Increasing environmental resilience through a better knowledge and management of the soil-water nexus

The EU funding opportunity HORIZON-MISS-2025-05-SOIL-03 is part of the Horizon Europe program, aimed at enhancing environmental resilience through improved knowledge and management of the soil-water nexus. It focuses on funding research and innovation actions that contribute to mitigating risks associated with extreme weather events and supports the implementation of the Soil Deal for Europe Mission. This includes addressing issues such as droughts, floods, and soil degradation, in line with several EU strategies related to biodiversity, soil health, and climate resilience.

Eligible applicants include research institutions, universities, SMEs, NGOs, and public-private partnerships from EU member states and associated countries. Participation from legal entities in non-associated third countries may be permitted under exceptional circumstances.

Funding for this initiative is provided as a lump sum grant, with an indicative total budget of €6 million for the specific call, expecting approximately €1 million per project. Projects funded under this call may fall within a budget range from €200,000 to €1 million. The application process is a single-stage submission, with proposals due by September 30, 2025.

The grant emphasizes projects at the research and development stages, primarily targeting Technology Readiness Levels 4 to 6. Proposed activities should develop and validate indicators for soil-water interactions, assess soil properties, explore soil biodiversity, and validate effective strategies and best practices from existing research.

No co-funding is required as the lump sum grants are typically intended to cover full project costs. The likely success rates for proposals fall within the range of 10 to 39%, reflecting the competitive nature of Horizon Europe funding.

The project scope should consider different pedoclimatic areas and land uses across the EU, emphasizing coordinated activities in collaboration with other EU-funded initiatives, particularly those related to the Soil Deal for Europe Mission. Committed open access to data and adherence to FAIR principles are also encouraged.

This initiative presents a significant opportunity for stakeholders to engage in meaningful research that directly contributes to major EU environmental strategies and societal objectives.

The EU Funding Opportunity: Increasing Environmental Resilience Through Better Knowledge and Management of the Soil-Water Nexus

This opportunity is part of the Horizon Europe program and specifically targets the implementation of the Soil Deal for Europe Mission. The call, HORIZON-MISS-2025-05-SOIL-03, aims to fund research and innovation actions (RIA) that enhance the understanding and management of soil-water interactions to mitigate risks associated with extreme events. The projects are expected to contribute to the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the Nature Restoration Law, the EU Soil Strategy for 2030, the proposed Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive, the EU Water Framework Directive, and the EU Action Plan on the Development of Organic Production.

The expected outcomes of the funded projects include:

Enhanced stakeholder understanding: Improving the understanding of decision-makers and land managers regarding the importance of soil-water interactions in mitigating risks from droughts, wildfires, and floods.

Increased awareness of soil biodiversity: Raising awareness about the relevance of soil biodiversity to soil characteristics like water retention capacity, permeability, and saturation, which are crucial for the soil-water nexus.

Substantial contribution to environmental resilience: Increasing environmental resilience to extreme events and other undesired soil health processes through restoration, conservation, and integrated management of the soil-water nexus.

The scope of the projects should address the increasing frequency and severity of extreme events, where soil-water interactions play a critical role. Projects should offer holistic responses to manage the risks and impacts on the environment, food security, economy, and human security. The call emphasizes the interconnectedness of soils, sediments, and water, highlighting the importance of healthy soils in mitigating erosion and contamination. It also acknowledges the complex and poorly understood influence of soil biodiversity on water dynamics.

Proposed activities should include:

Developing and validating indicators: Creating indicators for soil water holding capacity, considering different pedoclimatic areas and land uses in the EU and Associated Countries, aligning with the proposed Soil Monitoring Law.

Identifying soil properties and indicators: Identifying soil properties (structure, bulk density, porosity, depth, organic matter, buffering capacity) and factors (slope, frost, cover, drainage network) that determine soil-water dynamics and their relevance to extreme events. The use of remote sensing techniques is encouraged.

Assessing the role of soil biodiversity: Evaluating the role of soil biodiversity in water-relevant soil properties and the impact of soil factors on soil biodiversity across different pedoclimatic areas and land uses. Involving soil biodiversity taxonomists is encouraged.

Developing and validating models: Creating or improving models at the watershed/landscape level that integrate the functional role of soil biodiversity in soil-water interactions, especially in risk assessment of extreme events.

Validating strategies and best practices: Assessing strategies and best practices from other EU-funded projects (e.g., Living Labs under the Soil Deal for Europe Mission, SpongeBoost, and SpongeScapes) to enhance environmental resilience by improving the soil-water nexus.

The proposed activities should consider different pedoclimatic areas and land uses (agricultural, natural, and urban) across the EU and Associated Countries. For agricultural lands, the impact of conventional, agroecological, and organic production methods should be considered.

Coordination and collaboration: Proposals should include dedicated tasks and resources for coordination with other EU-funded initiatives, particularly those under the Soil Deal for Europe Mission.

Data management: Proposals should demonstrate a commitment to open access, longevity, sustainability, and interoperability of knowledge and outputs through collaboration with the EU Soil Observatory (EUSO) and SoilWise. Data should be FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Re-usable), with a focus on "FAIR-by-design" data.

Transparency and openness: Actions involving models should promote transparency and openness, extending beyond documentation to include assumptions, protocols, code, and data, managed in compliance with FAIR principles.

Use of research infrastructures: Proposals are encouraged to consider the data, expertise, and services offered by European research infrastructures in the environment, biological & food domains, or imaging capacities.

General conditions for participation include:

Admissibility: Proposals must adhere to page limits and layout guidelines specified in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form.

Eligible countries: As described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific provisions may apply to non-EU/non-Associated Countries.

Other eligibility conditions: As described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Financial and operational capacity: As described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are detailed in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

Grant agreement: Eligible costs will be reimbursed as a lump sum, as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021.

Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA):

Application form templates are available in the Submission System.

Standard application form (HE RIA, IA) will be used.

Evaluation form templates will be used with necessary adaptations.

Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA) will be used.

Guidance is provided in the HE Programme Guide.

Model Grant Agreements (MGA) include the Lump Sum MGA.

Call-specific instructions and a detailed budget table (HE LS) are provided.

Additional documents include:

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 1. General Introduction

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 12. Missions

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 14. General Annexes

HE Programme Guide

HE Framework Programme 2021/695

HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764

EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509

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

Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement

The budget overview for this topic in 2025 is as follows:

HORIZON-MISS-2025-05-SOIL-01: 12,000,000 EUR, indicative number of grants: 1

HORIZON-MISS-2025-05-SOIL-02: 11,000,000 EUR, indicative number of grants: 2

HORIZON-MISS-2025-05-SOIL-03: 6,000,000 EUR, indicative number of grants: 1

HORIZON-MISS-2025-05-SOIL-04: 6,000,000 EUR, indicative number of grants: 1

HORIZON-MISS-2025-05-SOIL-05: 6,000,000 EUR, indicative number of grants: 1

HORIZON-MISS-2025-05-SOIL-06: 6,000,000 EUR, indicative number of grants: 1

HORIZON-MISS-2025-05-SOIL-07: 6,000,000 EUR, indicative number of grants: 1

HORIZON-MISS-2025-05-SOIL-08: 6,000,000 EUR, indicative number of grants: 1

HORIZON-MISS-2025-05-SOIL-09: 5,000,000 EUR, indicative number of grants: 1

HORIZON-MISS-2025-05-SOIL-10: 3,000,000 EUR, indicative number of grants: 1

HORIZON-MISS-2025-05-SOIL-11: 6,000,000 EUR, indicative number of grants: 1

The opening date for submissions is May 6, 2025, and the deadline is September 30, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time.

There are 14 partner search announcements available for this topic.

This funding opportunity aims to address the critical role of soil and water interactions in mitigating the impacts of extreme weather events. It seeks to enhance our understanding of soil biodiversity and its influence on water dynamics, ultimately leading to improved environmental resilience across the EU and associated countries. By developing and validating new models, indicators, and strategies, this initiative aims to support the implementation of the Soil Deal for Europe Mission and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future. The call encourages collaboration, open access to data, and the integration of soil biodiversity into risk assessment and management practices.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity is open to various eligible applicant types as defined in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes of Horizon Europe. While the specific types are not explicitly listed in the provided text, it is implied that the eligible applicants align with the standard participants in Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA). This typically includes universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other relevant organizations. Applicants should consult the Horizon Europe Programme Guide for detailed eligibility criteria.

Funding Type: The primary funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, as indicated by the Type of MGA (Model Grant Agreement) being "[HORIZON-AG-LS]". The call includes both HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA), each with its specific objectives and funding mechanisms within the grant framework.

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, given the scope and nature of the proposed activities, particularly the emphasis on coordination measures and joint activities, it is highly probable that a consortium is preferred, if not required, for the Research and Innovation Actions (RIA). Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) may be more amenable to single applicants, but this is not definitively stated.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility extends to the EU and Associated Countries. The call text specifies that proposed activities should duly consider the different pedoclimatic areas and land uses across the EU and Associated Countries. Furthermore, it is mentioned that 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. Applicants should refer to the Horizon Europe Programme Guide for detailed information on eligible countries.

Target Sector: The primary target sector is environment, with a strong focus on soil health, water management, and biodiversity. The program targets agriculture, climate, and innovation, specifically addressing the soil-water nexus and its impact on environmental resilience. It also aligns with the EU's broader goals related to the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the Nature Restoration Law, the EU Soil Strategy for 2030, the Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive, the EU Water Framework Directive, and the EU Action Plan on the Development of Organic Production.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity explicitly mentions the EU and Associated Countries as the primary geographic focus. It also refers to non-EU/non-Associated Countries that may have specific provisions for funding participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project for this opportunity ranges from research to validation and demonstration. The call seeks activities that develop and validate indicators, identify soil properties, assess the role of soil biodiversity, develop and validate new models, and assess and validate strategies and best practices. This suggests that projects should be at the development, validation, and demonstration stages.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call:
HORIZON-MISS-2025-05-SOIL-01: around €12,000,000
HORIZON-MISS-2025-05-SOIL-02: around €5,500,000 (for 2 grants)
HORIZON-MISS-2025-05-SOIL-03 to HORIZON-MISS-2025-05-SOIL-08, and HORIZON-MISS-2025-05-SOIL-11: around €6,000,000 each
HORIZON-MISS-2025-05-SOIL-09: around €5,000,000
HORIZON-MISS-2025-05-SOIL-10: around €3,000,000

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process. The call opened on 06 May 2025, and the deadline for submission is 30 September 2025.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant to support research and innovation actions, as well as 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 in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement. However, as the eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum, applicants should carefully consider the funding guidelines and ensure that the proposed budget is justified and aligned with the project's objectives.

This Horizon Europe call, "Supporting the implementation of the Soil Deal for Europe Mission," aims to enhance environmental resilience by improving the understanding and management of the soil-water nexus. The call invites proposals for Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) that contribute to the objectives of the Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ and related EU strategies and directives. The projects should focus on developing and validating indicators, identifying soil properties, assessing the role of soil biodiversity, and developing new models for mainstreaming soil-water interactions in risk assessment. The call encourages collaboration with other EU-funded initiatives and emphasizes the importance of open access, interoperability, and FAIR data principles. Eligible applicants from the EU and Associated Countries are invited to submit proposals by the deadline of 30 September 2025, with funding ranging from €3,000,000 to €12,000,000 depending on the specific topic. The funding will be provided as a lump sum grant, and the application process involves a single stage.