A ready-to-go consortia is looking for a Japanese partner to complete their proposal for the Horizon Europe call “Advancing the European bio-based innovation enabled by biotechnology and biomanufacturing concepts.” HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-07 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/horizon-cl6-2026-01-circbio-07

The German SME GREEN-RIDE aims to establish an integrated value chain for biotechnology-enabled, bio-based, functional, and circular automotive interior materials. The project brings together expertise in biotechnology and protein/peptide engineering, bio-based polymers, PEF textiles, bio-based polyurethane systems, material formulation and processing, pilot-scale upscaling, biotechnology-enabled recycling, circular material recovery and reintegration, automotive interior manufacturing, OEM validation, and sustainability and circularity assessment. 

Here are the details on a suitable Japanese partner profile:

It would preferably an industrial company, SME, research or technology organization, or applied research institute with expertise and existing technologies in one or more of the following areas:

- bio-based, renewable, waste-derived or circular flexible materials for automotive interiors;

- sustainable artificial leather or leather-alternative materials;

- flexible materials produced from agricultural residues, food-processing side streams, biomass or other renewable resources;

- bio-based or circular PVC and related polymer materials derived partly or fully from renewable, waste or other non-fossil feedstocks;

- bio-based or circular polymer films, sheets and surface materials;

- sustainable coated textiles and upholstery materials;

- processing and manufacturing of flexible surface materials for automotive seats, door panels, instrument panels or other interior applications.

An example of the type of material concept the consortium consider relevant is the production of leather-alternative or flexible surface materials from agricultural or food-industry residues, such as olive-processing waste. However, the consortium is open to other innovative Japanese technologies based on renewable resources, biological feedstocks, industrial side streams, recycled materials or circular material concepts. Call is a RIA targeting TRL 4-5. 

It is desirable that the selected organization should contribute scientifically and technically rather than participating exclusively as a material supplier. Its envisaged contribution should ideally include the provision and adaptation of its material platform, technical collaboration with the GREEN-RIDE biotechnology and material-processing partners, participation in the optimization and validation of the developed materials, and contribution to the assessment of future exploitation and industrial uptake opportunities.

Although the call application deadline is 17-09-2026 any expression of interest from Japanese entities should be sent by the 1 September. 

本件についての詳細は、日欧産業協力センター（info-jp@een-japan.eu）までご連絡ください。