Deadline: 17-Sep-2026
The Regional Innovation Valleys for Circular Economy (RIVCircular) Cascade Funding Open Call supports innovation projects that advance circular economy solutions in Vienna, Austria. The call provides grant funding under Horizon Europe, with a total budget of €12,350,000 and up to €600,000 available per entity.
Overview
The RIVCircular Cascade Funding Open Call is part of the Regional Innovation Valleys for Circular Economy project.
RIVCircular is co-funded by the European Commission under Horizon Europe. It aims to strengthen cooperation between participating territories, improve interregional innovation ecosystems, and accelerate circular economy solutions across Europe.
In Austria, the programme focuses on supporting circular economy innovation projects in the Vienna region.
Key Details
- Programme: RIVCircular Cascade Funding Open Call
- Country: Austria
- Region: Vienna
- Funding type: Grant
- Total call budget: €12,350,000
- Maximum funding per entity: €600,000
- Eligible applicants: Small, medium-sized, and large enterprises
- Non-profit eligibility: Not eligible
- Funding framework: Horizon Europe cascade funding
- Main focus: Circular economy innovation
Focus Areas
The call supports innovation projects across five circular economy topics.
Key themes include:
- Circular economy innovation
- Construction and demolition waste circularity
- Circular energy integration
- Use of local waste streams
- Electric vehicle battery recycling and reuse
- Circular economy in the textile industry
- Digital solutions for circular economy
- Innovation ecosystem strengthening
- Interregional cooperation
- Sustainable industrial transformation
Thematic Funding Topics
The Interregional Innovation Call covers five main topics:
- Construction and Demolition Waste Circularity
Projects that reduce, reuse, recycle, or recover value from construction and demolition waste. - Circular Energy Integration Using Local Waste Streams
Projects that use local waste streams to support circular energy solutions. - Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling and Reuse
Projects that develop solutions for recycling, reusing, or repurposing EV batteries. - Circular Economy in the Textile Industry
Projects that improve circularity in textile production, use, reuse, recycling, or waste reduction. - Digital Solutions for the Circular Economy
Projects that use digital tools, platforms, data, or technologies to improve circular economy systems.
Key Concepts Explained
What is Cascade Funding?
Cascade funding is a funding model where a larger EU-funded project distributes grants to third-party applicants. In this call, RIVCircular provides grant support to eligible entities working on circular economy innovation projects.
What is Circular Economy?
A circular economy is an economic model that reduces waste and keeps materials, products, and resources in use for as long as possible. It focuses on reuse, repair, recycling, resource efficiency, and sustainable production.
What is Interregional Innovation?
Interregional innovation refers to cooperation between regions or territories to develop, test, and scale new solutions. In this call, it supports collaboration across European innovation ecosystems.
What are Indirect Costs?
Indirect costs are overhead expenses that support project implementation but are not tied to one specific activity. These may include administration, office operations, accounting, payroll, maintenance, and IT services.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants include enterprises with an existing or planned establishment in Vienna, Austria.
Eligible entities include:
- Small enterprises
- Medium-sized enterprises
- Large enterprises
- Founders planning to establish a permanent business presence in Vienna
Founders must demonstrate that their permanent establishment in Vienna will be created within six months of funding approval.
Non-profit entities are not eligible to apply.
Funding Amount and Cost Rules
The total budget available under the call is €12,350,000.
Each entity may request up to €600,000 in total funding.
This limit applies even if the same entity submits multiple proposals across different topics under the same call.
For Vienna-based entities, eligible internal personnel costs receive an additional 20% indirect cost allowance.
This allowance covers overhead expenses such as:
- Administration
- Office operations
- Maintenance
- Accounting
- Payroll
- IT services
How to Apply
Step 1: Check Location Eligibility
Confirm that your enterprise has an existing or planned establishment in Vienna.
Step 2: Confirm Entity Eligibility
Make sure your applicant type is eligible. Small, medium-sized, and large enterprises may apply, but non-profit entities are not eligible.
Step 3: Select a Thematic Topic
Choose one of the five supported circular economy topics that best matches your innovation project.
Step 4: Develop the Innovation Project
Prepare a project concept that advances circular economy solutions and contributes to regional or interregional innovation.
Step 5: Prepare the Budget
Ensure the total requested funding per entity does not exceed €600,000.
Step 6: Include Vienna Establishment Plans, if Required
Founders without an existing Vienna establishment must show that they will create a permanent business presence in Vienna within six months of funding approval.
Step 7: Submit the Proposal
Submit the application according to the RIVCircular Interregional Innovation Call requirements.
Why It Matters
The RIVCircular Open Call supports Europe’s shift toward a more sustainable and resource-efficient economy.
It matters because it helps:
- Reduce waste across key industries.
- Strengthen circular economy innovation in Vienna.
- Support recycling and reuse solutions.
- Improve interregional cooperation.
- Advance sustainable construction, energy, battery, textile, and digital solutions.
- Build stronger European innovation ecosystems.
- Accelerate the transition from linear production to circular systems.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Applying as a non-profit entity
- Requesting more than €600,000 per entity
- Submitting a project unrelated to the five thematic topics
- Failing to demonstrate a Vienna establishment
- Not showing how the project supports circular economy innovation
- Ignoring interregional cooperation objectives
- Providing an unclear budget
- Forgetting the six-month establishment requirement for founders
- Treating indirect costs as separate unsupported expenses without aligning them to the cost rules
Tips for a Strong Application
Applicants should:
- Clearly link the project to one of the five thematic topics.
- Explain the circular economy problem being addressed.
- Show how the solution reduces waste or improves reuse, recycling, or resource efficiency.
- Demonstrate innovation and market relevance.
- Explain how the project benefits Vienna’s innovation ecosystem.
- Keep the budget within the €600,000 per-entity limit.
- Clarify personnel costs and indirect cost calculations.
- Highlight interregional cooperation where relevant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the RIVCircular Cascade Funding Open Call?
It is a Horizon Europe-backed grant opportunity supporting circular economy innovation projects in Vienna, Austria.
What is the total budget available?
The total budget available under the call is €12,350,000.
How much funding can each entity request?
Each entity may request up to €600,000 in total, even if it submits multiple proposals.
Who can apply?
Small, medium-sized, and large enterprises with an existing or planned establishment in Vienna may apply.
Are non-profit organisations eligible?
No. Non-profit entities are not eligible to apply.
What topics are supported?
The call supports construction and demolition waste circularity, circular energy integration using local waste streams, EV battery recycling and reuse, circular economy in textiles, and digital circular economy solutions.
What indirect costs are allowed?
Vienna-based entities may receive an additional 20% indirect cost allowance on eligible internal personnel costs to cover overhead expenses such as administration, office operations, accounting, payroll, and IT services.
Conclusion
The RIVCircular Cascade Funding Open Call provides major grant support for enterprises advancing circular economy innovation in Vienna. With a total budget of €12,350,000 and up to €600,000 available per entity, the programme supports practical and scalable solutions in construction waste, circular energy, EV batteries, textiles, and digital circular economy systems.
For more information, visit RIVCircular.
