Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) is a European Union public–private partnership that supports the development of a sustainable, circular bio-based economy. Established under Horizon Europe and succeeding the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU), it is jointly managed by the European Commission and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC). The programme is headquartered in Brussels and operates through competitive calls for proposals.
CBE JU funds research, demonstration, and flagship-scale projects that convert sustainably sourced biomass and biogenic waste into bio-based chemicals, materials, and products. Its activities span the creation and scale-up of biorefineries, the valorisation of agricultural, forestry, aquatic, and municipal feedstocks, and the integration of industrial symbiosis across value chains. The initiative emphasises environmental and social sustainability, including lifecycle assessment, traceability, and standards, and brings together companies, SMEs, academia, and regions to accelerate industrial deployment. For the chemical industry, CBE JU serves as a key instrument to advance bio-based alternatives, reduce fossil dependence, and enable new circular value chains in Europe.
Official website: cbe.europa.eu
