C4B Open Call: helping circular bioeconomy ideas become real-world pilot projects

Through C4B, PNO is supporting organizations across Europe in testing fair, sustainable and circular bio-based business models in real business settings.

Europe’s transition towards a circular bioeconomy depends on more than technological innovation. It requires new business models, stronger collaboration across value chains starting from primary producers, and practical ways to turn promising ideas into real market opportunities. 

This is the focus of C4B, Circular Bio-Based Business Models, a European project designed to support the creation of high-value bio-based products in integrated value chains. 

The project works on fair, scalable and replicable business models that strengthen cooperation between farmers, foresters, industry and other bioeconomy stakeholders, helping ensure that the value generated by innovation is shared more fairly across the chain. 

Now, through the C4B Open Call for Pilot Projects, organizations have the opportunity to test and validate circular bio-based business models in real business settings. 

Why circular bio-based business models matter

The bioeconomy has a key role to play in Europe’s transition towards more sustainable production and consumption models. However, many circular bio-based solutions still struggle to move from concept to implementation. 

A strong technical idea is not always enough. Organizations also need to prove that their business model is feasible, scalable, replicable and economically viable. 

C4B addresses this challenge by focusing not only on innovation, but also on the business models and value-sharing mechanisms that can make circular bioeconomy solutions work in practice. 

What the C4B Open Call supports

The C4B Open Call will support pilot projects that demonstrate the applicability, scalability and replicability of circular bio-based business models in different business settings and geographical areas. 

Selected organizations will be able to adapt C4B business models to their own business cases and test them in real-world conditions. 

The call may be especially relevant for: 

• Primary producers
• SMEs and startups
• Research organizations and technology centers
• Bioeconomy companies
• Circular economy innovators
• Agri-food and forestry value chain actors
• Biomass valorisation players
• Clusters, associations and innovation intermediaries 

The objective is to help circular bioeconomy solutions move closer to implementation while supporting fairer and more sustainable value chains across Europe. 

Our role in C4B

Through C4B, we contribute to a European initiative that connects funding, expertise, project coordination and stakeholder engagement to support circular bioeconomy innovation. 

Our role is aligned with what we do across Europe: helping organizations access funding, build strong projects and turn ambitious ideas into practical results. 

By supporting C4B, we are helping circular bioeconomy innovators move from concept to real-world pilot implementation, while contributing to the development of fairer, more sustainable and more competitive bio-based value chains. 

Key dates

Opening date: 1 June 2026
Deadline: 14 August 2026, 17:00 CET 

Learn more about C4B

To discover more about the project and the C4B Open Call, visit the official C4B website: https://www.c4b-project.eu/