How can you find support for your Mission Ocean and Waters projects? These pages provide information on funding programmes and initiatives and financial instruments for you to explore for your funding needs.
Mission Funding
Each year, Horizon Europe issues new calls for proposals under the Mission Ocean and Waters. View the 2025 calls (now closed), and stay tuned for news on the selected projects and future opportunities in 2026.
The Horizon Europe info days for the EU Missions were held in May 2025. If you missed this event, you can watch the recording and learn about the 2025 Mission funding opportunities, including those for the Mission Ocean and Waters. Click here for the recording of the info days.
Many existing projects funded by Horizon Europe bring Associated Regions into their work. To learn about Associated Regions in Mission projects, how your region might become one, and to see if there open calls, go to the following page on the calls for Associated Regions.
The Mission Ocean and Waters is one of five European Missions. There are synergies among the Missions, and calls for proposals under the other Missions can support the objectives of the Mission Ocean and Waters. The EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, for example, supports innovative solutions in areas such as coastal resilience. For information about all Horizon Europe calls relevant to Mission Ocean and Waters, click here.
InvestEU and BlueInvest
Through a combination of funding, guarantees, and tailored assistance, InvestEU and BlueInvest empower start-ups, SMEs, and other stakeholders to implement innovative, sustainable practices that contribute to Mission Ocean and Waters objectives.
InvestEU aims at boosting innovation, investment, and job-creation, while providing long-term funding by leveraging private and public funds. It makes investments in several areas relevant to the Mission Ocean and Waters, including energy, environment, seas and oceans, and the sustainable bioeconomy. To access the InvestEU Fund, private promoters and financial intermediaries must apply through selected implementing partners. InvestEU also helps project promoters and intermediaries through its Advisory Hub, which provides technical assistance for their proposals. InvestEU’s Portal offers an online matchmaking tool for project promoters and investors.
BlueInvest, an initiative of the European Commission, aims to accelerate ocean-based technologies and solutions to boost innovation and investment opportunities by supporting readiness and access to finance for early-stage businesses, SMEs, scale-ups and mid-caps in the blue economy. Members of the BlueInvest Community can participate in Readiness Assistance, a coaching programme for high potential EU start-ups and SMEs, and receive Investor Capacity Building via structured training sessions. Other types of support include fundraising assistance and a knowledge centre. BlueInvest has worked with hundreds of companies. Its success stories range from protecting Arctic ice to growing algae for crop nutrients. Click here to learn how to join the Community.
Other Relevant Funding sources
Other EU funding programmes finance projects that contribute to the objectives of Mission Ocean and Waters. Notably, the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) provides support for innovative projects that contribute to the sustainable exploitation and management of aquatic and maritime resources, and thus support Mission objectives. Click here to see calls for EMFAF.
The LIFE Programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. Its 2025 calls notably include the themes of nature protection, zero pollution, climate mitigation and climate adaptation, and thus LIFE funding is available to support work on the objectives of the Mission Ocean and Waters. The deadline to submit proposals for most LIFE calls is 23 September 2025. Click here to learn about calls from the LIFE Programme.
For a comprehensive overview of EU funding opportunities across these and other programmes, and to search for open calls that could support Mission projects, see the EU Funding and Tenders Portal.
The Mission Ocean and Waters has a database on funding programmes and initiatives that lists other EU, international and national funding programmes, as well as private foundations, that can be relevant for Mission projects.
In addition, a database on calls for proposals provides information on funding opportunities from these funding programmes.
Resources and Guides
A range of reports, guides and factsheets can support Missions actors in finding financing opportunities and instruments. Learn more about financing resources and guides.
