Funding provided under previews programmes.

The FERRO project explores practical, innovative and sustainable approaches to improving lake water quality and recovering nutrients for agricultural use. The project develops and implements sustainable, nature-based solutions that trap nutrients in catchments and remove phosphorus directly from lakes. These nutrients are then safely reused as fertiliser, supporting both ecological restoration and a circular, resilient agricultural system.

FERRO will award grants of up to €100.000 each to 3 associated regions to develop an action plan for applying FERRO restoration solutions to a selected natural lake ecosystem or its catchment in their region.

Financial support will be awarded based on a rigorous evaluation process that adheres to the Horizon Europe evaluation criteria, customized for the FERRO project.

To be eligible, proposals must meet the following financial conditions:

• The total financial support per associated region is up to a maximum of €100.000;
• The requested amount must represent 100% of the eligible costs. This includes direct costs such as personnel, travel and subsistence as well as indirect costs (up to 25%) related to participation in FERRO internal meetings and interactions with the consortium;
• Financial support will be provided as a lump sum with a fixed ceiling. The lump sum is not based on actual incurred costs. It will be paid in two installments: 50% pre-financing at the start of the project and 50% upon successful completion of the activities defined in the action plan; and
• Each associated region may receive financial support only once under this Horizon Europe topic. This restriction applies to all four projects funded under the same call, including FERRO and its sister projects.

Applicants (local and regional authorities) may subcontract specific tasks to research institutions, universities or small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) if the expertise is not available inhouse. The subcontracted work must directly support the objectives of the proposed action and be described in the work plan. The total subcontracting budget must not exceed 35% of the total amount requested under the FERRO grant.

• Environment and Climate Change
• Fisheries/ Aquaculture and Maritime Policy
• Research, Technological Development and Innovation

• Businesses
• Educational Institutions
• Large Enterprises
• Legal Entities
• Local Authorities
• Other Beneficiaries
• Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
• Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
• State-owned Enterprises

Applicants must meet all of the following eligibility criteria:

1. Authority type: The applicant is a local or regional authority (e.g., city, catchment or lake authority) with jurisdiction over a natural lake or its catchment and is responsible for restoration activities. Local and regional authorities may apply individually or jointly as a consortium. In a consortium, one authority must serve as the Lead Applicant, responsible for project delivery and fund distribution.
2. Location: The authority is based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country, excluding those already represented in the FERRO consortium (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany and Sweden) or hosting a FERRO experimental site (Estonia).
3. Target lake identification: A specific natural lake or catchment has been identified for the implementation of FERRO solutions. The application must include evidence of eutrophication problems (e.g., nutrient concentrations, chlorophyll-a, oxygen levels), restoration efforts and describe other relevant environmental pressures.
4. Previous restoration experience: The authority has experience with lake or catchment restoration efforts, particularly where earlier measures had limited success in addressing eutrophication or nutrient pollution.
5. Remote sensing suitability: The selected lake has a surface area of at least 0.5 km², making it suitable for effective monitoring using satellite-based remote sensing tools. While larger lakes suitable for remote sensing are preferred, this is not a strict requirement. Regions with smaller lakes (< 0.5 km²) are explicitly encouraged to apply to promote inclusiveness
6. No overlapping grants: The proposed lake or catchment must not have received funding under the same Horizon Europe call from any of FERRO’s sister projects (EUROLakes, FutureLakes and ProCleanLakes). Only one grant per lake/catchment is allowed across the projects funded under this call.

Entities subject to EU restrictive measures under Article 29 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and Article 215 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU) are not eligible to receive financial support under this call.

For application submissions or further support, contact: info@ferroproject.eu

• Funding & Tenders
• FERRO website
• Guide for Applicants