EU-China Think Tank Engagement on Green Governance

EU-China Think Tank Engagement on Green Governance is a grant funded by the European Commission (DG International Partnerships) managed by the EU Delegation to China to support structured exchanges, policy dialogue and joint research between European and Chinese think tanks, research institutes and academic institutions on green and blue governance. The total indicative budget is €500,000 with individual grants between €250,000 and €500,000 and EU co-financing of 51–80% of eligible costs. Eligible lead applicants are non-profit think tanks, research or academic institutions established in an EU Member State, the People’s Republic of China, or other eligible countries, and proposals must include at least one co-applicant from the other territory (EU/China). Applications must be submitted online via the PROSPECT portal by 30 October 2026 and follow the call documentation and templates published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

What it funds

Purpose and activities

Grants to support structured exchanges, policy dialogue and joint research between EU and Chinese think tanks, research institutes and academia on green and blue governance (climate, environment, energy, circular economy, water, biodiversity, oceans, fisheries and related nexus topics). Activities include expert roundtables, hybrid events, policy papers, targeted studies, facilitation of EU policy maker engagement and visibility work in China and the EU.

Total available:€500,000 indicative overall budget; individual grants must be between €250,000 and €500,000 and cover 51% to 80% of total eligible costs ¹.

Who can apply

Lead applicants must be non-profit legal persons established in an EU Member State or the People’s Republic of China or other eligible countries, and be public or private think tanks, research or scientific institutions or academic institutions specialised in green/blue governance. Lead applicants must act with at least one co-applicant: if lead is in the EU at least one co-applicant must be established in China, and vice versa. Affiliated entities are allowed under strict structural-link rules.

Key practicals

Call reference EuropeAid. Action duration 24 to 36 months. Activities must take place in P.R. China and EU Member States and include at least five think-tank events per year with alternating in-person locations between EU and China. Financial support to third parties is not allowed.

Deadline and submission:Concept note and full application must be submitted together online via PROSPECT by 30/10/2026 10:00 Brussels time. Registration in PADOR and the Participant Register is mandatory; see the official call page F&T Portal.

1. 1Grant form: reimbursement of eligible costs (actual costs); simplified cost options and FNLC rules described in guidelines.
2. 2Project duration: minimum 24 months, maximum 36 months.
3. 3Visibility: EU emblem and funding statement required; derogations possible in exceptional security/sensitivity cases.

Applicants should consult the Guidelines for grant applicants and annexes for full eligibility, evaluation and reporting requirements; templates and detailed budget/logframe formats are provided by the contracting authority Call documents ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Complete application guidance, annexes (grant application forms for concept note and full application, budget template, logframe, PADOR form, declaration on honour, SEA-H self-evaluation) and procurement/contract templates are published with the call documents on the Funding & Tenders/PROSPECT pages.

Opportunity title:EU-China Think Tank Engagement on Green Governance. Contracting authority: European Commission (Service for Foreign Policy Instruments, FPI). Reference: EuropeAid. Fund: Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI-Global Europe) – Regional MIP 2021-2027 Asia and the Pacific. Call identifier: 186411. Total indicative budget available: €500,000. Minimum individual grant: €250,000. Maximum individual grant: €500,000. EU co-financing rate: minimum 51% and maximum 80% of total eligible costs. Duration of actions: minimum 24 months, maximum 36 months. Deadline for submission (online via PROSPECT): 30 October 2026, 10:00 Brussels time. Online submission and mandatory registrations: PADOR and PROSPECT. All application documents must be submitted in English. Full guidelines, application forms and annexes are published with the call documentation online Guidelines for open call. ¹

What this programme funds and its objectives

Global objective:contribute to an enhanced and more effective EU voice in support of long-term and balanced relations with China. Specific objective: promote dialogue, cooperation and insight production between EU and Chinese think tanks, research institutes and academic institutions focusing on green governance. Thematic focus: green and blue governance and transition (climate, environment, energy, circular economy, water, biodiversity, oceans and fisheries, forests, and related nexus topics). Key priorities: (1) establish and maintain structured exchanges and systematic collaboration between EU and Chinese think tanks and academia; (2) promote a platform for regular engagement between EU policy makers and European and Chinese think tanks; (3) improve Chinese target audiences' understanding about EU positions and document perception gaps.

Eligible applicant types and partnership rules

Lead applicant eligibility:legal person, non-profit making, effectively established in a Member State of the European Union, the People’s Republic of China, or in an eligible country/territory under Regulation (EU) 2021/947. Lead applicants must be public or private think tanks and/or research or scientific institutions and/or academic institutions (higher education issuing postgraduate and higher degrees), specialised in academic/research/policy monitoring/advisory activities on green and blue governance and transition themes. The lead applicant must be directly responsible for preparation and management of the action and not act as an intermediary.

Eligible co-applicants:At least one co-applicant is mandatory. Minimum number of co-applicants: one. If the lead applicant is established in an EU Member State, at least one co-applicant must be established in the P.R. of China; if the lead applicant is established in China, at least one co-applicant must be established in an EU Member State. Co-applicants participate in designing and implementing the action and their costs are eligible. Co-applicants must satisfy the same eligibility criteria as lead applicants and sign the required mandate in annex A.2 section 5.

Affiliated entities:permitted if they have pre-existing structural links (control or membership) with the lead or co-applicant(s). Affiliated entities do not become beneficiaries under the grant contract but their costs may be eligible. Associates, contractors and recipients of financial support: separate roles with distinct rules; associates may participate without receiving funding (except travel/per diem), contractors are subject to procurement rules, and recipients of financial support (if allowed) are treated under specific conditions.

Geographic eligibility and target locations

Actions must take place in the People’s Republic of China and Member States of the European Union. Lead applicants must be established in an eligible country: EU Member State, P.R. of China, or eligible third countries per NDICI rules. The programme is designed to alternate in-person events between the EU and China and to ensure geographic and thematic diversity across EU Member States and Chinese provinces/cities.

Funding type, size, co-funding and financial modalities

Funding type:grant in the form of reimbursement of eligible costs; the call allows reimbursement of actual costs and potentially simplified cost options where authorised. The overall indicative amount is €500,000. Individual grant size must be between €250,000 and €500,000. EU contribution to total eligible costs must be between 51% and 80%. Co-financing requirement: applicants must provide the balance of funding from other sources (applicant or third-party co-financing) to reach total eligible costs. Financial support to third parties is not allowed under this call (applicants may not propose financial support to third parties).

Eligible cost categories and rules:Eligible direct costs: staff salaries (gross, including social charges), travel and subsistence, equipment and supplies dedicated to the action, depreciation/rental of equipment, consumables, service/supply/work contracts (procured per Annex IV), dissemination, contractual expenditure verification, translation, financial services (bank guarantee), taxes not recoverable, and project office costs where justified in Annex I. Indirect costs: flat-rate up to 7% of total eligible direct costs (excluding volunteers and project office costs) unless applicant receives an EU operating grant. Contingency reserve: maximum 5% of estimated direct eligible costs, usable only with prior written authorisation. In-kind contributions generally not eligible as costs (except volunteers where permitted and properly declared). Ineligible costs include debts, provisions for future losses, purchases of land/buildings (except in narrow circumstances), currency exchange losses, bonuses or negative interest, and costs already financed by another EU grant.

Action design, duration, and required activities

Action duration:between 24 and 36 months. Thematic focus: foster EU-China contribution to green and blue global governance through intellectual exchanges, structured dialogues, policy input, evidence-based studies, expert roundtables, forums, webinars, hybrid exchanges, research sharing, training, and visibility/communication activities consistent with EU values. Applicants must include at least five think-tank events per year, alternating location between the EU and China for in-person activity.

Specific eligible activity types (non-exhaustive):Organise expert roundtables, forums, conferences, webinars and hybrid events; support structured exchanges and track 2/1.5 dialogue; produce collaborative input papers, position papers, on-demand studies, trainings, and expert exchanges; facilitate EU policy maker engagement and follow-up to high-level EU-China dialogues on climate, environment, energy, oceans and fisheries; promote cross-cultural dialogue, outreach to media and youth, and support visibility of EU positions.

Application process, submission and required registrations

This is an open call where applicants submit all documents together:both the concept note (Annex A.1) and the full application (Annex A.2). First only concept notes are evaluated; successful lead applicants will be invited to submit full applications. Online submission via PROSPECT is mandatory. All organisations must register in PADOR and in the EU Participant Register (PIC). If PADOR registration is not possible for technical or confidentiality reasons, submit offline PADOR form (Annex F) with the application. Applicants must ensure PADOR and PROSPECT records are up to date. Questions can be submitted by email to delegation-china-fpi-tenders@eeas.europa.eu no later than 21 days before the deadline; replies will be published and delivered at least 11 days before the deadline.

Application documents and templates provided:Guidelines for applicants (call guidance), Annex A.1 (Concept note form), Annex A.2 (Full application form), Annex B (Budget template, cost-based worksheets), Annex C (Logical framework template), Annex F (PADOR registration form), Annex H (Declaration on Honour on exclusion criteria), Annex L (SEA-H self-evaluation questionnaire), and documents for information including PRAG, standard grant contract, general conditions, procurement rules, model narrative and financial reports, and financial toolkit. All annexes are published with the call documents online.

Evaluation procedure, criteria and stages

Three-step evaluation:Step 1: administrative checks and concept note evaluation (only concept notes evaluated initially). Concept notes are scored out of 50 on relevance and design; minimum score to be considered for pre-selection: 30. Pre-selection will include concept notes ranked until requested contributions reach 400% of available budget. Step 2: evaluation of full application against selection (financial and operational capacity) and award (quality, relevance, design, impact, sustainability, cost-effectiveness) criteria. Full application scoring grid: total 100 points; minimum thresholds apply (e.g., Section 1 financial and operational capacity must score at least 12 and no subsection may get 1). Step 3: verification of eligibility of applicants and affiliated entities and supporting documents for provisionally selected applications. Final award decision and contract signature follow. Indicative timeline: information on concept note evaluation by 30/11/2026, full application evaluation by 31/01/2027, eligibility verification by 15/02/2027, award notification by 28/02/2027 and contract signature by 30/03/2027 (tentative).

Evaluation scoring highlights:Concept notes: max 50 points across relevance (20) and design (30). Full applications: selection criteria (financial and operational capacity) up to 20 points; award criteria: relevance (20), design (15), implementation approach (15), sustainability (15), budget/cost-effectiveness (15). Intervention logic and budget efficiency carry multiplicative weight factors in the grid (some scores multiplied by 2).

Award, contract, reporting, monitoring and audit obligations

Form of grant:reimbursement of eligible costs (actual costs). Beneficiaries will sign a contribution agreement where pillar-assessed organisations apply. The contract uses standard grant contract templates and annexes (Annex II – General Conditions). Reporting: narrative and financial interim and final reports using Annex VI templates. Where applicable (grants > €100,000 or €5,000,000 thresholds), contractual expenditure verification (agreed-upon procedures) or third-party assessments are requested; thresholds and detailed terms of reference are provided in the annexes. Records and supporting documents must be kept for at least five years after payment of the balance (three years for grants ≤ €60,000) and are subject to checks and audits by Commission services, OLAF, EPPO and the European Court of Auditors. Visibility obligations and EU emblem display are mandatory unless exceptional derogation is agreed for security or reputational reasons.

Payments and guarantees:Payment options depend on action length and amount. Pre-financing instalments and possible further pre-financing are described in Article 15 of Annex II. For grants > €60,000 a financial guarantee for the initial pre-financing may be requested (model in Annex VIII) except for non-profit organisations, government departments or public bodies unless otherwise indicated in the special conditions. Interest on late payment rules and suspension conditions are set out in the General Conditions.

Compliance, ethics and safeguards

Applicants must declare on honour that they are not in exclusion situations (Annex H). Organisations awarded grants must comply with EU values (human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law and human rights), environmental legislation and core labour standards, anti-corruption rules, and zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEA-H). Successful applicants (except natural persons and certain assessed entities) must complete the SEA-H self-evaluation questionnaire (Annex L) and implement corrective measures as appropriate. Contracting authority reserves rights to suspend or terminate grants in case of breach, irregularity or fraud, and to apply administrative measures such as exclusion or fines.

Application templates and how forms are structured

Templates provided and mandatory:Annex A.1 concept note (summary table, description, relevance, applicant details, project details), Annex A.2 full application (detailed description up to 18 pages, methodology 5 pages, activity matrix, logical framework Annex C, budget Annex B in Excel with worksheets 1a/€1B/1c for costs and FNLC where applicable, justification worksheet), Annex F PADOR offline form, Annex H Declaration on Honour, Annex L SEA-H questionnaire. Financial reporting templates and models for interim and final narrative reports (Annex VI), financial report spreadsheets, contractual expenditure verification terms of reference and model AUP reports (Annex VII-A), and logical framework/activity matrix templates (Annex E3d) are all provided. The budget template includes detailed headings for human resources, travel, equipment, project office, other costs, indirect costs and contingency and guidance notes per line item.

1. 1Concept note (Annex A.1) — summary table, 2 page description, 3 page relevance section, mandatory declaration.
2. 2Full application (Annex A.2) — detailed narrative up to 18 pages, methodology, action plan, sustainability, logical framework (Annex C), budget (Annex B Excel), experience section and declarations by lead applicant, co-applicants and affiliated entities.
3. 3Budget (Annex B) — cost-based worksheets (1a), justification (worksheet 2), expected sources of funding (worksheet 3).
4. 4Logical Framework (Annex C / E3d) — results chain, indicators, baselines, targets, sources and assumptions; activities matrix to link outputs to activities and indicative input amounts.
5. 5PADOR registration (Annex F) if online registration impossible.
6. 6Declaration on Honour (Annex H) and SEA-H self-evaluation (Annex L) where applicable.
7. 7Annexes for contractual templates: Standard grant contract, general conditions (Annex II), procurement rules (Annex IV), visibility and transfer of assets (Annex IX), contractual expenditure verification ToR and AUP templates (Annex VII-A).

Key dates and contact

Call published and start date:July 2026 (publication documents finalised 17 July 2026). Deadline for clarifications: 9 October 2026 (10:00) — last clarifications issued 19 October 2026. Deadline for submission (concept note and full application together): 30 October 2026 at 10:00 (Brussels time). Indicative evaluation and award timeline: information on administrative checks and concept note evaluation by 30 November 2026; full application evaluation results by 31 January 2027; eligibility verification by 15 February 2027; notification of award decision by 28 February 2027; contract signature by 30 March 2027 (tentative). Questions must be emailed to delegation-china-fpi-tenders@eeas.europa.eu not later than 21 days before the submission deadline. IT support for PROSPECT: ec-external-relations-application-support@ec.europa.eu.

Eligibility checklist summary applicants should verify

1. 1Lead applicant legal status: legal person, non-profit, established in an eligible country; demonstrable statutes and head office location.
2. 2Lead applicant mission: think tank/research/scientific/academic institution with strong expertise in green and blue governance.
3. 3Consortium composition: minimum one co-applicant; cross-establishment rule between EU and China.
4. 4Mandatory registrations: PADOR and Participant Register (PIC) and online submission via PROSPECT.
5. 5Budget and co-financing within minimum/maximum amounts and percentages (€250K–€500K; 51–80% EU contribution).
6. 6No financial support to third parties proposed (this call forbids financial support to third parties).
7. 7At least five think-tank events per year and alternation of in-person events between EU and China.
8. 8Submission of all required supporting documents by the deadline (statutes, declaration on honour, latest accounts or audit report if required, PADOR documents where offline registration used).

Success rates and selection likelihood

The contracting authority will first pre-select concept notes scoring at least 30/50 and then reduce to the highest-ranked proposals up to an aggregate requested contribution amount equal to 400% of the available budget. Final selection depends on concept note ranking, full application quality and eligibility checks. No explicit historical success rate is provided in the call documents. Given the single-envelope concept-to-full application two-stage procedure and the limited overall budget, applicants should expect competitive selection and limited number of awards (likely one or a few, depending on grant sizes awarded).

Application stages and timing (summary)

1. 1Stage 1: Submission of concept note plus full application forms together via PROSPECT by 30/10/2026; administrative check and concept note evaluation (Step 1).
2. 2Stage 2: Pre-selected lead applicants invited to full application evaluation (Step 2).
3. 3Stage 3: Provisional selection and eligibility verification using supporting documents (Step 3).
4. 4Stage 4: Award decision and notification, contracting and signature (contribution agreement or standard grant contract).
5. 5Stage 5: Implementation, reporting (interim/final), contractual expenditure verification or third-party assessments if thresholds apply, audits and closure.

Co-funding requirement and financial management expectations

Co-financing is required to cover the balance between total eligible costs and the EU contribution (minimum 20%-49% depending on the EU contribution requested). Co-financing sources may be applicant own funds or third-party contributions (except funds from the Union general budget). The budget must be realistic, cost-effective and justified. The contracting authority may ask for supporting accounting documents, latest accounts or audit reports depending on applicant type and amount requested (audit report required for action grants > €750,000). Beneficiaries must follow procurement rules in Annex IV for contracts awarded and keep full supporting documentation for checks and audits. Expenditure verification (AUP) templates and ToR are provided (Annex VII-A) and will be required where applicable.

Templates and application structure guidance — practical notes for applicants

Applicants must follow precise templates and page/format limits for the concept note and full application forms: concept note description max 2 pages (A4, Arial 10, single-spaced), relevance max 3 pages, full application description up to 18 pages, methodology up to 5 pages, indicative action plan up to 4 pages, sustainability up to 3 pages. Logical framework (Annex C) must be completed with indicators RACER-compliant, baselines and targets and sources of data. Budget Annex B is an Excel workbook; include detailed number of units, unit values and justifications in worksheet 2. Ensure consistency across narrative, logframe and budget. Complete and sign all declarations (Annex H, mandates for co-applicants and affiliated entity statements). Where PADOR offline forms are used, include originals by the deadline. Incomplete submissions may be rejected without further evaluation.

Risk management, ethics and safeguards applicants must address

Applicants must include a risk analysis and mitigation measures in the proposal (political, physical, environmental, economic, social risks). They must demonstrate ethical compliance, zero tolerance to SEA‑H and provide SEA‑H self-evaluation for grants exceeding €60,000. Conflict of interest declarations, anti-corruption measures and clear procurement transparency must be presented. Proposals must respect EU values and avoid actions that could result in human rights violations or significant environmental harm. Visibility rules and potential derogations must be addressed in the application if required for safety.

Mentioned countries and geographic scope

Explicitly mentioned countries:People's Republic of China and Member States of the European Union. Geographical zone: Asia and the Pacific region (NDICI Regional MIP). Applicants must be established in EU Member States, the P.R. of China or eligible NDICI countries as defined by Regulation (EU) 2021/947.

Project stage and expected maturity

Target project stage:demonstration/implementation and consolidation of networks and dialogue. Actions should build upon the previous 2024–2026 phase, extend and deepen engagement, produce policy-relevant research and position papers, and deliver regular events and knowledge products. Applicants should demonstrate prior experience in convening, policy engagement and technical expertise in green/blue governance.

Success rates, competitiveness and selection advice

The call is competitive and budget-limited. Only concept notes achieving minimum threshold and ranked highest against budgetary ceilings pass to full application evaluation. Applicants should submit concise, clearly evidence‑based concept notes aligned with priorities, demonstrate strong EU‑China networks, propose feasible budgets within the permitted EU co-financing range, and include robust risk mitigation, M&E and sustainability plans. Detailed alignment with the call objectives and evidence of past capacity in similar EU-funded actions increases selection chances.

How to apply — quick checklist:1) Register/update PADOR and obtain EuropeAid ID (or submit offline PADOR form if necessary). 2) Register in Participant Register (PIC). 3) Prepare concept note (Annex A.1) and full application (Annex A.2) using templates. 4) Complete Annex B budget Excel and Annex C logframe. 5) Prepare supporting documents: statutes, declaration on honour (Annex H), latest accounts/audit report if applicable, mandates from co-applicants and affiliated entity statements. 6) Submit via PROSPECT before 30/10/2026 10:00 Brussels time. 7) Track messages via PROSPECT profile and consult published Q&A.

Final summary — what is this opportunity about and who should apply

This EU grant funds an EU-China think-tank engagement programme on green and blue governance to build and sustain structured, high-quality dialogue and cooperation between European and Chinese think tanks, research institutes and academic institutions. It supports events, intellectual exchanges, policy-oriented research and outreach to improve mutual understanding of EU and Chinese positions on climate, environment, energy, oceans, biodiversity and related policy areas. The call finances actions implemented in China and EU Member States, requires cross-establishment partnerships (linking EU and China), and targets organisations with demonstrable expertise in the green and blue transition. Grants are in the range €250,000–500,000 with EU co-financing between 51% and 80%. Applications must be submitted online via PROSPECT with PADOR registration and follow the provided templates (concept note and full application). The call is competitive and requires robust project design, realistic budgets, M&E, compliance with EU values, and capacity to conduct regular events and produce policy outputs that feed into EU-China dialogues.

Footnotes

1. 1Full call documentation, templates and application guidelines are published by the Contracting Authority: Guidelines for grant applicants and annexes available at the PROSPECT document links including: Annex A.1 Concept note, Annex A.2 Full application, Annex B Budget, Annex C Logical framework, Annex F PADOR registration form and annexes for contractual terms Guidelines for open call.

Opportunity Overview

This grant call, titled EU-China Think Tank Engagement on Green Governance, aims to strengthen bilateral relations and mutual understanding between the EU and China by fostering long-term partnerships among think tanks, academia, and non-governmental actors focused on green global governance [[1]][[2]]. The initiative is funded by the European Commission's Directorate-General for International Partnerships (EuropeAid) and managed by the Delegation of the European Union to China [[1]].

Key Financial Details:The total budget available is €500,000, with individual awards ranging from a floor of €250,000 to a ceiling of €500,000 [[1]].

Strategic Objectives and Thematic Areas

The global objective is to improve EU-China bilateral relations, promote mutual understanding, and advance EU policy priorities in China through trust-building and network establishment with key stakeholders [[2]]. Applicants must engage new partnerships in two specific thematic areas: 1) The European Union and China – a complex relationship in a complex world, and 2) Fostering EU-China contribution to the Green Global Governance [[2]].

Eligibility and Applicant Profile

Eligible applicants include NGOs/nonprofit organisations, academic institutions, and research and technology organisations (RTOs) that are legal, non-profit entities effectively established in an EU Member State, the People's Republic of China, or other countries eligible under Regulation (EU) 2021/947 [[1]].

Lead Applicant Requirement:The lead applicant must be a public or private think tank, research or scientific institution, or academic institution, including higher education entities [[1]].

Application Process and Timeline

The submission deadline is October 30, 2026, at 09:00:15 UTC [[1]]. The call follows a two-stage process requiring a Concept Note (Annex A.1) followed by a Full Application (Annex A.2) for selected candidates [[1]].

1. 1Submit the Concept Note via the PROSPECT portal (webgate.ec.europa.eu) [[1]][[17]]
2. 2Register the organisation in the Participant Register to obtain a 9-digit PIC number before submission [[7]][[21]]
3. 3Prepare mandatory annexes including the Budget (Annex B), Logical Framework (Annex C), and Declaration on Honour (Annex H) [[1]]

Project Duration and Implementation

Projects funded under this engagement typically have a duration of two years, focusing on multi-stakeholder initiatives to strengthen long-term think tank engagement [[3]]. The initiative seeks systematic exchange and coordination between think tanks, academic facilities, and policymakers on Green Governance [[4]].

Contact and Support Information

For questions regarding this call, applicants should email delegation-china-fpi-tenders@eeas.europa.eu, with answers published transparently for all stakeholders [[2]]. The primary information source is the EU Funding & Tenders Portal prospect page [[1]].

Footnotes

1. 1Official call documents including Guidelines for open call and application forms are available via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal at EU-China Think Tank Engagement.