Prospective evaluation of nuclear power potential for shipping (ZEWT Partnership)

The Horizon Europe call for proposals, HORIZON-CL5-2027-03-D5-15, focuses on evaluating the potential of nuclear power for shipping, particularly under the Zero Emission Waterborne Transport (ZEWT) Partnership. The project is categorized as a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (CSA) with a lump sum grant type. The application process is single-stage, opening on December 15, 2026, and closing on April 14, 2027. The total funding amount is set at €2 million, with one grant expected to be awarded.

The primary aim of this funding opportunity is to assess the feasibility, safety, environmental impact, and regulatory requirements of deploying nuclear propulsion systems, including small modular reactors and advanced nuclear technologies, in maritime transport to help achieve zero-emission standards in shipping. The project will involve drafting a Research and Innovation roadmap, mapping out regulatory regimes, and developing scenarios for technology use and operational guidelines.

Eligible applicants include various entities such as research organizations, industry partners (shipping companies, shipbuilders, etc.), NGOs, and public authorities from EU Member States or Associated Countries. Though a single applicant is required, multi-stakeholder collaboration is encouraged to successfully execute the project.

The nature of support provided will take the form of a lump sum grant, enabling beneficiaries to cover costs for personnel, travel, subcontracting, software, and other necessary expenditures. There are no co-funding requirements associated with this grant.

Success rates for this specific call are not explicitly mentioned but are expected to be competitive, likely in the range of 10% to 39%, reflecting the specialized nature of the topic.

Overall, this initiative represents a strategic investment in understanding how nuclear power can serve as a viable option for decarbonizing the shipping sector, aiming to produce significant insights and guidelines pertinent to the intersection of maritime transport and nuclear energy technologies.

This is a Horizon Europe call for proposals, specifically HORIZON-CL5-2027-03-D5-15, focusing on the prospective evaluation of nuclear power potential for shipping within the Zero Emission Waterborne Transport (ZEWT) Partnership. It falls under the MOBILITY (HORIZON-CL5-2027-03) call and is a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (HORIZON-CSA) with a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] type of Model Grant Agreement (MGA). The deadline model is single-stage, with a planned opening date of December 15, 2026, and a deadline of April 14, 2027, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcomes of the projects are: drafting a Research and Innovation (R&I) roadmap for deploying nuclear power in commercial shipping, including small modular reactors (SMRs) and other advanced nuclear technologies, mapping relevant regulatory regimes, developing technology use scenarios, assessing the implications for National Energy and Climate Plans and National Air Pollution Control Programmes, assessing the total cost of ownership, and developing safety, training, and operational guidelines for nuclear-powered ships.

The scope of the call emphasizes that nuclear propulsion can reduce emissions and decarbonize shipping, requiring a coordinated effort among stakeholders like industry partners, research organizations, NGOs, the European Commission, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The main objectives are to assess the feasibility, safety, and environmental impact of using nuclear power for shipping to achieve zero emissions. The project should evaluate the technical, economic, regulatory, environmental, and social aspects of deploying nuclear power in commercial shipping, including SMRs and other advanced nuclear technologies.

Actions should address the following aspects:

Technical Feasibility: Assessing the suitability of SMRs and other nuclear technologies for maritime use, evaluating integration challenges with ship designs, and studying the lifecycle of nuclear-powered vessels.

Economic Viability: Conducting cost-benefit analyses comparing nuclear-powered shipping to other fuel options, evaluating infrastructure requirements, and mapping full costs on a lifecycle basis.

Safety and Security: Developing safety protocols, addressing cybersecurity risks and proliferation concerns, and assessing long-term crew training requirements.

Environmental Impact: Analyzing the potential reduction of emissions, assessing the impact of nuclear waste management, and assessing the impact on marine ecosystems.

Regulatory and Legal Framework: Identifying gaps in international maritime law and IAEA nuclear regulations and proposing recommendations related to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and other relevant treaties.

Additionally, a strategy for skills development should be presented. Proposals are expected to demonstrate how their objectives contribute to EU added value and long-term competitiveness in nuclear-powered vessel technologies. The topic implements the co-programmed European Partnership on ‘Zero Emission Waterborne Transport’ (ZEWT), and projects will be expected to report on results to the ZEWT Partnership.

The general conditions include admissibility conditions related to proposal page limits and layout, eligible countries as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, and other eligible conditions such as the use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS for projects using satellite-based data. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion are described in Annex C, and evaluation and award criteria, submission and evaluation processes, and the indicative timeline are described in Annexes D and F. The legal and financial set-up of the grants allows the granting authority to object to a transfer of ownership or exclusive licensing of results for up to 4 years after the end of the action. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum.

Specific conditions indicate that this call is not applicable.

Application and evaluation forms and the model grant agreement (MGA) are available in the Submission System. Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027, the HE Programme Guide, the HE Framework Programme 2021/695, the HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, the EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, the Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, the EU Grants AGA, the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, and the Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions and Privacy Statement.

The budget overview lists several topics, including HORIZON-CL5-2027-03-D5-15, which has a budget of 2,000,000 EUR for 2027, is a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (CSA), has a single-stage submission process, opens on 2026-12-15, closes on 2027-04-14, and has an indicative number of 1 grant.

Partner search announcements are available for collaboration on this topic. The submission system is planned to be opened on the date stated on the topic header.

This funding opportunity aims to explore the potential of nuclear power in decarbonizing the shipping industry. It seeks to fund projects that will conduct thorough assessments of the technical, economic, environmental, and regulatory aspects of using nuclear propulsion, including small modular reactors, in commercial vessels. The goal is to create a roadmap for the future deployment of nuclear power in shipping, ensuring safety, sustainability, and economic viability while aligning with EU's climate and energy goals. The initiative encourages collaboration among diverse stakeholders to address the challenges and opportunities associated with this innovative approach to maritime transport.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are industry partners, research performing organisations, NGOs, the European Commission, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). A coordinated effort among various stakeholders is required. Non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding may have specific provisions.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, under the HORIZON Europe program. There are also HORIZON Innovation Actions, HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions.

Consortium Requirement: A coordinated effort among various stakeholders is required, implying a consortium is necessary.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU and associated countries. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding may have specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Target Sector: The target sectors are energy, environment, transport, and climate, specifically focusing on nuclear propulsion for the shipping sector and zero-emission waterborne transport. It also touches upon advanced nuclear technologies, including small modular reactors (SMRs).

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the focus is on the EU and associated countries. International cooperation is encouraged, with mentions of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

Project Stage: The project stage is aimed at research and innovation, leading to the development of a roadmap and recommendations, as well as the review of ongoing pilot projects. This suggests a focus on research, development, and validation stages.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific HORIZON action. For HORIZON-CL5-2027-03-D5-03, the contributions range from €5,000,000 to €7,000,000. Other actions have different funding amounts, such as around €13,500,000 for HORIZON-CL5-2027-03-D5-04 and around €2,000,000 for HORIZON-CL5-2027-03-D5-15.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants for each topic provides some insight. For example, HORIZON-CL5-2027-03-D5-03 aims to award 4 grants, while several other actions aim for only 1 or 2 grants.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding requirements are not explicitly mentioned.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for proposals under the Horizon Europe program, specifically targeting the mobility sector with a focus on zero-emission waterborne transport. The goal is to assess the feasibility, safety, and environmental impact of using nuclear power, including small modular reactors (SMRs) and other advanced nuclear technologies, for commercial shipping. The call encourages a coordinated effort among industry partners, research organizations, NGOs, and international bodies to evaluate the potential of nuclear propulsion to reduce emissions and decarbonize the shipping sector. Projects should address technical feasibility, economic viability, safety and security, environmental impact, and the regulatory and legal framework. The funding is provided as a lump sum grant, and the application process involves a single stage. Eligible applicants include industry partners, research organizations, and NGOs from the EU and associated countries. The projects are expected to contribute to drafting a research and innovation roadmap, mapping relevant regulatory regimes, developing scenarios for technology use, assessing the total cost of ownership, and developing safety and operational guidelines. The call implements the co-programmed European Partnership on Zero Emission Waterborne Transport (ZEWT), and projects will be expected to report on results to the ZEW partnership.