Toward a comprehensive assessment of the disturbance of marine ecosystems by anthropogenic underwater noise

The Horizon Europe grant opportunity identified as HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-01 focuses on assessing the disturbance of marine ecosystems by anthropogenic underwater noise. The call is currently forthcoming, with planned openings on April 17, 2026, and a submission deadline of September 17, 2026. This initiative falls under the Horizon Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) and offers a substantial budget of €10,000,000 for one expected grant.

Eligible applicants include universities, research institutes, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), large corporations, public bodies, non-profit organizations, and international entities established in EU member states or associated countries. The opportunity encourages collaboration; applicants can apply as single entities or as part of a consortium, although partnerships are favored for enhancing research capacity and impact.

The focus topics include marine pollution, ocean protection, and marine ecosystem restoration. Projects will concentrate on developing or improving methodologies and tools for evaluating the impacts of anthropogenic underwater noise on marine organisms and ecosystems. Proposed research should include the development of advanced monitoring and assessment methods aligned with EU policies like the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

The application process is defined as a single-stage open call, requiring comprehensive project proposals at submission. Although the exact co-funding requirements are not stated, applicants should anticipate contributing to the project's costs, as typical practice in Horizon Europe grants indicates a co-funding expectation, potentially covering 70-100% of eligible expenses.

The opportunity directly aligns with the goals of the European Green Deal and initiatives aimed at reducing pollution and improving environmental health. Projects should demonstrate practical applicability, focusing on evidence-based methods, advanced assessments, and mitigation strategies for protecting marine biodiversity and ecosystem services impacted by noise pollution.

Overall, this Horizon Europe call represents a significant research funding opportunity, aiming to fund innovative projects that will enhance understanding and mitigation strategies concerning underwater noise pollution, ultimately striving for a healthier marine environment.

The EU Funding & Tenders Portal presents a Horizon Europe call, specifically addressing the comprehensive assessment of disturbance to marine ecosystems caused by anthropogenic underwater noise. The call, identified as HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-01, falls under the HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) funding scheme. The projects selected are expected to contribute to a better understanding of the impacts of underwater noise on marine life and to provide environmental authorities with advanced tools for monitoring and assessment.

The expected outcomes of the projects include a thorough understanding of the impacts of continuous and impulsive underwater noise levels on marine organisms and ecosystems, including cumulative impacts with other pressures, while accounting for regional differences. Environmental authorities should gain access to advanced methods, tools, and indicators for comprehensive monitoring and assessment of underwater noise pollution's impacts on marine species and ecosystems, enabling them to devise effective protection strategies.

The scope of the proposals should encompass the development or improvement of scientific methods and tools for monitoring the impacts of anthropogenic underwater noise pollution on marine ecosystems and species populations at different trophic levels, considering regional differences. Proposals should also focus on developing or improving indicators for assessing the effects of noise exposure and their cumulative impacts, aligning with EU-level methods and regional developments. Furthermore, proposals should investigate mitigation measures for safeguarding relevant ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, and develop tools to measure their impacts and efficiency.

The call aims to support the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) by providing new evidence and data on the impacts of noise on marine ecosystems and related ecosystem services. It aligns with the MSFD guidelines for noise monitoring and seeks to provide evidence-based methods for assessing the environmental status concerning underwater noise at various levels. The call also supports the European Commission's Declaration for a High-Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean, contributing to the restoration of a quieter ocean.

Key conditions for admissibility include adhering to the proposal page limit and layout as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form. Eligible countries are detailed 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. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Evaluation and award processes follow the guidelines in Annex D and Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. The legal and financial setup of grants is detailed in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

The application form templates are available in the Submission System, including the standard application form for HE RIA and IA actions. Evaluation form templates will be adapted as necessary. Guidance is provided through the HE Programme Guide, HE MGA, HE Unit MGA, and call-specific instructions.

Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 sections 1, 9, and 15, the HE Programme Guide, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, 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, EU Grants AGA, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The budget overview lists various topics under Call 01 - single stage (2026) (HORIZON-CL6-2026-01), including HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-01 with a budget of 10,000,000 EUR and an indicative number of 1 grant. The opening date for the single-stage submission is planned for April 17, 2026, with a deadline of September 17, 2026. Other topics listed cover biodiversity (BIODIV) and circular bioeconomy (CIRCBIO), each with varying budgets and indicative grant numbers.

The portal facilitates partner searches, allowing registered users to publish partner requests. The submission system is planned to open on the date stated on the topic header. General FAQs and support are available through the Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network, IT Helpdesk, European IPR Helpdesk, CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk, ETSI Research Helpdesk, the European Charter for Researchers, and Partner Search tools.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call seeks to fund research and innovation projects that will enhance the understanding and mitigation of underwater noise pollution's impact on marine ecosystems. It aims to provide tools and methods for environmental authorities to effectively monitor and protect marine life, contributing to a quieter and healthier ocean environment. The call is structured with clear guidelines for admissibility, eligibility, evaluation, and legal/financial setup, and offers extensive support resources for potential applicants.

The opportunity is about funding research and innovation projects that aim to reduce underwater noise pollution and its impact on marine life. The European Union is looking for projects that can develop new ways to monitor underwater noise, assess its effects on marine ecosystems, and find ways to reduce it. The goal is to help protect marine life and ensure a healthier ocean environment. If you are a researcher or innovator with ideas on how to achieve this, this funding opportunity could be for you.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, given that the funding is provided under Horizon Europe and involves Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), Innovation Actions (IA) and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), the eligible applicants are likely to include universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other organizations capable of conducting research and innovation activities. The mention of LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants suggests that legal entities with established roles in the Funding & Tenders Portal are also relevant.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically through HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA), HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA), and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA). The type of Model Grant Agreement (MGA) is HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG].

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, the presence of a "Partner Search" function suggests that consortia are possible and perhaps encouraged, especially for larger projects. The eligibility of Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) also indicates that consortia aimed at coordinating research efforts are welcome.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The primary geographic eligibility appears to be focused on EU member states and associated countries, as indicated by the reference to "Eligible Countries described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes." However, the text also mentions that "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," suggesting that some third-country participation is possible.

Target Sector: The program targets multiple sectors, primarily focusing on:
Biodiversity (BIODIV): Actions related to understanding and protecting biodiversity.
Circular Bioeconomy (CIRCBIO): Actions related to promoting a circular bioeconomy.
Zero Pollution (ZEROPOLLUTION): Actions related to reducing pollution.
More specifically, one topic is "Toward a comprehensive assessment of the disturbance of marine ecosystems by anthropogenic underwater noise" which falls under the Zero Pollution thematic area. This indicates a focus on marine environment, ecosystems, and the impact of human activities (noise pollution) on them. The program also targets Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment.

Mentioned Countries: The text refers to "EU member states and associated countries" and "non-EU/non-Associated Countries," but does not explicitly list any specific countries. Therefore, the relevant regional options are EU and associated countries, with potential eligibility for some non-EU/non-associated countries.

Project Stage: The project stages vary depending on the type of action:
Research and Innovation Actions (RIA): These typically support projects from the research to the development and validation stages.
Innovation Actions (IA): These focus on demonstration, piloting, and commercialization stages.
Coordination and Support Actions (CSA): These support networking, coordination, and dissemination activities.
The specific topic "Toward a comprehensive assessment of the disturbance of marine ecosystems by anthropogenic underwater noise" suggests a focus on research, development, and validation stages, aiming to provide evidence-based methods for assessment and monitoring.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic and type of action. Based on the "Budget overview," the funding ranges are:
Under €50k: No explicit mention, but possible for specific tasks within larger projects.
€50k–€200k: Unlikely based on the provided data.
€200k–€1M: Possible for specific tasks or smaller projects.
€1M–€5M: Common for many CIRCBIO and BIODIV topics.
€5M–€10M: Common for some CIRCBIO, ZEROPOLLUTION, and BIODIV topics.
Over €10M: Possible for some BIODIV and ZEROPOLLUTION topics, with at least one topic at €10M.
Specific examples:
HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-01: €10,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-03: €18,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-05: €6,000,000
HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-06: €3,000,000

Application Type: The application type is an "open call" with a "single-stage" submission process. The submission system is planned to be opened on the date stated on the topic header.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants to support their research, innovation, and coordination activities.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage, as indicated by "single-stage" in the topic descriptions.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned in the text.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary: This Horizon Europe funding opportunity focuses on addressing critical challenges in biodiversity, circular bioeconomy, and zero pollution, with a specific emphasis on mitigating underwater noise pollution and its impact on marine ecosystems. The program offers grants to support research, innovation, and coordination actions, encouraging collaboration among various entities from EU member states, associated countries, and potentially some third countries. The funding amounts vary depending on the project's scope and type of action, with a single-stage application process. The overarching goal is to foster sustainable practices, protect biodiversity, and reduce pollution to create a healthier environment.