HORIZON-MISS-2024-OCEAN-01-04: Science for community – Building the marine Citizen Science data network of the future to valorise data coming from the ocean and increase engagement name

Marine citizen science activities, i.e. public participation, and collaboration in marine research to increase scientific knowledge, are gaining more and more momentum in the EU. One of the most important activities are those that involve actors from different parts of society to contribute to coastal zone and ocean observation and produce relevant data (e.g. marine litter). It is important to build on this interest by maintaining and increasing the sense of community and motivation of these agents and providing them with validated methodological protocols and processes, to ensure that the information and data collected are useful for wider use. 

Objectives: 

The objective is to establish a Marine Citizen Science data network to bring together the scattered and un-coordinated efforts in data collection. This network will provide a sense of community to the different parties, will increase visibility of marine citizen science data collection activities in Europe and will increase the added value of  citizen science. Such an activity will support targeted engagement of different categories of social actors in the production of credible Marine Knowledge and it will thus directly support the development of the Digital Ocean and Water Knowledge System. 

Proposals are expected to address the following activities:  

Establishment of a Marine Citizen Science network:  

• The network will support its participants to contact various marine citizen science data collection communities, increasing the added value of their contribution towards Marine Knowledge.  
• A key activity is the identification, mapping and involvement of the different actors that provide observation and data input to marine citizen science. 
• The network should act as a multiplier of work contacted on marine citizen science data collection from different organisations around Europe and operate as a connection hub for their activities. 
• Long-term sustainability of the network should be considered. 

Citizen science activities: information and data collection  

• Ensure that information and data collected are widely usable and integrated in existing knowledge management platforms (e.g.: EMODnet, Blue Economy Observatory, etc.) and be available for use in the European Digital Twin of the Ocean (EU DTO). 
• Consider the development of easy-to-use tutorials and easy-to-understand training modules, targeted to different categories of marine citizens science actors collecting data. 
• Address the development of good practices in the consumption of data and information from marine citizen science and make them visible at the local, national, European and international level, in particular through the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. 

Deployment of cost-efficient, citizen science appropriate observing equipment  

• Proposals should ensure the link between marine citizen science actors and developers of cost-effective ocean observation sensors and facilitate the procurement of appropriate and user-friendly citizen science devices and equipment that will enhance and harmonize marine citizen science outputs in Europe.  
• Proposals are expected to define and implement two use-cases to demonstrate the use of affordable, durable, high-efficiency and low-carbon footprint marine observing devices-equipment.  

Grants awarded under this topic will be linked to the following action(s): HORIZON-MISS-2021-OCEAN-05-03 Piloting citizen science in marine and freshwater domains – Grant Agreement n. 101006482 

Eligible applicants: 

Any legal entity, regardless of its place of establishment, including legal entities from non-associated third countries or international organisations (including international European research organisations) is eligible to participate (whether it is eligible for funding or not), provided that the conditions laid down in the Horizon Europe Regulations have been met, along with any other conditions laid down in the specific call/topic. 

Further information on the application process and on eligibility can be found in the General Annexes of the Horizon Europe 2023-2025 Work Programme.   

Budget: 

EUR 2 million 

Duration: 

N/A 

HORIZON-MISS-2024-OCEAN-01-04 call for proposals page  

Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023-2025: Missions and Cross Cutting Activities 

Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023-2025: General Introduction 

General Annexes of the Horizon Europe 2023-2025 Work Programme 

To get support:  

• Online Manual is the guide on the procedures from proposal submission to managing your grant. 
• Horizon Europe Programme Guide contains the detailed guidance to the structure, budget and political priorities of Horizon Europe. 
• Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – to find the answers to most frequently asked questions on submission of proposals, evaluation and grant management. 
• Research Enquiry Service – to ask questions about any aspect of European research in general and the EU Research Framework Programmes in particular. 
• National Contact Points (NCPs) – to get guidance, practical information and assistance on participation in Horizon Europe. There are also NCPs in many non-EU and non-associated countries (‘third-countries’). 
• Enterprise Europe Network – to contact your EEN national contact for advice to businesses with special focus on SMEs. The support includes guidance on the EU research funding. 
• IT Helpdesk – to contact the Funding & Tenders Portal IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc. 
• European IPR Helpdesk to be assistsed you on intellectual property issues. 
• CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk – the European Standards Organisations to be advised on how to tackle standardisation in your project proposal.   
• The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment –to consult the general principles and requirements specifying the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers, employers and funders of researchers. 
• Partner Search Services to be supported on how to find a partner organisation for your proposal.