FPS Public Health launches 'Circular by Design' call for projects
The Belgian federal government is prioritising the transition to a circular economy and supporting businesses, particularly SMEs, in making that transition a reality. This ambition aligns with the European objective of accelerating reindustrialisation and strengthening strategic autonomy through a sustainable industrial strategy. Key priorities include reducing dependence on imported critical raw materials, enhancing the resilience of the Belgian economy, and reinforcing industry’s role as a driver of the ecological and digital transitions. Within this strategy, the circular economy and ecodesign are considered important levers for both strengthening competitiveness and reducing environmental impact.
In this context, the FPS Public Health has launched the ‘Circular by Design’ call for projects to fund ambitious initiatives with strong potential for systemic transformation and replication. The call builds on the Belgium Builds Back Circular (BBBC) investment fund and the ‘This is Circular’ (Dit is circulair) campaign.
Scope
The ‘Circular by Design’ call supports high-impact circular ecodesign projects that demonstrate clear potential for systemic transformation and replicability, and deliver measurable economic, environmental, and social benefits. The targeted sectors are construction, textiles, packaging, and electrical and electronic devices.
Priority will be given to initiatives that:
- are positioned high on the Lansink Ladder (the 10 R-strategies of the circular economy);
- contribute to the sustainable transformation of local value chains;
- develop new business models;
- have reached a sufficient level of maturity (TRL 4 or higher);
- demonstrate a quantifiable and verifiable impact, such as job creation, a reduced environmental footprint, and a higher degree of circularity.
Target audience
The call for projects is open to different types of applicants. However, each project must be led by an economic actor established in Belgium:
- an SME or start-up (TRL 4 or higher);
- or a social economy organisation.
Partnerships with other companies and organisations are strongly encouraged.
Funding
The FPS Public Health will fund up to 85% of eligible project costs. The remaining costs must be covered by the project lead and/or the project consortium. With a total budget of approximately €600,000, the call is expected to support four to eight projects between the end of 2026 and the end of 2028.
Online information session
An online information session will be held on Friday, 24 July 2026, from 10:00 to 11:30. Participants will receive further information on the objectives of the call, the eligibility and selection criteria, and the practical arrangements for submitting an application. The session will also provide an opportunity to ask questions directly to experts from the FPS Public Health.
The session will be recorded and made available afterwards on the FPS Public Health website.
Selection and evaluation procedure
Applications must be submitted by Monday, 7 September 2026, at 09:00 in the morning. The projects will be evaluated by a jury.
Timeline
- 17 July 2026: Launch of the call for projects and opening of the application period
- 24 July 2026: Online information session. This session will be recorded and made available afterwards. Register here.
- 7 September 2026, at 9:00: Deadline for submission of the application dossier
- 11 September 2026: Verification of eligibility and exclusion criteria
- 15 September 2026: Deadline for submission of the final dossier
- September 2026: Evaluation and selection by the jury
- End of 2026: Announcement of the selected projects.
Commitment and monitoring of selected projects
Selected project consortia are expected to contribute to communication activities organised by the FPS Public Health throughout the implementation of their projects. They will also participate in the monitoring and follow-up activities established as part of this call.
Further information and helpdesk
The full call documentation, including the original call text in Dutch, the guidelines for applicants, and the application form, can be consulted on the FPS Public Health website. An up-to-date FAQ is also available to help applicants prepare their submission.
Any further technical or administrative questions regarding this call may be addressed to wearecircular
health.fgov.be (wearecircular[at]health[dot]fgov[dot]be).