Deadline: 17-Sep-2026
The RIVCircular Cascade Funding Open Call supports innovation projects that advance circular economy solutions in the Innlandet region of Norway. The call has a total budget of €12,350,000, with each eligible entity able to request up to €600,000 across one or more proposals.
Overview
The Regional Innovation Valleys for Circular Economy (RIVCircular) project is co-funded by the European Commission under Horizon Europe.
The programme aims to strengthen collaboration between participating territories and improve innovation ecosystems across Europe.
In Norway, the initiative supports the Innlandet region by funding research, development, and experimental projects that contribute to circular economy transformation.
Key Details
- Programme: RIVCircular Cascade Funding
- Country: Norway
- Region: Innlandet
- Funding framework: Horizon Europe
- Funding type: Cascade funding grant
- Total call budget: €12,350,000
- Maximum funding per entity: €600,000
- Eligible applicants: Public bodies, universities, research centres, corporations, SMEs, and other legal entities
- Regional application: Separate regional application not required
- VAT rule: Recoverable VAT is not eligible
Focus Areas
The programme supports projects that strengthen circular economy innovation and European interregional cooperation.
Key focus areas include:
- Circular economy innovation
- Construction and demolition waste circularity
- Circular energy integration
- Local waste stream reuse
- Electric vehicle battery recycling and reuse
- Circular economy in the textile industry
- Digital solutions for circular economy
- Research and development
- Experimental innovation projects
- Interregional innovation ecosystems
- Cross-sector innovation
Thematic Funding Areas
The call supports five thematic areas.
1. Construction and Demolition Waste Circularity
Projects may focus on reducing, reusing, recycling, or recovering value from construction and demolition waste.
2. Circular Energy Integration Using Local Waste Streams
Projects may develop energy solutions that use local waste streams as part of circular and resource-efficient systems.
3. Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling and Reuse
Projects may support recycling, repurposing, reuse, or lifecycle extension of electric vehicle batteries.
4. Circular Textile Economy Solutions
Projects may address textile waste, circular design, reuse, repair, recycling, or sustainable textile production.
5. Digital Innovations for Circular Economy Transitions
Projects may use digital tools, platforms, data systems, or smart technologies to support circular economy practices.
Key Concepts Explained
What is Cascade Funding?
Cascade funding is a funding mechanism where an EU-funded project provides financial support to third-party applicants. Under RIVCircular, eligible organisations receive grants to implement circular economy innovation projects.
What is Circular Economy?
Circular economy is a model that keeps products, materials, and resources in use for as long as possible. It reduces waste through reuse, repair, recycling, recovery, redesign, and resource efficiency.
What is Interregional Innovation?
Interregional innovation means cooperation between regions or territories to develop, test, and scale new solutions. RIVCircular uses this approach to strengthen European innovation ecosystems.
What are Research, Development, and Experimental Projects?
These are projects that test new ideas, technologies, processes, or models. They may involve applied research, pilot testing, product development, demonstration activities, or experimental validation.
What is Recoverable VAT?
Recoverable VAT is value-added tax that an organisation can reclaim. If VAT can be recovered, it cannot be included as an eligible funded cost.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants must be based or operating in the Innlandet region and must implement project activities within the region.
Eligible applicants include:
- Public bodies
- Universities
- Research centres
- Corporations
- Small and medium-sized enterprises
- Other legal entities
Applicants must comply with:
- EU state aid rules
- Regional eligibility requirements
- VAT eligibility rules
Funding Amount and Rules
The total budget available under the call is €12,350,000.
Each entity may request up to €600,000 in total.
This limit applies even if the entity submits multiple proposals across different thematic topics within the same call.
VAT is not eligible where it can be recovered.
Selected projects will include specific annexes and compliance conditions related to regional funding procedures and oversight.
Regional Application Requirement
Applicants from Innlandet are not required to submit a separate regional application.
However, selected projects will need to comply with regional funding procedures, annexes, oversight requirements, and any specific conditions attached to the grant.
How to Apply
Step 1: Confirm Regional Eligibility
Check that the applicant is based or operating in Innlandet and will implement project activities within the region.
Step 2: Confirm Applicant Type
Ensure the applicant is an eligible legal entity, such as a public body, university, research centre, corporation, SME, or other eligible organisation.
Step 3: Select a Thematic Area
Choose one of the five supported circular economy themes that best matches the proposed project.
Step 4: Develop the Project Proposal
Prepare a clear project focused on research, development, experimental innovation, or practical circular economy implementation.
Step 5: Prepare the Budget
Ensure the total request per entity does not exceed €600,000.
Step 6: Check Compliance Rules
Confirm that the project follows EU state aid rules, regional eligibility requirements, and VAT rules.
Step 7: Address Regional Conditions
Be prepared to meet annexes and compliance conditions for regional funding procedures if selected.
Step 8: Submit the Application
Submit the proposal according to the RIVCircular open call requirements.
Why It Matters
The RIVCircular Open Call helps Innlandet strengthen circular economy innovation and connect with European innovation ecosystems.
It matters because it supports:
- Waste reduction
- Resource efficiency
- Sustainable industrial innovation
- Circular business models
- Cleaner energy and material systems
- EV battery reuse and recycling
- Textile circularity
- Digital solutions for circular transitions
- Cross-sector cooperation
- Regional and interregional innovation
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Applying without a clear link to Innlandet
- Planning main activities outside the region
- Requesting more than €600,000 per entity
- Submitting a project outside the five thematic areas
- Including recoverable VAT in the budget
- Ignoring EU state aid rules
- Providing unclear project activities or budgets
- Failing to show circular economy impact
- Overlooking regional compliance conditions after selection
Tips for a Strong Application
Applicants should:
- Clearly link the project to one thematic area.
- Explain the circular economy challenge being addressed.
- Show how the solution improves reuse, recycling, recovery, or resource efficiency.
- Demonstrate benefits for Innlandet.
- Highlight research, development, or experimental value.
- Include a realistic and compliant budget.
- Explain how the project can scale or be replicated.
- Show how the project contributes to interregional cooperation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the RIVCircular Cascade Funding Open Call?
It is a Horizon Europe-supported funding opportunity for circular economy innovation projects in participating European regions, including Innlandet in Norway.
How much funding is available?
The total call budget is €12,350,000.
How much can each entity request?
Each entity may request up to €600,000 in total, even if submitting multiple proposals.
Who can apply in Innlandet?
Public bodies, universities, research centres, corporations, SMEs, and other legal entities based or operating in Innlandet may apply.
What topics are supported?
The call supports construction and demolition waste circularity, circular energy integration, EV battery recycling and reuse, circular textile economy solutions, and digital circular economy innovations.
Is a separate regional application required?
No. Applicants from Innlandet are not required to submit a separate regional application.
Is VAT eligible?
VAT is not eligible where it can be recovered.
Conclusion
The RIVCircular Cascade Funding Open Call supports circular economy innovation in the Innlandet region of Norway through grants of up to €600,000 per entity. By funding projects in construction waste, circular energy, EV batteries, textiles, and digital circular economy solutions, the programme strengthens resource efficiency, cross-sector collaboration, and interregional innovation across Europe.
For more information, visit RIVCircular.