Strengthening taxonomic approaches for biodiversity

The main goal of this opportunity is to strengthen taxonomic expertise and approaches to support biodiversity in Europe. It aims to improve knowledge, methods, and tools for protecting healthy ecosystems and restoring degraded ones, contributing to climate change adaptation and mitigation. The focus is on integrating genomics for biodiversity identification, addressing knowledge gaps in underrepresented regions, and creating networks and tools for biodiversity observation and policy-making. Geographic emphasis is placed on Central and Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, and outermost regions, especially where data and expertise are lacking. International cooperation is encouraged, particularly with partners supporting global biodiversity initiatives.

• Fill key gaps in taxonomy and genetic diversity knowledge (species, molecular, ecosystem level).

• Pilot innovative taxonomic methods for biodiversity monitoring across ecosystems.

• Create an open, FAIR-aligned catalogue linking key taxonomic databases (e.g. IPNI, Zoobank).

• Develop EU-wide strategies for taxonomic training, certification, and expert networks.

• Cover lesser-known taxa and regions, especially for climate change indicators.

• Projects must target either taxonomy integration/monitoring or genomics/barcoding.

• Include third-party grants to close regional or taxonomic gaps.

• Collaborate with EU infrastructures (e.g. GBIF, CETAF, LifeWatch).

• Promote citizen science and AI tools where relevant.

• Ensure all data is FAIR and compatible with platforms like EOSC.

Example projects:

• A project establishing a network of taxonomists to fill knowledge gaps in Mediterranean biodiversity.
• An initiative integrating genomics tools to monitor species in Central and Eastern Europe.
• A collaborative effort supporting long-term biodiversity observation in outermost regions.

• Grants to third parties for biodiversity and taxonomy projects
• Development of taxonomic tools and resources
• Training and capacity-building activities
• Workshops, networking, and partnership-building events
• Data collection and biodiversity monitoring
• Integration of genomics and digital identification methods
• Creation and maintenance of databases and observation tools
• Travel and fieldwork related to project activities

Restrictions: The maximum grant per third party is EUR 60,000, unless a higher amount is justified. Up to 30% of the requested EU contribution can be allocated for third-party grants to address specific needs.

• Budget for this Call: 24.000.000€
• Number of Grants attributed: 2
• Budget per project: 12.000.000€

• Consortium requirement: Minimum of 3 independent legal entities from 3 different EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries, with at least one EU-based partner. 

• Eligible participants: Legal entities such as universities, research centres, public authorities, NGOs, SMEs, or industry partners established in eligible countries. 

• Coordinator requirement: Must be based in an eligible EU or Associated Country and able to demonstrate operational and financial capacity. 

• Affiliated entities or third-country partners: May be included but do not count toward meeting the minimum consortium; typically not funded by EU unless exceptional arrangements apply. 

• Operational & financial capacity: All participants must demonstrate they have sufficient resources and ability to implement their proposed tasks. 

• Collaboration expectations: Proposals should coordinate with existing infrastructures such as CETAF, GBIF, EASIN, ESFRI, and the upcoming EU Biodiversity Observation Coordination Centre to ensure data sharing and FAIR principles.