Deadline: 17-Sep-2026
The RIVCircular Cascade Funding Open Call supports innovation projects that advance circular economy solutions in the Hauts-de-France region of France. 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 cooperation between participating territories and support innovation ecosystems across the European Union.
In France, the initiative supports circular economy development in Hauts-de-France through cascade funding for innovation projects across industrial, environmental, digital, and resource-efficiency sectors.
Key Details
- Programme: RIVCircular Cascade Funding
- Country: France
- Region: Hauts-de-France
- 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 requirement: Applicants must be established and operate in Hauts-de-France
- Recoverable VAT: Not eligible
- Additional requirement: Parallel regional application required
Focus Areas
The programme supports circular economy innovation and sustainable resource use.
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
- Interregional innovation ecosystems
- Sustainable resource efficiency
- EU regional cooperation
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 use local waste streams to support circular energy models and resource-efficient systems.
3. Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling and Reuse
Projects may support recycling, repurposing, or reuse of electric vehicle batteries.
4. Circular Textile Economy Solutions
Projects may address textile waste, reuse, repair, recycling, circular design, or sustainable production systems.
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 model where an EU-funded project distributes financial support to third-party applicants. Under RIVCircular, eligible organisations receive grants for circular economy innovation projects.
What is Circular Economy?
Circular economy is an economic 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 and scale new solutions. RIVCircular uses this approach to strengthen European innovation ecosystems.
What is Sustainable Resource Efficiency?
Sustainable resource efficiency means using materials, energy, and natural resources more effectively while reducing waste, emissions, and environmental damage.
What is Recoverable VAT?
Recoverable VAT is value-added tax that an organisation can reclaim. If VAT is recoverable, it is not eligible for funding under this call.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants must be established in the Hauts-de-France region and must operate and implement 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 same entity submits multiple proposals across different topics within the same call.
VAT is not eligible where it is recoverable.
Parallel Regional Application Requirement
Applicants in Hauts-de-France must submit a parallel regional application as part of the approval process.
This regional application should include:
- Official request letter
- Project description
- Financial statements
- Detailed budget
How to Apply
Step 1: Confirm Regional Eligibility
Check that the applicant is legally established in Hauts-de-France and will implement activities within the region.
Step 2: Confirm Applicant Type
Ensure the entity is an eligible applicant type, such as a public body, university, research centre, corporation, SME, or other legal entity.
Step 3: Select a Thematic Area
Choose one of the five supported circular economy themes that matches the proposed project.
Step 4: Develop the Project Proposal
Prepare a clear innovation project that supports circular economy development, interregional cooperation, and sustainable resource efficiency.
Step 5: Prepare the Budget
Ensure the total funding request per entity does not exceed €600,000.
Step 6: Check Funding Rules
Confirm compliance with EU state aid rules, regional eligibility requirements, and VAT rules.
Step 7: Prepare the Parallel Regional Application
Prepare the official request letter, project description, financial statements, and detailed budget required for the Hauts-de-France regional process.
Step 8: Submit the Application
Submit both the RIVCircular application and the required parallel regional application according to programme instructions.
Why It Matters
The RIVCircular Open Call helps accelerate circular economy innovation in Hauts-de-France and across Europe.
It matters because it supports:
- Waste reduction
- Resource efficiency
- Sustainable industrial innovation
- Circular business models
- Cleaner energy and material systems
- Digital tools for circular transitions
- Textile circularity
- EV battery reuse and recycling
- Interregional cooperation
- Stronger European innovation ecosystems
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Applying without being established in Hauts-de-France
- Planning main activities outside the region
- Requesting more than €600,000 per entity
- Submitting a project outside the five thematic areas
- Ignoring EU state aid rules
- Including recoverable VAT in the budget
- Forgetting the parallel regional application
- Submitting incomplete financial statements
- Providing an unclear project description
- Failing to show circular economy impact
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 project improves reuse, recycling, recovery, or resource efficiency.
- Demonstrate benefits for Hauts-de-France.
- Highlight innovation and scalability.
- Include a realistic and detailed budget.
- Prepare the regional application documents early.
- Explain 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 Hauts-de-France in France.
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 Hauts-de-France?
Public bodies, universities, research centres, corporations, SMEs, and other legal entities established and operating in Hauts-de-France may apply.
What topics are supported?
Supported topics include construction and demolition waste circularity, circular energy integration, EV battery recycling and reuse, circular textile economy solutions, and digital circular economy innovations.
Is VAT eligible?
VAT is not eligible where it is recoverable.
Is there an additional regional application requirement?
Yes. Applicants in Hauts-de-France must submit a parallel regional application with an official request letter, project description, financial statements, and detailed budget.
Conclusion
The RIVCircular Cascade Funding Open Call supports circular economy innovation in the Hauts-de-France region of France 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 sustainable resource efficiency, regional innovation, and interregional cooperation across Europe.
For more information, visit RIVCircular.