Columbus Association Partners’ Expertise for Horizon Europe CIRCBIO
The Horizon Europe 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.
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, and a robust combination of science, technology, public policy and social innovation. Columbus can support the design and implementation of work packages related to demonstration, validation, stakeholder engagement, governance, impact monitoring and replication.
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 and other actors committed to circular transition through living labs.
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
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.
