Towards a comprehensive European strategy to assess and monitor aquatic litter including plastic and microplastic pollution

The main goal of this opportunity is to support the European Green Deal by tackling pollution and promoting healthier oceans, seas, and waters. It aims to develop unified and coordinated methods across Europe for monitoring aquatic litter in both freshwater and marine environments. Key focus areas include improving data collection, advancing scientific methods for detecting plastics and microplastics, enhancing sampling and analysis tools, and fostering international collaboration. The opportunity targets European aquatic environments but also encourages partnerships with countries around the Atlantic and supports global initiatives for monitoring plastic pollution. Ultimately, it seeks to create cost-effective, reliable, and comprehensive strategies for assessing and managing aquatic litter.

• Projects must focus on monitoring aquatic litter in freshwater or marine environments.
• They should develop or improve scientific methods for detecting and quantifying plastic and microplastic pollution.
• Proposals must enhance tools for sampling and analysis of aquatic litter.
• Projects should foster international cooperation, especially with partners in Europe and the Atlantic region.
• They must contribute to harmonized, pan-European monitoring strategies.
• Projects should support knowledge sharing and data improvement for understanding litter sources, pathways, and risks.

Examples:

• A project that creates a new sensor technology to detect microplastics in European rivers.
• A collaborative initiative between EU and Atlantic countries to standardize data collection on marine litter.
• A study that maps the pathways of plastic waste from land to sea, using innovative data analysis techniques.

• Personnel costs for researchers and technical staff
• Equipment and materials for sampling and analysis
• Development and testing of scientific methods or tools
• Data collection, processing, and management
• Travel and collaboration costs for international partnerships
• Workshops, training sessions, and knowledge-sharing activities
• Communication and dissemination of project results
• Costs related to validation and implementation of monitoring strategies
• Project management and coordination expenses

Expenses are funded as a lump sum. All costs must be directly related to the project’s activities and objectives.

• Budget for this Call: 6.000.000€
• Number of Grants attributed: 1
• Budget per project: 6.000.000€

• Applicants must be legal entities established in eligible countries as defined by the Horizon Europe Programme.
• Consortiums are generally required, involving partners from different eligible countries.
• International cooperation is encouraged, especially with Atlantic region partners.
• Applicants must follow the guidelines and requirements outlined in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
• Some non-EU/non-Associated Country participants may be eligible if they have made specific provisions.
• The Joint Research Centre (JRC) can participate as a consortium member.
• Applicants must submit proposals according to the specified format and page limits.