F6S is a European platform supporting startup growth and innovation across Europe. With deep expertise in funding programs, application management, and community engagement, F6S plays a key role in making innovation more accessible across sectors. In CIRCULOOS, they lead the open call process, ensuring that circular manufacturing initiatives receive the support they need to thrive.
What is your role in the CIRCULOOS project?
At F6S, we play a key role in making the CIRCULOOS open calls as efficient, accessible, and impactful as possible. Our main responsibility is to manage the entire application process, ensuring that companies from different sectors can easily apply, find partners, and receive the necessary support to develop circular manufacturing solutions.
We’re not just a platform; we’re facilitators of innovation. From the moment the call opens, we provide a structured and transparent system where applicants can navigate the process seamlessly, access all necessary documents, and submit their proposals without hassle. But our role doesn’t stop there. We also focus on outreach and engagement, working closely with CIRCULOOS partners to ensure that key players—manufacturers, recyclers, DIHs, and technology providers—are aware of the funding opportunities and can connect with the right partners to form strong consortia.
Beyond managing applications, F6S also contributes to the evaluation and selection process, ensuring that every proposal is assessed fairly and transparently. Our goal is to remove barriers to participation and make it as easy as possible for innovative circular economy solutions to receive the support they need to thrive.
How does F6S intend to leverage its platform to efficiently handle open calls and ensure a streamlined process for receiving and evaluating proposals?
F6S has built a powerful digital platform designed to simplify open call management, and for CIRCULOOS, we’re bringing in all our expertise to make the process efficient and applicant friendly. Our system ensures that applications are centralized in one place, making it easy for companies to register, fill out their proposals, and track their progress.
One of the biggest challenges in funding programs like this is ensuring that applications are complete and meet the eligibility criteria. That’s why we’ve integrated automated checks that help applicants catch potential issues before submission. Once proposals are in, the evaluation process is fully digital and structured, allowing reviewers to assess each application fairly and consistently.
Another key strength of F6S is our data tracking capabilities. We don’t just collect applications – we analyze engagement levels, applicant demographics, and submission trends to continuously improve outreach and support. By combining smart technology with human expertise, we make sure that every stage of the open call, from promotion to final selection, runs smoothly and effectively.
What potential challenges do you foresee in managing open calls for the CIRCULOOS project?
Every open call comes with its own unique challenges, and for CIRCULOOS, one of the biggest hurdles is ensuring a balanced applicant pool. Past experience has shown that technology providers and service companies are highly engaged, but attracting manufacturers willing to adopt circular economy strategies requires a more targeted effort. Without them, it’s difficult to create fully functional supply chains, which are at the heart of the CIRCULOOS vision.
Another challenge is the matchmaking process. Since Open Call 2 requires consortia, applicants need to find the right partners before submitting their proposals. While the RAMP platform provides a space for this, tracking successful matches is not always straightforward. That’s why F6S is actively facilitating networking opportunities, including dedicated matchmaking events and direct outreach to key stakeholders.
Additionally, ensuring that all applicants fully understand the funding conditions and project expectations is critical. Open calls can be complex, and sometimes potential applicants hesitate because they’re unsure about co-funding requirements, eligible activities, or reporting obligations. That’s why we focus so much on clear
How will F6S contribute to creating and disseminating content about open calls for different stakeholders?
Getting the word out about CIRCULOOS is just as important as having a great funding program. At F6S, we don’t just publish open calls and wait for applications to roll in—we actively engage potential applicants through multiple channels to ensure the right companies know about these opportunities.
One of the ways we do this is through targeted digital marketing. By leveraging our extensive network, we push open call announcements through newsletters, social media campaigns, and industry-specific outreach. We also work closely with CIRCULOOS partners to amplify the message in relevant innovation networks across Europe.
Beyond digital promotion, we organize informational webinars and Q&A sessions, where applicants can ask questions, understand the submission process, and connect with potential partners. We also produce engaging content like success stories, video interviews, and expert insights, making the CIRCULOOS open calls more accessible and easier to understand.
Our approach is dynamic and data-driven—we track engagement levels and adjust our outreach strategies in real time to maximize participation and ensure that high-quality applicants get the support they need.
