Are you seeking to expand your business within the blue economy? European funding presents a valuable opportunity to foster innovation within your company while facilitating the recruitment of marine experts to bolster your team.
Navigating European funds' intricacies can be daunting, especially with its numerous funding programs and lengthy instructional documents.
However, don’t worry! We've compiled a curated list of 7 upcoming calls specifically tailored to blue economy initiatives.
Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation, with a budget of €95.5 billion. It tackles climate change, helps to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and boosts the EU’s competitiveness and growth.
On March 2024, the Commission adopted the second strategic plan for Horizon Europe for 2025-2027, which sets out three key strategic orientations: green transition, digital transition, and a more resilient, competitive, inclusive, and democratic Europe. Stay tuned for the launch of the Work Programme 2025-2027 very soon!
Horizon Europe provides funding opportunities in a wide range of blue economy sectors. Here you can find some upcoming calls:
Interreg Europe is an interregional cooperation programme, co-funded by the European Union. The European Union strives to reduce disparities in the levels of development, growth, and quality of life in and across Europe’s regions. Blue economy projects can be submitted under the priority actions and objectives, such as Sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs and job creation in SMEs, Renewable energy, Circular and resource-efficient economy and Protection and preservation of nature and biodiversity, green infrastructures, and pollution reduction.
Interreg NEXT ‘Mediterranean Sea Basin’ (hereinafter ‘NEXT MED’) transnational cooperation programme is the third generation of one of the largest cooperation initiatives implemented by the European Union across borders in the Mediterranean area.
The programme mission is to finance cooperation projects that address joint socio-economic, environmental, and governance challenges at the Mediterranean level, such as the uptake of advanced technologies, the competitiveness of SMEs and job creation, energy efficiency, sustainable water management, climate change adaptation, transition to a circular and resource efficient economy, education and training, health care, etc.
The Interreg Euro-MED Programme supports cooperation across Mediterranean borders. It provides funds for projects developed and managed by public administrations, universities, and private, and civil society organisations. The 4th call on thematic Projects, with a budget of 44 M€, will be open until 12/06/2024, and proposals must be aligned with the Programme priorities (Priority 1: A Smarter Mediterranean & Priority 2: A Greener Mediterranean).
The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership represents an unprecedented effort of 60 Partner institutions from 25 countries and the European Commission to pool research and innovation investments and aligns national programmes at a pan-European scale.
As a Horizon Europe co-funded partnership, its strategy takes into consideration the R&I agendas of the sea basins (Mediterranean, Black Sea, Baltic, and North Sea) and the Atlantic Ocean and builds on lessons learned from previous initiatives.
The second joint transnational call focuses on “Unified Paths to a Climate-Neutral, Sustainable, and Resilient Blue Economy: Engaging Civil Society, Academia, Policy, and Industry.”
Interreg Sudoe Programme is part of the European territorial cooperation objective known as Interreg, which is financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). It supports regional development in Southwestern Europe, particularly in Spain (except the Canary Islands), the southwestern regions of France (Auvergne, Nouvelle Aquitaine, Occitanie), all continental regions of Portugal, United Kingdom (Gibraltar), and the Principality of Andorra. Projects related to the blue economy can be submitted under the 5 key axes: 1) Research and innovation, 2) Competitiveness of SMEs, 3) Low-carbon economy, 4) Combating climate change, and 5) Environment and resource efficiency.
The LIFE Programme is the EU’s funding instrument for environmental and climate action. The LIFE Calls for proposals 2024 are expected to be published on the Funding & Tender Opportunities portal on 18 April 2024.
Be ready for the upcoming deadlines:
In the coming months, both you and your organization have the chance to seize the opportunities listed above to fund projects in critical areas like green shipping, marine renewable energy, maritime security, climate change, fisheries, and beyond.
These funding avenues aren't just financial support—they're catalysts for innovation, champions of sustainability, and drivers of growth within the blue economy.
Don't let these opportunities slip through your fingers. Embrace the chance to propel your business forward with European funding and contribute to the development of a sustainable and robust Blue Economy sector, benefiting us all.
Stay tuned for more updates, and begin preparing your proposals now to make a significant impact in the blue economy!