Details
- Funding programme or initiative
- JPI Oceans
- Country
- BelgiumCroatiaDenmarkEstoniaGermanyGreeceIrelandItalyMaltaNetherlandsNorwayPolandPortugalRomaniaSweden
- Lighthouse
- Atlantic and Arctic basinMediterranean Sea basinBaltic and North Sea basinDanube-Black Sea
- Deadline date
- 1 April 2025
- Status
- Closed
- Publication date
- Mission Objectives
- 1. Ecosystems and Biodiversity2. Pollution prevention and elimination3. Carbon Neutral and Circular Blue Economy
- Associated Regions
- No
Description
This joint call builds upon the successful pilot phase of S4GES (Science for Good Environmental Status), which demonstrated the effectiveness of process-based sampling approaches for marine environmental assessment.
This joint call addresses critical knowledge gaps and enhances scientific understanding that underpins the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). The joint call further aims to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of environmental assessments by consolidating existing knowledge and integrating innovative, process-based monitoring approaches.
Objectives:
The call has the following objectives:
- Consolidating the Science Base for the implementation of MSFD
- Build on the achievements of the first phase by integrating new findings with existing knowledge;
- Enhance the scientific foundation supporting the MSFD to achieve its targets more effectively.
- Supporting an improved definition and measurement of Good Environmental Status
- Specific research on scientific aspects that need further elaboration to better define and measure GES;
- Develop and implement methodologies and strategies to better define and measure GES.
- Supporting the implementation of a process-based approach to GES
- Define, apply and test process-based monitoring strategies and protocols across different sea basins to improve the relevance and quality of observations and data collection in MFSD with the aim of better using resources more efficiently;
- Exploit existing and/or propose new augmented observation infrastructure(s) through joint international collaboration aiming to provide sustained common baseline information on key ecosystem parameters conducive to joint assessment on GES at the regional scale.
Eligible applicants:
The call seeks to fund one single integrated project that demonstrates efficient collaboration and use of available resources across participating funding agencies.
The project consortium must include at least one eligible organisation from each participating funding partner country (Belgium, Ireland, Italy, and Malta). See Section 3 of the call document for more details on eligibility conditions.
Budget:
The following funding partners are contributing the following:
- Belgian Science Policy Office (Belspo), Belgium with EUR 300 000;
- Marine Institute (MI), Ireland with EUR 300 000;
- National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Italy with EUR 200 000;
- Science Malta (Xjenza Malta), Malta with EUR 150 000.
Two research vessels are made available through in-kind contributions. Researchers from other countries can participate in project proposals as Associate partners on the condition that they provide written proof that their part of the project will be covered independently of this call (in kind).
Duration:
Positively ranked institutions will be informed by 05 June 2025. The project should preferably start on 01 September 2025, and depending on national funding rules, the project can be funded for 36 months.
Related links
Contact points
Please contact the CALL SECRETARIAT (Koen Lefever - Tel: +32 (0)2 238 35 51,
E-mail: Koen.LEFEVER@belspo.be) in case of technical questions.
National contact persons:
- Belgium: Koen Lefever (+32 (0)2 238 35 51 Koen.LEFEVER@belspo.be);
- Ireland: Veronica Cunningham: (+353 91 387200; veronica.cunningham@marine.ie);
- Italy: Francesco Petracchini (Info-bandi-dsstta@cnr.it);
- Malta: Christy Baldacchino (+356 2360 2158; christy.baldacchino.2@gov.mt).
