Living Labs for the eradication and/or management of invasive alien species

Overview

Supports the establishment of living labs to co-create and test innovative solutions for the eradication and management of invasive alien species (IAS), targeting researchers, practitioners, local communities, and policymakers. Focuses on enhancing ecosystem resilience and reducing biodiversity threats through transdisciplinary collaboration.

Who Can Apply

Consortia composed of legal entities (e.g., research institutions, universities, public bodies, SMEs, NGOs) from eligible EU Member States and Associated Countries. Transboundary collaboration is encouraged, with living labs required in at least three different countries.

Funding Details

• Maximum grant amount: €8,000,000 per project.
• Funding rate: Not specified (standard Horizon Europe rules apply).
• Financial support to third parties (FSTP): Up to 30% of EU funding may be allocated to small actors (e.g., land managers, SMEs, civil society) via grants, with a maximum of €60,000 per third party.

What Is Funded

• Establishment of at least three living labs, each with 10–20 experimental sites, adhering to co-creation, real-life settings, and end-user involvement principles.
• Development and testing of innovative methods for detecting, monitoring, eradicating, and managing IAS, including citizen science, eDNA, remote sensing, machine learning, and biological/chemical control.
• Assessment of socio-economic impacts, cost of inaction, and benefits of eradication/management, with contributions from social sciences and humanities.
• Dissemination of solutions and data sharing, ensuring FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles, including use of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC).
• Cooperation with the Joint Research Centre (JRC), European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN), and the EC Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity (KCBD).

Technology / Maturity Requirements

• Technology Readiness Level (TRL): Projects must target TRL 4–6 (validation in lab to demonstration in relevant environment).

Key Dates

• Open date: 2027-04-19
• Deadline: 2027-09-21

Application Process (High-Level)

• Single-stage submission via the Horizon Europe Submission System.
• Proposals must adhere to page limits and layout requirements outlined in the Work Programme General Annexes.

Post-Award Obligations

• Compliance with Horizon Europe reporting requirements, including dissemination of results and data sharing.
• Cooperation with JRC, EASIN, and KCBD, as well as alignment with EU biodiversity strategies and regulations (e.g., Nature Restoration Regulation, IAS Regulation).

Geographic Scope & Language

• Eligible countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, United Kingdom, Switzerland.
• Application language: English.

Notes

• Projects must integrate a gender-sensitive and inclusive approach, addressing differential impacts of IAS on livelihoods and well-being.
• International cooperation is encouraged, and proposals should leverage existing European research infrastructures where relevant.
• Financial support to third parties is permitted but capped at 30% of EU funding and €60,000 per third party.