The 14th call for proposals of "Bioeconomy International" is open!

The deadline for proposal submission is June 3^rd 2026, 1 PM CEST.

This call contains only two modules with co-funding opportunities for partners from

1. Japan
2. Queensland/ Australia.

Cooperation with other countries is NOT eligible (only as third countries with their own funding).

Projects in the frame of Bioeconomy International 2027 shall significantly contribute to implement the Bioeconomy on a global level.

The aim of this program is to fund German partners (universities, research organisations and industry) in international consortia. A key requirement of this program is that the projects have to be at eye level. This means that partners from abroad are working equally in cooperation with German partners. All partners should bring their expertise to solve a problem in joint efforts which is difficult (or impossible) to be solved alone.

Please, respect that this call for proposals does not intend to fund development aid-projects and the added-value for Germany must be clearly demonstrated!

Proposals must be submitted in Germany exclusively using this online tool. Proposals submitted via E-mail, fax, paper copy will not be considered for evaluation. For detailed information concerning the Bioeconomy International program see the official German “Bekanntmachung” under “Call Documents” (left side of the screen, in German and English).

Please, use the respective “templates for project description” for the two different modules (also under “Call Documents”) and pay attention to the following different modalities for the two modules:

Module 1: Cooperation with Japan

The co-financing on the Japanese side is provided through the GteX (Green Technologies of Excellence) program (thematic area “Biomanufacturing”) of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). Hence, only groups that are already funded through the GteX program are eligible as Japanese partners. A list of the eligible working groups can be found at https://www.jst.go.jp/gtex/en/field/bio.html.

This module seeks to support R&D&I projects with partners from Japan in the following areas:

Topic 1: Development of production processes for the industrial usage of renewable resources

Indicative subtopics:

• Process development for biomass-based feedstocks
• Bioconversion of waste streams or CO₂ into valuable products
• Fermentation and enzymatic processes using renewable inputs
• Process integration and upscaling strategies for bio-based production

Topic 2: Development of bioproducts with novel qualities, enhanced functionalities, and im-proved sustainability

Indicative subtopics:

• Functionalized biopolymers or smart biomaterials
• Bio-based alternatives to conventional petrochemical products
• High-value bioactives for cosmetics, agriculture, or nutrition
• Tailor-made microbial or plant-based products with improved traits

Topic 3: Integrated platform technologies for next-generation biomanufacturing

Indicative subtopics:

• Automated DBTL platforms for synthetic biology
• High-throughput strain engineering and screening technologies
• Omics-based systems for predictive design and optimization
• Scalable platforms for fast protein production ("protein printers")

Topic 4: Future biological production systems and next-generation host organisms

Indicative subtopics:

• Engineering of plant-based systems for bioproduction
• Exploration and utilization of microbial diversity
• Development of robust microbial chassis for industrial use
• Microbe-plant interaction technologies for production and environmental benefits
• Synthetic biology approaches including the development and use of BioBrics for modular genetic design

Topic 5: Enabling technologies for a sustainable and data-driven bioeconomy

Indicative subtopics:

• Advanced omics measurement and data integration platforms
• AI and machine learning for process optimization in biotechnology
• Real-time analytics and control systems for biological processes
• Integration of bio-, information-, and production technologies

The involvement of partners from industry is possible in this module, but not mandatory.

The submission of proposals will only take place on the German side in this module.
It is not necessary to submit a proposal in Japan at the same time.

The selection process for project proposals submitted under Module 1 will be carried out jointly with the JST.

Module 2: Cooperation with Queensland

The Australian partners have to submit a proposal of the same content in parallel to The Queensland Government (Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation- DETSI) via Queensland–Germany Bioeconomy Collaborative Science Program – Guidelines | Science | Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, Queensland.

Contact details for questions:

science.grants@des.qld.gov.au,
Phone (07) 3330 6360

This round of the program seeks to support practical and applied collaborative science and research projects in the following target areas:

1. Agriculture and Agri-Food:

Development or advancement in using biological resources, technologies, and innovations to help transform agrifood systems so they are more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. Projects may include, but are not limited to the development of biotechnology, digitalisation, data science and AI in biological systems, in areas such as crop and soil improvement, land rehabilitation, sustainable fertilisers, pest management, and bio-based protectants for primary industries.

2. Bio-based product and process:

Development or advancement in converting renewable biological resources, technologies, co-products or wastes into value added products, including but not limited to bio-inspired materials, chemicals, products, and services. Projects may include development of bioproducts with novel qualities, enhanced functionalities, and improved sustainability, capable of replacing current production of unsustainable products and/or advancing innovative market applications. Precision fermentation technologies may also be included to develop innovative bio-based products.

3. Advancing knowledge and tools:

Projects are sought that develop and advance the biotechnological knowledge and tools that underpin a growing bioeconomy. Projects involving innovative and transformational science could include, but are not limited to:

1. the generation of very large and high quality or novel datasets using, for example, advanced multi-omics, robotics and laboratory automation, sensors, or quantum techniques;
2. integration of big data and computing (AI, bioinformatics etc.) for deepened biological knowledge and function prediction;
3. high throughput and high efficiency building and testing of new biological systems using, for example, synthetic and engineering biology, protein and metabolic engineering, systems biology, microbial consortia and multicellular systems;
4. advancing cell-free biomanufacturing from lab via pilot to industrial scale.
5. Innovative bio-based or bio-inspired approaches that reduce greenhouse gas emissions of industrial processes. This may include biological systems (e.g., microbes, enzymes, biogenic reagents) or bio-inspired technologies that offer low-carbon alternatives to conventional thermal or chemical processes.

The involvement of industry partners is mandatory in this module. At least one industry partner from Germany or Queensland must be involved. However, this can also be in an advisory role as an associate partner, for example.

The selection process for project proposals submitted under Module 2 will be carried out jointly with the Queensland Government.

It is mandatory that the proposal is submitted in the appropriate format to the Queensland Government at the same time.

For clarity – in both modules – human health and medical related projects are out of scope of the program objectives and are not eligible under this program.  

If you have questions concerning the application procedure, please read our FAQ-document (also under “Call Documents”) or contact

Dr. Veronika Jablonowski
Tel.: +49 2461- 61 5083
v.jablonowski@ptj.de or

Dr. Christian Breuer
Tel.: +49 2461 – 61 96929
c.breuer@fz-juelich.de

Projektträger Jülich (PtJ)
Geschäftsbereich Biologische Innovation und Ökonomie (BIO)
EU & International Affairs (BIO 7)
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH
52425 Jülich
Germany 
Project Management Jülich