Open Call for Associated Regions aiming at assessing the replicability and exploitability potentials of the RHE-MEDiation technologies.

The RHE-MEDiation project is launching an open call for Associated Regions aimed at addressing chemical pollution in the Mediterranean Sea. This initiative seeks to establish a governance framework focused on mitigating chemical pollution, particularly in hotspots. The open call invites Local and Regional Authorities from Associated Regions within EU Member States and Associated countries that are affected by persistent chemical pollution in coastal or semi-confined areas linked to the Mediterranean. Authorities that are part of the existing RHE-MEDiation project Consortium, as well as those previously funded under iMERMAID’s open calls, are not eligible to apply.

The total budget for this funding opportunity is €500,000, with up to €100,000 available for each of five selected projects. The applications are to be submitted through the F6S platform, with the submission period running from March 31, 2025, to May 31, 2025. The application process is single-stage, and selected projects are expected to last for nine months, starting on September 1, 2025, and concluding on May 31, 2026.

Applicants are expected to develop strategies to replicate and exploit RHE-MEDiation technologies, sharing knowledge and maximizing future implementation opportunities. Supported activities include assessing project progress, outlining the pros and cons of using proposed technologies, conducting preliminary design assessments, developing implementation plans, and sharing findings at a workshop involving relevant stakeholders.

The objective of the call is to empower local authorities to demonstrate the feasibility of pollution remediation solutions within their regions, contributing to broader efforts to restore marine ecosystems. This aligns with the EU's mission to reduce chemical pollution in the Mediterranean, and successful applicants will help create a roadmap for future projects and collaboration.

The full name of the project is "RHE-MEDiation - Responsive hub for long term governance to destress the Mediterranean Sea from chemical pollution," under the EU funding program Horizon Europe. Details and application templates can be accessed via the project website.

The RHE-MEDiation project is launching an Open Call for Associated Regions (OC4ARs) to address chemical pollution in the Mediterranean Sea. The project aims to establish a responsive hub for long-term governance focused on mitigating chemical pollution, including peak concentrations in known hotspots. The Open Call seeks to select five potential replication sites and finance the replicability of RHE-MEDiation technologies in these Associated Regions. This initiative empowers local and regional authorities to manage the transformation towards reduced chemical pollution.

The objective of this open call is to invite Third Parties, specifically Local/Regional Authorities within the Associated Regions, to apply and develop a replicability strategy for their replication sites. This strategy should complement the exploitation activities of the RHE-MEDiation technologies by sharing knowledge and maximizing future implementation opportunities. The selected Third Parties will demonstrate the feasibility of the solutions in their replication sites and prepare for the implementation and scale-up of the tested tools and technologies in their areas.

Financially supported activities include:

Being aware of the project progress through reading the project publishable documentation made available through the project website and participation to project webinar/workshop at the end of the demonstration phase.
Contributing to outlining the pros and cons associated with the use of the proposed RHE-MEDiation technologies in the site under analysis.
Undertaking a preliminary design assessment for a potential establishment at the site under study and develop a work timetable and roadmap for future implementation, including the specifications of governance and the financial processes to be mobilised, stakeholders to be involved, and permissions to be achieved.
Promoting the exploitation of the developed roadmap to be endorsed at the national level, to upscale the level of interest for other potential replication sites in the same territory/nation.
Contributing to or participating in a specific workshop where relevant authorities and interested stakeholders are invited to attend at the end of the WP5 of the RHE-MEDiation project.

Eligible applicants are Local/regional Authorities from Associated Regions located in EU Member States/Associated countries. These regions should be related to coastal seawater or inland semi-confined areas (linked directly or indirectly to the Mediterranean) affected by persistent chemical pollution. Authorities that are part of the RHE-MEDiation project Consortium are not eligible. Authorities funded under the iMERMAID’s open calls for associated regions are also not eligible.

The total budget for the RHE-MEDiation Open Call for Associated Regions is 500,000 EUR. The funding will be distributed to up to five projects, with a maximum of 100,000 EUR available per selected project.

The opening date for submissions is March 31, 2025. The deadline for submissions is May 31, 2025, at 17:00 (Brussels time). The deadline model is single-stage. The application period runs from March 31st to May 31st, 2025. Evaluation, selection, and contracting will take place from June to August 2025. The duration of the selected projects is 9 months. The projects are expected to start on September 1st, 2025, and finish on May 31st, 2026.

The project acronym is RHE-MEDiation. The full name of the EU-funded project is RHE-MEDiation - Responsive hub for long term governance to destress the Mediterranean Sea from chemical pollution. The grant agreement number is 101113045. The topic is HORIZON-MISS-2022-OCEAN-01-03 - Mediterranean sea basin lighthouse - Actions to prevent, minimise and remediate chemical pollution.

Templates and guidelines for the OC4ARs documents are available at https://rhemediation.eu/open-call.html. Submissions must be made through the F6S platform using the link https://www.f6s.com/rhemediation-open-call/apply. Potential applicants are encouraged to visit the RHE-MEDiation project website, carefully read the instructions, including the Guidelines for Applicants documentation, which contains information about the submission and evaluation process, and apply using the selected application platform.

In summary, this open call is a funding opportunity for local and regional authorities in EU Member States and Associated Countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. The goal is to support projects that aim to replicate and exploit technologies developed within the RHE-MEDiation project to address chemical pollution in coastal and semi-confined areas. Successful applicants will receive up to 100,000 EUR to develop and implement strategies for adopting these technologies in their regions, contributing to a broader effort to de-stress the Mediterranean Sea from chemical pollutants. The call encourages knowledge sharing, feasibility studies, and the creation of roadmaps for future implementation and scale-up of pollution remediation solutions.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are Local/regional Authorities, from Associated Regions located in EU Member States/Associated countries, related to coastal seawater or inland semi-confined areas (linked directly or indirectly to the Mediterranean) affected by persistent chemical pollution, other than those that are part of the RHE-MEDiation project Consortium. Authorities funded under the iMERMAID’s open calls for associated regions are not eligible.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically cascade funding, as indicated by the phrase "GrantCascade funding".

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity appears to be open to single applicants, specifically local/regional authorities. There is no explicit mention of a consortium requirement. Therefore, the requirement is single.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is for Associated Regions located in EU Member States/Associated countries, related to coastal seawater or inland semi-confined areas (linked directly or indirectly to the Mediterranean).

Target Sector: The target sector is environment, specifically related to the remediation of chemical pollution in the Mediterranean Sea. It also touches on governance and regional development related to environmental issues.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity mentions EU Member States and Associated countries. The focus is on regions bordering the Mediterranean Sea.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on assessing replicability and exploitability potentials, suggesting a stage of validation and demonstration of existing technologies in new locations. The selected Third Parties will showcase the feasibility of the solutions in their replication sites and prepare for implementation and scale-up of the tested tools and technologies in their area.

Funding Amount: The funding amount is up to €100,000 per project, with a total of €500,000 available to fund up to five projects.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, specifically the RHE-MEDiation Open Call for “Associated Regions” (OC4ARs).

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money, as the opportunity provides funding of up to €100,000 per selected project.

Application Stages: The application process appears to be single-stage, as indicated by the "Deadline model single-stage".

Success Rates: The success rate can be estimated. With 5 projects being funded out of an unknown number of applications, the success rate is unknown, but likely to be below 10% or 10 to 39%, depending on the number of applications received.

Co-funding Requirement: The information provided does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

The RHE-MEDiation project is launching an open call (OC4ARs) to select five replication sites for technologies aimed at reducing chemical pollution in the Mediterranean Sea. The project seeks to empower local and regional authorities in "Associated Regions" to manage this transformation. The goal is to support the replicability and exploitation of RHE-MEDiation technologies by sharing knowledge and maximizing future implementation opportunities. Eligible applicants are Local/regional Authorities from Associated Regions within EU Member States/Associated countries that are related to coastal seawater or inland semi-confined areas affected by chemical pollution and linked to the Mediterranean. Authorities already funded under the iMERMAID’s open calls are ineligible. The selected authorities will receive up to €100,000 to showcase the feasibility of the solutions in their areas and prepare for implementation and scale-up. The activities to be supported include assessing the project progress, outlining the pros and cons of the RHE-MEDiation technologies, undertaking a preliminary design assessment, developing a roadmap for future implementation, promoting the exploitation of the roadmap, and participating in a workshop. The total funding available is €500,000. The application deadline is May 31, 2025, and the selected projects will run for 9 months, starting on September 1, 2025, and ending on May 31, 2026. The application must be submitted through the F6S platform. The RHE-MEDiation project aims to establish a responsive hub for deploying long-term governance centered on the mission to de-stress the Mediterranean Sea from chemical pollution, including peak concentrations in known hot spots. The topic is HORIZON-MISS-2022-OCEAN-01-03 - Mediterranean sea basin lighthouse - Actions to prevent, minimise and remediate chemical pollution.