Funding opportunity

Green ERA-Hub: biomass production and utilisation (pre-proposal)

• Opportunity status: Open
• Funders: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
• Co-funders: Belgium’s Fund for Scientific Research (F.R.S.-FNRS), Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Republic of Srpska (MAFWMRS), Germany’s Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Regional Identity (BMELH), Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE), Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt (BMFTR), UK’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and Agriculture and Food Development Authority (TEAGASC), Latvian Academy of Sciences (LAS), Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR), Uruguay’s Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria (INIA-UY)
• Funding type: Grant
• Total fund: £2,000,000
• Publication date: 29 September 2025
• Opening date: 29 September 2025 9:00am UK time
• Closing date: 27 November 2025 4:00pm UK time

Apply for funding to support research into sustainable production and utilisation of biomass.

BBSRC will support international collaborations in biotechnological applications to improve the utilisation of biomass (Topic B). Proposals must involve teams from the UK and at least two eligible partners requesting funding from at least two different member countries who contribute funds to the call.

Participating research organisations will receive funding from their national agencies under applicable legal terms and conditions. Projects can cost up to a maximum of £812,500 FEC, with BBSRC funding 80%.

Project durations can range from 24 to 36 months.

Who can apply

To lead a project, you must be based at an eligible organisation. Check if your organisation is eligible.

For full details, visit Eligibility as an individual.

Who is eligible to apply

Standard eligibility criteria apply to this funding opportunity, applicants in the UK must meet the BBSRC eligibility requirements.

Institutions and researchers normally eligible for our funding include, but are not limited to:

• higher education institutions (HEIs)
• research council institutes (RCIs)
• approved independent research organisations (IROs)
• public sector research establishments (PSREs)

Please check the UK funders regulations in the Green ERA-Hub (GEH) call documents on the Green ERA-Hub submission portal for additional information.

Applications must include a minimum of three eligible partners asking for funding from three different countries, at least two from the listed, participating EU member states or associated countries.

Applicants in Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, and Uruguay must ensure that they meet the eligibility requirements as specified by the participating funding agencies.

Failure of one applicant to meet any of the eligibility criteria, including the Green ERA-Hub general eligibility criteria, will result in rejection of the entire proposal.

Who is not eligible to apply

Applicants outside of the UK who are not based within a participating partner country (Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, and Uruguay), are not eligible to apply for this funding opportunity.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers.

We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes:

• career breaks
• support for people with caring responsibilities
• flexible working
• alternative working patterns

UKRI can offer disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process.

What we're looking for

Aim

The Green ERA-Hub (GEH) is a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) of the European Commission under the Horizon Europe Framework Programme. It unites ongoing and self-sustaining networks, including ERA-Nets and European Joint Programme Cofund , in the agri-food and biotechnology sectors. GEH builds on previous achievements and further enhances cross-sectoral collaboration between agri-food and biotechnology ERA-Nets by identifying common research and innovation priorities, which are addressed through joint transnational funding of collaborative research projects.

As part of its mission to align national and regional research programmes, GEH has integrated the research and innovation priorities of various ERA-Net initiatives to launch the third GEH joint call.

This programme offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the transformation of today’s largely fossil resources-based economy into a sustainable bio-based economy that focuses on natural and renewable material cycles aiming to fully exploit the potential of a sustainable bio-based economy.

A truly sustainable bio-based economy is expected to contribute to environmental, social, and economic sustainability by substituting fossil resources, while avoiding negative impacts on land use, landscapes and ecosystems. Moreover, a key aspect of a sustainable bio-based economy is that its full implementation should not affect global food security. For all these reasons, competition around land and agricultural production for different purposes (food and feed, raw materials for manufacturing or energy) has to be avoided.

In this view, the conditions of both, production and utilisation of biomass, are crucial. They are key areas for research and innovation and should be considered as complementary elements. Production should limit any environmental burden and adapt to local conditions as much as possible, while ensuring quality and system resilience, whereas utilisation needs to be efficient, based on circularity and waste minimisation.

Scope

This call funds projects that enhance the utilisation of non-eatable biomass, intermediates or both, from a wide range of sources for industrial purposes in a cascade use approach (Topic B).

Call topic: biotechnological applications to improve the utilisation of biomass
This topic focuses on researching and developing novel, innovative, and sustainable biotechnological approaches towards a better utilisation of renewable biomass, intermediates or both.

In the context of this topic, biomass is considered in a broad sense, such as biomass from agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, including residues, side streams, waste from industry, and intermediates.

Specific attention should be given to novel technologies, improved production methods or both, for high value non-food products from biomass, intermediates or both. These improvements may aim to increase product value, enhance sustainability, improve end-product quality, or deliver other performance or environmental benefits.

Innovations that reduce or reuse waste, enhance efficiency, and improve circularity should also be prioritised. Products include but are not limited to bio-based chemicals, bio-based and biodegradable plastics (textiles, paper products, and composite materials for broader industrial applications).

For more information on the background of this funding opportunity, please visit the GEH call announcement page.

Duration

The duration of this award is a minimum of 24 months and a maximum of 36 months.

Funding available

The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £812,500.

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) will fund 80% of the FEC.

What we will fund

BBSRC will fund Topic B which includes, but is not restricted to:

• innovative biotechnological conversion technologies (possibly in combination with chemical or biochemical ones) to transform bio-based building components into high-value products in a sustainable way
• metabolic engineering including targeted optimisation and modification of microbial production strains and biological processes, as well as the modification and optimisation of metabolic pathways and their regulation
• the use of bioinformatics tools for the identification, modification and utilisation of metabolic pathways, such as those useful for bio-production and strain and variety improvement. For example, data standardisation, machine learning approaches, modelling, open repositories, remote sensing monitoring systems, Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence

Where necessary, projects may include, next to the biotechnological approach, also novel technologies and approaches for biomass pre-processing.

What we will not fund

BBSRC will not fund:

• projects that do not have a clear added value to the national funding programme
• projects under Topic A (plant breeding for improved resilience and health of crops, environment, and soil)
• research on food, food ingredients, animal feed and medical technologies

Ambitions for all proposed projects

The projects should fall within Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 1 to 5, although they are not necessarily required to cover the whole range. The TRL shall be advanced by implementing the project by at least one level. Industry engagement is strongly encouraged, but not mandatory, and should be adequate for the TRL range of the project. If appropriate, industry engagement should also ensure technology transfer to market by actively responding to market demand (market pull), and aligning innovations with industry needs to accelerate adoption and impact.

According to the specific thematic focus and to the goals of each proposal, the following cross-cutting approaches are encouraged:

• enhancing interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration research
• adopting a multi-actor approach (MAA), engaging with stakeholders as appropriate to the research stage and in order to technologically advance the project
• valorising the potential of remote regions, encouraging cross-border collaboration
• providing Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA), as appropriate to the research stage and in order to technologically advance the project
• seeking solutions suited also niche, small- scale biomass and intermediates, valorising local supply chains

Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is committed in ensuring that effective international collaboration in research and innovation takes place with integrity and within strong ethical frameworks. Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) is a UKRI work programme designed to help protect all those working in our thriving and collaborative international sector by enabling partnerships to be as open as possible, and as secure as necessary. Our TR&I Principles set out UKRI’s expectations of organisations funded by UKRI in relation to due diligence for international collaboration.

As such, applicants for UKRI funding may be asked to demonstrate how their proposed projects will comply with our approach and expectation towards TR&I, identifying potential risks and the relevant controls you will put in place to help proportionately reduce these risks.

See further guidance and information about TR&I, including where applicants can find additional support.

How to apply

Green ERA-Hub (GEH) submission process

Full information on the submission process can be found on the Green Era Hub submission portal, where the call documents are also available.

Applications not submitted through this website cannot be retained for review.

The deadline for submission of pre-proposals on the GEH portal is on Friday 28 November 2025 11:00am UK time or midday Central European Summer Time (CEST).

We recommend that you start your application early with your non-UK partners and that you check any eligibility queries with the UK contact points.

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) specifics

In addition to GEH, UK applicants must submit a PDF copy of the application submitted to GEH using the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service so please ensure that your organisation is registered. The deadline for submission of proposals on the Funding Service is Thursday 27 November 2025 4:00pm UK time.

Please ensure you fill out the requested information on the Funding Service in parallel with completing the joint application form. You cannot apply on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system.

To apply

Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page.

1. Confirm you are the project lead.
2. Sign in or create a Funding Service account. To create an account, select your organisation, verify your email address, and set a password. If your organisation is not listed, email support@funding-service.ukri.org
   Please allow at least 10 working days for your organisation to be added to the Funding Service. We strongly suggest that if you are asking UKRI to add your organisation to the Funding Service to enable you to apply to this opportunity, you also create an organisation Administration Account. This will be needed to allow the acceptance and management of any grant that might be offered to you.
3. Answer questions directly in the text boxes. You can save your answers and come back to complete them or work offline and return to copy and paste your answers. If we need you to upload a document, follow the upload instructions in the Funding Service. All questions and assessment criteria are listed in the How to apply section on this Funding finder page.
4. Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office.
5. Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing.
6. Your research office will submit the completed and checked application to UKRI.

Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant.

When including images, you must:

• provide a descriptive caption or legend for each image immediately underneath it in the text box (this must be outside the image and counts towards your word limit)
• insert each new image on a new line
• use files smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format

Images should only be used to convey important visual information that cannot easily be put into words. The following are not permitted, and your application may be rejected if you include:

• sentences or paragraphs of text
• tables
• excessive quantities of images

A few words are permitted where the image would lack clarity without the contextual words, such as a diagram, where text labels are required for an axis or graph column.

For more guidance on the Funding Service, see:

• how applicants use the Funding Service
• how research offices use the Funding Service
• how reviewers use the Funding Service

References

References should be included within the word count of the appropriate question section. You should use your discretion when including references and prioritise those most pertinent to the application.

Hyperlinks can be used in reference information. When including references, you should consider how your references will be viewed and used by the assessors, ensuring that:

• references are easily identifiable by the assessors
• references are formatted as appropriate to your research
• persistent identifiers are used where possible

General use of hyperlinks

Applications should be self-contained. You should only use hyperlinks to link directly to reference information. You must not include links to web resources to extend your application. Assessors are not required to access links to conduct assessment or recommend a funding decision.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Use of generative AI tools to prepare funding applications is permitted, however, caution should be applied.

For more information see our policy on the use of generative AI in application and assessment.

Deadline

The GEH submission deadline is Friday 28 November 2025 11:00am UK time or midday Central European Summer Time (Berlin, Germany).

BBSRC must receive your application by Thursday 27 November 2025 4:00pm UK time.

You will not be able to apply after this time.

Make sure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines.

Following the submission of your application to the funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed, and applications will not be returned for amendment. If your application does not follow the guidance, it may be rejected.

Personal data

Processing personal data

BBSRC, as part of UKRI, will need to collect some personal information to manage your Funding Service account and the registration of your funding applications.

We will handle personal data in line with UK data protection legislation and manage it securely. For more information, including how to exercise your rights, read our privacy notice.

Sensitive information

If you or a core team member need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email greenerahub@bbsrc.ukri.org

Include in the subject line: [the funding opportunity title; sensitive information; your Funding Service application number].

Typical examples of confidential information include:

• individual is unavailable until a certain date (for example due to parental leave)
• declaration of interest
• additional information about eligibility to apply that would not be appropriately shared in the ‘Applicant and team capability’ section
• conflict of interest for UKRI to consider in reviewer or panel participant selection
• the application is an invited resubmission

For information about how UKRI handles personal data, read UKRI’s privacy notice.

Publication of outcomes

BBSRC, as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity on BBSRC research outcomes and impact.

If your application is successful, we will publish some personal information on the UKRI Gateway to Research.

Summary

Word limit: 550

In plain English, provide a summary we can use to identify the most suitable experts to assess your application.

We usually make this summary publicly available on external-facing websites, therefore do not include any confidential or sensitive information. Make it suitable for a variety of readers, for example:

• opinion-formers
• policymakers
• the public
• the wider research community

Guidance for writing a summary

Clearly describe your proposed work in terms of:

• context
• the challenge the project addresses
• aims and objectives
• potential applications and benefits

Core team

List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following:

• project lead (PL)
• project co-lead (UK) (PcL)
• specialist
• research and innovation associate
• technician
• visiting researcher
• researcher co-lead (RcL)

Only list one individual as project lead.

Find out more about UKRI’s core team roles in funding applications.

Application questions

Consortium partners

Word limit: 400

First consortium partner

Please state which country your first consortium partner is
applying from:

• Belgium
• Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Germany
• Ireland
• Latvia
• Luxembourg
• Uruguay

Please provide details of your first consortium partner on this application:

• name
• institute
• job title
• role in project (for example, project lead or project co-lead)
• email address

Please also indicate who the project co-lead for the first consortium is.

Please do not include details of the project co-lead for the first consortium in the ‘Core team’ section.

Second consortium partner

Please state which country your second consortium partner is
applying from:

• Belgium
• Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Germany
• Ireland
• Latvia
• Luxembourg
• Uruguay

Please provide details of your second consortium partner on this application:

• name
• institute
• job title
• role in project (for example, project lead or project co-lead)
• email address

Please also indicate who the project co-lead for second consortium is.

Please do not include details of the project co-lead for the second consortium in the ‘Core team’ section.

Third consortium partner

Please state which country your third consortium partner is, if applicable.
applying from:

• Belgium
• Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Germany
• Ireland
• Latvia
• Luxembourg
• Uruguay

Please provide details of your third consortium partner on this application:

• name
• institute
• job title
• role in project (for example, project lead or project co-lead)
• email address

Please also indicate who the project co-lead for third consortium is.

Please do not include details of the project co-lead for the third consortium in the ‘Core team’ section.

GEH pre-proposal form

Please upload a PDF attachment of the completed GEH pre-proposal online form, submitted via the GEH submission portal.

Ensure the PDF is no larger than 8MB.

For the file name, use the unique Funding Service number the system gives you when you create an application, followed by the words ‘GEH Pre-proposal form’.
If the attachment does not meet these requirements, the application will be rejected.

How we will assess your application

Assessment process

Subject to successful eligibility checks, proposals will be subject to an assessment process led by the Green ERA-Hub.

Full information on the assessment process can be found on the Green ERA-Hub submission portal.

Contact details

Get help with your application

If you have a question and the answers aren’t provided on this page

The helpdesk is committed to helping users of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service as effectively and as quickly as possible. In order to manage cases at peak volume times, the helpdesk will triage and prioritise those queries with an imminent opportunity deadline or a technical issue. Enquiries raised where information is available on the Funding finder opportunity page and should be understood early in the application process (for example, regarding eligibility, content or remit of a funding opportunity) will not constitute a priority case and will be addressed as soon as possible.

Contact details

For help and advice on costings and writing your application please contact your research office in the first instance, allowing sufficient time for your organisation’s submission process.

For questions related to this specific funding opportunity please contact:

Call office of the third GEH call:

Josefine Kant, Christian Breuer, Petra E. Schulte
Email: ptj-geh-call-office@fz-juelich.de

For technical issues regarding the proposal pre-registration and submission please contact the Technical Help Desk:

Petra E. Schulte and Christian Breuer
Email: ptj-geh-call-office@fz-juelich.de

BBSRC contact:

Email: greenerahub@bbsrc.ac.uk

Any queries regarding the system or the submission of applications through the Funding Service should be directed to the helpdesk.

Email: support@funding-service.ukri.org
Phone: 01793 547490

Our phone lines are open:

• Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 5:00pm
• Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm

To help us process queries more efficiently, we request that users highlight the council and opportunity name in the subject title of their email query, include the application reference number, and refrain from contacting more than one mailbox at a time.

For further information on submitting an application read How applicants use the Funding Service.

Additional info

Research and innovation impact

Impact can be defined as the long-term intended or unintended effect research and innovation has on society, economy and the environment, to individuals, organisations, and the wider global population.

Webinar for potential applicants

The Green ERA-Hub will hold a webinar on 15 October 2025 from 8:30am to 9:30am UK time (9:30am to 10:30am Central European Summer Time). This will provide more information about the funding opportunity and a chance to ask questions.

Information for webinar registration can be found on the Green ERA-Hub submission page.

Research disruption due to COVID-19

We recognise that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused major interruptions and disruptions across our communities. We are committed to ensuring that individual applicants and their wider team, including partners and networks, are not penalised for any disruption to their career, such as:

• breaks and delays
• disruptive working patterns and conditions
• the loss of ongoing work
• role changes that may have been caused by the pandemic

Reviewers and panel members will be advised to consider the unequal impacts that COVID-19 related disruption might have had on the capability to deliver and career development of those individuals included in the application. They will be asked to consider the capability of the applicant and their wider team to deliver the research they are proposing.

Where disruptions have occurred, you can highlight this within your application if you wish, but there is no requirement to detail the specific circumstances that caused the disruption.