practices. The grant funds extra work associated with reuse initiatives—including material sourcing, design adjustments, logistics, and documentation—to reduce embodied carbon and scale circular building markets.
Feasibility Study for Reuse and Flexibility
••••• organisation
The funder supports feasibility studies to identify circular economy measures and their climate/resource impacts in early-phase building projects, focusing on reuse of buildings and materials and flexible design to reduce new construction. The programme targets the building and real estate sector in Norway to reduce material-related emissions and construction waste.
Accelerating Scale-up and Pre-piloting of Emerging Chemical Technologies (ASPECT)
••••• organisation
ASPECT funds research, development, and pre-pilot testing of innovative technologies that produce chemicals from alternative and waste feedstocks, with entry points for technologies at varying stages of maturity from early R&D through integrated pre-pilot facility design and construction. The program targets companies, research institutions, and consortia developing chemical production technologies ready to scale toward commercial viability.
Innovative solutions for the sustainable and beautiful use of vertical space
••••• organisation
This Horizon Europe call funds innovative solutions for sustainable and beautiful vertical space design, targeting architectural and building interventions that integrate biodiversity, environmental sustainability, and community participation. It supports research and innovation projects led by consortia across EU member states and associated countries.
Advancing sustainable maintenance and repair measures for existing buildings
••••• organisation
This grant funds innovation projects advancing sustainable maintenance and repair practices for existing buildings, with awards up to €5 million per project. It targets consortia and organizations working on circular economy, participatory approaches, and neighbourhood regeneration across the EU.
Approaches to reuse vacant, obsolete or underutilised spaces
••••• organisation
This Horizon Europe call funds innovative approaches to repurposing vacant, obsolete, or underutilised spaces in neighbourhoods, with a focus on sustainability, social inclusion, and community engagement. Projects can receive up to €4.5 million and should demonstrate environmental, economic, and societal benefits through participatory design and renovation.
Demonstration of solid biofuel supply and conversion to high efficiency CHP from fully sustainable regional value chains
••••• organisation
This Horizon Europe call funds demonstration projects converting sustainable solid biofuels into high-efficiency combined heat and power (CHP) through regional supply chains. It targets consortia developing end-to-end biofuel value chains with emphasis on sustainability and efficiency.
Forest Joint Call 2026
••••• organisation
This is a European research and innovation call supporting the transition to sustainable forest management and circular timber-based bioeconomy across four thematic areas: climate-resilient forests, adaptive management, wood products, and value chains. It funds research institutions, universities, and consortia across 28 countries with over EUR 40 million in total funding.
Climate-smart use of wood in the construction sector to support the New European Bauhaus
••••• organisation
This grant supports climate-smart wood construction solutions aligned with the New European Bauhaus initiative. Eligible applicants can develop and deploy innovative approaches to sustainable wood use in the building sector to reduce embodied carbon and advance circular construction practices.
Green Fund – Industrial Territories in Ecological Transition
••••• Agency
This grant funds industrial investment projects in ecological transition, including manufacturing facilities for strategic green value chains (Track 1) and workforce development infrastructure like training centers (Track 2). Eligible projects must be located within designated Industrial Territories in France and aligned with local industrial strategies.
Studies for the creation, expansion or modernization of sorting centers for economic waste and waste facilities for professionals
••••• Agency
This grant funds the creation, expansion, and modernization of sorting centers and waste management facilities for professional/commercial waste streams in France. It supports circular-economy infrastructure development by enabling waste operators and businesses to build or upgrade sorting and processing capacity.
Electric Construction Equipment 2026 – CEE E-Trans Program
••••• Agency
This grant funds the acquisition, retrofit, and deployment of battery-electric construction equipment and associated charging infrastructure in France. It targets construction sector players seeking to transition to zero-emission equipment and build out the necessary charging ecosystem.
Tanzania National Plastic Action Plan (TZ-NPAP)
••••• Programme
This grant funds the development and implementation of Tanzania's National Plastic Action Plan to reduce plastic pollution and advance circular economy and biosphere protection goals. It supports organizations working on plastic waste reduction, environmental management, and biodiversity conservation in Tanzania.
Tanzania National Plastic Action Plan (TZ-NPAP)
••••• Programme
The Tanzania National Plastic Action Plan is a UNDP-funded initiative partnering with the World Economic Forum's Global Plastic Action Partnership to tackle plastic pollution through circular economy solutions. It brings together governments, businesses, civil society, and innovators to address plastic pollution in rivers, deltas, and oceans via policy reform, finance unlocking, behavior change, innovation, metrics harmonization, and inclusive engagement.
Promotion of Environmental Protection Investments in Private and Public Industry (PPSI II)
••••• Ministry
This grant funds environmental protection investments by private and public industrial enterprises in Egypt, supporting pollution reduction, environmental standard compliance, and worker safety improvements. SMEs receive priority access through a pure grant facility, with co-financing from EU, EIB, and AFD as part of the broader Egyptian Pollution Abatement Program III.
PROSPECT Program: Providing Opportunities for Specialized Education in Critical Technologies
••••• organisation
The PROSPECT Program provides up to $100 million in funding to develop educational pathways and workforce training across the critical minerals and materials supply chain, from extraction through recycling. It targets collaborative partnerships among academia, industry, national laboratories, and other stakeholders to build a skilled talent pipeline supporting U.S. competitiveness in critical technologies.
Conservation of Forests in the Maya Biosphere Reserve
••••• Agency
This grant funds strengthening community forest management in Guatemala's Maya Biosphere Reserve through digital traceability systems and productive innovation, improving legal market access and sustainable forest governance. It targets indigenous and community forest operators seeking to increase productivity, energy efficiency, and international market positioning while maintaining conservation outcomes.
Circular innovative advanced materials: facilitating the transition from design to markets (RIA) (Innovative Advanced Materials for the EU and Made in Europe partnerships)
••••• organisation
This Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action funds development and commercialisation of circular, advanced materials designed for sustainability and market transition. It targets consortia advancing material innovation from lab to market deployment, with emphasis on circular-economy principles and EU industrial competitiveness.
Factory processes and automation for de- and re-manufacturing (RIA) (Made in Europe partnership)
••••• organisation
This Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action funds factory automation, de-manufacturing, and re-manufacturing processes to advance circular economy and industrial sustainability. It targets consortia developing advanced manufacturing technologies, digital tools, and automation solutions for product recovery and resource efficiency.
Fast Track to Innovation for breakthroughs in the Chemical Industry Action Plan (Research and Innovation Action)
••••• organisation
This Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action funds breakthrough innovations in the chemical industry, with a focus on digital technologies and AI-driven solutions to advance sustainable chemical processes and products. Eligible applicants include research institutions, universities, SMEs, and large companies working on chemistry-related innovation aligned with the EU's industrial and digital agendas.
Textile circularity through advanced processing and manufacturing technologies and system approaches (IA) (Textiles for the Future partnership)
••••• organisation
This Horizon Europe Innovation Action funds advanced processing, manufacturing technologies, and system approaches to enable circular economy models in the textile industry. It targets consortia developing scalable solutions for textile waste reduction, reuse, and recycling through technological innovation.
Technologies for innovative processing of raw materials (IA)
••••• organisation
This Horizon Europe Innovation Action funds development and deployment of innovative technologies for processing raw materials more sustainably and efficiently. It targets consortia (industry, research, SMEs) across the EU seeking to advance circular-economy and low-carbon materials solutions.
Expert network on Critical raw materials (CSA)
••••• organisation
This is a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) that establishes an expert network focused on critical raw materials, supporting research and innovation in the materials and production sector. The grant funds networking, coordination, and knowledge-sharing activities to advance Europe's strategic autonomy in critical raw materials supply chains.
Innovative advanced materials and new production processes – reducing dependencies on Critical and Strategic Raw Materials (IA)
••••• organisation
This Horizon Europe Innovation Action funds development of advanced materials and new production processes that reduce dependency on critical and strategic raw materials, supporting the EU's industrial sovereignty and circular economy goals. Eligible consortia can receive €6–7.5 million per project to advance materials innovation aligned with the Processes4Planet and Innovative Advanced Materials for the EU partnerships.
Development of technological building blocks and services by SMEs for industrial decarbonization (IBaC SME)
••••• Agency
This call funds SMEs developing technological solutions and services to help industrial sectors reduce their carbon emissions and transition to low-carbon processes. It targets early-stage technology providers in France working on industrial decarbonization pathways.
RAMP 2026 - Raw Materials Partnership
••••• Agency
RAMP 2026 is a transnational research and innovation call supporting the development and deployment of technologies, processes, and solutions for critical raw materials extraction, processing, recycling, and substitution. It targets research institutions, companies, and consortia across Europe working to secure supply chains and reduce dependence on critical raw materials through innovation.
First Transnational Call for Projects of the European Partnership on Raw Materials – RAMP – 2026 Call
••••• Agency
This is a transnational joint call for research and innovation projects addressing raw materials supply chains, circular economy, and sustainable resource management across 27 countries with €40M+ in committed funding. Projects must advance resilient primary sourcing, secondary/recycled materials, efficient design/production, circular technology, and value-chain innovation.
Raw Material Partnership: RAMP Joint Call 2026
••••• Agency
This transnational joint call funds research and innovation projects across the raw materials value chain—from extraction to recycling—to support Europe's green and digital transition through sustainable supply, resource efficiency, and circular economy implementation. Eligible projects address six thematic areas including resilient primary sourcing, secondary material utilization, efficient design, circularity barriers, circular economy deployment, and value-chain analysis methods.
Strategic Integrated Projects – Environment
••••• Commission
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
••••• Commission
This is a European Commission LIFE programme call for Strategic Integrated Projects focused on climate action, supporting large-scale, multi-country initiatives that deliver measurable climate mitigation and adaptation outcomes. Eligible applicants include public authorities, NGOs, research institutions, and private entities working on integrated climate solutions across the EU and associated countries.
Ecosystem Solutions for Sustainable Adaptation
••••• organisation
This grant funds nature-based climate adaptation solutions in three West African protected areas (Mauritania, Gambia, Senegal), with a focus on strengthening environmental skills, developing adaptation plans, and supporting circular-economy value chains led by women and youth. Direct beneficiaries include approximately 33,000 people across the three countries.
Improvement of Adaptability, Flexibility and Efficiency of Existing Recycling Processes (BATT4EU Partnership)
••••• organisation
This Horizon Europe call funds innovation actions to improve the adaptability, flexibility, and efficiency of battery recycling processes under the BATT4EU Partnership. It targets consortia developing advanced recycling technologies and digital solutions to support the circular economy for battery materials.
Deploying circular systemic solutions through living labs in cities and regions (Circular Cities and Regions Initiative topic)
••••• organisation
This Horizon Europe call funds the deployment of circular economy solutions through living labs in cities and regions, supporting systemic innovation in circular business models and resource efficiency. It targets cities, regions, and consortia implementing circular systemic change with up to €5,000,000 per project.
Open topic: Using the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative to strengthen urban manufacturing in support of the Clean Industrial Deal
••••• organisation
This Horizon Europe call funds projects that use the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative to strengthen urban manufacturing and support the Clean Industrial Deal, with a focus on circular economy, sustainable production, and resource efficiency. Eligible applicants include research institutions, universities, SMEs, large companies, and consortia working on circular design, ecodesign, waste management, and new sustainable business models in urban industrial contexts.
Sustainable aircraft circular design and additive manufacturing, towards a climate neutral aviation
••••• organisation
This Horizon Europe research and innovation call funds projects developing sustainable aircraft design using circular economy principles and additive manufacturing to advance climate-neutral aviation. It targets consortia of research institutions, industry, and innovators working on next-generation aircraft technologies and manufacturing processes.
Data-driven circular economy for e-mobility ecosystem
••••• organisation
This Horizon Europe Innovation Action funds data-driven circular economy solutions for the e-mobility ecosystem, supporting the transition to sustainable electric mobility through digital tools, AI, and circular business models. Eligible applicants include research institutions, companies, and consortia across EU member states and associated countries.
International dimension of the circular bio-based economy: seeking win-win opportunities
••••• organisation
This Horizon Europe call funds international research and innovation projects advancing the circular bio-based economy, with emphasis on win-win partnerships between developed and developing regions. Eligible applicants include universities, research institutions, SMEs, large companies, and consortia working on bioeconomy governance, biomass trade, biorefining, and fair transition pathways.
Integrating circularity in LCA-based modelling frameworks for renovation of buildings
••••• organisation
This Horizon Europe call funds research and innovation projects integrating circular economy principles into life-cycle assessment (LCA) modelling frameworks for building renovation. It targets consortia developing tools, methods, and demonstration projects to reduce embodied carbon and material waste in the built environment.
Green, circular and resilient harbours
••••• organisation
This grant funds projects to develop green, circular, and resilient harbour infrastructure and operations, supporting the EU's Ocean and Waters Mission. Eligible applicants include port authorities, maritime operators, research institutions, and consortia working on sustainable port transformation, coastal adaptation, and marine ecosystem restoration.
Circularity of seafood supply chain
••••• organisation
This Horizon Europe Innovation Action funds projects advancing circular economy principles in seafood supply chains, including aquaculture, fisheries, processing, and waste valorization. It targets consortia developing bioproducts, biomaterials, and systemic circularity solutions aligned with the EU's Restore our Ocean and Waters Mission.
Improving biomass flows for a sustainable and circular bioeconomy
••••• organisation
This Horizon Europe call funds research and innovation projects to improve biomass resource flows and develop circular bioeconomy solutions, supporting sustainable use of biological materials across value chains. Eligible applicants include universities, research institutions, SMEs, large companies, and consortia across EU member states and associated countries.
Innovative circular solutions for end-of-life footwear through collection, sorting and recycling
••••• organisation
This Horizon Europe call funds innovative circular economy solutions for end-of-life footwear, including collection, sorting, recycling, and reuse infrastructure to address footwear waste and microplastics. It targets consortia of companies, SMEs, research institutions, and other organizations developing scalable, circular business models and digital product passports for the footwear sector.