Summary
- Profile Type
- Research & Development Request
- POD Reference
- RDRTR20250707018
- Term of Validity
- 7 July 2025 - 7 July 2026
- Company's Country
- Turkey
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
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General information
- Short Summary
- This project develops a Sustainability Transformation Framework and a digital assessment tool to support SMEs—particularly in the textile sector—in adopting circular, bio-based models. It enables SMEs to measure and improve sustainability performance, supports Digital Product Passport readiness, and demonstrates real-world circular use cases using eg. agricultural waste, biobased products etc., aligning with EU Green Deal objectives.
- Full Description
-
This project aims to support European SMEs—especially in the textile sector—in their transition to sustainable and circular practices. SMEs are critical to the EU economy but often lack the tools, knowledge, and capacity to adopt circular models and meet new regulatory demands such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).
To address this, the project will deliver a Sustainability Transformation Framework and a digital assessment tool that together will guide SMEs in measuring, managing, and improving their sustainability performance. The project targets improvements in resource efficiency, emissions reduction, and regulatory compliance, while boosting competitiveness and resilience.
The consortium, coordinated by Sabancı University, seeks academic, SME, and technology partners to co-develop and scale this solution across Europe. - Advantages and Innovations
- This project introduces a unique and scalable approach to accelerating the sustainability transition of SMEs by combining scientific methodology, digital innovation, and sectoral application. It includes tailor-made sustainability framework for SMEs, actionable KPIs including not only environmental but also social, data-driven circular business models, demonstration in textile sector.
- Technical Specification or Expertise Sought
-
We are looking for SMEs in textile industry, associations, academic partners, technical providers with following expertise:
1. Universities/Research Institutions
a. Expertise in sustainability, circular economy, or business
b. Interest in digital tools, LCA and regulatory alignment such as CSRD, ESPR, European Green Deal
c. Access to SME networks for conducting survey, analysis and pilot implementation.
2. SMEs
a. Operating in textile, mainly focusing
b. Willingness to innovate and transform processes toward circularity
c. Providing data regarding their sustainability
3. Technical Provider
a. Co-develop web-based sustainability assessment platform with Sabancı University
b. Convert KPI’s and framework into digital tool
c. Integrate features like scorecards and DPP modules
d. Ensure data privacy compliance for SMEs
e. Familiarity with EU sustainability tools
f. Ability to develop scalable for non-expert users
4. Industry Associations
a. Facilitate access to SME communities, packaging, or bio-based in the textile industry
b. Support disseminating the project results to a wider industry audience
c. Contribute stakeholder engagement, replication and policy dialogue - Stage of Development
- Concept stage
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 13: Climate Action
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- IPR status
- IPR granted
- IPR notes
- IPR granted
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
-
We are looking for SMEs in textile industry, associations, academic partners, technical providers with following expertise:
1. Universities/Research Institutions
a. Expertise in sustainability, circular economy, or business
b. Interest in digital tools, LCA and regulatory alignment such as CSRD, ESPR, European Green Deal
c. Access to SME networks for conducting survey, analysis and pilot implementation.
2. SMEs
a. Operating in textile, mainly focusing
b. Willingness to innovate and transform processes toward circularity
c. Providing data regarding their sustainability
3. Technical Provider
a. Co-develop web-based sustainability assessment platform with Sabancı University
b. Convert KPI’s and framework into digital tool
c. Integrate features like scorecards and DPP modules
d. Ensure data privacy compliance for SMEs
e. Familiarity with EU sustainability tools
f. Ability to develop scalable for non-expert users
4. Industry Associations
a. Facilitate access to SME communities, packaging, or bio-based in the textile industry
b. Support disseminating the project results to a wider industry audience
c. Contribute stakeholder engagement, replication and policy dialogue - Type and Size of Partner
- Big company
- SME <=10
- University
- SME 50 - 249
- SME 11-49
- R&D Institution
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
Call details
- Framework program
- Horizon Europe
- Call title and identifier
-
HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-01-two-stage: Open Topic: Innovative solutions for
the sustainable and circular transformation of SMEs - Submission and evaluation scheme
-
This is a two stage call.
- Anticipated project budget
-
5000000
- Coordinator required
-
No
- Deadline for EoI
- Deadline of the call
- Project duration in weeks
-
156
- Project title and acronym
-
Sustainability Transformation and Assessment Framework / Digital Tool for SME’s
- Horizon Europe
the sustainable and circular transformation of SMEs
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 06006003 - Biobased chemical building blocks
- 10002004 - Climate Change mitigation
- Market keywords
- 09004003 - Textiles (synthetic and natural)
- 04005 - Biochemistry / Biophysics
- Sector Groups Involved
- Textiles
- Energy-Intensive Industries - BioChemTech
- Targeted countries
- All countries