Danube river basin lighthouse – Demonstration of effective and sustainable management of sediments in the Danube river-Black sea system

Overview

Funding for innovative projects demonstrating effective and sustainable sediment management in the Danube river-Black Sea system, targeting solutions that improve sediment monitoring, quality assessment, and awareness raising. Open to consortia replicating SUNDANSE use cases in new regions.

Who Can Apply

Consortia of legal entities (e.g., research institutions, SMEs, public authorities, NGOs) from eligible countries. Projects must involve at least one partner from the Danube river basin region.

Funding Details

• Maximum grant: €100,000 (lump sum)
• Payment structure: 17% after Stage 1, 58% after Stage 2, 25% after Stage 3
• Total budget: Not specified

What Is Funded

Projects addressing one or more of the following thematic areas:

• Flow monitoring
• Sediment quantity monitoring
• Sediment quality assessment (including pollution source identification)
• Awareness-raising actions on sediment flow alterations

Must include replicable activities from the Replication Activities Catalogue (Annex 2).

Technology / Maturity Requirements

Solutions must be based on existing SUNDANSE use cases, demonstrating feasibility, replicability, and scalability. No explicit TRL range specified, but projects must show readiness for deployment in new regions.

Key Dates

• Open date: 2025-12-17
• Deadline: 2026-02-17

Application Process (High-Level)

Single-stage application via the SUNDANSE portal. Selected projects enter a 9-month structured program with mentorship and technical support.

Post-Award Obligations

• Submission of three reports: Report #1 (mentoring plan), Report #2 (implementation), and Report #3 (final evaluation, including stakeholder engagement outputs, regional action plan, and impact assessment).
• Participation in the SUNDANSE Programme stages (definition, implementation, evaluation).

Geographic Scope & Language

• Eligible countries: Danube river basin region (specific countries not listed)
• Application language: English

Notes

• Projects must align with the Replication Activities Catalogue (Annex 2).
• Focus on replicating SUNDANSE solutions in new regions or domains.
• Co-funding or additional financial contributions are not explicitly required but may strengthen proposals.