Call for Expressions of Interest - IPCEI on Biotechnology
IPCEIs are strategically important initiatives aimed at pooling both public and private investments to support breakthrough innovation and strengthen Europe’s strategic value chains.
IPCEIs currently under preparation in the field of biotechnology focus on three main areas:
• bio-based chemicals
• bio-based materials
• bio-based food and feed ingredients
Estonia plans to open a call for expressions of interest in all these areas, as they are aligned with the country’s industrial policy and innovation capabilities.
The submission of project proposals is opened until 31.08.2026 at 16.00.
The objective of the call for expression of interest is to identify companies operating in the above-mentioned areas that are interested in submitting projects aligned with the planned IPCEI focus and that could therefore qualify for state aid.
Preliminary timeline:
• June–31.08.2026 – national call for ideas open
• September–October 2026 – national-level pre-selection of projects
• November–December 2026 – European-level networking and project matchmaking phase
• from 2027 onwards – pre-notification of projects to the European Commission for state aid approval
IPCEI Application template (Direct participants) (TBC)
GBER Application Template (Associated partners) (TBC )
Application template for indirect participants (Indirect partners) (TBC)
Preliminary Funding Gap Template (Direct participants only) (TBC)
What are IPCEIs?
IPCEI are large-scale, EU multi-country projects and are an increasingly important industrial policy tool for delivering breakthrough innovation and infrastructure when the market alone does not deliver. IPCEI are a unique instrument for large-scale industrial collaborations across the European Union, contributing to sustainable growth and increasing EU competitiveness.
Where a funding gap is evidenced, a State funding contribution may be granted for certain projects that make an important contribution to the growth, competitiveness and productivity of the European industrial sector and to the strategic objectives of the EU.
IPCEI also make an effective contribution to national and European climate and digital goals by building European value chains in key sectors. Member States support domestic companies who undertake projects at national level, with significant collaborations across Member States, which feed into the achievement of the overall IPCEI objectives.
What is the IPCEI on biotechnology?
IPCEI on biotechnology
From Estonia’s perspective, biotechnology is a rapidly developing and strategically important field that supports the green transition, more efficient use of resources, and the development of higher value-added industry.
The development of bio-based materials and chemicals helps reduce dependence on fossil resources and increases the local valorisation of bioresources. Biotechnological solutions in the production of food and feed ingredients, in turn, support more sustainable and innovative food production, strengthening European food and feed value chains as well as food security.
Bio-based chemicals
Support is provided for the development and scaling of biotechnological processes for the production of bio-based chemicals, with a particular focus on reaching the stage of first industrial deployment (FID). This includes activities aimed at moving from pilot and demonstration scale to industrial scale, including the production of platform chemicals and intermediates (e.g. organic acids, alcohols), monomers and polymer precursors, as well as speciality and fine chemicals, but not mass production.
Bio-based materials
Support is provided for the development of new and innovative bio-based materials and for scaling up production processes to the level of first industrial deployment. This includes, for example, fibre-based materials, lignin-based materials, biocomposites, packaging solutions, and high-performance materials, but does not cover mass production solutions or conventional product development.
Bio-based food and feed ingredients
Support is provided for the development and scaling of biotechnological processes for producing food and feed ingredients, focusing on the production of functional components (e.g. proteins, lipids, amino acids, enzymes, bioactive compounds) up to the first industrial application. Projects must focus on the ingredient level and their integration into food and feed industry value chains, excluding the production of final products.
Participant categories
Direct participants are companies that are funded by Member States to conduct research, development, and first industrial application projects, contributing to a larger, integrated European value chain. Their primary role is to carry out their own projects in close collaboration with other DPs through cross-border partnerships, creating synergies and driving innovation. They must also share their results and knowledge widely with the wider European scientific and industrial community.
Direct participant projects are typically funded under the IPCEI instrument and receive a minimum State aid contribution of €50 million and must be notified to, and approved by, the EU Commission. They undergo detailed annual reporting nationally and to the EU Commission.
In case You are considering participation as a direct participant please be aware that if You are chosen You should be able to prepare the Project Portfolio and Funding Gap Document.
The goal of the category of associated partners is to give interested companies or Research Organisations (ROs) – that are not IPCEI direct participants – the chance to participate in the IPCEI and to strengthen the IPCEI ecosystem in Europe. Associated partners’ projects, depending on the nature of the IPCEI, can be all different kinds of organisations (undertakings of any size or ROs) and projects (not limited to research projects as it has been the case in previous research-related IPCEIs) located within an EU Member State, EEA state, or EU candidate country.
Associated partner projects are typically funded via GBER, receiving a State aid contribution of less than €50 million. Unlike IPCEI direct participants, associated partners are not subject to the (pre)-notification process to the Commission under the IPCEI Communication.
However, based on past IPCEIs, their contribution to an IPCEI can play an important complementary role (for example, in contributing to fulfilling and adding to the objectives of an IPCEI, enlarging the IPCEI direct participants spillover commitments, and so on).
Indirect partners in an IPCEI are organisations that are neither direct recipients of state aid approved by the European Commission nor beneficiaries of aid granted by a Member State under the General Block Exemption Regulation, but that contribute to achieving the project’s objectives in cooperation with direct and associated partners. They participate in the IPCEI value chain and support research and development, the diffusion of innovation, and the market deployment of solutions.
Indirect partners may include companies, SMEs, research institutions, or universities that act, for example, as subcontractors, development partners, or implementers of pilot solutions.
The involvement of indirect partners broadens the scope of the project, strengthens collaboration networks, and increases the overall impact of the IPCEI initiative at the European level.
NB! Projects of indirect partners are not eligible for support.
More information about the roles of participant categories.
Submitting an expression of interest
Proposals will be assessed against the following criteria:
- alignment with the objectives of the IPCEI and wider EU objectives
- level of innovation
- potential for collaboration
- impact
- spillover effects
- Companies and organisations—particularly SMEs (as defined by the European Commission)—that operate in the field of bio-based materials/chemicals or bio-based food and feed ingredients, have research or production activities in Estonia, and wish to participate in an integrated European project.
- Please note that there are separate application forms for funding of direct participants under the IPCEI instrument and for associated partners under the GBER.
- The IPCEI instrument is used to fund projects of direct participants (typically projects requesting more than €50 million (just an indication)), while the GBER is used to fund projects of associated partners (typically projects requesting less than €50 million).
- Further information on the roles and obligations of direct and associated partners can be found via the links provided above.
After the evaluation of submitted projects, you will be notified if your project is selected for the next stage, expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.
At this stage, you will need to further develop your initial project concept into a full project proposal. Guidance for this process will be provided at the appropriate stage, but the next steps include:
- international partner mapping (matchmaking) to identify cooperation opportunities with other EU Member State`s projects (timing to be confirmed, expected November–December 2026)
- initiating the preparation of a detailed and integrated IPCEI project description (the so-called “Chapeau document”)
The objective is for the projects to be submitted for notification to the European Commission in the first half of 2027, with project implementation starting in the second half of 2027, subject to the Commission’s approval of the final project proposals.
Submitting an expression of interest
Proposals will be assessed against the following criteria:
- alignment with the objectives of the IPCEI and wider EU objectives
- level of innovation
- potential for collaboration
- impact
- spillover effects
- Companies and organisations—particularly SMEs (as defined by the European Commission)—that operate in the field of bio-based materials/chemicals or bio-based food and feed ingredients, have research or production activities in Estonia, and wish to participate in an integrated European project.
- Please note that there are separate application forms for funding of direct participants under the IPCEI instrument and for associated partners under the GBER.
- The IPCEI instrument is used to fund projects of direct participants (typically projects requesting more than €50 million (just an indication)), while the GBER is used to fund projects of associated partners (typically projects requesting less than €50 million).
- Further information on the roles and obligations of direct and associated partners can be found via the links provided above.
After the evaluation of submitted projects, you will be notified if your project is selected for the next stage, expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.
At this stage, you will need to further develop your initial project concept into a full project proposal. Guidance for this process will be provided at the appropriate stage, but the next steps include:
- international partner mapping (matchmaking) to identify cooperation opportunities with other EU Member State`s projects (timing to be confirmed, expected November–December 2026)
- initiating the preparation of a detailed and integrated IPCEI project description (the so-called “Chapeau document”)
The objective is for the projects to be submitted for notification to the European Commission in the first half of 2027, with project implementation starting in the second half of 2027, subject to the Commission’s approval of the final project proposals.
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