Mission Lighthouses coordination and support activities

The grant opportunity HORIZON-MISS-2025-03-OCEAN-07 is part of the Horizon Europe Programme, aimed at supporting the implementation of the EU Mission "Restore our Ocean and Waters." This specific initiative falls under Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), focusing on enhancing 'lighthouse' basin approaches in key maritime and river regions.

Eligible applicant types include public and private organizations, research institutes, universities, and NGOs. Proposals need to form consortia involving partners from at least three EU member states or associated countries, emphasizing collaboration across sectors and regions. The call targets marine conservation, water management, and the development of sustainable practices.

The geographic scope includes EU member states and associated countries, particularly those along the Atlantic-Arctic, Mediterranean Sea, Baltic-North Sea, and Danube River-Black Sea basins. Although specific countries are not named, the focus is on regions within these basins.

The grant amount totals €14.2 million, with individual project funding ranging from €3 million to €3.55 million. The submission process is a single-stage open call, with the application deadline set for September 24, 2025. The nature of support is monetary, specifically through a lump sum grant.

The expected outcomes include the establishment of well-coordinated activities that facilitate the implementation of mission objectives, the development of effective governance models, and the strengthening of an innovation ecosystem within the targeted basins. Proposals should leverage existing outcomes from previous mission work programs while targeting actions that ensure sustainable socio-economic development and promote awareness about the mission.

Overall, this grant is designed to foster cross-regional cooperation and support activities that implement significant environmental and governance changes by 2030, aiming to replicate and upscale innovative solutions in the context of ocean and water restoration.

This EU funding opportunity is part of the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically under the call "Supporting the implementation of the Restore our Ocean and Waters Mission (HORIZON-MISS-2025-03)". The topic, HORIZON-MISS-2025-03-OCEAN-07, focuses on Mission Lighthouses coordination and support activities. It is a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (HORIZON-CSA) with a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] and follows a single-stage submission model. The call opened on 07 May 2025, and the deadline for submission is 24 September 2025 at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcome of this funding is to enhance the ‘lighthouse’ basin approach from the Mission's first phase. This involves supporting basin-specific activities that implement all Mission objectives and develop solutions for replication and scale-up in the second phase, thereby strengthening basin-scale cooperation and governance.

The project results should contribute to:
A structuring effect to advance and/or consolidate national and regional hubs supporting the implementation of all Mission Ocean and waters’ objectives at basin level, ensuring coherence and alignment of policies, initiatives, and actions at EU, national, and local levels.
Well-coordinated activities underpinned by a consistent monitoring framework to assess the implementation and achievement of the Mission objectives.
Effective provision of technical services, governance, and business models to local stakeholders to support and guarantee sustainable socio-economic development of the basins.
A well-functioning basin-scale innovation ecosystem attractive to investors and businesses.
Increased and effective awareness about the Mission and involvement of citizens in its implementation at sea/river basin scale.
Increased coordination and collaboration between the various lighthouses (sea/river basins).
Greater involvement from public procurement bodies in the innovation cycle and accelerated uptake of innovative solutions.
Strengthened regional implementation of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-30.

The scope of this opportunity is defined by the Mission Ocean and waters, where 'lighthouses' are "hubs and platforms supporting the development and deployment of transformative innovative solutions in all forms – technological, social, business, governance, ensuring fast progress towards the achievement of Mission objectives and important impact on society in the river and sea basins through science and technology”. The Mission supports regional engagement and cooperation through four area-based 'lighthouses' in the major basins: the Atlantic-Arctic, Mediterranean Sea, Baltic-North Sea, and Danube River-Black Sea basins, applying a systemic approach addressing the inland waters-sea continuum.

Proposals are expected to:
Bring together complementary public and/or private organisations and networks.
Integrate heterogeneous expertise to support the continuity of the four existing Lighthouses.
Expand the scope to all mission objectives to facilitate the implementation of the second phase of the mission.
Provide a broad portfolio of support measures to relevant stakeholders at basin level.
Ensure the replication and upscale of innovative solutions addressing all objectives of the Mission Ocean and waters in a given lighthouse area.
Demonstrate how activities and results will achieve the Mission’s objectives by 2030 for the ‘deployment and upscaling phase’.
Consider cooperation with European research infrastructures.
Build on and bring together existing governance structures and networks and relevant existing activities.

Proposals are expected to address the following activities:
Support the replication and upscale of innovative solutions in the specific basin lighthouse by:
Disseminating and raising awareness about suitable, impactful innovative and transformative solutions.
Organising demonstration and testing activities for innovative solutions.
Supporting access to finance and mobilising suitable investors through pitching events, networks of investors, venture capital funds, and local Entrepreneurial Discovery processes.
Supporting knowledge and technology transfer, including training and skill development.
Supporting the involvement and cooperation of ‘associated regions’.
Design and carry out relevant actions at basin scale to promote the Mission ocean and waters and its activities, targeting different stakeholders and the general public, both at basin scale and at the regional/local level.
Support the mobilisation of national and regional funds as well as private financing around common objectives by:
Designing joint initiatives under the Mission Ocean and waters, such as joint programmes or calls for R&I actions between the national and the EU level.
Supporting the alignment and testing of synergies between Regional Smart Specialisation Strategies and other relevant European programmes.
Targeting relevant funding organisations such as investment funds, banks, and philanthropists at national/regional levels to facilitate mobilisation of funding.
Supporting Pre-Commercial Procurements (PCP) and/or Public Procurement of Innovative solutions (PPI).
Contribute to the overall monitoring of the Mission implementation by providing relevant information in relation to each basin lighthouse area and liaising with Mission projects to collect relevant data and information.
Strengthen lighthouse governance and networking by:
Liaising with the Mission secretariat to ensure a coherent and timely implementation of the Mission deployment and upscaling phase in the lighthouse basin.
Bringing relevant new actions and initiatives under the Mission charter to promote their visibility and possible replication/uptake.
Supporting an effective and participatory governance structure for the basins lighthouse involving key multi-sectoral stakeholders at sea/river basin level.
Liaising with the UN Ocean Decade actions and initiatives and promoting international cooperation.
Consolidating existing national and regional mission hubs or supporting their set up if not in place already.
Organising regular exchanges of best practices between hubs of this Mission and of the other four EU Missions.

Proposals should build on and enhance the outcomes from previous Mission work programmes such as Prep4Blue, BlueMissionAA, BlueMissionMed, BlueMissionBANOS and EcoDaLLi, or actions supporting networking and engagement. This topic supports the follow up to the July 2023 Communication on EU Missions assessment.

Regarding the general conditions, admissibility conditions related to proposal page limits and layout are described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form in the Submission System. Eligible countries are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries outlined in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. Other eligible conditions are described in Annex B, and financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are detailed in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Evaluation and award processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual, with the indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement also in Annex F. Legal and financial aspects are described in Annex G, and eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021.

Application form templates are available in the Submission System, including standard forms for HE RIA, IA, CSA, RI, PCP, PPI, and COFUND. Evaluation form templates will be used with necessary adaptations. Model Grant Agreements (MGA) include HE MGA, HE Unit MGA, Lump Sum MGA, Operating Grants MGA, and Framework Partnership Agreement FPA.

Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025, HE Programme Guide, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, and various guidance documents and rules for legal entity validation and financial capacity assessment.

The budget overview indicates that for HORIZON-MISS-2025-03-OCEAN-07, which is a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (HORIZON-CSA), the budget is EUR 14,200,000, with contributions ranging from EUR 3,000,000 to EUR 3,550,000, and an indicative number of 4 grants.

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This funding opportunity aims to enhance the coordination and support activities for the Mission Ocean and Waters, focusing on the 'lighthouse' basin approach. It seeks to consolidate regional hubs, promote innovative solutions, and foster collaboration among stakeholders to achieve the Mission's objectives by 2030. The funding supports a range of activities, including dissemination, knowledge transfer, mobilisation of funds, and strengthening governance structures within the major sea and river basins of Europe. The call encourages proposals that build upon previous work programmes and contribute to the overall monitoring and implementation of the Mission.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity is open to both public and private organizations and networks. The call specifically mentions bringing together complementary public and/or private organizations and networks.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, under the HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA).

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. Proposals are expected to bring together complementary public and/or private organizations and networks, and integrate heterogeneous expertise.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes Member States and Associated Countries. The document specifies that for the purposes of the Mission Ocean and waters, Member States/Associated Countries are considered to be part of a given sea/river basin if they have a coast/riverbank on the relevant sea/river or contain river basins flowing into the relevant sea. 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.

Target Sector: The target sector is environment, specifically related to ocean and water restoration. The program targets the implementation of the Restore our Ocean and Waters Mission, focusing on the Atlantic-Arctic, Mediterranean Sea, Baltic-North Sea, and Danube River-Black Sea basins. The thematic areas include marine and inland waters, addressing the land-sea continuum, and supporting the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-30.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the opportunity focuses on the Atlantic-Arctic, Mediterranean Sea, Baltic-North Sea, and Danube River-Black Sea basins, implying that countries within these regions are the target beneficiaries. The document also mentions Member States/Associated Countries, and non-EU/non-Associated Countries that have specific provisions for funding.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on deployment and upscaling of existing innovative solutions, specifically targeting the second phase of the Mission Ocean and waters, which aims for deployment and upscaling by 2030. The call aims to enhance the 'lighthouse' basin approach designed for the first phase, supporting activities needed for replication and scale-up.

Funding Amount: The funding amount for the HORIZON-MISS-2025-03-OCEAN-07 topic, which is a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (CSA), is EUR 14,200,000 in total, with individual contributions ranging from EUR 3,000,000 to EUR 3,550,000. The indicative number of grants for this specific topic is 4. Other topics within the same call (HORIZON-MISS-2025-03) have different budget allocations.

Application Type: The application type is a single-stage open call. The submission session is now available as of 16 May 2025, and the deadline for submission is 24 September 2025.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme.

Application Stages: The application process is a single-stage process.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants for the HORIZON-MISS-2025-03-OCEAN-07 topic is 4, which can provide some insight into the potential success rate depending on the number of applications received.

Co-funding Requirement: The need for co-funding is not explicitly stated, but applicants are expected to support the mobilisation of national and regional funds as well as private financing around common objectives.

This Horizon Europe call, supporting the implementation of the Restore our Ocean and Waters Mission, aims to enhance the 'lighthouse' basin approach by providing support for basin-specific activities. The goal is to implement Mission objectives and develop solutions for replication and scale-up, strengthening basin-scale cooperation and governance. The call targets the Atlantic-Arctic, Mediterranean Sea, Baltic-North Sea, and Danube River-Black Sea basins. Proposals should bring together public and private organizations and networks, integrating expertise to support the continuity of existing Lighthouses and expanding their scope to all mission objectives. Actions should provide support measures to stakeholders, ensuring the replication and upscale of innovative solutions. The call encourages cooperation with European research infrastructures and builds on outcomes from previous Mission work programmes. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum. The application process is a single-stage open call with a deadline of 24 September 2025. The call aims to achieve a structuring effect to advance national and regional hubs, well-coordinated activities with a monitoring framework, effective provision of technical services and governance models, a functioning innovation ecosystem, increased awareness and citizen involvement, greater coordination between lighthouses, increased involvement from public procurement bodies, and strengthened regional implementation of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-30.