Small and medium-sized enterprises are playing a central role in Europe’s transition to a circular bioeconomy, according to new data from the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU).
SMEs account for 38% of participants in CBE JU-funded projects and have received around €508 million in funding, representing 35% of the programme’s total budget. One in four projects is coordinated by an SME, reflecting the growing capacity of smaller firms to lead complex, cross-border innovation initiatives.
SME interest in the programme is also growing. They represented 34% of applicants to the 2025 call for proposals, with 45% of all applicants being newcomers to the programme.
“The strong SME interest in CBE JU calls confirms that our funding continues to meet their needs for innovation, growth and access to collaborative European value chains,” said Executive Director Nicoló Giacomuzzi-Moore.
CBE JU-backed projects span a wide range of bio-based innovations. In Germany, Papair GmbH is developing a paper-based alternative to plastic bubble wrap using cellulose and nanocellulose fibre bonding technology. In Belgium, start-up Amphistar is converting agricultural and food waste into consumer product ingredients, with cleaning brand Ecover trialling the outputs in a limited-edition product line. In Spain, NATAC Biotech is transforming a facility in Extremadura into a biorefinery capable of processing up to 20,000 tonnes of agricultural sidestreams and medicinal plants per year, with inauguration planned for September 2026. In Norway, WAI Environmental Solutions is developing a carbon-negative process that converts forest residues into single-cell proteins for aquaculture feed while also producing biochar. Greek SME Solmeyea, meanwhile, is scaling a microalgae biorefinery to produce proteins, oils, pigments and starch for food and packaging applications.
CBE JU is a €2 billion public-private partnership between the European Union and the Bio-based Industries Consortium, with €1.4 billion invested across 243 projects to date.
