Horizon Europe CL6 2026 — Decontaminate and Bioremediate Aquatic Pollution (ZEROPOLLUTION-01)

Enriched EU · Found: 2026-04-20 16:42

Horizon Europe Cluster 6 call for projects developing biotechnology and life-sciences solutions to bioremediate aquatic pollution including microplastics, PFAS, and other contaminants of emerging concern in marine and freshwater environments. Two-stage submission.

Source: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-01-two-stage

Funding Details

Funder

REA / European Commission (Horizon Europe Cluster 6)

Funding Goal

Develop and demonstrate bioremediation and decontamination approaches for aquatic ecosystems polluted by micro/nano plastics, PFAS, and other persistent chemical pollutants

Funding Amount

€6-8M per project (2 projects expected); 100% funding rate for RIA (6.000.000 € – 8.000.000 €)

Deadline

2026-04-16 (periodic)

How to Apply

Two-stage submission: Stage 1 concept note (now closed — deadline April 16, 2026). Stage 2 full proposal invitation only. Via EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Target Region

EU-wide. Aquatic environments including marine, coastal, freshwater. International cooperation with India and third countries permitted.

Contact

EU Research Enquiry Service: https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/contact-us/research-enquiry-service_en

Last Checked

2026-05-06 11:34

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Minimum consortium of 3 entities from 3 EU/associated countries required
• NGO participation as consortium partner is possible
• 100% EU funding — no co-financing required

Project Scope

• Microplastics, PFAS, nano-plastics, and persistent pollutants in aquatic environments in scope
• Bioremediation and nature-positive decontamination approaches preferred

Required Documents

• Two-stage submission (concept note → full proposal)

Constraints

• CLOSED — Stage 1 deadline was April 16, 2026. Monitor for 2027 edition.

Summary

HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-01-two-stage was a Horizon Europe Cluster 6 Research and Innovation Action (RIA) call focused on developing approaches to decontaminate and bioremediate aquatic pollution, with specific emphasis on microplastics, PFAS, nano-plastics, and other emerging contaminants. The call has now closed (Stage 1 deadline: April 16, 2026) and is expected to recur in the 2027-2028 cycle. This is a two-stage call: concept notes were evaluated first, with invited applicants then submitting full proposals. Thematic scope covered: bioremediation of aquatic ecosystems using natural or engineered biological agents; nature-positive solutions for contaminant removal from sediments, water columns, and coastal areas; monitoring and assessment frameworks for emerging chemical pollutants; source-to-sea approaches for reducing microplastic and PFAS inputs; and biotechnology for pollutant degradation and ecosystem restoration. Marine environments, coastal zones, estuaries, and freshwater bodies were all in scope. Eligible activities included: research and development of new bioremediation agents or processes; demonstration of remediation technologies at pilot scale; development of monitoring and assessment tools; policy support and knowledge transfer; and building evidence base for regulatory frameworks. Projects were expected to advance TRL from research toward demonstrable pilot-scale solutions. Geographic scope: EU and associated countries, with possibilities for India and other third-country cooperation (Mission Ocean international partnerships). Projects addressing Baltic Sea, North Sea, Mediterranean, and river basin contamination were particularly encouraged. Eligible applicants: minimum consortium of 3 independent legal entities from 3 different EU countries. Universities, research institutes, SMEs, NGOs, and public bodies all eligible. NGOs typically participate as consortium partners rather than coordinators in RIA calls. 100% EU funding rate (no co-financing required for consortium members from EU countries). Budget: approximately €6-8M per project, 2 projects expected from total call envelope. Duration typically 4-5 years for RIA projects. Next call in this series expected approximately 2027-2028.

Historical Context

Recurring call: HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-05 covered EU-India marine pollution cooperation (closed 2025). Predecessor calls in 2023 and 2021 addressed marine pollution monitoring. This 2026 edition added bioremediation as the primary solution mechanism. Next edition expected 2027.

Why it was added

dana-enricher-api-eu-ft-2026-04-20

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