To all organizations working towards driving innovative Sustainable Consumption and Production and circular economy solutions in the Asia Pacific Region, we are here with an exciting programme offered by the European Union that will help you in lifting your project impact. You heard it right, the applications are open for the EU Switch Asia Programme 2026. A flagship initiative of the European Union to promote scale-up Sustainable Consumption & Production in the Asia-Pacific regions. The program operates under the umbrella of the EU’s global gateway, which aims to contribute to the transition of a low-carbon, circular, and resource-efficient economy.
The objective of the programme is to address the pressing economic issues and reduce poverty in Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East, while promoting sustainable development in the regions. The Switch Asia programme is inviting applications from non-profit organizations, small and medium-sized enterprises, research institutes, industry associations, and governmental bodies. The entities have to apply as a team, and your team must include organizations from one EU Country and one eligible Asian Country.
The EU Switch Programme supports pilot projects through a grant. Since the programme’s existence, it has funded over 143 projects. The programme offers support for projects in several priority areas, including plastic & waste management, Textiles and Leather, agri-food and beverages, Building and construction, tourism, and more that we will discuss later in this post. Read more details about the EU Switch Program below.
Details About the EU-Switch Asia Programme 2026
| Programme | Switch Asia |
|---|---|
| Type | Action Grants |
| Eligible Regions | Asia & Pacific |
| Budget | €25,000,000 |
| Project Duration | 3–4 Years |
| Application Opens | November 24, 2025 |
| Application Deadline | December 10, 2025 |
Also, Check: Your Europe Your Say 2026 (YEYS) Youth Event in Belgium
Focus Areas
The Switch grants are available for projects focusing on the following areas:
- Energy Resource Efficiency
- Sustainable Supply Chains
- Circular Economy
- Sustainable Products and Consumer Behaviour
- Supply Chains
- Eco Innovation and Green Business
Eligiblity Criteria
Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the Switch Asia Program:
- Calling applications from Business Associations, Non-Profit Organizations (NGOS), Research Institutes, International organizations, and Private companies
- The participating organization or entity must have the capacity to implement the project
- The project needs to be implemented via a consortium that includes 1 lead applicant and 1 or more partners
- The project needs to be managed in an eligible project region
Your company must be legally registered in one of the following eligible Asia-Pacific countries:
- Middle-East: (Iraq, Yemen, and Iran)
- Pacific: Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Vanuatu, Palau, Niue, Nauru, Timor Leste, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands)
- Asia: Pakistan, India, Lao PDR, Maldives, Malaysia, Tajikistan, the Philippines, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Myanmar, Mongolia, Nepal, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan)
Benefits
- The projects will recieve financial support b/w €2.5 million – €4 million
- The organization will recieve training, technical assistance, and tools to improve sustainability
- Gain access to the European Union Market
- Connect with global leaders in green products
- Gain recognition and visibility
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How to Apply?
The Switch-Asia Application consists of the following steps:
- Step 1: Make sure you are meeting the eligibility requirements
- Step 2: Form a consortium to do that, you need one lead organization and co-partners from one eligible country
- Step 3: You need to submit a concept note of your project
- Step 4: Shortlisted applicants need to submit the full proposal
- Step 5: The Selected organization will recieve a grant contract
- Step 6: Start getting funding for project implementation
For more details and for the Switch Asia programme application, visit the official link below:
