The Info Days will present the Research and Innovation topics of the Horizon Europe Cluster 6 (Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment) Work Programme 2023 and will give the opportunity to prospective applicants to learn more about funding opportunities.

On 14 December at 9:00-12:30 CET, the session will present Cluster 6 topics in Destination 3 - Circular economy and bioeconomy sectors.

Destination 3 topics target:

• climate-neutrality,
• zero pollution,
• fair and just circular and bioeconomy transitions,

covering safe integrated circular solutions at territorial and sectoral levels for important material flows and product value chains, such as:

• the textile,
• electronics,
• chemicals,
• packaging,
• tourism,
• plastics and
• construction, as well as
• key bioeconomy sectors such as:
  • sustainable bio-based systems,
  • sustainable forestry,
  • small-scale rural bio-based solutions,
  • environmental services and
  • aquatic (including marine and freshwater) value chains.

With this approach, the destination supports the European Green Deal, and in particular European initiatives such as:

• Circular Economy Action Plan,
• Strategy on adaptation to climate change,
• Zero pollution action plan, with the chemicals strategy for sustainability and the new approach for a sustainable blue economy,
• Forest Strategy,
• Climate law targeting climate-neutrality by 2050 and
• AFOLU (Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use) climate neutrality by 2035, which supports increased focus on bio-based circular consumption, as part of the Fit for 55 package and the new European Bauhaus initiative.

Furthermore, the Horizon Europe work programme for 2023-2024 will play a critical role in implementing the EU strategy for sustainable textiles, and support other initiatives including:

• the Industrial Strategy,
• the EU chemicals strategy for sustainability,
• the SME Strategy,
• the 2018 Bioeconomy Strategy,
• the communication on sustainable carbon cycles,
• the sustainable blue economy approach and its offshoot initiatives,
• the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030,
• the Farm to Fork Strategy,
• the upcoming EU agenda for tourism,
• the plastics strategy and the action plan on critical raw materials.

The event will be followed by a brokerage event on 19 December to bring together potential applicants and stakeholders of the new Research & Innovation programme. Circular economy stakeholders may also be interested in other thematic topics. For a detailed agenda, participation information and practical details, visit the event website.