RISTANC Small Project Funding for a Healthier Slovenian Sea

The RISTANC project has launched a call for small project funding to support solutions that help make the Slovenian sea healthier. The call is open to a wide range of applicants, including NGOs, schools, individuals, fishers, divers, artists, and local initiatives. Applications are due by 15 November 2026 (by 11:59 PM). Opportunity at a Glance

- Funding/Programme: RISTANC (Research and Innovation Cooperation for Sustainability and Reaching EU Missions Objectives)

- Opportunity type: Call for small projects (open call)

- Total funding pool: €60,000

- Funding per project: €7,500 to €12,000

- Expected number of projects: 5 to 8

- Project duration: 6 to 12 months

- Completion deadline: Projects must be completed by 28 February 2028 (at the latest)

- Eligible geography: Projects must take place in the area of the Slovenian sea

- Application deadline: 15 November 2026, by 11:59 PM (time zone not specified in the source)

- Call opening date: 15 September 2026

- Information webinar: 6 October 2026 (Zoom) — registration link not specified in the source

- Deadline to submit questions: 31 October 2026

About the Opportunity

RISTANC is part of the European Union Mission “Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030.” The Mission focuses on three major goals: - Protecting and restoring marine ecosystems and biodiversity - Stopping pollution of oceans, seas, and waters - Building a sustainable, circular “blue” economy This call supports projects that address challenges affecting the Slovenian sea through three challenge areas:

- Mooring: Safer anchoring solutions that do not damage sensitive seabed habitats such as seagrass meadows.

- The coastal belt: Ideas to better balance development, tourism, and everyday life needs with nature’s needs along the narrow coastal zone.

- Everything else that makes the sea healthier: A broad category covering routes to a healthier sea, including reducing pollution (including plastic and other waste), restoring marine ecosystems, and supporting sustainable “blue” economy activities (e.g., fishing and tourism) that benefit the environment. The call is intentionally broad to enable participation from people and organisations that may not typically apply for EU funding. Funding and Benefits

- Total available funding: €60,000

- Individual project grants: €7,500 to €12,000

- Expected grant count: 5 to 8 projects

- Project length: 6 to 12 months

- Completion requirement: Projects must be completed by 28 February 2028 (at the latest)

The source does not specify additional co-funding requirements, in-kind contributions, or eligible cost categories. For those details, applicants should consult the Guidelines for Applicants (link listed in the source but not provided in the text). Who Is Eligible? The call is open to a wide range of applicants, including: - NGOs and associations - Institutes, social enterprises, and other legal entities - Research organisations - Educational institutions (e.g., schools, kindergartens) - Local communities and informal or local initiatives, represented by an individual who takes responsibility for the project - Individuals Mandatory eligibility conditions (as stated in the source): - Legal entities must be registered in an EU member state (or a country associated with Horizon Europe). - Individuals must have permanent residence in the EU. - Partners of the RISTANC consortium are not eligible to apply to this call. Eligible Activities or Priority Areas

Projects must:

- Address one of the challenges described in the call (Mooring, coastal belt, or everything else that makes the sea healthier), and - Take place in the area of the Slovenian sea. The call may fund a wide range of activity types, including: - Experimental activities and prototype development - Feasibility studies - Research and innovation - Artistic, cultural, and community activities - Educational activities and capacity-building - Marine monitoring and citizen-science activities - Knowledge brokering and transfer - Or a combination of the above The source notes that full details on eligible activities and other conditions are provided in the Guidelines for Applicants. Why This Opportunity Matters This call is designed to support practical, locally grounded solutions for the Slovenian sea, not only research-led proposals. By inviting applicants such as schools, community initiatives, fishers, divers, artists, and individuals, RISTANC aims to broaden who can contribute to protecting marine ecosystems, reducing pollution, and strengthening a sustainable “blue” economy in the Slovenian coastal area. How to Apply - Prepare your proposal so it addresses one of the three challenge areas and is implemented in the area of the Slovenian sea. - Complete the required application materials using the Application Form and other documents referenced in the call documentation section (details are in the Guidelines for Applicants).

- Submit by email: Send your application and all required documents to [contact details removed].

- Language: Applications can be submitted in Slovenian or English.

- Meet the deadline: Applications must be submitted by 15 November 2026, by 11:59 PM (time zone not specified in the source).

Questions to the call team: Applicants may send questions by email to [contact details removed] until 31 October 2026.

Official documents listed in the source:

- Call Guidelines for Applicants - Application Form - Evaluation Criteria - Ethical Aspects The source does not provide direct URLs for these documents in the text provided. Application Tips or Common Mistakes - Match your project to a stated challenge area (Mooring, coastal belt, or everything else that makes the sea healthier). Proposals should clearly connect to the call’s challenge framing.

- Ensure geographic fit: your project must take place in the area of the Slovenian sea.

- Respect the submission requirements: submit by email to [contact details removed] and include all required documents (as specified in the Guidelines for Applica