Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
Horizon Europe is the European Union (EU) funding programme for the period 2021 – 2027, which targets the sectors of research and innovation. The programme’s budget is around € 95.5 billion, of which € 5.4 billion is from NextGenerationEU to stimulate recovery and strengthen the EU’s resilience in the future, and € 4.5 billion is additional aid.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
The fisheries and aquaculture sectors, including algae, are critical components of the global food system, contributing significantly to food supply, food security and sustainable economic growth. Energy, specifically fuel consumption, is one of the major cost items in the European fisheries and aquaculture sector, putting the economic viability of the European fleet and aquaculture activities under tremendous pressure during periods of high energy prices. Moreover, this fuel usage contributes to CO2 and other emissions, including underwater noise. Innovative solutions are needed to transform the energy landscape of the fisheries and aquaculture, making these critical industries more sustainable, resilient, and economically viable.
Projects under this topic will demonstrate how digital technologies can address the need to reduce energy consumption and associated economic and environmental costs in European fisheries and/or aquaculture and provide real-time, accurate, and actionable data and information to reduce energy use. This can include the use of advanced (remote) sensing technologies and monitoring devices, Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, data-driven approaches and data analytics, robotics and automation.
Detailed Call Description
Each proposal should identify explicitly the basin being addressed, i.e.: 1. Atlantic and Arctic sea basin or 2. Mediterranean Sea basin or 3. Baltic and North Sea basin or 4. Danube River basin (including its delta and the Black Sea). Only one basin per proposal should be addressed. Activities should be tailored to address regional/sea basin specificities.
Projects should carry out demonstration activities, proving in real conditions, the operational feasibility and economic viability of digital solutions to enhance energy efficiency in operation at sea (including fishing, farming, offshore aquaculture, onboard processing, vessel operations) or inland aquaculture production and in relation to infrastructure requirements. Projects should provide evidence that these solutions do not harm ecosystems and biodiversity and can contribute to a better treatment of animals.
The consortium must carry out demonstration activities in at least 3 different countries of the basin addressed by the proposal (i.e. one of the following basins: 1. Atlantic and Arctic sea basin, 2. Mediterranean Sea basin, 3. Baltic and North Sea basin, 4. Danube River basin, including Black Sea, involving and including as beneficiaries, legal entities established in these respective countries.
Demonstration activities are expected to focus on relevant segments of the value chain and address different types of fisheries/aquacultures. Similarly, fishing operations, encompassing activities from route optimisation to catch handling, also present significant opportunities for energy efficiency improvements.
The implementation of the demonstration activities should also include an analysis of the obstacles and opportunities for the uptake of the solutions (technical, social, legal, regulatory and policy, including those linked to skills, the labour market and the attractiveness of the sector for young talents). Safety and well-being of workers as well as digital security related issues should also be considered.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
70%
Expected EU contribution per project: between €5.00 and €5.825 million.
Thematic Categories
- Energy
- Environment and Climate Change
- Fisheries/ Aquaculture and Maritime Policy
- Information and Communication Technologies
- Information Technology
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
Eligibility for Participation
- Businesses
- Educational Institutions
- Fishermen, Aquaculturists, Owners of Vessels
- Large Enterprises
- Legal Entities
- Local Authorities
- NGOs
- Non Profit Organisations
- Other Beneficiaries
- Private Bodies
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
- Semi-governmental organisations
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
- State-owned Enterprises
Eligibility For Participation Notes
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects.
This topic requires an integrated, holistic and transdisciplinary approach. Proposals should therefore ensure the involvement of relevant stakeholders with complementary expertise, including SMEs and of other relevant maritime sectors. The active involvement of end-users (fishers, aquaculture operators, sea-farmers) in the demonstration activities will be crucial to tailor the solutions to specific needs and conditions.
If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used).
The following additional eligibility criteria apply: In addition to the standard eligibility conditions, the consortium must carry out demonstration activities in 3 different countries of the basin addressed by the proposal (i.e. one of the following basins: 1. Atlantic and Arctic sea basin, 2. Mediterranean Sea basin, 3. Baltic and North Sea basin, 4. Danube River basin, including Black Sea), involving and including as beneficiaries, legal entities established in these respective countries.Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
National Contact Point(s)
Research and Innovation Foundation
Address: 29a Andrea Michalakopoulou, 1075 Nicosia, P.B. 23422, 1683 Nicosia
Telephone: +357 22205000
Fax: +357 22205001
Email: support@research.org.cy
Website: https://www.research.org.cy/en/
Contact Person:
Mr. Christakis Theocharous
Scientific Officer A’
Email: ctheocharous@research.org.cy