Mission ocean in Slovenian seas — Call for proposals for the provision of financial support to third parties for the implementation of small-scale pro...

RISTANC invites applications for small practical projects addressing marine and coastal challenges in the Slovenian territorial sea under the EU Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters; total call budget €60,000 with individual lump-sum grants of €7,500 to €12,000 and funding up to 100% of eligible costs. Projects must run 6–12 months, start no earlier than signature of the funding agreement (not before 1 January 2027) and finish by 28 February 2028, and payments are phased (20% advance, 30% interim, 50% final) linked to results. Eligible applicants include public and private legal entities, natural persons and partnerships resident or established in the EU or Horizon-associated countries, excluding RISTANC consortium partners, and activities must have a clear and operational connection to the Slovenian sea or coast. Applications in Slovenian or English must be submitted as a signed PDF by email to ristanc-funding@zrs-kp.si by 28 November 2026 at 23:59 CET using the revised call documents dated 28 September 2026.

What it funds

Scope and eligible activities

Small-scale projects addressing the health of the Slovenian marine area (North Adriatic) and contributing to the EU Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters. The call prioritises: protection and restoration of marine ecosystems, reduction of marine pollution, sustainable blue economy actions, mooring solutions to protect seabed habitats, and coastal planning interventions. Eligible activities include experimental pilots, prototype development, feasibility studies, research and innovation, artistic/community engagement, education and capacity building, monitoring and citizen science, and knowledge transfer.

Key administrative points

Footnotes

1. 1Call documents, application forms and webinar materials are available on the RISTANC website: ristanc.eu

Call summary and context

This call is published by the Science and Research Centre Koper (ZRS Koper) as the cascade funding strand of the Horizon Europe project RISTANC (Research and Innovation cooperation for SusTAinability and reaching EU missioNs objeCtives), Grant Agreement No. 101217089. It supports small-scale projects that contribute to the EU Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030 in the Slovenian territorial sea and coast (North Adriatic region). Opening date: 28 September 2026. Deadline (single-stage): 28 November 2026, 23:59 CET. Earliest project start: date of funding agreement signature, not earlier than 1 January 2027. Projects must finish by 28 February 2028 at the latest.

Eligible applicant types

A deliberately broad range of applicants is eligible. The call explicitly lists and welcomes innovators, researchers, artists, individuals, representatives of civil society, non-governmental organisations, local communities, informal and local initiatives, start-up companies, schools, research teams and other individuals and organisations whose projects contribute to the call objectives. The formal eligible applicant types are:

Funding type and mechanism

Consortium requirement and partnership rules

Applications may be submitted by a single applicant or by an applicant with partners. The lead applicant remains legally and financially responsible for project implementation. There is no formal obligation to form a multi-organisational consortium; single applicants are acceptable. For projects implemented in partnership, the maximum funding cap per project (€12,000) applies to the whole project, not per partner.

Geographic eligibility and project location

Eligible applicants must be legally established or resident in EU Member States or in countries associated with Horizon Europe (legal entities require registered office or business address; natural persons require permanent residence in an EU Member State). Project activities must be implemented in the Slovenian territorial sea, including the coast, as defined by the valid Slovenian Maritime Spatial Plan. The call target region is the Slovenian marine area (North Adriatic).

Target thematic sectors and activities supported

The call targets activities contributing to ocean and coastal restoration, pollution reduction, biodiversity protection, and a sustainable circular blue economy, aligned with the three Mission goals. Priority thematic challenges are:

Eligible activity types (non-exhaustive) include experimental activities, prototype development, feasibility and scoping studies, research and innovation, artistic/cultural/community engagement, education and capacity building, monitoring and citizen science, and knowledge brokering and transfer. Combinations of these activities are acceptable provided they address the call challenges and take place in the Slovenian sea area.

Project maturity and expected stage

Expected project stage ranges from early idea and experimental pilots to prototype development, feasibility assessments, validation and local demonstration. The call is oriented to small-scale, short-term actions (6–12 months) designed to test, demonstrate or scale local innovations and community-driven solutions rather than long-term commercialization or large-scale deployment.

Duration and timing

Application process and submission

Selection, evaluation and scoring

Applications are screened for timeliness and formal completeness, with a possibility for applicants to correct formal deficiencies within five working days if requested (this correction must not affect project content or requested funding). Complete applications are evaluated by a five-member expert commission against published award criteria and scored up to 100 points. A minimum threshold of 55 points is required for funding eligibility. Top-ranked applicants will be invited to a short oral presentation (expected 10 December 2026) to clarify the proposal; no new content or increases in requested funding are allowed at that stage.

Funding determination, eligible costs and reporting

Funding is set at the amount requested by the applicant in the application form up to the maximum of €12,000. The expert commission may reduce requested amounts where items are clearly excessive; final funding is fixed as a lump sum in the funding agreement. The lump sum covers personnel directly involved, materials and equipment strictly necessary, services (external contractors, expert reports), costs for pilot and field activities, dissemination and communication, and indirect costs calculated at a flat rate of 25% of personnel and purchase costs (A + C) as defined in the financial plan.

Payment schedule

Legal, ethical and contractual requirements

Recipients are third parties under the RISTANC EU grant and do not hold contractual relations with the European Commission. Their rights and obligations are defined in the funding agreement with ZRS Koper. Recipients must settle outstanding tax and social security liabilities prior to contract signature. Projects participate in a research process guided by the RISTANC Ethical Protocol; applicants commit to ethical principles and to indirect participation in research subject to informed consent. Failure to adhere to ethical provisions may lead to funding termination. All communication materials must acknowledge RISTANC and Horizon Europe and include the RISTANC logo, the Funded by the European Union logo and the required disclaimer.

Co-funding and cost sharing

Co-funding is not required. Funding can cover up to 100% of the project total costs within the per-project maximum. Applicants must however confirm that the project is not financed from other public sources (double funding).

Application templates and practical materials

Applicants must use the official application form (version 2, 28 September 2026). The application form includes sections A and B for administrative data and declarations (including a new double-funding declaration in Section B) and Section C for project content. Required annexes and the Evaluation criteria are provided with the application form. All application documents must be signed (legal representative for legal entities; natural person signature for individuals). Revised call documents and application forms are available on the RISTANC website and in the call documentation package.

Application assessment stages

Success rates and selection likelihood

Notification, acceptance and legal remedies

Applicants will be informed of results by 15 December 2026 at the latest. Selected applicants must confirm acceptance in writing within 10 days of notification; failure to confirm will be considered withdrawal and funding may be offered to the next ranked applicant. No substantive appeals are allowed against the commission's evaluation; objections are admissible only for suspected procedural errors and must be lodged within 8 days of receiving the outcome. The head of procedure decides on objections within 15 days; if upheld, the application will be returned to the expert commission for reconsideration.

Contacts and documentation

Full call documentation, application forms (version 2, 28 September 2026), webinar recording, presentations and FAQs are available on the RISTANC website and in the call documentation section. Official contact for submission and questions: ristanc-funding@zrs-kp.si. Questions may be submitted until 31 October 2026; answers will be published on the RISTANC website and form part of the tender documentation.

Structured categorisation (direct answers)

Practical recommendations for applicants

Applications are assessed on consistency with call challenges, implementation quality, innovation, impact, sustainability, applicant competence and budget cost-effectiveness. Only projects scoring at least 55/100 will be eligible for funding, and selected projects will be ranked and funded in order until funds are exhausted.

Footnotes

1. 1Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters official website: missionoceanwaters.eu.

Funding opportunity overview

This cascade funding call supports small, practical and inclusive projects that contribute to the EU Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030, with a specific focus on the Slovenian territorial sea, the Slovenian coast and relevant challenges in the wider North Adriatic area. It is implemented under the Horizon Europe project RISTANC, Research and Innovation cooperation for SusTAinability and reaching EU missioNs objeCtives, grant agreement 101217089. 1

The call is deliberately open to applicants beyond conventional research organisations. It is particularly suitable for local communities, civil society organisations, schools, artists, innovators, small businesses, informal initiatives and individuals with a credible idea that can be implemented within a small budget and a six to twelve month period.

The call is administered by the Science and Research Centre Koper, also known as ZRS Koper, on behalf of the RISTANC consortium. Selected applicants are third parties to the RISTANC project and do not become beneficiaries of the Horizon Europe grant agreement or enter into a contractual relationship with the European Commission. Their contractual relationship is with ZRS Koper. 2

Key facts

Purpose and policy context

The call translates the objectives of the EU Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030 into small, locally grounded actions. The Mission focuses on protecting and restoring aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity, preventing and eliminating pollution, and developing a carbon neutral and circular sustainable blue economy. 3

RISTANC applies a bottom up and socially innovative approach in the Slovenian marine area. It seeks to connect scientific knowledge, community experience, public authorities, civil society, arts, education and economic activity so that locally developed solutions can be tested, documented and potentially transferred to other parts of the Adriatic and Europe.

The opportunity is therefore not limited to conventional research. A strong application may combine practical intervention, community participation, data collection, education, artistic engagement, policy learning or knowledge transfer, provided that the project produces a clear contribution to the identified marine and coastal challenges.

Priority challenges

Projects should address at least one of the following areas and demonstrate a clear connection with the Slovenian sea or coast.

Eligible activity types

The call permits a broad range of activities and combinations of activities, provided they are necessary, feasible within the duration and budget, and linked to the call objectives.

Eligible activity

Examples of potentially eligible work

Who can apply

Eligible applicants include public and private legal entities, natural persons and partnerships. The call is intentionally broad and may be suitable for the following applicant groups:

A legal entity must have its registered office or business address in an EU Member State, an overseas country or territory associated with the EU, or a country associated with Horizon Europe. A natural person must have a permanent residence address in an EU Member State.

Informal or local initiatives may apply through a natural person. That person becomes responsible for implementation, contractual compliance and financial responsibility for the project.

Applications may be submitted individually or in partnership. The lead applicant remains responsible for the project, including implementation and financial obligations. Each legal or natural person may participate in only one application, either as the applicant or as a partner. If an organisation or person appears in multiple applications, only the first submitted application is considered.

Applicants must not be RISTANC consortium partners. Applicants with personal, professional, economic or other links to consortium partners must disclose those links. The organiser may apply conflict of interest safeguards during evaluation.

Geographical eligibility

The planned activities must be implemented in the Slovenian territorial sea, including the coast, or must contribute directly to addressing challenges in this area. The valid Slovenian Maritime Spatial Plan is used to define the geographical scope.

The wording allows some activities to have relevance beyond the immediate Slovenian sea area, particularly where they contribute to the objectives of the EU Mission, but the application should make the Slovenian connection explicit and operational. Projects with no credible link to the Slovenian marine or coastal context would present a significant eligibility risk.

Funding model and eligible cost areas

Support is awarded as a lump sum. The applicant proposes a budget and requested amount, but the approved amount is fixed in the funding agreement and may be reduced if cost items are excessive, insufficiently justified or unnecessary for the proposed activities.

The lump sum may cover costs directly linked to implementation and necessary to achieve the approved objectives, including:

Because the award is a lump sum, recipients generally do not report actual costs through invoices, timesheets or accounting documents as the basis for payment. They must nevertheless retain sufficient evidence to demonstrate that activities were implemented, results were achieved and contractual obligations were fulfilled.

The project budget should therefore be realistic, proportionate and clearly connected to activities, outputs, milestones and expected impact. A low budget is not automatically advantageous if it makes implementation unrealistic, while an inflated budget may be reduced during assessment.

Payment schedule

The detailed payment triggers and reporting deadlines will be set out in the funding agreement. Applicants should plan cash flow carefully because only 20 percent is paid at the start and the remaining 80 percent depends on accepted progress and final results.

Project duration and implementation planning

Projects may last from 6 to 12 months. They may start only after the funding agreement is signed and not before 1 January 2027. Irrespective of the selected duration, the work must be completed by 28 February 2028.

A credible application should show a short but complete delivery cycle. It should identify the starting situation, activities, responsible people, milestones, outputs, monitoring approach, risks, stakeholder involvement and the route from interim results to final evidence.

The deadline creates a fixed final stop date. A 12 month project beginning in January 2027 can fit within the call, whereas a delayed signature or later start could reduce the practical implementation period. Applicants should avoid dependencies on permits, procurement, seasonal fieldwork or third parties that cannot be secured within the available period.

Evaluation and selection

Applications are first checked for timely submission and formal completeness. The commission may request one supplement for formal deficiencies, with a five working day deadline from receipt of the request. Supplementation cannot change the project content, requested amount or substantive evaluation.

Only complete applications are evaluated. The application must include the required forms, declarations, evidence and annexes, contain all mandatory information, be submitted through the specified channel and be signed by the appropriate legal representative, authorised person or natural person.

A five member expert commission evaluates eligible applications against published criteria. Members must sign confidentiality and conflict of interest declarations. A member with an actual or perceived conflict must not assess, discuss or rank the affected application.

The minimum threshold is 55 points out of 100. Applications are ranked and funded in order until the available budget is exhausted. A project meeting the threshold is not guaranteed funding if higher ranked projects consume the available budget.

Where applications have the same total score, the application with the higher score under criterion 1 receives priority. If still tied, criterion 4 is used.

The highest rated applicants may be invited to a short oral presentation, expected around 10 December 2026. The presentation is for clarification and explanation only. It may not introduce new content or increase the requested amount, and final scoring remains based on the published criteria.

Results, acceptance and legal protection

Applicants should receive notification of the outcome by 15 December 2026 at the latest. Information on selected projects, award dates, durations and legal names and countries of recipients will be published on the RISTANC website and the Funding and Tenders Portal.

A selected applicant must confirm acceptance in writing within 10 days of receiving the selection notification. Failure to confirm within that period is treated as non acceptance, and the organiser may offer support to the next ranked applicant.

There is no appeal or objection against the substantive assessment, scoring or selection decision. An objection is available only where a procedural error is suspected. It must be submitted to the organiser within 8 days of receiving the outcome notification. The head of procedure is expected to decide within 15 days.

Compliance conditions and recipient obligations

Before signing the funding agreement, the selected applicant must have settled outstanding tax liabilities and, where relevant, social security contributions. The organiser will verify this condition. Failure to meet it may prevent contract signature and may result in the project being replaced by the next ranked project.

The project must not receive other European, national or local public funding for the same project or activities. The application includes a declaration on double funding. Applicants should map all existing grants and public support before submission and separate any related but non overlapping activities clearly.

Recipients must participate indirectly in a research process guided by the RISTANC Ethical Protocol and must follow ethical principles in project planning and implementation. Participation is subject to prior and informed consent. Breaches of ethical principles or failure to participate in the required research process may lead to termination of funding.

Communication and dissemination materials must acknowledge RISTANC and Horizon Europe and include the RISTANC logo, the Funded by the European Union logo and the required disclaimer. The funding agreement and call documentation should be followed for the exact branding and disclaimer wording.

Applicant preparation checklist

Strategic assessment for potential applicants

This is a relatively accessible opportunity for small scale action rather than a conventional large research grant. The strongest proposals are likely to be those that convert a clearly understood local marine problem into a practical, testable intervention with visible community or environmental value.

The broad eligibility rules create opportunities for partnerships between actors that do not usually apply for Horizon Europe funding. For example, a school, municipality, association, artist, marine practitioner and research adviser could combine complementary strengths, provided that the lead applicant can manage the contract and the partnership does not create multiple participation by the same entity.

The main competitive challenge is not merely eligibility but demonstrating delivery within a small fixed lump sum. Proposals should avoid overly broad marine ambitions, expensive infrastructure, unresolved permitting requirements or research questions that cannot produce tangible outputs within the project period.

Projects should make impact measurable. Suitable indicators could include the area or number of habitats monitored, quantity or type of waste addressed, number of participants trained, number of stakeholders engaged, prototype performance, policy recommendations delivered, behaviour change evidence, or adoption of a tested practice.

Risks and points requiring careful management

Official application and information sources

The official Funding and Tenders Portal record is the authoritative EU portal entry for the competitive call. 1

The RISTANC project page provides the call announcement, revised documentation, application materials, evaluation information, webinar information and updates. 2

Questions should be sent to ristanc-funding@zrs-kp.si no later than 31 October 2026. An online information seminar was scheduled for 6 October 2026, and the organiser states that questions and answers form part of the tender documentation when published.

The RISTANC project is reported as running from 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2028 and is coordinated by the Scientific Research Centre Koper. Its wider purpose is to connect scientific, social, artistic and community knowledge to support restoration and sustainable management of the Adriatic. 3

Overall conclusion

The opportunity offers up to €12,000 in full or near full support for small, locally relevant projects that improve the health, resilience or sustainable use of the Slovenian sea and coast. It is particularly attractive to applicants with strong local knowledge and practical access to communities, marine users, schools, coastal authorities or environmental sites, including applicants without previous EU funding experience.

A competitive proposal should be narrow in scope, strongly connected to one of the stated challenges, feasible within 6 to 12 months, supported by a clear results framework and budgeted as a realistic lump sum. Applicants should use the revised 28 September 2026 documentation, submit in Slovenian or English by email before 28 November 2026 at 23:59 CET, and plan for reporting based on completed activities and achieved results rather than reimbursement of actual costs.

Footnotes

1. 1Official EU Funding and Tenders Portal record: EU Funding and Tenders Portal call record
2. 2Official RISTANC call announcement and documentation page: RISTANC call for small project funding
3. 3Supporting project information: CORDIS RISTANC project factsheet