Pushing the frontier of knowledge and conservation action for deep sea ecosystems

Overview

Funding for research projects advancing scientific knowledge and conservation of deep-sea ecosystems, targeting public authorities, research institutions, and consortia to support biodiversity mapping, monitoring technologies, and adaptive management strategies for deep-sea regions.

Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants include legal entities from EU Member States, Associated Countries, and specified non-EU countries, as well as international organisations. Consortia are expected, with cooperation encouraged among research institutions, public authorities, and stakeholders.

Funding Details

Maximum grant amount: 10,000,000 EUR. Funding rate and co-funding requirements are not specified.

What Is Funded

Projects must address gaps in deep-sea biodiversity knowledge, including habitat mapping, species inventories, genetic diversity, and ecosystem functioning in bathypelagic and abyssopelagic zones. Supported activities include:

• Development and deployment of imaging, acoustic, multi-omics, and taxonomic technologies for species identification.
• Contributions to global biodiversity databases (e.g., Global Biodiversity Information Facility).
• Establishment of baselines, impact assessments, and predictive modelling for climate and anthropogenic stressors.
• Identification of indicators (e.g., Essential Ocean Variables) and cost-effective monitoring approaches.
• Stakeholder engagement for adaptive management and conservation scenarios.

Technology / Maturity Requirements

Projects must operate at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 4 to 6.

Key Dates

• Open date: 2026-04-16
• Deadline: 2026-09-16

Application Process (High-Level)

Single-stage application process. Proposals must be submitted via the Funding & Tenders Portal.

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

Proposals must align with EU strategies for biodiversity, climate adaptation, and marine conservation, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Treaty on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction. International cooperation is encouraged, and projects must foresee cooperation with other relevant EU-funded initiatives. Use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS data is mandatory if satellite-based services are employed.