Two European calls are currently open in the fields of agri-food and food safety. While the Agri-food Biotech Scaling-up Call provides financial support for innovation projects, the EFSA Call focuses on regulatory advice for companies seeking access to the EU market.
Agri-food Biotech Scaling-up
With the “Agri-food Biotech Scaling-up” call, the European Commission supports innovation projects in agricultural and food biotechnology under the Single Market Programme (SMP COSME). The call places particular emphasis on advanced fermentation technologies for applications in food and feed systems.
The aim is to support the scaling-up of innovative bio-based solutions, strengthen collaboration among clusters, and assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in further developing and bringing their technologies to market.
Eligible applicants are consortia consisting of at least three partners from two eligible countries. Participation of at least two cluster organisations or cluster networks from different EU Member States is required, with proven experience in supporting SMEs in the biotech or agri-food sectors.
Total budget: €3 million for 2 projects
Maximum project duration: 36 months
Deadline: 2 June 2026, 17:00 (CEST)
EFSA Call: Food Additives 2026
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published a Call for Expression of Interest targeting companies preparing an application for the authorisation of food additives in the EU market.
This is an advisory service offered under the General Pre-Submission Advice (GPSA) framework. Its objective is to support companies at an early stage in preparing their applications and to improve both the quality and efficiency of the submission process.
Both small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and first-time applicants are eligible to apply. First-time applicants are companies that do not qualify as SMEs and have not submitted an application for the authorisation of a food additive in the EU since 27 March 2021. In addition, applicants must intend to submit such an application in the near future.
Participants receive tailored advice from EFSA through either early advice meetings (at an early development stage) or pre-submission meetings (shortly before submission). The guidance focuses on requirements for application dossiers, regulatory frameworks, and common challenges in the authorisation process.
Deadline: 21 May 2026, 13:00