Details
- Funding programme or initiative
- Horizon Europe Framework Programme (HORIZON)
- Country
- AustriaBelgiumBulgariaCroatiaCyprusCzechiaDenmarkEstoniaFinlandFranceGermanyGreeceHungaryIrelandItalyLatviaLithuaniaLuxembourgMaltaNetherlandsPolandPortugalRomaniaSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSwedenAlbaniaArmeniaBosnia and HerzegovinaFaroe IslandsCanadaGeorgiaIcelandIsraelKosovoMoldovaMontenegroNew ZealandNorth MacedoniaNorwaySerbiaTunisiaTürkiyeUkraineUnited Kingdom
- Lighthouse
- Atlantic and Arctic basinMediterranean Sea basinBaltic and North Sea basinDanube-Black Sea
- Deadline date
- 25 September 2025, 17:00 CEST
- Status
- Open
- Publication date
- Associated Regions
- No
Description
The BlueLightS project offers funding for primary, secondary, and vocational schools in Europe and associated countries to develop creative, student-led projects that promote ocean and water literacy. The call supports hands-on learning that engages students with aquatic environments and encourages them to take meaningful action.
Objectives:
The call aims to:
- Support wide-scale development of more impactful blue projects in schools that support the Mission Ocean & Waters ambition while contributing to the widening of the Network of European Blue Schools (NEBS).
- Diversify the community of schools that engage into blue challenges - from coastal to inland, primary/secondary and vocational, including schools for disabled children.
- Mobilise youth via eTwinning (via The European School Education Platform) between schools.
The call prioritises innovative and ambitious Blue Challenge projects that embody the core principles of blue education, focus on regional lighthouse themes (e.g. pollution in the Mediterranean, conservation in the Atlantic/Arctic, aquaculture in the Baltic), and support BlueLightS experimentation activities in selected countries. For details on the types of projects that can be submitted and topics covered, please refer to the call document.
Eligible applicants:
Eligible applicants are primary, secondary, and vocational schools (up to ISCED level 3) that are legally registered and accredited in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe associated country. Applicants must:
- Apply as a school legal entity (not as individuals).
- Either be a member of the NEBS or commit to applying for the Blue School label by the end of the project.
- Not have received previous funding from the ProBleu or SHORE projects.
- Submit their application through a school employee (e.g. teacher, principal, or project manager).
- Apply individually or as part of a consortium of eligible schools from the same country, each with legal status.
Budget:
The maximum grant per school project is EUR 3 000 (lump sum). Please note the following country-specific funding limits:
EUR 9 000: Croatia, Romania, France, Sweden;
EUR 6 000: All other EU-27 countries listed in the call;
EUR 3 000: Horizon Europe associated countries.
Duration:
Successful applicants can expect to be contacted by 1 December 2025, with projects running from January to May 2026.
Related links
Contact points
General inquiries: info@idec.gr
Please ensure your query is clear and relevant to the BlueLightS 2nd Call for Blue Challenges/Blue Schools.
