HORIZON-MISS-2026-03-OCEAN-02: Addressing aquatic pollution and biodiversity loss through nature positive solutions from source to sea

HORIZON-MISS-2026-03-OCEAN-02: Addressing aquatic pollution and biodiversity loss through nature positive solutions from source to sea. This topic aims at directly engaging and supporting public authorities and relevant socio-economic actors in addressing aquatic pollution and biodiversity loss, demonstrating and accelerating transitions needed for achieving Mission Ocean and Waters objectives through nature-positive approaches.  

Objectives: 

Expected outcomes from projects are:  

• Member States and Associated Countries are provided with cost-effective solutions to reach targets of the Water Framework and Marine Strategy Framework directives, Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, and EU strategy for sustainable chemicals, enabling implementation of EU biodiversity, climate adaptation and water resilience strategies for 2030 and the EU zero pollution action plan; 
• National, regional and local authorities and stakeholders gain access to and support for deploying cost-effective, adaptive and nature-positive solutions to remediate and reduce pollution from nutrients, chemicals, plastics and microplastics from source to sea, while protecting and restoring ecosystem capacity to provide services and adapt to climate change impacts; 
• Measurable, quantifiable, verifiable and ambitious progress towards reaching one or several interlinked objectives and targets of the Mission Ocean and Waters through implementing effective and well-managed place-based and people-centred actions; 
• Public and private investment is encouraged and mobilised to implement nature-positive solutions for addressing pollution in ocean and waters.  

Successful applicants will be required to: 

• Identify, assess and make available the most regionally relevant and effective nature-positive solutions to address pollution and biodiversity loss, considering their relevance under future climate and biodiversity scenarios; 
• Test and upscale systemic and innovative combinations of nature-positive approaches, solutions and new technologies to reduce nutrient, chemical, plastic and microplastic pollution across functionally connected freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems; 
• Conduct demonstration activities in at least 4 sites from source to sea covering the most relevant socio-ecological systems in one Mission basin-scale lighthouse, with direct involvement of public bodies and socio-economic stakeholders; 
• Monitor pollution levels in each demonstration site to assess impact and contribution towards Mission objectives, including removal rates, retention capacities and ecosystem responses, using relevant sensing and modelling tools and EU digital infrastructures; 
• Quantify and forecast ecosystem services provided by implementing nature-positive solutions and assess economic viability, scale-up potential, and societal acceptance of integrated approaches; 
• Engage at least 4 'associated regions' to demonstrate solution effectiveness, develop replication plans and provide technical assistance for capacity building and territorial implementation.  

Eligible applicants: 

The conditions are described in General Annex B. The following exceptions apply: 

If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used). 

Budget: 

The total indicative budget for the topic is EUR 31.00 million, with four projects to be funded under this topic. The Commission estimates that an EU contribution of between EUR 7.00 and 7.75 million would allow these outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting different amounts. 

Duration: 

The project is expected to start in early 2026, following grant agreement preparation, and should typically run for a duration of 3 to 4 years, depending on the scope of the proposed work. 

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