Large-scale demonstration of protection, restoration and management of blue forest ecosystems in European sea basins

Horizon Europe HORIZON-MISS funds large-scale multidisciplinary Innovation Action projects to protect, restore and sustainably manage blue forest ecosystems (seagrasses, salt marshes, macroalgae) in one specified European lighthouse basin. Projects must align with the EU Nature Restoration Regulation, include conservation, active or passive restoration, long-term monitoring linked to EMODnet, community engagement and innovative financing models. The topic has an indicative budget of €15.9 million for 2027, with expected EU contributions of €3.5–€3.975 millionper project and an indicative four grants. Planned opening is 9 February 2027 and the single-stage deadline is 21 September 2027, 17:00 Brussels time, with standard Horizon Europe evaluation and eligibility rules applying.

Large-scale demonstration of protection, restoration and management of blue forest ecosystems in European sea basins

Call at a glance

Essential facts

Horizon Europe HORIZON-MISS. Type of action: HORIZON Innovation Actions (IA). Call supports the Restore our Ocean and Waters Mission with large-scale demonstrations focused on protection, restoration and sustainable management of blue forest (marine vegetated) ecosystems in a single European sea/river basin.

Deadline:21 September 2027, 17:00 Brussels time. Submission opens 9 February 2027. Apply via the Funding & Tenders Portal Opportunity page.

1. 1What it funds: multidisciplinary pilot and demonstration projects that protect, restore and manage marine and coastal vegetated habitats (blue carbon ecosystems), including active and passive restoration, MPA/EU Blue Parks support, monitoring, assessment of stressors, community engagement and innovative financing/business models.
2. 2Who can apply: consortia under Horizon Europe rules (organisations from EU Member States and Horizon-associated countries). Direct involvement of national/regional authorities, policy makers, local communities, researchers and NGOs is strongly encouraged; links with relevant Lighthouse CSAs and the Mission Implementation Platform expected.
3. 3Geographic focus: each proposal must target one basin (choose one lighthouse): Atlantic and Arctic; Mediterranean; Baltic and North Sea; or Danube basin (including Black Sea). Projects must tailor activities to basin-specific needs.
4. 4Data and openness requirements: in-situ monitoring and marine observations collected must be made openly available through EMODnet following FAIR principles.
5. 5Synergies: applicants are encouraged to pool funding with other EU sources (e.g. ERDF, LIFE) and follow national restoration plans under the Nature Restoration Regulation ¹.

Proposals must demonstrate: large-scale on-site restoration and/or conservation interventions; robust monitoring (multi-sensor, long-term, linked to observation networks such as EMODnet); assessment of cumulative stressors (including invasive species and climate impacts); community engagement and education; and development/testing of innovative financing or business models (e.g. nature credits, carbon removal certification) with scientific integrity and socio-economic appraisal.

Evaluation will follow Horizon Europe general annexes (eligibility, exclusion, award criteria, lump-sum or budget rules as applicable). To ensure balanced coverage, at least one high-ranked proposal per basin may be funded provided thresholds are met. Full topic text, submission rules and templates are on the portal Opportunity page. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Synergies with other funding and eligibility provisions referenced in the topic are based on Commission document C(2022) 4747 final and the Horizon Europe Work Programme general annexes; consult the official call documents on the Funding & Tenders Portal for details.

Large-scale demonstration of protection, restoration and management of blue forest ecosystems in European sea basins (HORIZON-MISS-2027-03-OCEAN-05)

This Horizon Europe Innovation Action funds large-scale, multidisciplinary demonstrations to protect, restore and sustainably manage blue forest ecosystems and other marine and coastal vegetated habitats across European sea basins. Projects must integrate conservation, active and/or passive restoration, innovative finance, long-term monitoring, and community engagement, aligned with the EU Nature Restoration Regulation and the Restore our Ocean and Waters Mission. Each proposal must focus on exactly one Mission lighthouse basin: 1) Atlantic and Arctic sea basin, 2) Mediterranean Sea basin, 3) Baltic and North Sea basin, or 4) Danube River basin including the Black Sea. The action emphasises cooperation with public authorities, local communities, researchers and NGOs, and requires open data practices linking to EMODnet.

Key facts and timeline

Detailed topic text is published in the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026–2027, Part 12 Missions, section HORIZON-MISS (page reference in the official PDF). ¹

Objectives and expected outcomes

• Increase area and improve the condition of marine and coastal vegetated habitats within EU waters through effective on-site conservation, restoration and management, contributing to the EU Nature Restoration Regulation.
• Maintain and enhance the natural carbon storage capacity of blue carbon ecosystems, supporting EU climate mitigation goals.
• Enhance the contribution of marine vegetated habitats and blue carbon ecosystems to biodiversity and fisheries.
• Establish novel financing and incentive mechanisms that combine public and private funding to support blue forest ecosystem projects.
• Raise public awareness and improve community participation in protection, restoration and management, ensuring long-term involvement and replication.

Scope and mandatory activities

Projects must tailor activities to the specific ecological and socio-economic characteristics of the chosen lighthouse basin (including inflowing river basins) and build collaborations with EU Member State and Associated Country authorities and policymakers, local communities, researchers and NGOs. Direct involvement of authorities and stakeholders in the consortium is strongly encouraged. Proposals must address all of the following elements:

1. 1Protection and restoration: Plan and implement on-site measures to improve condition and re-establish ecologically relevant degraded marine and coastal vegetated habitats and species, in line with the EU Nature Restoration Regulation. Include active restoration (e.g. replanting, re-establishment of habitats, prevention of Invasive Alien Species) and/or passive restoration (e.g. removal of environmental pressures).
2. 2Conservation and regulatory support: Strengthen protection of blue carbon habitats by supporting authorities to establish and effectively manage Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)/EU Blue Parks, and by promoting necessary regulatory measures to enable effective restoration and prevent degradation.
3. 3Innovative financing and business models: Design, explore and scientifically assess the viability, soundness and integrity of blended-finance approaches and business models (e.g. nature credits, carbon removal certification) for protection, restoration and management, and assess their potential to support sustainable development and resilience of EU coastal communities.
4. 4Research, cumulative-impacts assessment and monitoring: Analyse cumulative impacts of stressors (including Invasive Alien Species and climate change) on habitats and species, and inform restoration/protection measures. Deploy multi-sensor platforms for long-term monitoring of habitat condition, ecosystem health, restoration success and ecosystem service outcomes, including natural carbon sequestration. Ensure continuity beyond project duration by embedding monitoring into long-term observation networks such as EMODnet, adhering to FAIR data principles.
5. 5Community engagement and education: Co-design and deliver initiatives that engage local communities, stakeholders and citizens, including educational programmes and participatory monitoring, to enable upscaling and replication across the basin.
6. 6Knowledge integration and alignment: Build on best available actionable knowledge, methods and innovations from previous national and EU projects; involve or align with organisations providing cross-national and regional scientific coordination and advice on fisheries and ecosystem-based management to support participatory monitoring, data harmonisation and inclusive co-management practices across sea basins.
7. 7Synergies and replication: Pool and enhance synergies with other funding sources (e.g. ERDF, LIFE, cohesion funds) to implement and deploy innovative solutions. Deliver action plans and roadmaps for replication and upscaling within and beyond the project duration.
8. 8Mission governance links: Establish operational links and cooperate with relevant Lighthouse CSAs and the Mission Implementation Platform to contribute to tracking progress towards Mission objectives and coordinate implementation activities in the chosen lighthouse basin.

Policy alignment

• European Green Deal.
• EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.
• EU Nature Restoration Regulation.
• EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change.
• EU Global Gateway strategy.
• Common Fisheries Policy.
• Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
• Birds and Habitats Directives and effective management of the Natura 2000 network.

Eligibility, participation and open science obligations

• Eligible countries: As described in Horizon Europe General Annex B (EU Member States, Horizon Europe Associated Countries; plus specific provisions for some non-associated third countries).
• Consortium composition: Horizon Europe minimum participation rules apply (General Annex B). Collaboration with national/regional agencies and authorities, policymakers, local communities, researchers, NGOs is required in practice; the direct involvement of relevant authorities and stakeholders in the consortium is strongly encouraged.
• Satellite-based data: If using satellite-based Earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data/services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data may additionally be used).
• Open science and EMODnet: If projects collect in-situ data and marine observations, beneficiaries must make them openly available through EMODnet, following FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable).

Budget specifics and funding rates

• Expected EU contribution per project: €3.5–€3.975 million.
• Total indicative topic budget: €15.9 million with an indicative 4 grants expected.
• Type of action: Innovation Action (HORIZON-IA). Under Horizon Europe, IA funding rates are typically 70% of eligible costs for for-profit beneficiaries and up to 100% for non-profit legal entities, with eligible indirect costs calculated per MGA rules.
• Co-funding and leverage: Applicants are encouraged to combine EU funds with national, regional and private finance (e.g. ERDF, LIFE, cohesion funds) and to pilot innovative business models and blended-finance instruments for long-term sustainability.

Geographic scope and lighthouse basins

Each proposal must focus on a single Mission lighthouse basin and tailor activities to its specific ecological, hydrological and socio-economic context. The basins include inflowing river basins:

• Atlantic and Arctic sea basin.
• Mediterranean Sea basin.
• Baltic and North Sea basin.
• Danube River basin, including the Black Sea.

Application and evaluation

• Submission: Single-stage application via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Submission System for the specific topic page.
• Application forms: Part A (online forms) and Part B (PDF) as provided in the portal. Proposal page limits and layout are defined in Part B of the application form.
• Evaluation criteria: Excellence, Impact, and Quality and Efficiency of the Implementation per General Annex D; thresholds apply.
• Portfolio balance rule: To ensure coverage of all 4 Mission basins, at least the highest-ranked proposal within each basin will be funded provided it meets thresholds, in addition to ranking order.
• Timelines, processes and admissibility: Per General Annexes A, E and F.
• Legal and financial set-up: Per General Annex G and the HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based MGA, with additional open science obligations for marine data to EMODnet.
• Partner search: The portal supports publishing and responding to partner search announcements for this topic.

Sectors, themes and technologies targeted

• Environment, biodiversity and marine ecosystems.
• Blue carbon and climate mitigation via natural sinks.
• Fisheries and ecosystem-based management.
• Finance and innovative business models for nature restoration (e.g. nature credits, carbon removal certification).
• Monitoring and observation technologies using multi-sensor platforms; Earth observation data; long-term observation networks; data harmonisation.
• Policy and governance for MPAs/EU Blue Parks and regulatory measures.
• Community engagement, education, and participatory monitoring.

Data, monitoring and interoperability

• Long-term, multi-sensor monitoring of habitat condition, ecosystem health and restoration outcomes, including natural carbon sequestration.
• Cumulative impacts assessment of multiple stressors, including Invasive Alien Species and climate change.
• FAIR data management, open access to in-situ marine observations via EMODnet, and alignment with cross-basin data harmonisation efforts.
• Use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS if satellite-based data/services are employed.

Awards, project stage and duration

• Project stage: Demonstration and deployment at scale, with on-the-ground restoration and conservation, operational monitoring, and validated innovative financing mechanisms.
• Mission integration: Operational cooperation with lighthouse CSAs and the Mission Implementation Platform to track contributions towards Mission targets.
• Replication: Action plans and roadmaps for replication and upscaling are mandatory outcomes and should extend beyond the project’s end.

Structured answers to categorisation questions

Eligible Applicant Types:Universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, nonprofit organisations, NGOs, public authorities at national, regional and local levels, public agencies managing protected areas and MPAs, public-private partnerships, community organisations, and other legal entities eligible under Horizon Europe rules. The direct involvement of competent authorities and stakeholders is strongly encouraged in the consortium. International organisations may participate subject to Annex B; funding eligibility depends on status and country.

Funding Type:Grant (Horizon Europe Innovation Action, budget-based HORIZON-AG).

Consortium Requirement:Consortium. Horizon Europe minimum rules apply (at least three independent legal entities, each established in a different Member State or Associated Country). Given the scope, multi-actor consortia including authorities, researchers, NGOs, communities and private sector are expected.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries per General Annex B. Participation from certain non-associated third countries is possible without EU funding unless specific provisions apply. Activities must focus on European sea basins and connected river basins.

Target Sector:Environment, climate, biodiversity, marine and coastal ecosystems, blue economy, fisheries and ecosystem-based management, finance and innovative financing for nature, Earth observation and ocean monitoring, data and digital for environmental monitoring, education and community engagement.

Mentioned Countries:No specific countries are named. Regions/basins explicitly mentioned: Atlantic and Arctic sea basin; Mediterranean Sea basin; Baltic and North Sea basin; Danube River basin including the Black Sea. Geographic scope includes EU waters and river basins flowing to these seas.

Project Stage:Demonstration and deployment. Projects must implement large-scale restoration, conservation and management measures; develop and test innovative financing models; conduct operational monitoring; and prepare replication and upscaling roadmaps.

Funding Amount:Expected EU contribution per project is between €3,500,000 and €3,975,000. The total indicative budget for the topic is €15,900,000 with an indicative 4 projects funded.

Application Type:Open call, single-stage submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Nature of Support:Money (grant funding). Non-financial support may arise indirectly through Mission Implementation Platform coordination and networking, but the instrument is a grant.

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

Success Rates:Not specified. The topic applies a portfolio balance rule to fund at least the highest-ranked proposal in each of the four basins provided thresholds are met.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes, in practice for for-profit entities due to Innovation Action funding rates (typically 70% for for-profit, up to 100% for non-profits, per Horizon Europe rules). Additionally, the topic encourages leveraging other sources such as ERDF, LIFE and private finance, and requires development and assessment of innovative financing mechanisms.

Templates:Applicants must use the standard Horizon Europe application forms available in the Submission System. Examples of standard forms are in the Reference Documents page. The evaluation uses the standard HE IA evaluation form. Proposal page limits and layout are defined in Part B. The Model Grant Agreement is the HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based. Key structure of Part B typically includes: Excellence (objectives, relation to the work programme, methodology, interdisciplinary aspects, open science practices, citizen and stakeholder engagement); Impact (pathways to impact, measures to maximise impact including dissemination, exploitation and communication, IP strategy, uptake and replication plans, contribution to Mission targets and policy alignment, innovative financing and business model maturation, synergies with other funding); Quality and efficiency of the implementation (work plan, Gantt and PERT, work packages with tasks and deliverables, risk management including environmental and regulatory risks, consortium composition and capabilities including involvement of authorities and stakeholders, resources and budget, data management plan and EMODnet commitments, ethics and security). Admissibility and eligibility conditions follow General Annexes A and B. Open science, EMODnet and, where relevant, Copernicus/Galileo usage commitments must be clearly described.

Evaluation and award details

• Award criteria, scoring and thresholds: General Annex D applies.
• Balanced portfolio rule across basins: At least one highest-ranked proposal per basin will be funded, subject to thresholds.
• Submission and evaluation processes, timelines and grant agreement set-up: General Annex F and G apply.

Compliance and data obligations

• In-situ and marine observation data must be made openly available via EMODnet and follow FAIR principles.
• If satellite-based data/services are used, Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS must be used (other data may be used in addition).
• Projects should align with organisations offering cross-national scientific coordination and advice for fisheries and ecosystem-based management to harmonise data and support co-management.

How to apply and where to get support

• Apply via the topic page on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Topic page.
• Consult the Work Programme 2026–2027 Part 12 Missions for detailed topic text Work Programme PDF.
• Use the Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, and National Contact Points for guidance. Partner search announcements can be posted and consulted on the portal.

Long summary: What this opportunity is about

This call funds practical, on-the-water demonstrations that restore and safeguard marine and coastal vegetated habitats and blue carbon ecosystems at scale within one European lighthouse basin. It requires a full chain from protection and restoration actions, through enabling conservation governance and regulation, to robust long-term monitoring and community participation. A prominent feature is the requirement to design and test bankable, integrity-assured financing mechanisms and business models that blend public and private capital, making restoration and protection financially sustainable and scalable. Scientific components include cumulative impact assessment of climate change and other stressors (including Invasive Alien Species), and the deployment of multi-sensor platforms for long-term monitoring of ecosystem condition, health, restoration success and carbon sequestration, with open, FAIR data feeding EMODnet. Governance elements support authorities to establish and manage MPAs/EU Blue Parks effectively, while engagement tracks ensure local communities and stakeholders co-create solutions and drive replication. Each proposal must focus on exactly one lighthouse basin and align closely with national restoration plans under the Nature Restoration Regulation and with the Mission’s targets, while cooperating with lighthouse CSAs and the Mission Implementation Platform. Funding is provided as a Horizon Europe Innovation Action grant with expected EU contributions of €3.5–€3.975 millionper project, single-stage submission and portfolio balancing across the four basins. Consortia are expected to bring together public authorities, research and innovation actors, NGOs, communities and private sector partners, and to leverage additional funds such as ERDF or LIFE to sustain deployment beyond the project. The opportunity is an integrated science, policy, finance and society initiative to deliver measurable ecosystem recovery, climate mitigation via blue carbon, biodiversity and fisheries co-benefits, and durable capacity and financing models that can be replicated across European waters.

Footnotes

1. 1Official reference: Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026–2027, Part 12 Missions, section HORIZON-MISS, available via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Work Programme PDF.

Large-scale demonstration of protection, restoration and management of blue forest ecosystems in European sea basins (HORIZON-MISS-2027-03-OCEAN-05)

This Horizon Europe Innovation Action call under the Restore our Ocean and Waters Mission seeks multidisciplinary projects demonstrating large-scale protection, restoration, and sustainable management of blue forest ecosystems (marine and coastal vegetated habitats such as seagrasses, salt marshes, and macroalgae) in one of four specified European sea basins. Projects must align with the EU Nature Restoration Regulation and contribute to Mission objectives by enhancing habitat condition, blue carbon storage, biodiversity, fisheries support, innovative financing, and community engagement.

Expected Outcomes

• Increased area and improved condition of marine and coastal vegetated habitats in EU waters through conservation, restoration, and management activities.
• Maintained and enhanced blue carbon sequestration capacity to support EU climate mitigation.
• Strengthened support for biodiversity and fisheries from blue carbon ecosystems.
• Established novel financing and incentive mechanisms for blue forest projects.
• Raised public awareness and sustained community participation for long-term ecosystem management.

Scope and Key Activities

Proposals must target exactly one Mission lighthouse basin: 1. Atlantic and Arctic sea basin; 2. Mediterranean Sea basin; 3. Baltic and North Sea basin; or 4. Danube River basin (including Black Sea), tailoring activities to regional specificities. Required elements include collaborations with national/regional authorities, policymakers, local communities, researchers, and NGOs, with direct consortium involvement strongly encouraged. Projects must integrate blue carbon into national restoration plans under the Nature Restoration Regulation and demonstrate Mission alignment.

Mandatory Activity Areas

• Protection and restoration: Active (e.g., replanting, habitat re-establishment, invasive species prevention) or passive (e.g., pressure removal) measures for degraded habitats.
• Conservation: Support for marine protected areas (MPAs)/EU Blue Parks, regulatory measures for restoration and degradation prevention.
• Innovative financing: Public-private models, business models (e.g., nature credits, carbon removal certification), assessing viability for coastal community resilience.
• Research and monitoring: Stressor impact assessment (e.g., invasives, climate change), multi-sensor platforms for long-term monitoring integrated into EMODnet, ensuring post-project continuity.
• Community engagement: Educational programs and stakeholder actions for upscaling and replication.

Projects must build on prior EU/national projects, align with fisheries/ecosystem management organizations, synergize with funds like ERDF or LIFE, develop replication/upscaling roadmaps, and cooperate with relevant Lighthouse CSAs and the Mission Implementation Platform.

Eligibility and Who Can Apply

Open to legal entities from EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries forming consortia (minimum three independent entities from three different countries: at least one from a Member State, plus two from Member States/Associated Countries). Direct involvement of authorities and stakeholders encouraged. Eligible countries detailed in General Annex B; some non-EU/Associated Countries may access funding per Horizon Europe Programme Guide. If using satellite data, Copernicus/Galileo/EGNOS required. Proposals must follow page limits/layout in Annexes A/E.

Funding Details

Indicative Budget:€15.9 million total for 2027.

Expected EU Contribution per Project:€3.5 - €3.975 million.

Indicative Number of Grants:4 projects.

Funding Rate:Up to 70% of eligible costs for Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA), per standard Horizon Europe rules.

Timeline

1. 1Planned opening: 9 February 2027.
2. 2Deadline: 21 September 2027, 17:00 Brussels time (single-stage submission).
3. 3Evaluation timeline per Annex F of Work Programme General Annexes.

Evaluation and Award Criteria

Standard criteria in Annex D: Excellence (threshold 70%), Impact (threshold 60%), Implementation (threshold 50%); overall threshold 70%. To ensure balanced portfolio across 4 basins, at least one highest-ranked proposal per basin awarded if thresholds met. Processes in Annex F; financial/operational capacity per Annex C.

Additional Requirements and Obligations

• Open science: In-situ/marine data openly available via EMODnet (FAIR principles).
• Synergies: Pool with ERDF, LIFE, etc.; develop replication roadmaps.
• Alignment: European Green Deal, Biodiversity Strategy 2030, Nature Restoration Regulation, Climate Adaptation Strategy, Global Gateway, CFP, MSFD, Birds/Habitats Directives.
• Submission: Via Funding & Tenders Portal; forms in Submission System.

Application Resources

Primary source: EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Work Programme: HE Main WP 2026-2027 (Missions, General Annexes). Guidance: HE Programme Guide, Online Manual, NCPs, EEN, Partner Search.

Projects must propose basin explicitly and show Mission contribution. Strong consortia with authorities/stakeholders key to success. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Detailed conditions in Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027, Part 12 Missions (C(2025) 8493), and General Annexes.