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.
The Mission Ocean and Waters defines “lighthouses” as central hubs that foster the development and deployment of innovative solutions across technology, society, business, and governance. Their purpose is to accelerate progress towards the Mission’s objectives and deliver a positive impact in river and sea basins through science and technology.
To ensure broad regional engagement, the Mission is organised around four area-based lighthouses: the Atlantic-Arctic, the Mediterranean Sea, the Baltic-North Sea, and the Danube River-Black Sea. These lighthouses act as cooperation platforms and apply a systemic approach that connects inland waters with marine ecosystems.
Proposals under this framework are expected to bring together diverse public and private organisations, networks, and expertise. Their role is to ensure continuity of the four lighthouses while expanding their scope to cover all Mission objectives and to facilitate the implementation of the Mission’s second phase.
Actions should provide basin-level support to stakeholders, enabling the replication and scaling up of innovative solutions. Since water challenges are transboundary in nature, coordination and cooperation across regions and basins are essential for the effectiveness of solutions and for addressing shared problems.
By 2030, proposals must demonstrate how their activities contribute to the Mission’s objectives during the deployment and upscaling phase. Cooperation with European research infrastructures is encouraged to strengthen impact, sustainability, and knowledge exchange.
Building on and bringing together existing governance structures and networks and relevant existing activities, proposals are expected to address all following activities:
100%
Expected EU contribution per project: between €3.00 and €3.55 million.
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.
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