The first Open Call of the European Circular Innovation Valley (ECIV) has successfully demonstrated the strong interest and engagement of European stakeholders in advancing the circular economy. With high-quality proposals and solid interregional collaboration, this first milestone sets the stage for future opportunities through Open Call 2 and the upcoming Experimentation Fund.
Strong engagement from the circular innovation ecosystem
Launched on 22 December 2025 and closed on 16 March 2026, ECIV Open Call 1 aimed to support interregional innovation projects at advanced technology readiness levels (TRL 6–8), addressing key circular economy value chains.
Participants came from ECIV regions Navarra, Northern Netherlands, North-Middle Sweden, Normandy, and Scotland, fostering meaningful collaboration across ECIV territories.
The call attracted significant interest:
- 21 proposals submitted, 4 projects approved for funding
- Over 117 organizations applied, 25 were approved for grant agreement
- €4.7 million has been allocated out of a total €9.1 million available budget, representing 52% of the funding mobilised through ECIV Open Call 1
- The average funding per project is around €1.2 million
- All four innovation quadruple helix categories are represented: academia, industry, government, and civil society
Open Call 1 Results: Four high-impact projects selected
The approved projects cover a diverse set of sectors and innovation approaches, notably industrial symbiosis, resource efficiency, waste reduction, and circular design. Their objectives are aligned with ECIV key challenges in water and wastewater management, circular and sustainable packaging, and electrical and electronic equipment.
Throughout their implementation, due consideration will be given to their integration into the evolving innovation ecosystem.
A robust and transparent selection process
The evaluation and selection process followed strict principles of transparency, equal treatment and impartiality, ensuring fairness and quality throughout the process.
Key features included:
- High-quality evaluations, based on clear criteria and validated through multiple review levels (independent experts, ECIV Call Steering Committee, consensus meetings)
- Clearly defined evaluation criteria (impact, excellence, quality of implementation)
- Final validation by ECIV Open Call 1 governance bodies and the DG Research and Innovation from the European Commission and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA)
With a 19% success rate, the call reflects both the high level of competition and the strong quality of submitted proposals.
The Open Call 1 Transparency Report is available in the Resources section under Guidelines for Applicants.
Looking ahead: access ECIV Dancefloor for Open Call 2 and the Experimentation Fund
Building on the success of Open Call 1, ECIV is preparing the next funding opportunities to further accelerate circular innovation. We encourage interested organisations to make effective use of the matchmaking platform and take part in ECIV dancefloor submission groups to build strong consortia.
Along with Open Call 2, the Experimentation Fund will provide complementary support for more exploratory and early-stage initiatives, helping to broaden participation, particularly among SMEs and emerging innovators.
Our European Circular Innovation Valley remains committed to supporting project holders throughout their journey within the ecosystem, fostering collaboration, idea development and access to future funding opportunities. This shapes a dynamic European space for cooperation, accelerating the transition to a circular economy.
Stay tuned for more information on upcoming opportunities.
