Open topic: Uncovering the causes of specific species’ rapid decline and exploring actionable solutions

This opportunity is part of Horizon Europe, specifically targeting biodiversity research and environmental protection through two calls: HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-02 and several others focused on circular bioeconomy and pollution reduction. The main aim is to uncover the causes of rapid species decline in the EU and facilitate the development of actionable solutions.

The funding amounts available are substantial. The total budget for HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-02 is €12,000,000, with expectations for four grants, each providing around €3,000,000. The application process is open and consists of two stages, requiring consortium submissions from EU member states and Horizon Europe Associated Countries.

Eligible applicant types generally include universities, research institutions, SMEs, large enterprises, and non-governmental organizations. The projects aim to advance scientific research relating to biodiversity and ecosystem health, aligning with the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

International collaboration is encouraged, particularly concerning migratory or transboundary species. Applications are subjected to a rigorous blind evaluation process to assess concept quality and potential impact. The funding model works on a lump sum basis, simplifying financial management compared to traditional reimbursement methods.

The successful projects are expected to work across multiple stages of research and development, focusing on understanding drivers of species decline and creating practical methods for recovery and sustainability. While specific success rates for proposals are not listed, competitive expectations based on budget and number of grants suggest a moderate success rate, typical of Horizon Europe initiatives.

Overall, this funding opportunity represents a critical investment in biodiversity and environmental sustainability, inviting creative and impactful research projects aimed at reversing ecological damage within the EU.

This is a summary of several Horizon Europe calls for proposals related to biodiversity, circular bioeconomy, and zero pollution, all under the Cluster 6 (Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment) of the Horizon Europe program. These calls are structured as two-stage application processes with deadlines in April and September 2026. The calls aim to support the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and other related EU legislation. Projects are expected to contribute to a better understanding of the drivers behind the decline of specific species, provide practical measures for species recovery, and promote nature protection and climate mitigation. The funding will be provided as lump sums.

Here's a breakdown of the specific calls:

1.  HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-01-two-stage: This call focuses on understanding and addressing the causes of rapid decline in specific species. It is a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (RIA) with a budget of 14,000,000 EUR. The indicative number of grants is 2, with each grant around 7,000,000 EUR.

2.  HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-02-two-stage: This call also aims to uncover the causes of specific species' rapid decline and explore actionable solutions. It is a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (RIA) with a budget of 12,000,000 EUR. The indicative number of grants is 4, with each grant around 3,000,000 EUR.

3.  HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-03-two-stage: This call is a HORIZON Innovation Action (IA) with a budget of 10,000,000 EUR. The indicative number of grants is 2, with each grant around 5,000,000 EUR.

4.  HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-04-two-stage: This call is a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (RIA) with a budget of 18,000,000 EUR. The indicative number of grants is 3, with each grant around 6,000,000 EUR.

5.  HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-01-two-stage: This call is a HORIZON Innovation Action (IA) with a budget of 10,000,000 EUR. The indicative number of grants is 2, with each grant around 5,000,000 EUR.

6.  HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-02-two-stage: This call is a HORIZON Innovation Action (IA) with a budget of 18,000,000 EUR. The indicative number of grants is 3, with each grant around 6,000,000 EUR.

7.  HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-01-two-stage: This call is a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (RIA) with a budget of 23,000,000 EUR. The indicative number of grants is 3, with each grant between 7,000,000 and 8,000,000 EUR.

General Conditions for all calls:

*  Admissibility Conditions: Proposals must adhere to page limits and layout guidelines as described in Annex A and E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form. A blind evaluation process will be used, requiring applicants to anonymize their proposals.

*  Eligible Countries: Eligibility is defined in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific provisions may exist for non-EU/non-Associated Countries, as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

*  Other Eligible Conditions: As described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

*  Financial and Operational Capacity and Exclusion: As described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

*  Evaluation and Award: The first-stage proposals will be evaluated blindly based on criteria described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. Submission and evaluation processes are detailed in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is also described in Annex F.

*  Legal and Financial Set-up: Eligible costs will be reimbursed as a lump sum, as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021.

Specific Conditions:

*  Application forms are available in the Submission System. Standard application forms for HE RIA, IA and HE RIA IA Stage 1 BLIND are provided.

*  Evaluation form templates for HE RIA, IA and HE RIA, IA and CSA Stage 1 BLIND will be used with necessary adaptations.

*  Guidance is provided in the HE Programme Guide, Lump Sum MGA, detailed budget table (HE LS), and the guidance document "Lump sums - what do I need to know?".

*  Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Terms and Conditions, and Privacy Statement.

The overall objective of these funding opportunities is to address the urgent need to reverse biodiversity decline, promote sustainable practices, and mitigate pollution in line with EU's environmental goals. The calls encourage international cooperation and emphasize the importance of translating research findings into actionable policies and practices.

In simpler terms, this is a call for researchers and innovators to come up with projects that help protect our planet. The EU is offering funding for projects that can help us understand why certain animal and plant species are disappearing, how to make our economy more circular and less wasteful, and how to reduce pollution. If you have an idea that can contribute to these goals, this is an opportunity to get funding and make a real difference. The application process is in two stages, and the EU provides a lot of guidance and support to help you through it.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity is open to a variety of applicants as it is part of the Horizon Europe program. While the specific types are not explicitly listed, eligible applicants generally include universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other organizations capable of conducting research and innovation activities. The program encourages international cooperation, implying that entities from non-EU countries may also be eligible under certain conditions outlined in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Funding Type: The primary funding mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-RIA) or HORIZON Innovation Action (HORIZON-IA) grant. The eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum contribution.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity appears to favor collaborative projects, as evidenced by the encouragement of international cooperation and the availability of a partner search tool. While a single applicant might be theoretically possible, the nature of the research and innovation actions suggests that a consortium is more likely to be successful.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes the EU and Horizon Europe Associated Countries. The opportunity also mentions that non-EU/non-Associated Countries may be eligible for funding, depending on specific provisions outlined in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Target Sector: The program targets the biodiversity and environmental sectors. Specifically, it focuses on understanding and addressing the decline of wild species, supporting the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030, and contributing to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). It also targets circular bioeconomy and zero pollution.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity explicitly mentions the EU and Horizon Europe Associated Countries. It also refers to non-EU and non-Associated Countries, also known as third countries, implying that these countries may be involved through international cooperation. Switzerland is mentioned as the location of WWF.

Project Stage: The project stage varies depending on the specific topic. Some topics are Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), which typically involve activities ranging from research to demonstration. Other topics are Innovation Actions (IA), which focus on activities closer to the market, such as prototyping, testing, and scaling up.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic, with budgets ranging from EUR 10,000,000 to EUR 23,000,000 per topic. The indicative number of grants per topic also varies, with individual grant amounts ranging from around EUR 3,000,000 to EUR 8,000,000.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a two-stage submission process. The first stage involves a blind evaluation, where applicants must not disclose their organization names or personnel in the proposal abstract and Part B of their application.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant to cover eligible costs associated with their research and innovation activities.

Application Stages: The application process consists of two stages. The first stage involves a blind evaluation of proposals.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants per topic provides some insight. Given the overall budget and the number of expected grants, the success rate is likely to be competitive, typical of Horizon Europe programs.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required. However, Horizon Europe projects often encourage or require some level of co-funding from the applicants or other sources.

Summary: This Horizon Europe funding opportunity aims to address the critical issue of biodiversity decline and environmental sustainability. It is structured around several specific topics related to biodiversity, circular bioeconomy, and zero pollution. The calls are two-staged, with a blind evaluation in the first stage. The funding is provided as lump sum grants, and the program encourages international cooperation. The target sectors include research and innovation in biodiversity, environmental science, and related fields. The geographic scope includes EU member states, associated countries, and potentially third countries under specific conditions. The funding amounts vary by topic, ranging from EUR 10 million to EUR 23 million per topic, with individual grants ranging from approximately EUR 3 million to EUR 8 million. Applicants are expected to form consortia and submit proposals that align with the EU's biodiversity strategy for 2030 and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The program seeks to improve the understanding of the drivers behind species decline, develop actionable solutions, and support the implementation of effective measures for nature protection and climate mitigation.