Green, circular and resilient harbours

Scope: The goal of this topic is to accelerate the implementation of innovative solutions to achieve Mission objectives and targets in ports in line with existing legislation like the Industrial Emissions Directive [2] , the Water Framework Directive [3] , the Marine Strategy Framework Directive [4] , the Waste Framework Directive [5] , the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive [6] , the Nature Restoration Regulation [7] ,the upcoming EU Port Strategy, Industrial Maritime Strategy and the European Ocean Pact [8] . Proposals under this topic should test, deploy, and upscale systemic innovative solutions to improve sustainability and resilience in ports to reduce pollution and environmental degradation, reverse biodiversity loss, and improve natural resource management in port areas. This covers both coastal and inland cities and areas with a port regardless of their activities (e.g. fishing, commercial, marinas, recreational) and size. The proposals should encourage cooperation within and between ports across Europe using existing activities in some ports as pilots/leaders and engaging other ports in a development and learning process (e.g. using formats like summer schools and twinning, living labs concept). For each project, demonstration activities are expected to take place in at least 4 ports, 1 in each of the four sea and river basins: 1. Atlantic and Arctic Sea basin, 2. Mediterranean Sea basin, 3. Baltic and North Sea basin, 4. Danube River basin, including Black Sea, with strong and meaningful involvement of public administrations and port managing authorities. The basins / Mission “lighthouses” include the river basins flowing into the respective sea basins. The project should: Support the testing, deployment, and upscaling of innovative solutions to restore harbour/ports ecosystems, mitigate pollution by addressing one or several of the specific Mission objectives and targets and monitor the effectiveness of the proposed solutions; Bring together harbours, local stakeholders, relevant authorities, scientific and industry partners to drive collaborative action towards the development of specific local Implementation Strategies such as transitioning to renewable energy, alternative fuels or circular economy initiatives, biodiversity restoration and Nature-based Solutions, or adaptation measures to address sea-level rise, extreme weather events, and other climate-related risks; Facilitate knowledge-sharing initiatives and partnerships within and between ports to leverage best practices and lessons learned by demonstrating their transferability and scalability potential; Provide targeted assistance and capacity-building programmes to help smaller size ports to overcome barriers and adopt sustainable practices; This could include for example developing comprehensive waste management systems to recycle and reduce port-generated waste and involving local communities in sustainability initiatives or the deployment of nature-based solutions such as vegetated buffers to protect port infrastructure from coastal risks and enhance biodiversity; Facilitate synergies with other R&I-relevant EU, national or regional programmes and leverage of funds through interactions with regional/local authorities and where relevant with the private sector and investors to accelerate the innovation cycles of marine technologies. Projects are expected to work with and engage at least 4 ‘associated regions’ (represented by local/regional port authorities/public bodies) to show the effectiveness of solutions to increase resilience and develop a replication plan for its uptake in an ‘associated region’ and build capacity at local level. Beneficiaries may therefore provide Financial Support to Third Parties (see the Specific Conditions table for this topic). Projects should (1) proactively reach out to the 'associated regions' to enable them to follow closely the project’s activities, (2) continuously share their outcomes and knowledge with those ‘associated regions’ and (3) provide them with technical assistance to build capacity and to implement in their territory the approach they developed. Projects should build on the best available actionable knowledge, methods and innovations notably from the results of previous national and EU projects. Competent authorities and other stakeholders participating in the project are encouraged to pool and enhance synergies [8] with other sources of funding (e.g. structural, cohesion funds such as ERDF, or LIFE) for implementing and deploying innovative solutions. This action supports the follow-up to the July 2023 Communication on EU Missions assessment. null Activities are expected to achieve TRL 6-8 by the end of the project – see General Annex B. [1] See section 1.2. of the Mission Ocean and Waters Implementation Plan: https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2021-09/ocean_and_waters_implementation_plan_for_publication.pdf [2] Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control) [3] Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy [4] Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive) [5] Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives [6] Directive 2014/89/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning [7] Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2024 on nature restoration and amending Regulation (EU) 2022/869 [8] COM/2025/281 final C(2022) 4747 final [9] COM/2025/281 final C(2022) 4747 final

Eligibility and submission conditions

"> General conditions 1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. 2. Eligible Countries described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. 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. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide . 3. Other Eligible Conditions described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. 4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes. 5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. 5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual . 5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes. 6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants Beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties. The support to Third Parties can only be provided in the form of grants. The Financial Support to Third Parties may only be awarded to local and/or regional authorities (established as public bodies by public law and governed by public law), which are not already involved in as beneficiaries in a demonstration site of the same project and which are located in Member States/Associated Countries. The maximum amount to be granted to each Third Party is EUR 100,000, aiming at showcasing the effectiveness of solutions demonstrated by a project and develop a replication plan for their uptake in an ‘associated region’[[Regional or local authorities established as public bodies by national law and governed by public law.]]. A recipient may only benefit from this Financial Support to Third Parties once within the entire duration of the project. described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific conditions described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme] Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA): Application form templates Please use the application form that you will find in the Submission System. You can find examples of standard application forms in the Reference Documents page . Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA) Guidance HE Programme Guide Model Grant Agreements (MGA) HE MGA   Call-specific instructions   Information on financial support to third parties (HE)   Additional documents: HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 12. Missions HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes HE Framework Programme and Rules for Participation Regulation 2021/695 HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764 EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509 Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement

Hivatkozott dokumentumok

https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2021-09/ocean_and_waters_implementation_plan_for_publication.pdf Annex A Horizon Europe Programme Guide Online Manual Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA) HE MGA Information on financial support to third parties (HE) HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 12. Missions Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions