Developing managed aquifer recharge techniques (MAR) in a rural context

The Horizon Europe funding opportunity identified as HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-03 focuses on developing managed aquifer recharge (MAR) techniques in rural contexts. This call is part of the broader framework addressing food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture, and environment, specifically under the "Clean Environment and Zero Pollution" initiative.

Eligible applicants include a wide range of entities such as research institutions, universities, public research organizations, private enterprises (including SMEs and large companies), public authorities, and international organizations. A multi-actor approach is required, ensuring the involvement of diverse stakeholders like farmers and local authorities throughout the project.

The funding mechanism is a lump sum grant under the HORIZON-AG-LS scheme. The total budget for this call is 12,000,000 EUR, with an expected funding amount of 6,000,000 EUR for each of the two projects anticipated to be awarded. The submission process follows a single-stage approach with a planned opening date of April 17, 2026, and a deadline of September 17, 2026.

Projects should focus on enhancing water supply for agricultural areas affected by climate change through improved MAR techniques. They are expected to conduct research and develop methodologies for assessing MAR implementation, demonstrate feasibility through case studies, and create governance frameworks adaptable to local conditions.

The opportunity aligns with EU policies focused on addressing climate-induced challenges and promoting sustainability in agriculture. It encompasses various sectors like water management, sustainable agriculture, and environmental remediation, emphasizing the importance of climate-smart practices and nature-based solutions in transitioning to a more resilient agricultural framework.

The competitive nature of this funding means success rates are expected to be low, potentially below 10%, given the limited number of available grants relative to the number of submissions anticipated. Co-funding is not a formal requirement, but the collaborative nature of proposals may lead to in-kind contributions from partners.

Overall, this funding opportunity seeks to catalyze innovative approaches to water management in agriculture, pressing stakeholders to contribute collaboratively toward solving pressing environmental challenges in a rapidly changing climate.

This is a summary of EU funding opportunities related to Horizon Europe, specifically focusing on the call HORIZON-CL6-2026-01, which addresses challenges in food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture, and environment. The opportunities are structured around several key areas: Biodiversity, Circular Bioeconomy (CIRCBIO), and Zero Pollution. The funding is provided through various action types: Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), Innovation Actions (IA), and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA). All calls are single-stage, meaning there is only one submission deadline. The planned opening date for submissions is April 17, 2026, and the deadline for submission is September 17, 2026, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. Funding is provided as a lump sum.

The HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-03 call, titled "Developing managed aquifer recharge techniques (MAR) in a rural context," is a HORIZON-RIA type action with a budget of 12,000,000 EUR. It aims to develop and improve managed aquifer recharge techniques to enhance water supply for farmers, improve water ecosystem resilience, and provide policymakers with insights to improve water resilience in agriculture. Proposals should extend and improve MAR techniques, develop methodologies for assessing suitable locations for MAR, create user-friendly monitoring systems, evaluate the impact and sustainability of MAR, calculate cost-benefits, propose business models for compensating farmers, and provide governance models.

General conditions for all calls include admissibility conditions related to proposal page limits and layout as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form. Eligible countries are detailed in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-associated countries outlined in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. Additional eligibility criteria include the application of the multi-actor approach, as defined in Annex B. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are described in Annex C. Evaluation and award processes, criteria, scoring, and thresholds are detailed in Annex D, Annex F, and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreements is in Annex F. Legal and financial aspects are governed by a lump sum approach, as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021, with eligible costs outlined in Annex G. Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

Application and evaluation forms, as well as the model grant agreement (MGA), are available in the Submission System. Standard application forms (HE RIA, IA) and evaluation forms will be used with necessary adaptations. Guidance is provided through the HE Programme Guide and Lump Sum MGA. Call-specific instructions, a detailed budget table (HE LS), and guidance on lump sums are also available. Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, the decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions, rules for legal entity validation, the EU Grants AGA, and the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual.

The budget overview lists several topics under the HORIZON-CL6-2026-01 call, including various BIODIV, CIRCBIO, and ZEROPOLLUTION initiatives. Each topic specifies the type of action (RIA, IA, or CSA), the budget in EUR, the stage (single-stage), the opening and deadline dates (April 17, 2026, and September 17, 2026, respectively), the estimated contribution amount, and the indicative number of grants.

Partner search announcements can be viewed and edited by LEARs, Account Administrators, or self-registrants. The submission system will open on the date stated in the topic header.

Support is available through the Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network, IT Helpdesk, European IPR Helpdesk, and CEN-CENELEC/ETSI Research Helpdesks.

In summary, this EU funding opportunity aims to address critical challenges in agriculture and environmental sustainability by supporting research and innovation in biodiversity, circular bioeconomy, and zero pollution. It seeks to foster collaboration among stakeholders, promote the adoption of sustainable practices, and provide policymakers with the tools and knowledge needed to build a more resilient and environmentally friendly future. The focus on managed aquifer recharge techniques highlights the importance of water resource management in the face of increasing droughts and climate change impacts.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but based on the context of Horizon Europe, HORIZON-RIA (Research and Innovation Actions), HORIZON-IA (Innovation Actions) and HORIZON-CSA (Coordination and Support Actions), eligible applicants can include universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other relevant organizations involved in research and innovation. The multi-actor approach requires the involvement of relevant stakeholders, including farmers, land managers, water governance bodies, and local authorities, suggesting that these entities are also considered eligible applicants or partners in a consortium.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant. The call includes HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA), HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA), and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA).

Consortium Requirement: While not explicitly stated, the requirement to implement a multi-actor approach and ensure adequate involvement of relevant stakeholders suggests that a consortium of multiple applicants is preferred or even required. The partner search announcements further indicate the need for collaboration.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The primary geographic eligibility is focused on the EU, but also includes non-EU/non-Associated Countries that have specific provisions for funding participants in Horizon Europe projects. The Horizon Europe Programme Guide provides more information on eligible countries.

Target Sector: The program targets several thematic sectors, including agriculture/food, climate, environment, cleantech, and innovation. Specifically, it focuses on water management, drought resilience, sustainable agriculture, and zero pollution.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity focuses primarily on the EU, but also mentions non-EU and non-associated countries that have specific funding provisions within Horizon Europe.

Project Stage: The project stage varies depending on the type of action. HORIZON-RIA (Research and Innovation Actions) supports projects from research to demonstration, while HORIZON-IA (Innovation Actions) focuses on demonstration and validation, and HORIZON-CSA (Coordination and Support Actions) supports networking, coordination, and dissemination activities. Therefore, the project stages range from research and development to demonstration and validation.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic and type of action. The budget overview provides the following ranges:
HORIZON-RIA: €3,000,000 to €10,000,000
HORIZON-IA: €5,000,000 to €6,000,000
HORIZON-CSA: Around €3,000,000

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

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

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants for each topic provides some insight. For example, some topics indicate that only one or two grants will be awarded, suggesting a competitive process.

Co-funding Requirement: The need for co-funding is not explicitly mentioned.

This Horizon Europe call focuses on "Developing managed aquifer recharge techniques (MAR) in a rural context" under the broader scope of climate action, agriculture, and environmental sustainability. The call aims to address the increasing frequency and impact of droughts in the EU by promoting innovative water storage and management systems. It seeks to fund projects that extend and improve managed aquifer recharge techniques, develop methodologies for assessing suitable locations for MAR implementation, create user-friendly monitoring systems, evaluate the impact and sustainability of MAR techniques, calculate cost-benefits, propose business models for compensating farmers, and provide governance models for different local conditions. The call encourages proposals that implement a multi-actor approach, involving farmers, land managers, water governance bodies, and local authorities. It also encourages building on the results of previous Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe projects and collaboration with the Mission Soil and the Mission Ocean & Waters. The funding is provided as a lump sum grant, and the application process involves a single stage. The call is relevant to EU policies related to the EU Vision for Agriculture and Food, the European Water Resilience Strategy, and the EU Climate Adaptation Strategy.