CFPs: Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership Fourth Joint Transnational Call

Deadline: 16-Nov-2026

The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership’s Fourth Joint Transnational Call supports international research and innovation projects that contribute to a climate-neutral, resilient, regenerative, and sustainable blue economy in Europe. The call has an estimated budget of €38 million and supports transnational projects lasting up to 36 months, with proposals focused on sustainable blue economy sectors, digital and ecosystem-based sea-use management, blue bioresources, and resilient coastal communities.

About the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership

The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership is established under the Horizon Europe Programme to support the transition toward a regenerative, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable blue economy. The Partnership brings together national and regional funding organisations from across Europe and beyond to support collaborative research and innovation addressing marine and maritime challenges. It is coordinated by Italy, with Norway serving as co-coordinator. The Partnership brings together 33 funding organisations from 28 countries, combining national, regional, and European resources to support transnational research projects. What Is the Fourth Joint Transnational Call? The Fourth Joint Transnational Call provides funding for collaborative research and innovation projects addressing major challenges affecting Europe’s marine and maritime economy. Projects should contribute to the transformation of the blue economy by promoting: Projects can have a maximum duration of 36 months. Four Priority Areas Proposals should address one or more of the call’s four priority areas.

1. Sustainable and Strategically Autonomous Blue Economy Sectors

This area focuses on transforming blue economy sectors so that they become more sustainable while strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy. Research and innovation can address approaches that reduce environmental impacts, improve resource efficiency, and support long-term sustainability in marine and maritime sectors.

2. Digital and Ecosystem-Based Sea-Use Management

This priority area supports improved management of competing and interconnected uses of marine and coastal spaces. This area focuses on sustainable marine production and harvesting through innovation. Projects can investigate new approaches to the responsible use of marine biological resources while supporting environmental sustainability and innovation in the blue economy.

4. Resilient Coastal Communities

The fourth priority area focuses on strengthening the resilience of coastal communities, infrastructure, and businesses. Projects should consider how coastal areas can respond to environmental, economic, and climate-related pressures while maintaining sustainable local development. Why It Matters The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership aims to accelerate the transformation of Europe’s marine and maritime economy. Projects are expected to be impact-driven, meaning proposals should clearly demonstrate how their research and innovation activities can contribute to practical transformation of the blue economy. Who Is Eligible? The call is designed for transnational consortia involving eligible organisations from participating countries.

A consortium must:

Include eligible partners from at least three different participating countries. Request funding from at least three different funding organisations. Include at least two independent legal entities. Ensure those two independent legal entities are based in two different EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries. Meet the eligibility requirements of the relevant national or regional funding organisations. Because national and regional funders may have additional eligibility rules, applicants should also check the specific requirements applicable to their country and funding organisation. Who Should Participate? The call encourages collaboration between research organisations and organisations that can help translate research into practical applications. Stakeholder participation is strongly encouraged because it can strengthen the innovation, policy relevance, and societal impact of proposed projects. Funding Available The fourth call has an estimated total budget of approximately €38,000,000.

Funding comes from participating:

National funding organisations Regional funding organisations The European Union The exact funding available to individual applicants and partners depends on the relevant national or regional funding rules. Applicants should therefore distinguish between the overall call budget and the funding available through their specific national or regional funding organisation. Project Duration Projects can have a maximum duration of 36 months. The proposed work plan should provide a clear connection between: Research and innovation objectives Planned activities Expected outputs Expected outcomes Long-term impact European Sea Basins Applicants are recommended to consider at least two European sea basins when developing their proposals. Considering multiple sea basins can help demonstrate the wider European relevance and applicability of the proposed research and innovation. Proposals should explain why the selected sea basins are relevant to the project’s objectives and how knowledge or solutions can be transferred across different marine and coastal contexts. How the Call Works The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership call is designed around international collaboration rather than isolated national research projects.

Step 1: Select a Priority Area

Identify the priority area that most closely matches your proposed research or innovation project: Sustainable and strategically autonomous blue economy sectors Digital and ecosystem-based sea-use management Sustainable blue bioresources Resilient coastal communities

Step 2: Build an International Consortium

Develop a consortium involving eligible organisations from multiple participating countries. The consortium must