Horizon Europe: Deep Sea Ecosystems Conservation (CL6-2026-BIODIV-03)
Enriched EU · Found: 2026-03-10 20:40
Pushing frontier of knowledge and conservation action for deep sea ecosystems. RIA, EUR 18M budget, ~EUR 9M per project. Opens 17 Apr 2026, deadline 17 Sep 2026.
Funding Details
- Funder
- European Commission / REA (Research Executive Agency) — Horizon Europe Cluster 6
- Funding Goal
- Fill knowledge gaps in deep-sea biodiversity, develop monitoring technologies, assess anthropogenic impacts on deep-sea ecosystems, and support the EU 30x30 protection target and Marine Strategy Framework Directive implementation.
- Funding Amount
- Horizon Europe RIA standard grant; typical range EUR 5-8M for RIA actions in this destination. Total call budget not specified for this topic individually.
- Deadline
- 2026-09-17 (Fixed)
- How to Apply
- Single-stage submission via EU Funding & Tenders Portal by 17 September 2026. Proposals assessed on excellence, impact, and quality of implementation.
- Target Region
- Global focus on deep-sea areas; consortium must include EU/associated country partners; international cooperation encouraged
- Contact
- EU Funding & Tenders Portal; REA/CINEA; EC Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity (KCBD)
- Last Checked
- 2026-05-06 11:54
Application Checklist
Eligibility
Project Scope
Required Documents
Constraints
Summary
HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-03 funds Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) to push the frontier of knowledge and conservation action for deep-sea ecosystems (below 1000m depth: abyssal seafloor, hydrothermal sites, seamounts, canyons). The topic is placed within the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services destination of Horizon Europe Cluster 6, opening 17 April 2026 with a deadline of 17 September 2026. The programme objectives are to fill geographical and taxonomic knowledge gaps in deep-sea biodiversity — including microorganisms, invertebrates, migratory species, sharks, marine mammals, corals, and habitat-forming species — across bathypelagic and abyssopelagic zones. It aims to develop and deploy imaging, acoustic, multi-omics, genomics, and taxonomic technologies for rapid species identification, and to establish baselines for cumulative impacts from climate change, underwater noise, and other anthropogenic stressors on deep-sea ecosystem functioning. Eligible activities include deep-sea habitat mapping and species inventory, genetic diversity characterisation, ecological connectivity studies, development of novel monitoring methodologies, contribution to the Global Taxonomy Initiative (CBD) and Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), spatial and temporal dynamics modelling, identification of Essential Ocean Variables (EOV) and Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBV), and co-development of adaptive management approaches with multiple stakeholders. The geographic scope focuses on deep-sea regions globally (including areas beyond national jurisdiction), supporting EU Member State contributions to BBNJ Treaty area-based management tools, Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs), and the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Proposals must cooperate with the EC Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity (KCBD) and international cooperation is encouraged. Eligible applicants are consortia of at least 3 legal entities from at least 3 different EU Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries. RIA type means 100% EU co-funding is available. Research institutions, universities, marine institutes, public authorities, and NGOs are all eligible as consortium members. Deep-sea research capacity is a practical prerequisite given the need for oceanographic infrastructure and expensive exploration technology. Target beneficiaries include public authorities responsible for marine protected area designation (EU 30x30 target), RFMO members, policymakers implementing MSFD, and ultimately marine ecosystems and their dependent communities. The topic explicitly links to the European Ocean Pact and the EU legislative proposal on pollutants in EU waters.
Historical Context
Deep-sea conservation topics have appeared in Horizon Europe CL6 since 2021. HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-03 is part of the annual CL6 BIODIV destination call opening in April each year. Previous editions funded foundational deep-sea mapping projects (e.g., AtlantECO, iAtlantic). This topic recurs annually with shifting geographical emphases.
Why it was added
EU Round 8 EU2: Horizon deep sea conservation 2026