Horizon Europe HORIZON-MISS-2026-03-OCEAN-02: Achieving Mission Objectives - Reducing Pollution from Nutrients, Chemicals and Plastics

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Enriched EU · Found: 2026-03-11 10:35

Horizon Europe Mission call to reduce pollution from nutrients, chemicals and plastics in oceans and waters. EU contribution EUR 7-7.75 million per project (total budget EUR 31 million). Requires consortia of legal entities with strong encouragement for public bodies and NGO involvement. Includes financial support to third parties up to EUR 100,000. 2026 call schedule.

Source: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-12-missions_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf

Funding Details

Funder: European Commission (Horizon Europe)
Funding Goal: Fund large-scale demonstration projects to address aquatic pollution (nutrients, chemicals, plastics, microplastics) and biodiversity loss through nature-positive solutions, from freshwater sources to coastal and marine environments. Projects must test and upscale systemic combinations of nature-based solutions and new technologies to reduce pollution, demonstrate in at least 4 sites within one Mission sea basin lighthouse, engage public authorities and socio-economic stakeholders, monitor pollution levels, quantify ecosystem services, and develop replication plans for at least 4 associated regions.
Funding Amount: EUR 7-7.75 million EU contribution per project; total budget EUR 31 million across the call; indicative 4 grants. Financial support to third parties (local/regional authorities) up to EUR 100,000 per recipient is allowed. (7.000.000 € – 7.750.000 €)
Deadline: 2026-09-23 (Fixed)
How to Apply: Submit via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (topic: HORIZON-MISS-2026-03-OCEAN-02). Call opened 4 February 2026; submission session opened 13 March 2026. Single-stage deadline 23 September 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. Type of action: HORIZON-IA (Innovation Action), HORIZON-AG (budget-based grant).
Target Region: EU Member States and Associated Countries; project activities in one of four sea basin Mission lighthouses (Atlantic/Arctic, Mediterranean, Baltic/North Sea, Danube/Black Sea)
Contact: EU Funding & Tenders Portal IT Helpdesk; National Contact Points (NCPs); Research Enquiry Service: research-enquiry-service@ec.europa.eu
Official Page: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/horizon-miss-2026-03-ocean-02
Last Checked: 2026-05-07 03:42

Application Checklist

Eligibility

Engagement of at least 4 associated regions (local/regional public authorities not already in consortium) required
Strong encouragement for public bodies and NGOs as direct consortium members

Project Scope

Proposal must specify which Mission lighthouse basin it addresses (Atlantic/Arctic, Mediterranean, Baltic/North Sea, or Danube/Black Sea)
Demonstration activities required in at least 4 ecologically relevant sites within the chosen basin
Monitoring strategy must extend beyond project duration for long-term dataset contribution

Required Documents

Submit via EU Funding & Tenders Portal; type HORIZON-IA, HORIZON-AG before 23 September 2026

Constraints

In-situ data must be made openly available via EMODnet (FAIR principles)
If using satellite earth observation, must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS

Summary

This Horizon Europe Innovation Action call (HORIZON-MISS-2026-03-OCEAN-02) is part of the EU Mission 'Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030' and funds large-scale demonstration projects addressing aquatic pollution — specifically nutrients, chemicals, plastics, and microplastics — and biodiversity loss through nature-positive approaches, covering the full continuum from freshwater watersheds to coastal and marine ecosystems. The thematic scope covers plastic and microplastic pollution reduction, nutrients and chemical pollution remediation, nature-based solutions (NbS), bioremediation (bivalve molluscs, algae), regenerative practices, agro-ecological measures, and hybrid technology/NbS combinations. Projects must address pollution from source to sea, demonstrating systemic solutions that span freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems within one selected Mission sea basin lighthouse. Plastics and microplastics are explicitly listed as a core pollution category to be addressed. Eligible activities include identifying, assessing, and disseminating nature-positive solutions; testing and upscaling combinations of approaches; conducting demonstration activities in at least 4 ecologically relevant sites; monitoring pollution levels using digital tools, Copernicus, EU Digital Twin Ocean, and EMODnet; quantifying ecosystem services; assessing economic viability and scalability; and developing replication roadmaps for associated regions. Geographic scope is restricted to one of four Mission basin lighthouses: (1) Atlantic and Arctic Sea, (2) Mediterranean Sea, (3) Baltic and North Sea, or (4) Danube River basin including Black Sea. Projects must work in their chosen basin and demonstrate replication potential in at least 4 associated regions (local/regional authorities). Eligible applicants include all legal entities (research institutes, universities, companies, NGOs, public bodies) from EU Member States or Associated Countries. Direct involvement of public authorities and relevant socio-economic stakeholders (farmers, aquaculture producers, fishers, tourist operators, businesses, water authorities) is strongly encouraged. NGOs are explicitly mentioned as relevant consortium members. The EU contribution per project is EUR 7-7.75 million as a budget-based grant. Total budget across the topic is EUR 31 million with 4 indicative grants. Projects may provide Financial Support to Third Parties (up to EUR 100,000 per local/regional authority) to build replication capacity. Deadline is 23 September 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time.

Historical Context

Part of Horizon Europe Mission 'Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030' (HORIZON-MISS-2026-03). This is the 2026 round implementing the Mission. The OCEAN-02 topic addresses pollution reduction specifically, alongside parallel topics OCEAN-01 (biodiversity), OCEAN-03, OCEAN-04, and OCEAN-05. Budget allocation is EUR 31 million across all 4 expected grants for OCEAN-02. Follows the July 2023 Communication on EU Missions assessment.

Why it was added

Deep Search PC1-1: Ocean mission call directly targeting plastic pollution reduction with significant EU funding

Sources

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