Financial Support to Third Parties: DANSER Open Call for Associated Regions

The DANSER project is announcing an open call for Associated Regions to participate in its initiative, which is focused on scaling and replicating sustainable sediment management solutions across various European regions. The project aims to incorporate at least five Associated Regions, specifically within the Danube-Black Sea, Atlantic-Arctic, Mediterranean Sea, and Baltic-North Sea basins. These regions will serve as strategic partners, applying DANSER's solutions in their local context to enhance sustainable sediment management practices.

Eligible participants include local and regional authorities from Member States and countries associated with the Horizon Europe Programme, excluding those already part of the DANSER consortium. Proposals must be submitted digitally via the EU Survey platform, and the deadline is set for November 1, 2025, at 17:00 CET.

Each selected recipient can receive a maximum grant of €65,000, with funding provided in two lump-sum payments: 25% upon signing the contract and 75% upon successful completion and validation of activities. The total budget for this call amounts to €390,000, indicating the potential support for approximately six regions if all are funded to the maximum extent.

Activities funded through this opportunity may include sediment monitoring, data collection, public awareness campaigns on sediment flow changes, planning for sediment management and restoration, and exploring future implementation funding sources. Selected regions will also create tailored plans for replicating sustainable sediment management strategies and participate in the DANSER Community of Practice, fostering collaboration across regions and stakeholders.

The project duration for selected regions is expected to extend from March 1, 2026, to September 30, 2028, totaling 30 months. As part of the project's goal, this initiative emphasizes effective sediment management within the Danube River-Black Sea system and aims to demonstrate sustainable ecological practices across different European water basins. Overall, the DANSER Open Call represents a significant opportunity for local authorities to engage in meaningful environmental action and sustainable resource management.

The DANSER project is offering an open call for Associated Regions to join their initiative, which aims to scale and replicate sustainable sediment management solutions across different regions. The project seeks to integrate at least five Associated Regions, representing the Danube-Black Sea, Atlantic-Arctic, Mediterranean Sea, and Baltic-North Sea basins. These Associated Regions will act as strategic partners, integrating DANSER solutions within their territories to promote sustainable sediment management.

The call is open to local and/or regional authorities from Member States and associated countries to the Horizon Europe Programme. However, countries that are already part of the DANSER consortium are not eligible to participate. Detailed eligibility criteria can be found on the project's website at https://danserproject.eu/open-call/.

Proposals must be submitted electronically through the EU Survey platform at https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/DANSER-OC-2025. The Technical Template and the Call for Proposals document, containing comprehensive information about the open call, are available on the project website: https://danserproject.eu/open-call/.

The deadline for submitting proposals is November 1, 2025, at 17:00 (CET).

The evaluation and ranking processes are detailed on the project website at https://danserproject.eu/open-call/.

The maximum financial support per recipient is EUR 65,000, regardless of whether the applicant is a single entity or a consortium. The support will be provided in two lump-sum payments: 25% upon signing the adhesion contract and 75% upon completion, delivery, and validation of the report on the activities performed. Additional details on financial support are available at https://danserproject.eu/open-call/.

Selected beneficiaries will develop tailored replication roadmaps for sustainable sediment management actions, ensuring the future replication of DANSER solutions. They will also join the DANSER Community of Practice (CoP), collaborating with other regions, partners, and stakeholders.

Activities that can be carried out include: Sediment monitoring actions, Data collection (historical data sets, forecasts), Actions to raise awareness about sediment flow alterations, Planning of future actions for sediment management and restoration, Development of implementation plans on a larger scale, and Identification of funding sources for future implementation actions.

The opening date for the call was September 1, 2025. The deadline model is single-stage, with the deadline on November 1, 2025, at 15:00 (Brussels time). The expected duration of participation is from March 1, 2026, to September 30, 2028, totaling 30 months. The total funding available is EUR 390,000. The project acronym is DANSER, and the full name is DANube SEdiment Restoration: towards the deployment and upscaling of sustainable management of the sediments across the Danube catchment basin. The grant agreement number is 101157942. The topic is HORIZON-MISS-2023-OCEAN-01-02 - Danube river basin lighthouse – Demonstration of effective and sustainable management of sediments in the Danube river-Black sea system.

In summary, the DANSER project is offering funding to local and regional authorities to become Associated Regions and contribute to the project's goals of promoting sustainable sediment management across various European river basins. This involves developing replication roadmaps, participating in a community of practice, and carrying out activities such as sediment monitoring, data collection, awareness campaigns, and planning for future actions. The funding is intended to support the integration of DANSER's solutions within the Associated Regions' territories and to catalyze sustainable sediment management practices. The project focuses on the Danube River basin and aims to demonstrate effective and sustainable management of sediments in the Danube River-Black Sea system.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this call are local and/or regional authorities from Member States and associated countries to the Horizon Europe Programme. Countries that are part of the DANSER consortium are not eligible.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically cascade funding, which is financial support to third parties. The support will be provided in two separate lump sums.

Consortium Requirement: Both single applicants and consortia are eligible, as the maximum financial support is the same regardless of whether the applicant is a single entity or a consortium.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes Member States and associated countries to the Horizon Europe Programme. Countries that are part of the DANSER consortium are excluded. The call specifically targets regions spanning the four referential basins: Danube-Black Sea, Atlantic-Arctic, Mediterranean Sea, and Baltic-North Sea.

Target Sector: The target sector is environment, specifically sustainable sediment management and restoration within river basins and sea systems. This includes activities related to water management, ecological restoration, and climate change adaptation.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the call targets regions within Member States and associated countries to the Horizon Europe Programme. The call focuses on regions within the Danube-Black Sea, Atlantic-Arctic, Mediterranean Sea, and Baltic-North Sea basins.

Project Stage: The expected project stage is geared towards the replication and upscaling of existing solutions for sustainable sediment management. This suggests a stage of validation, demonstration, and planning for implementation on a larger scale. The selected beneficiaries will develop tailored replication roadmaps.

Funding Amount: The maximum amount of financial support per recipient (either a single entity or a consortium) is EUR 65,000. The total funding available for this call is EUR 390,000.

Application Type: The application type is an open call. Proposals must be submitted electronically via the provided link.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant, disbursed in two lump sum payments. The first payment is 25% upon signing the adhesion contract, and the second/final payment is 75% upon completion, delivery, and validation of the report on the activities performed.

Application Stages: The application process appears to be single-stage, as indicated by the "Deadline model: single-stage."

Success Rates: The success rate cannot be determined from the provided information.

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

Summary:

The DANSER Open Call for Associated Regions is a funding opportunity under the Horizon Europe Programme, aimed at integrating at least five Associated Regions into the DANSER project. The project focuses on the sustainable management of sediments across four major European basins: the Danube-Black Sea, Atlantic-Arctic, Mediterranean Sea, and Baltic-North Sea. The call is open to local and/or regional authorities from Member States and associated countries to Horizon Europe, excluding those already part of the DANSER consortium. The selected regions will act as strategic partners, implementing DANSER solutions within their territories and contributing to the broader goal of sustainable sediment management.

The funding, up to EUR 65,000 per recipient, will be distributed in two lump sum payments, with the initial payment upon contract signature and the final payment upon successful completion and reporting of activities. These activities include sediment monitoring, data collection, awareness campaigns, planning for sediment management and restoration, developing implementation plans, and identifying future funding sources. The selected beneficiaries will also join the DANSER Community of Practice, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among regions, partners, and stakeholders. The application deadline is November 1, 2025, and proposals must be submitted electronically. The overall objective is to promote the replication and upscaling of sustainable sediment management practices across different European basins, contributing to ecological restoration and climate change adaptation. The project duration for selected participants is expected to be 30 months, from March 1, 2026, to September 30, 2028.