EU Blue Partnership - Transitioning Blue Economy Sectors

Enriched EU · Found: 2026-03-10 13:31

EU partnership supporting transition of blue economy sectors toward sustainability, including marine and coastal conservation components and climate adaptation integration.

Source: https://bluepartnership.eu/2026-intervention-area-transitioning-blue-economy-sectors

Funding Details

Funder

Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (EU Horizon Europe)

Funding Goal

Support transnational research and innovation projects in five priority areas: Digital Twins of the Ocean, Transitioning Blue Economy Sectors (energy/aquaculture/infrastructure), Climate-Smart Planning of sea uses, Blue Bioresources (sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, new bio-based products), and Resilient Coastal Communities and Businesses. Projects should be impact-driven contributions toward carbon neutrality and blue economy resilience.

Funding Amount

Total call budget approx. EUR 43.5 million pooled from 38 national/regional funding organisations and EU co-funding; individual project funding determined by national rules

Deadline

2026-06-17 (Fixed)

How to Apply

Two-stage process: pre-proposals submitted by 17 November 2025 (15:00 CET) via https://proposals.etag.ee/sustainable-blue/2025, then full proposals due 17 June 2026 (15:00 CEST). Partner search tool available at https://proposals.etag.ee/sustainable-blue/2025/partner-search. Contact: sbep.call-secretariat@uefiscdi.ro

Target Region

European sea basins (Baltic Sea, North Sea, Atlantic, Mediterranean, Black Sea, Arctic); minimum 2 EU sea basins per proposal; 28 participating countries including Nordic/Baltic states

Contact

sbep.call-secretariat@uefiscdi.ro; Coordinator: Ministry of Universities and Research (Italy) sbep@mur.gov.it

Official Page

https://bluepartnership.eu/funding-opportunity/sustainable-blue-economy-partnerships-third-joint-transnational-call

Last Checked

2026-03-15 14:21

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Consortium must include partners from at least 3 different participating countries
• At least 2 independent legal entities from 2 different EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries
• Funding from at least 3 different national/regional funding organisations required

Project Scope

• Project must address one of the 5 priority thematic areas of the call
• Project must cover a minimum of 2 different EU sea basins

Required Documents

• Submit pre-proposal via the SBEP online portal before full proposal stage
• Proposals must include an impact plan following the theory of change approach

Constraints

• Project duration is 36 months

Summary

The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership's Third Joint Transnational Call, entitled 'Digitalisation and Innovation for Resilient Marine Ecosystems, Businesses, and Communities to Strengthen the EU Blue Economy's Competitiveness,' is a Horizon Europe co-funded programme with a total budget of approximately EUR 43.5 million. The call supports transnational research and innovation projects of 36 months duration across five priority thematic areas: (1) Digital Twins of the Ocean at sub-basin scale, (2) Transitioning blue economy sectors including energy, aquaculture, and marine infrastructures, (3) Climate-Smart Planning and sea-use management, (4) Blue Bioresources covering sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, and new bio-based products, and (5) Resilient Coastal Communities and Businesses. Eligible activities include applied research, innovation, piloting, and technology development addressing marine ecosystem digitalization, circularity of marine infrastructure, nature-based solutions scaling, sustainable aquaculture, ecosystem-based management, and coastal community resilience. Projects must demonstrate an impact pathway approach and contribute to carbon neutrality targets. Geographically, proposals must cover a minimum of two EU sea basins (Atlantic Ocean, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea), and may also cover the Arctic, Barents Sea, Celtic Sea, Adriatic Sea, and other European regional seas. The 28 participating countries include Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey, and Ukraine. Eligible applicants include research institutions, universities, companies (especially SMEs), public authorities, associations, and civil society organisations. Minimum consortium size is 3 partners from 3 different participating countries seeking funding from 3 different funding organisations. At least 2 independent legal entities from 2 different EU Member States or Associated Countries are required. Funding is distributed by national and regional funding agencies according to their own rules and budgets. The call is co-branded as a UN Ocean Decade project. Application is via a two-stage process: pre-proposals were due 17 November 2025, with full proposals due 17 June 2026.

Historical Context

Third joint transnational call of the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP), a European Partnership under Horizon Europe. Previous calls (1st and 2nd) are now closed. Partnership launched multiple transnational calls over a seven-year timeframe.

Why it was added

EU blue economy partnership potentially funding marine conservation and coastal adaptation projects.

Sources

• https://bluepartnership.eu/2026-intervention-area-transitioning-blue-economy-sectors
• https://bluepartnership.eu/funding-opportunities
• https://bluepartnership.eu/funding-opportunity/sustainable-blue-economy-partnerships-third-joint-transnational-call

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