The Columbus Network has consolidated a strategic portfolio of expertise that positions its partner institutions to participate competitively in the Horizon Europe call HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-01, focused on deploying circular systemic solutions through living labs in cities and regions.

Horizon Europe Call Context

The topic HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-01 supports the deployment of circular systemic solutions through living labs in cities and regions. Its ambition is to move beyond isolated pilots and foster real-life innovation ecosystems that bring together public authorities, research, industry, and citizens to co-design, test, validate and replicate circular solutions with measurable environmental, social and economic impact.

The call establishes specific eligibility requirements:

• At least five (5) distinct ‘living labs’ linked to regional or local authorities
• At least two (2) living labs from different demonstration sites
• Another three (3) from other and different replication sites, of which 1 must be located in Horizon Europe widening countries (including Outermost Regions)
• Mandatory application of the multi-actor approach

With an estimated contribution of EUR 5.00 million per project and a total indicative budget of EUR 10.00 million, this call represents a significant opportunity for the deployment of circular innovation in concrete territories.

📄 Download here the Official call document available

The Columbus Association Proposal

In this context, Columbus Association offers a distinctive collaboration platform connecting higher education institutions and territorial actors across Latin America. The portfolio presented here brings together expertise, infrastructure and living lab environments capable of contributing to circular value chains, territorial intelligence, inclusive governance, bio-based innovation, waste valorisation, water-energy-food nexus solutions, and replication strategies across diverse urban, peri-urban and rural settings.

Our network is particularly well positioned to contribute to CIRCBIO consortia seeking:

• Strong multi-actor collaboration
• Demonstration capacity in real territories
• Robust combination of science, technology, public policy and social innovation
• Territorial innovation ecosystems with effective citizen participation

Interactive Portfolio of Capacities

The Columbus portfolio brings together expertise, infrastructure and living lab environments capable of contributing to:

• Circular value chains in agro-industrial, textile, construction and manufacturing sectors
• Territorial intelligence with citizen observatories and participatory monitoring systems
• Inclusive governance through ENoLL methodologies, gamification and user-centered design
• Bio-based innovation: bioproducts, biomaterials and biological knowledge economy
• Valorisation of organic and industrial waste into new value-added products
• Water-energy-food nexus solutions in urban and rural contexts
• Replication strategies adapted to diverse urban, peri-urban and rural contexts

🗺️ Complete interactive portfolio embedded:

The interactive portfolio presents a visual map with Columbus partner institutions, their certified living labs, scientific-technical infrastructure and demonstration capacities. It includes detailed profiles of universities, research centers and technology platforms in Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina and other countries in the region, with information on research lines, specialized groups, available facilities and contact points for consortium building.

Areas of Contribution to CIRCBIO Consortia

Columbus can support the design and implementation of work packages related to:

• Demonstration and validation of circular solutions in concrete territories
• Multi-stakeholder engagement and participation
• Inclusive and participatory governance structures
• Environmental, social and economic impact monitoring
• Replication and scaling strategies in diverse territorial contexts

Call to Action

We are currently interested in connecting with coordinators and partners preparing proposals under this topic, especially:

• Local and regional authorities
• Research organisations
• Innovation ecosystems
• Companies committed to circular transition
• Other actors committed to circular transition through living labs

The Value of the Columbus Network: Columbus Brokers

This initiative represents a concrete example of the work we develop in our Research Internationalization action line called Columbus Brokers.

From Columbus we have empowered and helped our institutions to give value to their competencies, demonstrating how these capabilities can serve to compete successfully in high-impact international initiatives such as HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-01. It is not simply about listing institutions, but about:

• Identifying and articulating the specific competencies of each institution in the context of international calls
• Facilitating the construction of strategic consortia with European and other regional partners
• Translating local and regional capabilities into value propositions for global research and innovation projects
• Connecting scientific-technical expertise with territorial needs and funding opportunities
• Positioning Latin America as a region with concrete demonstration and replication capacities in circular economy

The importance of having this network lies in the ability to mobilize expertise distributed across multiple countries and territories, combining complementary strengths that individually would not reach the critical mass necessary to compete in large-scale international calls. Columbus acts as a catalyst for synergies, translator of capacities and facilitator of strategic collaborations that expand the impact and international projection of its partner institutions.

Perspectives for 2026

Complete guidelines for Columbus Brokers activities for 2026 will be announced soon. This CIRCBIO call is just a preview of the opportunities we will be identifying, articulating and promoting for our partner institutions throughout the year.

We invite all network institutions to stay tuned for upcoming communications and to activate their internal articulation mechanisms to make the most of the research internationalization opportunities that Columbus will facilitate during this year.

Alberto Rueda – Columbus Association, 13 de marzo, 2026.