FERRO Open Call for Associated Regions

The FERRO Open Call for Associated Regions is a grant initiative focused on supporting the restoration of European lakes through innovative approaches related to nutrient removal, recovery, and reuse. This opportunity is part of the Horizon Europe program and the specific project involved is identified as FOSTERING EUROPEAN LAKES RESTORATION BY NUTRIENT REMOVAL, RECOVERY, AND REUSE, with Project ID 101157743.

The total budget for this call is €300,000, intended to be allocated over a duration of 24 months, starting on September 1, 2025, with a submission deadline of November 30, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. Applications must be submitted in English and in PDF format via email. The eligible applicants include regional authorities, research institutions, universities, and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are involved in lake restoration efforts.

This funding follows a cascade model, meaning resources are redistributed from the FERRO project to associated regions that will implement and adapt tested solutions within their local contexts. The call encourages single applicants rather than consortiums, emphasizing individual capability to conduct necessary activities such as systems analysis, stakeholder engagement, and participation in governance meetings.

The applications will be assessed based on three criteria: Excellence (30%), Impact (40%), and Quality and efficiency of implementation (30%). A webinar is scheduled for September 11, 2025, to provide additional insights for prospective applicants.

The overarching goals of the call emphasize addressing environmental challenges specific to European lakes, focusing particularly on eutrophication and supporting circular economy practices. Successful projects will be expected to demonstrate the adaptation of FERRO solutions, monitor progress, and develop actionable restoration plans that ensure long-term sustainability of initiatives.

The specifics of funding distribution and co-funding requirements are yet to be determined, but potential award amounts for individual projects could range from €50,000 to €200,000. This call represents a significant opportunity for European regions committed to environmental restoration and innovative water management practices. Interested organizations are advised to review the application guidelines thoroughly and participate in the upcoming webinar for further clarity.

The FERRO Open Call for Associated Regions is a funding opportunity focused on fostering European lakes restoration by nutrient removal, recovery, and reuse through an integrated catchment and in-lake scale approach. The call falls under the HORIZON-MISS-2023-OCEAN-01-04 topic, which aims to demonstrate integrated approaches for the protection and restoration of natural lake ecosystems and their biodiversity.

The opening date for submissions is 01 September 2025, and the deadline for submission is 30 November 2025 at 17:00 (Brussels time). The call follows a single-stage deadline model. The expected duration of participation is 24 months. The total funding available is 300,000.00 €. The project acronym is FERRO, and the grant agreement number is 101157743.

Applications must be submitted in English and in PDF format, using the official application forms provided. All required annexes must be included in the submission, which must be transmitted by email before the deadline. Late, incomplete, or submissions through other channels will be deemed ineligible.

Eligible applications will be assessed based on the following award criteria:

Excellence: 30%
Impact: 40%
Quality and efficiency of implementation: 30%

Applicants are strongly advised to read the Guideline for Applicants in full before preparing their submission. The application form, annexes, and Guideline for Applicants can be downloaded from the FERRO website: https://ferroproject.eu/open-call.

A FERRO Open Call Webinar will be held on 11 September 2025, from 10:00 to 12:00 (Brussels time), online via Zoom, to provide details of the call and answer applicants’ questions. Registration for the webinar is available on the FERRO website: https://ferroproject.eu/open-call.

Selected projects are expected to undertake the following tasks:

1. Conduct systems analysis and monitoring to adapt FERRO solutions.
2. Participate in FERRO governance meetings and activities.
3. Visit FERRO demo sites annually for hands-on exchange.
4. Organize stakeholder engagement and awareness activities.
5. Deliver an action plan for restoration activities and a transfer & adaptation plan, covering implementation during the project and post-project sustainability and scaling.

For full details and access to all relevant documents, applicants should visit the FERRO website: https://ferroproject.eu/open-call.

In summary, this open call is part of the FERRO project, which aims to restore European lakes by focusing on nutrient removal, recovery, and reuse. The call is targeted towards "Associated Regions" that will contribute to the project's goals through specific activities like systems analysis, participation in governance, site visits, stakeholder engagement, and the development of action and transfer plans. The funding available is 300,000 €, and the projects are expected to last for 24 months. The application process involves submitting a detailed proposal in English, following specific guidelines, and meeting the deadline of November 30, 2025. The evaluation criteria emphasize excellence, impact, and the quality and efficiency of the proposed implementation. A webinar is scheduled to provide further information and answer questions from potential applicants.

Eligible Applicant Types: The provided text does not explicitly state the eligible applicant types. However, the call is for "Associated Regions," suggesting regional or local authorities, environmental agencies, or organizations involved in lake restoration could be eligible. Further details would be available in the Guideline for Applicants on the FERRO website.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, as indicated by the term "GrantCascade funding" and the availability of "Total funding."

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. The mention of "Associated Regions" might imply that collaborative projects involving multiple entities within a region are favored, but this requires further clarification from the official guidelines.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The call is specifically targeted at "Associated Regions," implying a regional focus within Europe. The project name, "FOSTERING EUROPEAN LAKES RESTORATION," suggests that the geographic eligibility is primarily within Europe.

Target Sector: The target sector is environment, specifically focusing on the restoration of European natural lakes and their biodiversity. This includes nutrient removal, recovery, and reuse, with an integrated catchment and in-lake scale approach.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the focus is on "European" lakes, implying that the opportunity is relevant to countries within Europe.

Project Stage: The project stage appears to be demonstration and implementation, focusing on demonstrating integrated approaches for the protection and restoration of natural lake ecosystems. The requirement to deliver an action plan for restoration activities and a transfer & adaptation plan suggests a move towards implementation and scaling.

Funding Amount: The total funding available is €300,000.00. The funding range per project is not specified, but it would likely be a portion of this total amount.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, as indicated by "FERRO Open Call for Associated Regions."

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant.

Application Stages: The deadline model is "single-stage," indicating that there is only one stage for application submission.

Success Rates: The text does not provide information on success rates.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement. This information would likely be detailed in the Guideline for Applicants.

Summary:

The FERRO Open Call for Associated Regions is a grant opportunity focused on fostering European lakes restoration by nutrient removal, recovery, and reuse, using an integrated catchment and in-lake scale approach. The call, under the HORIZON-MISS-2023-OCEAN-01-04 topic, aims to demonstrate integrated approaches for the protection and restoration of European natural lake ecosystems and their biodiversity. The total funding available is €300,000.00, and the expected duration of participation is 24 months. The call is open for submission from September 1, 2025, to November 30, 2025. Applications must be submitted in English and in PDF format via email, using the official application forms. Eligible applications will be assessed based on excellence, impact, and quality and efficiency of implementation. Selected projects will be required to conduct systems analysis and monitoring, participate in governance meetings, visit demo sites, organize stakeholder engagement activities, and deliver action plans for restoration and transfer & adaptation. A webinar will be held on September 11, 2025, to provide details and answer questions. The opportunity targets regions associated with European lakes and aims to support projects that can contribute to the restoration and sustainable management of these ecosystems.