Innovative Earth observation services in support of maritime litter detection and ship source pollution policies
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 project aims to develop and demonstrate space-based sensors to monitor marine pollution, focusing on several use cases. These include estimating oil spill volume, thickness, and type; detecting oil in sea ice; identifying chemical, sewage, garbage, and exhaust residue pollution on the sea surface in line with MARPOL Annexes II–VI. It should also enable identification of polluting vessels using their spectral signatures. The use of AI is encouraged to enhance detection accuracy, automation, and reliability, particularly in identifying spills, sewage, and garbage while minimizing false alerts.
Detailed Call Description
The project should address the following points:
- Development and demonstration of space sensors, including the assessment of their operational boundaries and associated technical confidence levels, for the following use cases:
- Estimation of oil spill volume and thickness, in conjunction with the identification of oil types using for instance oil spectral signatures;
- Detection of oil spills in sea ice conditions;
- Detection and identification of chemical products on the sea surface (MARPOL Annex II);
- Detection and identification of sewage on the sea surface (MARPOL Annex IV);
- Detection and identification of garbage on the sea surface (MARPOL Annex V);
- Detection and identification of exhaust gas cleaning system residue, and monitoring of single-vessel methane emissions (MARPOL Annex VI);
- Detection and identification of the possible polluter using vessel unique spectral signature;
- Elements of detection of other pollution emissions (MARPOL Annex VI) might prove useful and would be considered a plus;
- Design and improvement of use artificial intelligence methods for the identification of spills, sewage and garbage on the sea surface and their characteristics to achieve a higher level of timeliness, automation and confidence (e.g. avoid false alerts).
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
70%
Expected EU contribution per project: €5.00 million.
Thematic Categories
- Environment and Climate Change
- Information and Communication Technologies
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
- Shipping - Marine Transports
- Space
Eligibility for Participation
- Businesses
- Educational Institutions
- Large Enterprises
- Legal Entities
- NGOs
- 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.
The following additional eligibility criteria apply: Subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks.
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 Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as member of the consortium selected for funding.
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
National Contact Point(s)
Research and Innovation Foundation
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/
Persons to Contact:
Dr Angelos Ntantos
Scientific Officer
Email: antantos@research.org.cy
Mr. George Christou
Scientific Officer
Email: gchristou@research.org.cy