Empowering the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development

The grant opportunity titled "Empowering the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development" is offered under the Horizon Europe program, specifically reference HORIZON-CL6. This is a forthcoming single-stage call opening on January 14, 2026, with a submission deadline of April 15, 2026. The total budget for this initiative is €9 millioneuros, with three expected grants of €3 millioneuros each. This opportunity primarily targets eligible applicants including research institutions, universities, government bodies, international organizations, and nonprofit entities with expertise in marine science coordination and governance. All international organizations are exceptionally eligible for funding, promoting a broad participation framework. The funding type is a Lump Sum Grant, known as HORIZON-AG-LS. This mechanism simplifies financial management as it provides a fixed amount of funding rather than reimbursing specific costs, thereby reducing administrative burdens for beneficiaries. Proposals must be submitted as a single comprehensive application. The consortium requirement specifies that applications should involve partnerships as the coordination of international ocean science efforts is a key focus. Geographic eligibility includes EU and EEA member states, associated countries, and eligible third countries. The call encourages international collaboration. The initiative emphasizes areas such as oceanography, earth and environmental sciences, and climate-related research. It aims to address global ocean challenges including marine pollution, ecosystem restoration, and community resilience. Successful proposals should align with the UN Decade of Ocean Science and contribute towards established outcomes such as a clean, productive, and accessible ocean. Applicants do not have a co-funding requirement, but may leverage additional funding sources to enhance proposal competitiveness. The focus is on long-term sustainability and structural changes to ocean science governance, aiming to consolidate efforts initiated during the Decade and extend them beyond 2030. In conclusion, this funding opportunity calls for proposals that significantly contribute to global ocean science initiatives with a framework promoting international cooperation and advancing sustainable ocean management aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The open call allows stakeholders to present ambitious, coordinated projects that tackle defined ocean challenges.

This is a description of the EU funding opportunity HORIZON-CL6, which falls under the Horizon Europe (HORIZON) program, specifically Call 03 - single stage (2026) (HORIZON-CL6-2026-03). It is a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (HORIZON-CSA) with a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] type of Model Grant Agreement (MGA). The call is forthcoming with a single-stage deadline model. The planned opening date is 14 January 2026, and the deadline date is 15 April 2026 at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The budget for this topic is €9,000,000 in 2026, and the indicative number of grants is around 3.000.000, with 3 grants available.

The expected outcomes of the project results are to contribute to at least one of the outcomes of the Ocean Decade: 1- A clean ocean, 2- A healthy and resilient ocean, 3- A productive ocean, 4- A predicted ocean, 5- A safe ocean, 6- An accessible ocean, 7- An inspiring and engaging ocean; and to bring structural and long-lasting changes as per how ocean science is supported and performed globally, driven by initiatives developed under the Ocean Decade and continuing beyond it.

The scope of the funding opportunity is centered around the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), which aims to mobilize the global scientific community, policymakers, industry, and civil society to advance ocean science and generate knowledge that supports the sustainable management of the ocean. The initiative aims to reverse the decline in ocean health and ensure that ocean science can fully support countries in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This topic aims at further consolidating international cooperation, through European Leadership, and at ensuring that key processes, initiatives and structures that have been put in place through the Decade continue after its end.

Proposals should provide substantial contribution to key global efforts, including capacity development and international coordination, undertaken through endorsed Ocean Decade Programmes, Actions, Decade Collaborative Centres and Decade Coordination Offices, or for the implementation of the Vision 2030 white papers or of the Ocean Decade data & information strategy. They should also have consideration for how to achieve longer-term sustainability and legacy of Ocean Decade activities and choose the scope of activities in alignment with one or several of the priorities indicated in the EC-RTD roadmap for Cooperation on the UN Decade of Ocean Science namely the EU Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters, the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance, making marine data, knowledge and R&I solutions readily available. In line with the above-mentioned roadmap, proposals should address at least one of the following Decade Challenges: Challenge 1 “Understand and beat marine pollution”, Challenge 2 “Protect and restore ecosystems and biodiversity”, Challenge 6 “Increase community resilience to ocean and coastal risks”, Challenge 7 “Sustainably expand the Global Ocean Observing System”, Challenge 8 “Create a digital representation of the ocean”, Challenge 9 “Skills, knowledge, technology and participation for all” and Challenge 10 “Restore society’s relationship with the ocean”. International cooperation is encouraged.

The general conditions include:

1. Admissibility Conditions:Proposal page limit and layout described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.

2. Eligible Countries described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

3. Other Eligible Conditions All international organisations are exceptionally eligible for funding, described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

5a. Evaluation and award:Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.

€5B. Evaluation and award:Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

5c. Evaluation and award:Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025). This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’. Described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

The application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA) include:Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System, Standard application form (HE CSA), Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations, Standard evaluation form (HE CSA). Guidance includes the HE Programme Guide. Model Grant Agreements (MGA) include HE MGA, HE Unit MGA, Lump Sum MGA, and Operating Grants MGA. Call-specific instructions include a Detailed budget table (HE LS) and Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?".

Additional documents include:HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction, HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 9. Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment, HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes, EIC Work Programme 2026, ERC Work Programme 2026, HE Programme Guide, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

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In summary, this Horizon Europe funding opportunity aims to bolster the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development by supporting projects that contribute to a clean, healthy, productive, predicted, safe, accessible, and inspiring ocean. The focus is on consolidating international cooperation and ensuring the long-term sustainability of initiatives that advance ocean science and support the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Proposals should address specific challenges related to marine pollution, ecosystem restoration, community resilience, ocean observing systems, digital ocean representation, and societal engagement with the ocean. The funding is provided as a lump sum, and international cooperation is strongly encouraged. The call is a single-stage process with a deadline of April 15, 2026.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types include any legal entity. All international organisations are exceptionally eligible for funding. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Funding Type:The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant. The different types of actions include HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions, HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions, and HORIZON Innovation Actions.

Consortium Requirement:The opportunity appears to allow for both single applicants and consortia, as it refers to 'international cooperation is encouraged' and provides a partner search function.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The geographic eligibility includes EU, non-EU, and Associated Countries. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. All international organisations are exceptionally eligible for funding.

Target Sector:The target sector is ocean science and sustainable development, specifically focusing on the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030). It also touches on food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture, and environment.

Mentioned Countries:The opportunity mentions EU countries, non-EU countries, and associated countries. It also refers to the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance, indicating a focus on countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean.

Project Stage:The project stage varies depending on the specific action type. It includes research, innovation, coordination, and support actions, suggesting a range from research to demonstration and implementation.

Funding Amount:The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic and action type, ranging from around €3,000,000 to around €38,000,000. Specific funding ranges for certain actions are: HORIZON-CL6-2026-03-GOVERNANCE-02 (€5,000,000 to €6,000,000), HORIZON-CL6-2026-03-GOVERNANCE-10 (€4,000,000 to €5,000,000).

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 consists of a single stage.

Success Rates:The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants for each topic is provided, allowing for an estimation of the competition level.

Co-funding Requirement:Co-funding may be required for HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions, but this is not explicitly stated for all action types.

Summary:This opportunity is a call for proposals under the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically targeting the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. It aims to consolidate international cooperation and ensure the continuation of key processes and initiatives beyond the Decade. The call includes various action types such as Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), Innovation Actions (IA) and Cofund Actions, each with different funding levels and objectives. Eligible applicants include a wide range of organisations from EU, non-EU, and associated countries, with international cooperation strongly encouraged. The funding is provided as a lump sum, and the application process involves a single-stage submission. The projects should contribute to specific outcomes related to ocean health, sustainable management, and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, addressing challenges such as marine pollution, ecosystem restoration, and expanding ocean observation systems. The call provides various resources and support services to assist applicants in preparing and submitting their proposals.