Digital technologies and energy transition in fisheries and/or aquaculture

The main goal of this opportunity is to support the transformation of fisheries and aquaculture towards greater energy efficiency and lower carbon emissions. Projects should focus on protecting marine and freshwater ecosystems, restoring biodiversity, and making the blue economy more sustainable. Key areas include the use of digital solutions to manage and reduce energy consumption, as well as overcoming technical and policy challenges to sustainable energy. Activities must contribute to pollution prevention and align with the broader mission to restore oceans and waters by 2030. The geographic scope covers the Atlantic and Arctic, Mediterranean, Baltic and North Sea, and Danube River basins, including the Black Sea.

• Proposals must follow the specified page limits and layout in the application form.
• Projects must demonstrate activities in at least three different countries within the relevant basin.
• Legal entities from these countries must participate as beneficiaries.
• Projects must target energy reduction in fisheries or aquaculture using digital technologies, without harming ecosystems or biodiversity.
• Evidence of operational feasibility, economic viability, and regional relevance is required.
• Any collected in-situ data must be openly shared via EMODnet.

Example projects:

• A partnership between Spain, Portugal, and France to pilot digital energy monitoring in Mediterranean aquaculture farms.
• A demonstration of low-carbon fishing vessel technologies involving Norway, Denmark, and Sweden in the Baltic Sea basin.
• A cross-border initiative in Romania, Bulgaria, and Ukraine to implement smart energy management in Danube River fisheries.

• 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: 23.300.000€
• Number of Grants attributed: 4
• Maximum value per project: 5.825.000€
• Minimum value per project: 5.000.000€

• Applicants must be from eligible countries as described in the Horizon Europe guidelines.
• The consortium must include legal entities from at least three different countries within the targeted basin.
• Projects must involve demonstration activities in these countries.
• If using satellite data, Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS services must be used.
• Any collected marine data must be made openly available through EMODnet.
• Solutions must not harm ecosystems or biodiversity and should improve animal welfare.