AquaLoops4Med Open Call

The AquaLoops4Med Open Call is a funding opportunity aimed at supporting Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) operating in the agrifood sector within specified Mediterranean regions. This initiative is part of the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument and has a total budget of €850,000. The call opens for submissions on December 1, 2025, and the deadline is February 27, 2026, at 17:00 Brussels time. The expected project duration is up to 8 months.

Eligible applicants must be SMEs as defined by EU Regulation 2003/361/EC, including technology providers and end users like agricultural farms and food processing industries. Each participating SME can receive funding of up to €60,000 in the form of a non-reimbursable lump sum. Only SMEs from certain Mediterranean regions are eligible, specifically Catalonia in Spain, Basilicata in Italy, and Attica and Thessaly in Greece. Applicants must have been legally established at least six months before the submission date and are required to apply through an interregional consortium composed of 2-3 SMEs from at least two different eligible regions.

The areas of focus for the applications include water and wastewater management, irrigation, agricultural practices for water efficiency, and gas emissions from wastewater treatment. The evaluation process consists of four sequential stages, including admissibility and eligibility checks, evaluation by three independent reviewers, and final selection. Proposals must achieve a minimum of 60% in each evaluation criterion and an overall score of at least 70% to qualify for funding.

The funding mechanism is designed to simplify administration for small beneficiaries, with a focus on collaborative projects that address water management challenges within the agrifood sector. The call promotes interregional collaboration and aims to foster sustainable water management practices while supporting innovation in the Mediterranean agrifood sector.

In summary, the AquaLoops4Med Open Call provides a unique funding opportunity for eligible SMEs to advance sustainable water management solutions while collaborating with other firms across the Mediterranean, significantly benefiting the agrifood sector through innovation and interregional partnerships.

The AquaLoops4Med Open Call is a funding opportunity within the Mediterranean network for sustainable and circular water management in the agrifood sector. The call falls under the Interregional Innovation Investments Strand 2a, with the topic code I3-2023-INV2a. The project's grant agreement number is 101161349.

The opening date for submissions is December 1, 2025, and the deadline for submission is February 27, 2026, at 17:00 (Brussels time). The expected duration of participation is up to 8 months. The total funding available is 850,000.00 €.

The call operates on a single-stage deadline model.

Applicants can submit proposals through the link announced on https://cwp.cat/en/projectes/aqualoops4med-3/.

Eligible applicants must be SMEs as defined by the EU (2003/361/EC). Applicants must use the SME self-assessment tool provided by the European Commission, and the results of the completed questionnaire must be submitted with the application.

Only SMEs established in the following regions are eligible: Catalonia (ES51), Basilicata (ITF5), Attica (EL30), and Thessaly (EL61). Applicants must have been legally established for at least 6 months prior to the submission deadline.

SMEs must apply as small interregional consortia. Mono-beneficiary applications from individual SMEs are not eligible. The call is open to technology providers and end users, such as agricultural farms, food processing industries, or other relevant SMEs active in the agrifood sector, provided they contribute to the validation or co-development of innovative solutions. Consortia must be composed of either 2 or 3 SMEs from at least 2 different regions. One SME will act as the lead applicant and coordinate the consortium throughout the project.

The evaluation process consists of four steps: i) Admissibility check, ii) Eligibility check, iii) Evaluation of the proposals (carried out by three reviewers, each from a different organisation of the AquaLoops4Med consortium), and iv) Selection of the proposals. Proposals must achieve a minimum threshold of 60% in each of the evaluation criteria and an overall score of at least 70% to be considered for funding. The evaluation criteria are detailed in the Open Call text.

Each successful applicant SME may receive financial support up to 60,000 € in the form of a lump sum.

Applications must address at least one of the following four domains: Water and wastewater management, Irrigation, Agricultural Practices for water efficiency, and Gas emissions from wastewater treatment.

In summary, the AquaLoops4Med Open Call aims to foster sustainable and circular water management in the Mediterranean agrifood sector by providing funding to interregional consortia of SMEs. The call encourages the development and validation of innovative solutions in areas such as water and wastewater management, irrigation, water-efficient agricultural practices, and the reduction of gas emissions from wastewater treatment. Eligible SMEs from specific regions within Spain, Italy, and Greece can apply for funding up to 60,000 € per SME, provided they meet the eligibility criteria and achieve the required scores in the evaluation process. The call seeks to promote collaboration between technology providers and end-users in the agrifood sector to address critical water management challenges in the Mediterranean region.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant type is SME (Small and Medium-sized Enterprise) as defined by the EU (2003/361/EC). The call is open to technology providers and end users, such as agricultural farms, food processing industries or other relevant SMEs active in the agrifood sector, provided they contribute to the validation or co-development of innovative solutions.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically cascade funding, provided in the form of a lump sum.

Consortium Requirement: A consortium of multiple applicants is required. SMEs must apply as small interregional consortia. Mono-beneficiary applications from individual SMEs will not be eligible. Consortia must be composed of either 2 or 3 SMEs from at least 2 different regions. One SME will act as lead applicant and will coordinate the consortium through the whole project.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): Only SMEs established in the following regions are eligible: ES: Catalonia (ES51), IT: Basilicata (ITF5), EL: Attica (EL30), Thessaly (EL61).

Target Sector: The target sector is the agrifood sector, with a focus on sustainable and circular water management. Specific domains include water and wastewater management, irrigation, agricultural practices for water efficiency, and gas emissions from wastewater treatment.

Mentioned Countries: Spain (ES), Italy (IT), Greece (EL). More specifically, the regions of Catalonia (Spain), Basilicata (Italy), Attica and Thessaly (Greece) are mentioned.

Project Stage: The opportunity targets projects that contribute to the validation or co-development of innovative solutions, suggesting a development, validation, or demonstration stage.

Funding Amount: Each successful applicant SME may receive financial support up to 60,000€ in the form of a lump sum. The total funding available for the project is 850,000€.

Application Type: The application type is an open call. Applicants can submit a proposal through the link announced on https://cwp.cat/en/projectes/aqualoops4med-3/.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant.

Application Stages: The evaluation process consists of 4 stages: i) Admissibility check, ii) Eligibility check, iii) Evaluation of the proposals (carried out by three reviewers, each from a different organisation of the AquaLoops4Med consortium) and iv) Selection of the proposals.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but proposals must achieve a minimum threshold of 60% in each of the evaluation criteria and an overall score of at least 70% to be considered for funding.

Co-funding Requirement: The information provided does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

The AquaLoops4Med Open Call is a funding opportunity under the I3-2023-INV2a - Interregional Innovation Investments Strand 2a, designed to support SMEs in the agrifood sector within specific regions of Spain, Italy, and Greece. The project aims to foster sustainable and circular water management practices. The call encourages SMEs to form interregional consortia of 2 or 3 members from at least two different eligible regions: Catalonia (Spain), Basilicata (Italy), Attica and Thessaly (Greece). The focus is on projects that address challenges in water and wastewater management, irrigation, agricultural practices for water efficiency, and gas emissions from wastewater treatment. Successful applicants can receive up to 60,000€ in lump sum funding. The application process involves a single-stage submission with a deadline of February 27, 2026. Proposals will undergo a four-step evaluation process, including admissibility, eligibility, evaluation by reviewers, and final selection. The total funding available for this call is 850,000€. Applicants must have been legally established for at least 6 months prior to the submission deadline and must use the SME self-assessment tool provided by the European Commission. The call is open to both technology providers and end-users within the agrifood sector, provided they contribute to the validation or co-development of innovative solutions. The expected duration of participation is up to 8 months.