Governance, sustainable development and international politics of a future ice-free Arctic

The upcoming Horizon Europe call, titled "Governance, Sustainable Development and International Politics of a Future Ice-Free Arctic," is a Research and Innovation Action (RIA) scheduled to open on April 20, 2027, and will close on September 23, 2027. The total budget for this opportunity is €16 million, divided across two expected grants, each worth approximately €8 million. The call invites a consortium of eligible applicants, which include universities, research organizations, SMEs, large enterprises, and international organizations.

Eligible applicants must be based in EU member states or associated countries, as well as other international entities that meet specific criteria set out in the call. The research will focus on multiple sectors, including climate science, Arctic and polar research, ocean governance, and sustainable development strategies. The aim is to explore the implications of an ice-free Arctic on global systems, governance, and international relations.

The application process is straightforward, requiring a single-stage submission of full proposals. Complexities such as co-funding requirements are typical of Horizon Europe, but specific rules for this call will need to be consulted directly from the Horizon Europe guidelines. Although success rate data is not explicitly available, competitive pressures in similar fields suggest it may be within the 10 to 39% range.

The research outputs should enhance understanding of Arctic environmental changes, support improved observation and monitoring techniques, and offer strategic recommendations for sustainable development and mitigation pathways. International collaboration is strongly encouraged, especially with All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance partners, to ensure a multifaceted approach that incorporates diverse knowledge systems, including social sciences and indigenous insights. This call represents a significant commitment from the EU to advance understanding and governance of the Arctic in light of climate changes and geopolitical shifts.

This is a summary of multiple Horizon Europe calls for proposals under Call 02 - single stage (2027) (HORIZON-CL6-2027-02). The calls are for HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), HORIZON Innovation Actions (IA) and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (CSA). The planned opening date for these calls is April 20, 2027, and the deadline is September 23, 2027, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. All calls are single-stage.

The topics covered include:

HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-CLIMATE-01: Governance, sustainable development and international politics of a future ice-free Arctic. This is a HORIZON-RIA action with a budget of 16,000,000 EUR and aims to award around 2 grants, each worth approximately 8,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-CLIMATE-02: This is a HORIZON-RIA action with a budget of 12,000,000 EUR and aims to award around 2 grants, each worth approximately 6,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-CLIMATE-03: This is a HORIZON-RIA action with a budget of 12,000,000 EUR and aims to award around 2 grants, each worth approximately 6,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-CLIMATE-04: This is a HORIZON-RIA action with a budget of 22,000,000 EUR and aims to award around 2 grants, each worth approximately 11,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-COMMUNITIES-01: This is a HORIZON-RIA action with a budget of 15,000,000 EUR and aims to award around 3 grants, each worth approximately 5,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-COMMUNITIES-02: This is a HORIZON-IA action with a budget of 12,000,000 EUR and aims to award around 2 grants, each worth approximately 6,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-FARM2FORK-01: This is a HORIZON-RIA action with a budget of 12,000,000 EUR and aims to award around 2 grants, each worth approximately 6,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-FARM2FORK-02: This is a HORIZON-IA action with a budget of 12,000,000 EUR and aims to award around 2 grants, each worth approximately 6,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-FARM2FORK-03: This is a HORIZON-RIA action with a budget of 11,800,000 EUR and aims to award around 2 grants, each worth between 5,000,000 and 6,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-FARM2FORK-04: This is a HORIZON-CSA action with a budget of 6,000,000 EUR and aims to award 1 grant worth approximately 6,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-FARM2FORK-05: This is a HORIZON-IA action with a budget of 12,000,000 EUR and aims to award around 2 grants, each worth approximately 6,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-FARM2FORK-06: This is a HORIZON-IA action with a budget of 10,000,000 EUR and aims to award around 2 grants, each worth approximately 5,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-FARM2FORK-07: This is a HORIZON-IA action with a budget of 15,500,000 EUR and aims to award around 2 grants, each worth between 7,000,000 and 8,000,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-FARM2FORK-08: This is a HORIZON-IA action with a budget of 7,800,000 EUR and aims to award 1 grant worth approximately 7,800,000 EUR.

HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-FARM2FORK-09: This is a HORIZON-CSA action with a budget of 6,750,000 EUR and aims to award 1 grant worth approximately 6,750,000 EUR.

The HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-CLIMATE-01 call specifically seeks proposals that contribute to: improved knowledge of the processes, feedbacks, and impacts of an ice-free Arctic; enhanced observation and monitoring capabilities of Arctic changes; knowledge-based recommendations for sustainable development, environmental conservation, and climate change adaptation; and sustained European leadership in ocean–climate–biodiversity-cryosphere science. Proposals should better understand, project, and reduce uncertainties linked to the impacts of an ice-free Arctic, enhance regional models, identify transformative pathways for sustainable mitigation and adaptation, improve projections for the Arctic’s “Last Ice Area”, and explore enhanced cooperation among Arctic nations. Actions should conduct trans- and multi-disciplinary research, include aspects of gender, SSH, equality and inclusion, and strengthen the inclusion of different knowledge systems. International cooperation is strongly encouraged, especially with the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA) partner countries.

General conditions for all calls include admissibility conditions related to proposal page limits and layout, eligible countries, and other eligibility criteria. All international organizations are exceptionally eligible for funding. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as a member of the consortium. If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria apply. Evaluation and award processes are detailed in the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

Application form templates and evaluation form templates are available in the Submission System. Additional guidance and model grant agreements are also provided. Partner search tools are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call focuses on supporting research and innovation related to climate change, sustainable communities, and farm-to-fork strategies. A significant portion of the funding is dedicated to understanding and addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by a future ice-free Arctic, with an emphasis on international cooperation, multi-disciplinary research, and the inclusion of diverse knowledge systems. The calls aim to foster sustainable development, environmental conservation, and informed decision-making in the face of a changing Arctic environment.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types include all international organizations, research organizations, universities, SMEs, large enterprises, and other legal entities capable of conducting research and innovation activities. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) can participate as a member of the consortium. 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 includes HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA), HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA), and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA). These are all grant-based funding mechanisms within the Horizon Europe framework.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity appears to require a consortium, as the Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as a member of the consortium selected for funding. Also, partner search is possible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU member states, associated countries, and a number of non-EU/non-associated countries. All international organisations are exceptionally eligible for funding.

Target Sector: The target sectors include climate, food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture, environment, and communities. Specifically, the call focuses on the governance, sustainable development, and international politics of a future ice-free Arctic.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity focuses on the Arctic region, involving Arctic nations and global partners. The All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA) partner countries are also mentioned, indicating a focus on countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean.

Project Stage: The project stage includes research, development, and innovation actions. The call aims to improve knowledge, enhance observations, identify transformative pathways, and develop strategies related to the Arctic.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic and type of action. For the topics listed under the HORIZON-CL6-2027-02 call, the budget ranges from EUR 6,000,000 to EUR 22,000,000 per topic, with individual contributions ranging from around EUR 5,000,000 to around EUR 11,000,000 per grant. Specific Horizon Innovation Actions have budgets between 7,800,000 EUR and 15,500,000 EUR.

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

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants to support research, innovation, coordination, and support actions.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage, meaning applicants submit a full proposal by the deadline.

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

Co-funding Requirement: The co-funding requirement is not explicitly mentioned, but it is typical for Horizon Europe grants to cover a significant portion of the project costs, implying that co-funding may not be mandatory but could strengthen a proposal.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call (HORIZON-CL6-2027-02) focuses on addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by a future ice-free Arctic. It seeks to fund research and innovation actions that enhance our understanding of the Arctic's changing environment, its impact on global systems, and the implications for governance, sustainable development, and international politics. The call encourages international cooperation, particularly with All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA) partner countries, and emphasizes the inclusion of diverse knowledge systems, including Indigenous Knowledge. Projects should contribute to improved knowledge, enhanced observation capabilities, transformative pathways for mitigation and adaptation, and strategies for sustainable development in the Arctic. The funding is provided through grants, with varying amounts depending on the type of action (RIA, IA, CSA) and specific topic, ranging from EUR 6 million to EUR 22 million per topic. The application process involves a single-stage submission, and eligible applicants include a wide range of organizations, including international organizations, research institutions, universities, SMEs, and large enterprises. The call aims to support European leadership in polar science and contribute to global scientific assessments and international agreements related to the Arctic.