INTEGRATION OF EXISTING APPLICATIONS, MODELS AND DATA INTO EDITO

EDITO Call 1 invites the integration of mature or near-final digital ocean applications, models and datasets into the EDITO platform to strengthen ocean data management, modelling capacity and scenario testing. The call has a total budget of €600,000, an expected participation duration of 10 months, and a submission deadline of 6 May 2026 at 12:00 Brussels time via the EDITO grants portal. Selected projects must ensure FAIR compliance, provide open interoperable components (APIs, connectors, metadata services) and demonstrate added value for EDITO and relevant EU policies such as the Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030 mission.

Call summary

What it funds

Integration of mature or near-final digital ocean applications, models or datasets into the EDITO platform; creation of open, reusable technical components (APIs, connectors, metadata services); ensure FAIR principles and address scientific, institutional or technical user needs supporting EU ocean policies.

Who can apply:Providers of already developed or close-to-final interoperable ocean/coastal digital tools, models or datasets (eg. developers, research teams, SMEs, institutions) able to deliver integration work and reusable technical components.

1. 1Focus areas include biodiversity monitoring, ecosystem assessment and climate-related scenario modelling.
2. 2Projects must comply with FAIR principles and contribute interoperability and long-term platform value.
3. 3Selected work should support EU policies such as the Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030 mission, EU Green Deal, MSFD and MSP Directive.

Single-stage submission; proposals are checked for eligibility then evaluated on excellence, impact, interoperability, stakeholder engagement and added value for EDITO. Applicants will be ranked and informed of funding decisions.

Apply through the dedicated portal by the deadline above ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Application page and submission instructions: grants-mercator-ocean.achatpublic.com

This multi-topic cascade funding call supports the integration of mature digital ocean applications, models, and datasets into the European Digital Twin of the Ocean (EDITO) platform. It targets ready or near-final solutions that can be made interoperable, reusable, and aligned with EU ocean and coastal policy needs. The action is linked to the Horizon Europe Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030 and related policy frameworks, with funding distributed as sub-grants by the EDITO implementation team.

Scope, focus and tasks

The call focuses on integrating mature, already developed and qualified digital ocean applications, models or datasets that are ready or near their final version into the EDITO platform. Proposals should improve interoperability, reusability and long-term sustainability of components contributing to EDITO’s evolution and to key EU mission and policy objectives.

Mandatory tasks for beneficiaries:Integrate existing or near-final applications, models or datasets into the EDITO platform; ensure the proposed assets comply with FAIR principles; provide open and reusable technical components such as APIs, connectors or metadata services that strengthen EDITO’s long-term evolution; address identified needs within scientific, institutional or technical communities; support user needs and EU policies including the EU Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030, the EU Green Deal, the Ocean Pact, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and the Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) Directive.

Topical emphasis and use cases:Interoperable applications and models for key ocean and coastal challenges, notably biodiversity monitoring, ecosystem assessment and climate-related scenario modelling. Selected projects will enhance ocean data flows, ocean modelling capacity and scenario testing in service of EU Mission lighthouses and relevant directives.

Submission and evaluation

Applications must be submitted via the dedicated online portal specified by the EDITO team. The process is single-stage, with proposals first undergoing an eligibility check by the Edito Call Secretariat. An assessment panel ranks eligible proposals based on excellence, impact, interoperability, stakeholder engagement, and the added value of integrating the proposed solution into EDITO. All applicants will receive the funding decision, and unsuccessful applicants will receive feedback.

• Submission portal: grants-mercator-ocean.achatpublic.com
• Evaluation principles: transparency, equal treatment, confidentiality, and conflict of interest mitigation
• Key criteria: excellence; impact; interoperability; stakeholder engagement; added value for EDITO integration
• Outcome: ranking list; notification to all applicants; feedback to unsuccessful applicants

Eligibility, funding, and implementation details

Eligible Applicant Types:Not explicitly stated in the available text. Given the cascade funding format under a Horizon Europe Mission action, typical eligible entities may include SMEs, startups, large enterprises, universities, research institutes, nonprofits, and public bodies capable of delivering digital ocean applications, models or datasets. Applicants should consult the official call documentation on the submission portal for definitive eligibility categories and any legal establishment requirements.

Funding Type:Cascade funding via sub-grants awarded by the EDITO implementation team under a Horizon Europe Mission project, rather than direct grants from the European Commission.

Consortium Requirement:Not specified. The call appears suitable for single applicants integrating their own mature assets. Consortia may be possible but are not indicated as mandatory in the provided text. Applicants should verify in the official documentation.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Not explicitly provided. As a Horizon Europe Mission-linked cascade funding action, eligibility often prioritizes entities established in EU Member States and possibly in associated or eligible countries, but this must be confirmed in the official call rules published on the submission portal.

Target Sector:Marine and coastal digital solutions, including ocean data and modelling, climate and environmental analytics, biodiversity monitoring, ecosystem assessment, scenario modelling, interoperable software services, APIs, data connectors, and metadata services. Cross-cutting areas include FAIR data stewardship, cloud-native or platform integration, and policy-supporting digital services.

Mentioned Countries or Regions:No specific countries are mentioned in the provided text. The opportunity references the EU and EU Mission frameworks.

Project Stage:Mature, already developed and qualified solutions that are ready or close to their final version. The implementation focus is on integration, validation in the EDITO environment, and operational readiness for user and policy support.

Funding Amount:Total call budget is €600,000. The indicative per-project funding amount is not stated in the available text. The number of projects to be funded and maximum sub-grant size should be confirmed on the submission portal.

Application Type:Open call with a fixed deadline, submitted electronically through the dedicated EDITO sub-grants portal.

Nature of Support:Financial support to third parties in the form of sub-grants. Additional non-financial benefits may result from technical integration with the EDITO platform and exposure to EDITO user communities, but only financial support is explicitly indicated.

Application Stages:1 stage. Single-stage submission and evaluation.

Success Rates:Not provided.

Co-funding Requirement:Not specified. Cascade funding schemes may vary in reimbursement rates and cost eligibility. Applicants must consult the official call rules for funding rates and any required own contribution.

Technical and policy alignment requirements

• FAIR principles: ensure that datasets, models and applications follow findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable practices, including appropriate metadata, licensing and persistent identifiers
• Interoperability: deliver open and reusable technical components such as APIs, connectors, and metadata services to plug into the EDITO platform and support long-term platform evolution
• Policy alignment: address user needs and support EU Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030, EU Green Deal, Ocean Pact, MSFD and MSP Directive
• Community needs: respond to scientific, institutional and technical community needs; demonstrate stakeholder engagement and user relevance
• Use cases: biodiversity monitoring, ecosystem assessment, climate-related scenarios; ability to enhance ocean data flows, modelling capacity and scenario testing in support of Mission lighthouses

Evaluation criteria and assessment process

• Eligibility check by Edito Call Secretariat prior to full evaluation
• Assessment panel rates proposals on: excellence, impact, interoperability, stakeholder engagement, and added value from integration into EDITO
• Ranking list established by the evaluation panel
• Outcome communication to all applicants with feedback to unsuccessful proposals
• Evaluation principles: transparency, equal treatment, confidentiality, and conflict of interest mitigation

Indicative application template structure

The official forms are provided on the submission portal. Based on the requirements stated, applicants should be prepared to address the following elements comprehensively in their application package.

1. 1Executive summary: concise description of the application/model/dataset, current maturity, and the proposed EDITO integration
2. 2Objectives and relevance: integration objectives, relevance to EDITO, targeted ocean/coastal challenges, alignment with EU Mission and policy frameworks
3. 3Technical description: architecture, data flows, standards, interfaces; description of models, algorithms, software stack, and deployment approach for EDITO integration
4. 4Interoperability plan: API specifications, connectors, metadata services, standards compliance, open-source or open-licensing strategy for reusable components
5. 5FAIR data and metadata: data models, vocabularies, PIDs, accessibility methods, licensing, provenance and quality control
6. 6Use cases and impact: expected benefits for users, contribution to ocean data flows, modelling capacity, scenario testing and policy implementation; KPIs and measurable results
7. 7Stakeholder engagement: user communities, institutional partners, co-creation activities, feedback mechanisms and validation plan
8. 8Work plan and timeline: work packages, tasks, milestones and deliverables over the 10-month participation period; roles and responsibilities
9. 9Risk management: technical, integration, legal and data risks; mitigation strategies and contingency plans
10. 10Ethics and legal compliance: data protection, IP management, licensing terms for components and datasets, security considerations
11. 11Team and capacity: expertise, prior achievements, infrastructure readiness, EDITO platform familiarity
12. 12Budget: detailed cost breakdown compliant with cascade funding rules; justification of resources; any co-funding if applicable
13. 13Sustainability and long-term evolution: maintenance and support strategy; alignment with EDITO’s roadmap; pathways for continued use and scaling beyond the grant
14. 14Annexes: letters of support, TRL or maturity evidence, test results, performance benchmarks, standards conformance statements, and any required administrative documents

Key dates and timeline

• Opening date: 10 March 2026 (a 6 March 2026 opening is also referenced in the submission section) ¹
• Deadline: 06 May 2026 at 12:00 Brussels time
• Expected participation duration: 10 months from grant signature or project start as specified in award documents

Comprehensive answers to classification questions

Eligible Applicant Types:Not explicitly listed. Typically includes SMEs, startups, large enterprises, universities, research institutes, nonprofits, public bodies and other legal entities capable of integrating digital ocean solutions. Verify on the submission portal.

Funding Type:Grant via cascade funding (financial support to third parties/sub-grants) under a Horizon Europe Mission action.

Consortium Requirement:Single applicants appear eligible; a consortium is not stated as mandatory. Check official rules for any partnership requirements.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Not specified in the provided text. Likely aligned with Horizon Europe eligibility for financial support to third parties. Confirm eligible countries in the official call documentation.

Target Sector:Marine and coastal digital technologies, ocean data and modelling, environmental and climate analytics, biodiversity monitoring, ecosystem assessment, scenario modelling, software services, data infrastructure, interoperability components.

Mentioned Countries:None. Region referenced: European Union via EU Mission and policy frameworks.

Project Stage:Ready or near-final mature solutions focused on integration, validation and operationalization within EDITO.

Funding Amount:€600,000 total call budget. Per-project ceilings not stated in the available text.

Application Type:Open call with fixed deadline; electronic submission via the EDITO sub-grants portal.

Nature of Support:Money in the form of sub-grants. Potential platform integration support as part of project activities.

Application Stages:1 stage (single-stage submission and evaluation).

Success Rates:Not available.

Co-funding Requirement:Not specified. Applicants should check funding rates and any co-financing obligations on the submission portal.

How to apply

1. 1Review the call listing on the EU Funding & Tenders portal for context and linkage to the Horizon Mission reference EU F&T listing
2. 2Create an account or log in to the dedicated EDITO sub-grants portal and access the call page: grants-mercator-ocean.achatpublic.com
3. 3Consult the official guide and templates on the portal, confirm eligibility, funding rates, page limits and all required annexes
4. 4Prepare and submit the complete application before 06 May 2026, 12:00 Brussels time
5. 5Monitor communications from the EDITO Call Secretariat for eligibility outcome, evaluation results and feedback

Summary

This cascade funding opportunity finances the integration of mature digital ocean solutions into the European Digital Twin of the Ocean (EDITO). With a total budget of €600,000 and a 10-month participation window, it seeks ready or near-final applications, models and datasets that can be made interoperable, FAIR, and reusable through open technical components like APIs, connectors and metadata services. The integration should strengthen EDITO’s long-term platform capabilities and serve key EU policy needs, including the Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030, the EU Green Deal, the Ocean Pact, MSFD and the MSP Directive. Proposals are evaluated in a single stage on excellence, impact, interoperability, stakeholder engagement and added value for EDITO integration. While detailed eligibility, per-project budgets and co-funding rules are not specified in the available text, the call is typical of Horizon Europe Mission-linked financial support to third parties and is open through a dedicated external portal. Successful projects will enhance ocean data flows, modelling capacity and scenario analysis to support biodiversity monitoring, ecosystem assessment and climate-related use cases, ensuring that the resulting components are open, reusable and aligned with community and policy requirements.

Footnotes

1. 1The listing shows an opening date of 10 March 2026 while the submission section references 6 March 2026. Applicants should rely on the date stated on the official submission portal and any corrigenda published there.

Funding Opportunity Overview

This is the first open call from EDITO 2, the European Digital Twin Ocean's second phase, inviting mature digital ocean applications, models, and datasets for integration into the EDITO platform. The call specifically targets existing or near-final applications that are ready or close to their final version and can contribute to advancing ocean data management, modelling capacity, and scenario testing across the EU.

Programme Context:EDITO 2 is part of the EU Mission 'Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030' and operates under grant agreement 101227771, running from March 2025 to August 2028 with a total investment of €14 million. This first call represents part of €2 million dedicated to onboarding community-driven data, models, and applications onto the platform. EDITO itself serves as the public infrastructure platform of the European Digital Twin Ocean, integrating data and services from EMODnet and Copernicus Marine Service.

Key Funding Details

Total Budget:€600,000 available for this call.

Project Duration:10 months expected participation duration.

Application Deadline:6 May 2026 at 12:00 (Brussels time). The call opened on 10 March 2026.

Submission Model:Single-stage competitive call with one application deadline.

Eligibility and Scope

This call specifically focuses on the integration into EDITO of mature, already developed and qualified digital ocean applications, models or datasets which are ready or close to their final version. Projects developing interoperable applications or models are encouraged to apply when they can be applied to key ocean and coastal challenges including biodiversity monitoring, ecosystem assessment and climate-related scenario modelling.

Application Focus Areas

• Biodiversity modelling and monitoring
• Ecosystem assessment
• Climate-related scenario modelling
• Ocean data flows and management
• Ocean modelling capacity

Policy Alignment

Selected projects will contribute to implementing and supporting the following EU policy frameworks: EU Mission 'Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030', EU Green Deal, Ocean Pact, Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), and Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) Directive. Support for EU Mission Lighthouse initiatives is also emphasized.

Core Requirements and Commitments

Selected beneficiaries commit to executing the following mandatory activities as part of their participation:

1. 1Integrate existing or near-final applications, models or datasets into the EDITO platform
2. 2Ensure that the proposed application, datasets or models follow FAIR principles
3. 3Provide open and reusable technical components such as APIs, connectors, and metadata services that contribute to the long-term evolution of the EDITO platform
4. 4Address identified needs within the scientific, institutional, or technical communities
5. 5Support user needs and key EU policies as outlined above

FAIR Principles Requirement

Applications must ensure compliance with FAIR principles, which stand for Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability. This means data and models must be assigned globally unique persistent identifiers, described with rich metadata, retrievable through standardized protocols, compatible with other datasets and tools using standardized vocabularies, and well-documented to allow replication and further use. ¹

Submission and Evaluation Process

Submission Portal:Applications must be submitted through the dedicated online portal at Mercator Ocean Grants Portal. Applicants must complete a public procurement form before completing the full call application.

Evaluation Procedure:The evaluation will ensure transparency, equal treatment, confidentiality, and mitigation of conflicts of interest. Proposals will first undergo an eligibility check by the EDITO Call Secretariat, followed by assessment by an evaluation panel.

Evaluation Criteria:The assessment panel will rate all eligible proposals taking into account excellence, impact, interoperability, stakeholder engagement and the added value of integrating the proposal to EDITO. The panel will establish a ranking list, and all applicants will be informed of the funding decision with feedback provided to unsuccessful applicants.

EDITO Platform Context and Integration Opportunities

EDITO serves as the core infrastructure platform supporting the European Digital Twin Ocean, offering cutting-edge tools to build digital twins and support science-based decision making. The platform currently supports a growing ecosystem of research and innovation activities and provides various services and capabilities to users including researchers, policymakers, innovators, entrepreneurs and citizens.

Platform Capabilities Available to Integrated Projects

• Explore and access public data catalogs with a viewer tool
• Explore catalogs of processes including data extraction, re-analysis, forecasting and What-If scenarios
• Access catalogs of services including tools and running public services
• Access tutorials and documentation
• Add and publish data while creating custom data catalogs
• Process data on-demand and launch pre-defined computations
• Connect external projects and platforms such as EuroHPC, GitHub, GitLab and Kaggle
• Publish quality control flags over data and processes
• Add, publish and promote new services, processes and tutorials
• Collaborate within groups with teammates, partners and collaborators
• Request additional computing and storage resources

The platform integrates high-resolution ocean observation data, forecasts, and analysis from established European infrastructures including EMODnet and Copernicus Marine Service. It incorporates advanced computing resources such as cloud and high-performance computing infrastructure to enable complex simulations and What-If scenarios. EDITO aligns with global initiatives including the UN DITTO Program and Destination Earth, ensuring interoperability and adherence to international standards.

Strategic Context: Phase 2 Vision

In its second phase from 2025 to 2028, EDITO 2 aims to scale up platform infrastructure and grow the community toward further advancing the co-creation of the European Digital Twin Ocean to make ocean information openly available to all. The phase will expand platform reach and ensure accessibility for non-experts while enhancing services for researchers and institutional contributors. By 2030, EDITO envisions a fully operational DTO platform serving as a global benchmark for digital ocean solutions.

The platform will support the development of tailored local twins in Lighthouse Areas addressing regional ecosystem and climate needs. Contributions from the scientific community will be fostered through open calls and targeted community building activities. A user support centre will ensure all users can effectively exploit the platform's potential and receive assistance to benefit fully from EDITO's capabilities.

Application Timeline and Next Steps

Applicants have approximately seven weeks from call opening to prepare and submit their applications. Given the single-stage model, all elements including the public procurement form and full application must be completed by the deadline. Early submission is recommended to avoid technical issues.

Key Success Factors for Applicants

Successful applications will demonstrate several critical characteristics:

• Mature or near-final status of the application, model or dataset being proposed for integration
• Clear demonstration of FAIR principles compliance with specific implementation details
• Well-defined open and reusable technical components such as APIs and metadata services
• Clear alignment with identified scientific, institutional or technical community needs
• Explicit connections to EU policy priorities including the Ocean Mission and climate objectives
• Strong interoperability design allowing seamless integration with EDITO infrastructure
• Evidence of stakeholder engagement and support from relevant communities
• Clear articulation of added value that integration to EDITO will provide
• Realistic implementation planning within the 10-month project duration

Footnotes

1. 1FAIR principles require globally unique and persistent identifiers such as DOIs, rich machine-actionable metadata, standardized communication protocols for data retrieval, and clear documentation of licensing and usage rights. They differ from open data principles by prioritizing machine-readability and usability over maximizing openness, making data more accessible to both humans and computational systems across diverse research environments.