Calls for Funding

Check the source pages of each of these calls for more information. You can also ask the National Hub in your country to check what funding and matchmaking opportunities might be applicable to your project(idea).

Mediterranean sea basin lighthouse – Actions to prevent, minimise and remediate chemical pollution | deadline 27 September 2022

Deadline: 27 September, 2022
Budget: €17.000.000 EURO
Countries: Algeria, France, Italy, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco Portugal, Spain, Tunisia

 

Objective

In line with the EU Zero Pollution Action Plan for Air, Water and Soil, proposals should demonstrate scalable breakthrough innovations (technological, business, social and governance) to prevent and minimize marine and freshwater pollution from chemical pollutants. Following the zero pollution hierarchy, proposals should focus on demonstrating replicable solutions to prevent and minimise pollution in the Mediterranean Sea including its major river catchment areas and taking into consideration land-sea interactions through measures, such as:

  • Upstream prevention of pollution from chemicals;
  • Substitutes or alternative less polluting substances and materials for the most prevalent chemical pollutants found in freshwater and at sea.

Proposed solutions for pollution prevention, elimination and remediation should not increase the level of anthropogenic underwater noise and air emissions.

Proposed solutions should be in line with the EU taxonomy regulation and delegated acts.

Proposals must:

  • Carry out demonstration activities in 3 different Member States and/or Associated Countries of the Mediterranean sea basin, involving and including in the consortium entities from these three countries;
  • Identify areas and locations where the solutions are replicable and draw up an action plan and roadmap to replicate and scale up the pollution solutions and actions.

More information on the EC Funding and Tender opportunities website

Crisis Management and Governance in Tourism | deadline 19 September 2022

Deadline: 19 September, 2022
Budget: €900.000
Countries: France, Italy, Malta, Spain, Portugal

Objective:

  • Analysis of governance models and crisis management mechanisms in the tourism ecosystem;
  • Assisting tourism authorities and sectors to improve tourism governance and resilience;
  • Best practices and learning material.

More information on the dedicated EISMEA etendering page

Women in the Blue Economy | Deadline 22 September 2022

Deadline: 22 September, 2022
Budget: €2.500.000 EURO
Countries: France, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Italy

 

Objective

This call for proposals has the following main objectives:

  1. to increase the participation and representation of women in the different sectors of the sustainable blue economy
  2. to increase knowledge and collect data on women’s contribution to the sustainable blue economy so as to efficiently foster and mainstream gender equality;
  3. to promote and advance gender equality in the sustainable blue economy (e.g., countering gender stereotypes, conscious and unconscious bias, promoting equal pay, addressing poor working conditions, etc.) including through promoting blue career opportunities to girls from early education;
  4. to promote women’s leadership, entrepreneurship and participation in governance structures and decision-making mechanisms of public and/or private organisations of the sustainable blue economy;

The actions funded under this call will help sustainable blue economy sectors e.g; fisheries, aquaculture, shipbuilding, maritime transport, offshore renewable energy, blue bioeconomy, inland and offshore aquaculture, etc., to embrace a deep and structural change to facilitate and promote the inclusion of women in the wider maritime economy.

 

More informaton – funding and tenders section of the ec.europa.eu website

digicirc call announcement poster with text ansd sailing boat

DigiCirc open call – Blue Economy accelerator programme | Deadline: 8 September 2021

Deadline: 8 september 2021 (extended from 3 August 2021)
Budget: 20.000 € (Phase 1)/ 5 best ranked consortia: additional 100.000 €
Countries: PT, ES, MT, IT, FR

Themes:

  • Fisheries/ Aquaculture (O2/P2)
  • Marine pollution and circular economy (O2/P4)
  • Maritime Renewable Energy (O2/ P5)
  • Maritime Research and innovation (O2)
  • Shipping and Ports (O2/P4)
  • Marine and Coastal Tourism (O2/P4)

 

Objective

DigiCirc is looking for European SMEs/Start-ups that can use digital tools and apply cutting-edge solutions in the circular economy by addressing specific challenges in the domain of Blue Economy.

 

How does it work?

With the second open call, DigiCirc will select a minimum of 15 consortia, composed of at least 2 SMEs/Startups, that will develop innovative solutions focused on digital technologies by addressing the Blue Economy challenges . SMEs will be given the opportunity to use the DigiCirc Matchmaking Platform to look for other SMEs in case they need a partner to build a consortium.

The selected consortia will get a direct funding of up to €20.000 and the opportunity to integrate a highly intensive and innovative 12 weeks-long innovation support programme, divided in two phases, where they will be able to develop their business plans and adapt their solutions for the targeted area (Phase 1); and demonstrate their solutions in relevant environment as well as shape their commercial strategy (Phase 2).

At the end of the accelerator programme, the 5 best ranked consortia will be selected to receive further funding of €100.000. They will have up to 6 months to develop their prototype and make tests in an operational environment in view of a commercial launch.

More information

Visit the digicirc blue economy call website

 

logo EEA grants Portugal

EEA Call | #2 – Business Development, Innovation and SMEs | Deadline 30 June 2021

Deadline: 3o June 2021
Budget: 200.000-1.000.000 €
Countries: PT

Themes:

  • Fisheries/ Aquaculture (O2/P2)
  • Marine pollution and circular economy (O2/P4)
  • Maritime Renewable Energy (O2/ P5)
  • Maritime Research and innovation (O2)

This Open Call aims to finance Portuguese enterprises to develop, apply and commercialize innovative products and technologies, especially SMEs

The main objective of this call is to finance enterprises to develop, apply, and commercialize innovative products and technologies. This call will also promote cooperation between enterprises and research institutions, in order to foster user-driven research-based innovation.

Eligible promoters: SMEs  and large enterprises with no more than 25% public ownership, established as legal persons in Portugal are considered eligible applicants of projects.

The scope of projects eligible for funding under this Call are the following:

  • Develop innovative products/ technologies/ processes for the Blue Growth sector;
  • Commercialize innovative products/ technologies/ processes for the Blue Growth sector;
  • Apply innovative blue technologies/ processes/ solutions (new-to-the enterprise) including investments to increase production capacity (excluding fisheries);
  • Business development from early innovation stage up to testing of new technologies and supporting their first presentation to the market (piloting and demonstration facilities)

More information

Visit the EEA Grants website

Submit your application here

logo EEA grants Portugal

EEA Call | SGS #1 – Initiatives for business growth in Startups Supported | Deadline 31 May 2021

Deadline: 31 May 2021
Budget: 50.000-150.000  €
Countries: PT

Themes:

  • Fisheries/ Aquaculture (O2/P2)
  • Marine pollution and circular economy (O2/P4)
  • Maritime Renewable Energy (O2/ P5)
  • Maritime Research and innovation (O2)

This Open Call aims to finance initiatives for business growth in Portuguese startups and enterprises to develop, apply and commercialize innovative products and technologies.

 

The main objective of this Call is to finance initiatives for business growth in startups enterprises to develop, apply and commercialize innovative products and technologies. This call will also promote cooperation between enterprises and research institutions, in order to foster user-driven research-based innovation.

Eligible promoters: SMEs established as legal persons in Portugal are considered eligible applicants of projects.

The projects supported by this call will contribute to increase competitiveness, sustainability and profitability among Portuguese startups and bring more innovation in their products, services and processes within the focus are of Blue Growth.

Eligible Sectors:

  • Fisheries/aquaculture (development of innovative products and technologies in fisheries/ fish farming sector)
  • Fish and seafood transformation industry
  • Commercial ports
  • Ocean renewable energy sector
  • Maritime industry, including innovative maritime transport technologies
  • etc

More information
Visit the EEA Grants website

Submit your application here

 

logo EEA grants Portugal

EEA Call | 2º Aviso#3 – Apoio ao aumento de eficiência de recursos ligados às empresas do setor marítimo | Deadline May 31 2021

Deadline: 31 May 2021
Budget: 1.500.000 €
Countries: PT

Themes:

  • Maritime Pollution and circular economy

 

Este concurso visa o financiamento de empresas para o desenvolvimento de produtos e tecnologias já disponíveis no mercado ou desenvolvimento de novos, utilizando o lixo marinho como matéria-prima.

O principal objetivo deste aviso visa o financiamento de empresas que, desenvolvam produtos e tecnologias inovadoras acrescentando valor às já existentes no mercado ou criando novas. O resultado esperado, baseia-se na questão da eficicência de recursos assente numa economia circular, que promova o apoio de empresas que utilizem o lixo marinho como matéria-prima, ou que criei condições de recolha para utilização como matéria-prima secundária de terceiros.

Promotores elegíveis: São considerados promotores elegíveis as PMEs e as grandes empresas (com menos de 25% de capitais públicos) estabelecidas legalmente em Portugal.

O convite permanecerá aberto até às 12:00:00 de Portugal Continental do dia 31-05-2021.

Mais informações

ocean-innovation-challnge poster for call

UNDP – Ocean Innovation Challenge – Call Sustainable Fisheries | Deadline 9 May 2021

Deadline: 9 May 2021
Budget: 50.000-250.000 USD
Countries: TN, DZ, MA, MR, LY

Themes:

  • Fisheries and Aquaculture

The UNDP Ocean Innovation Challenge is looking for innovative solutions promoting sustainable fisheries to receive support up to 250K USD. Application deadline: 9 May 2021.

Over the years, the international community has taken important steps to promote sustainable fishing, such as the FAO’s Code of Conduct on Responsible Fishing, the 1995 UN Fish Stocks Agreement, and through the work of various regional fisheries agreements and RFMOs. Nevertheless, progress on key SDG 14 targets pertaining to sustainable fisheries has lagged and the main target, 14.4, was clearly not met in 2020.

Recognizing the increasing urgency of addressing unsustainable fishing, the second OIC Challenge, launched in March 2021, seeks innovative solutions that address one or more of the following SDG 14 targets:

Project proponents can include governments, private companies (including start-ups), NGO/CSO, United Nations entities, academic institutions, and intergovernmental organizations.

Over the years, the international community has taken important steps to promote sustainable fishing, such as the FAO’s Code of Conduct on Responsible Fishing, the 1995 UN Fish Stocks Agreement, and through the work of various regional fisheries agreements and RFMOs. Nevertheless, progress on key SDG 14 targets pertaining to sustainable fisheries has lagged and the main target, 14.4, was clearly not met in 2020.

Recognizing the increasing urgency of addressing unsustainable fishing, the second OIC Challenge, launched in March 2021, seeks innovative solutions that address one or more of the following SDG 14 targets:

Project proponents can include governments, private companies (including start-ups), NGO/CSO, United Nations entities, academic institutions, and intergovernmental organizations.

More information on the call-page of the ocean innovation challenge website

 

screenshot agrimer website announcing call

Aide au développement de navires et bateaux innovants améliorer la performance énergétique ou environnementale

Deadline: 30 April 2021
Budget: 15 Million euro
Countries: FR

Themes:

  • Fisheries and Aquaculture

FranceAgriMer met en place un programme d’aide  aux  projets d’investissements pour le développement de navires et bateaux innovants pour permettre d’améliorer la performance énergétique ou environnementale par appel à projets (bientôt disponible). Les dossiers seront traités par un appel à projets dans la limite d’une enveloppe de 15 M€ qui se clôturera le 30/04/2021

Les modalités de mise en œuvre de ce programme d’aide sont disponibles dans la décision INTV-POP-010 téléchargeable ci-dessous, dans la zone “documents associés”.

Les dossiers seront déposés par un opérateur disposant d’un N° SIRET via le remplissage d’un formulaire en ligne permettant de renseigner les éléments suivants :

  • L’identification du porteur ;
  • La localisation de l’opération ;
  • Description du projet prévisionnel notamment en regard des critères de sélection;
  • La liste des dépenses prévues ;
  • Le montant d’aide demandé.

L’opération ne peut être éligible que si elle n’est pas commencée au moment du dépôt (pas de devis signé ou accepté avant le dépôt notamment).

En savoir plus: Aide au développement de navires et bateaux innovants améliorer la performance énergétique ou environnementale | FranceAgriMer – établissement national des produits de l’agriculture et de la mer

fisherman casting net

Call for Grants for small-scale fishers in the Mediterranean

Deadline: 15 May 2021
Budget: 5.000-20.000 euro
Countries: ES, FR, IT

Themes:

  • Fisheries

Funding is available from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) to advance Mediterranean small-scale fisheries towards sustainability

The Grants are a way for WWF to support small-scale fisheries on their path towards sustainability by accelerating the use of funding available from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). Grants are reserved for fishers committed to submitting a Request for Funds to the National Authorities that manage the EMFF.

The WWF CALL FOR GRANTS pursues the following objectives:
• To provide Mediterranean small-scale fishers with the necessary co-financing and technical assistance to apply to EMFF for implementing actions towards a more sustainable fishing;
• To improve small-scale fishers’ capacity to apply to the EMFF;
• To increase small scale fishers’ interest in the EMFF and to accelerate the use of available funds to accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable fishing;
• To accelerate the implementation of the Regional Plan of Action on Small-Scale Fisheries (RPOA-SSF) of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean
(GFCM).

All information and document library available here