Restoring Ocean and Waters in Regions

The main goal of this opportunity is to support efforts to restore and protect marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity, prevent and eliminate water pollution, and advance a carbon-neutral and circular blue economy. The focus is on place-based and people-centered restoration in coastal and riparian zones, promoting innovative solutions, and engaging regional authorities and stakeholders. Projects should also attract both public and private investment to achieve measurable progress. Activities must take place in at least eight regions across four major European sea and river basins, including the Atlantic, Arctic, Mediterranean, Baltic, North Sea, Danube, and Black Sea areas. Strong involvement of local and regional authorities is essential.

• Must align with the mission's objectives: restoring coastal and riparian areas, protecting marine and freshwater ecosystems, preventing pollution, and promoting a circular, carbon-neutral blue economy.
• Should involve regional and competent authorities in project planning and execution.
• Need to demonstrate innovative solutions and approaches.
• Must show measurable progress toward the mission's goals by 2025 (development and piloting) and 2030 (deployment and upscaling).
• Should include activities in at least eight regions across four targeted basins.
• Must follow proposal format and page limits as outlined in the Horizon Europe guidelines.

Examples:

• A project piloting new methods to restore wetlands in the Danube River basin with the involvement of local governments.
• An initiative to reduce plastic pollution in the Mediterranean Sea by engaging regional authorities and testing innovative waste management solutions.
• A collaborative effort in the Baltic Sea basin to deploy carbon-neutral aquaculture practices, supported by both public and private partners.

Personnel costs
Subcontracting
Travel and subsistence
Equipment (depreciation or rental)
Consumables and materials
Dissemination and communication
Access to research infrastructure
IPR and certification
Audit costs
Indirect costs (25% flat rate)
Internally invoiced services

• Budget for this Call: 15,000,000€
• Number of Grants attributed: 1
• Budget per grant: 15,000,000€

• Applicants must be based in eligible countries, as described in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
• Some participants from non-EU/non-Associated Countries may be eligible if specific funding provisions apply.
• If using satellite-based earth observation or navigation, the project must utilize Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS services (other data sources may also be used).
• Applicants must demonstrate financial and operational capacity as required by Horizon Europe.
• Strong and meaningful involvement of relevant local and regional authorities is required.
• Projects must cover activities in at least eight regions across the specified sea and river basins.