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  1. An institution, body, office or agency established by or based on the Treaty on European Union and the Treaties establishing the European Communities.

    All education and training facilities for people of different age groups.

    An intergovernmental organization having legal personality under public international law or a specialized agency established by such an international organization. An international organization, the majority of whose members are Member States or Associated Countries and whose main objective is to promote scientific and technological cooperation in Europe, is an International Organization of European Interest.

    A person with legal rights and obligations. Unlike a legal entity, a natural person does not have a legal act (e.g. association, limited liability company, etc.).

    An NPO is an institution or organization which, by virtue of its legal form, is not profit-oriented or which is required by law not to distribute profits to its shareholders or individual members. An NGO is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that does not represent business interests. Pursues a common purpose for the benefit of society.

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    Any government or other public administration, including public advisory bodies, at the national, regional or local level.

    A research institution is a legal entity established as a non-profit organization whose main objective is to conduct research or technological development. A college/university is a legal entity recognized by its national education system as a university or college or secondary school. It may be a public or private institution.

    A microenterprise, a small or medium-sized enterprise (business) as defined in EU Recommendation 2003/361. To qualify as an SME for EU funding, an enterprise must meet certain conditions, including (a) fewer than 250 employees and (b) an annual turnover not exceeding EUR 50 million and/or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding EUR 43 million. These ceilings apply only to the figures for individual companies.

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  1. Governance, partnership: Projects aimed at increasing the application of multilevel and transnational or cross-border governance, designing and testing appropriate governance structures and mechanisms. Also cooperation between public institutions on any theme.

    Innovation capacity and awareness-raising: Actions that increase a person’s or organisation’s capacity for innovation (not innovation as such), and that establish the capacity to diffuse and apply innovation; projects that stimulate innovation in different areas and innovation capacities; strengthening and empowering of innovation networks.

    Institutional cooperation and cooperation networks: Projects working on the improvement of institutional cross-border co-operation and capacities, on renewing and simplifying administrative management through long term cooperation between institutions (e.g. Euregion), on establishing and sharing regional knowledge and intercultural understanding and cohesion. It also deals with cooperations between universities, health care facilities, schools and sports organisations, as well as with management and capacity building.

    Activities focussing on agricultural products, organic farming, horticulture, as well as forest management and wood products; furthermore the development of the food sector, food chains, organic food production, and seafood products and any topics related to animals and fishing.

    Agriculture and fisheries and forestry: Projects focussing on agricultural products (i.e. fruits, meat, olives, etc.), organic farming, horticulture, as well as forest management and wood products. Also the development of the agro-food sector, food chains, organic food production, and seafood products. Any topics related to animals (i.e. health, management) and fishing (i.e. sustainable fishery, aquaculture).

    Soil and air quality: Projects that deal with any topic against soil and air pollution, except water pollution, for example, reduction of soil and air contamination, pollution-management systems, but also prevention and eradication of soil erosion, new ways of improving air quality (also indoors) and soil/air knowledge in general.

    Climate change and biodiversity projects assisting mitigation and adaption to climate change and environmental impacts of climate change. Development of low carbon technologies and strategies, reduction of CO2 emissions from all sectors. Promotion of biodiversity, new instruments to enhance biodiversity and natural protection.

    Soil and air quality projects that deal with any topic against soil and air pollution, except water pollution, for example, reduction of soil and air contamination, pollution-management systems, but also prevention and eradication of soil erosion, new ways of improving air quality (also indoors) and soil/air knowledge in general.

    Water management projects about management and distribution of drinking water, integrated sustainable water management, monitoring systems for water supply and improving drinking water quality; also water treatment (wastewater), in particular, innovative technologies to improve wastewater, treatments in the purification of industrial and domestic wastewater and water reuse policies. Waterways, lakes and rivers: This deals with any topics on waterways, lakes and rivers, from improving water quality, protecting and developing of ecosystems or sustainable wetland management.

    Activities that protect, promote and enhance cultural and natural heritage, increase the attractiveness through preservation and valorisation of common cultural and natural heritage in a sustainable manner, and improve and develop cultural and natural heritage objects, services and products. Cultural heritage management, art and culture, (maritime) heritage routes, access to cultural and natural heritage. Also all topics on cultural services such as festivals, concerts, art workshops.

    Cultural heritage and arts projects that protect, promote and enhance cultural and natural heritage, increase the attractiveness through preservation and valorisation of common cultural and natural heritage in a sustainable manner, and improve and develop cultural and natural heritage objects, services and products. Cultural heritage management, art and culture, (maritime) heritage routes, access to cultural and natural heritage. Also all topics on cultural services such as festivals, concerts, art workshops.

    Tourism projects dealing with the promotion of natural assets, and the protection and development of natural heritage, as well as increasing the touristic attractiveness through the better use of natural, cultural and historical heritage. Also projects about improved tourist services/products, development of ecotourism models, tourism development strategies.

    Sustainable management of natural resources projects focussing on the protection, promotion and valorization, and sustainable management and conservation of natural areas (habitats, geo parks, protected areas, etc.). Also projects focussing on preserving and enhancing cultural and natural heritage and landscape, as well as protecting the marine environment.

    Projects on waste management (innovative services and strategies), ecological waste treatment, treatment techniques/systems; waste disposal and recycling (improvement of recycling, innovative recycling technologies, recovery of organic waste, repair & re-use centres and networks); also prevention of pollution and pollution control (ecological and circular economy, marine littering, etc.).

    Labour market and employment: creating employment opportunities and/or optimising jobs, academic (un)employment and job mobility, workforce attraction and improvement of employment conditions for different groups.

    SME and entrepreneurship: strengthening SME capacities, boosting entrepreneurial activities in different sectors and for different groups, supporting social entrepreneurship, creating business support/advisory systems for start-ups/spin-offs/incubators, improving the competitiveness of SMEs, and promoting new business processes.

    Community integration and common identity projects that build identity, create a more cohesive society, promote positive relations through an increased provision of shared spaces and services.

    Demographic change and immigration is about projects tackling major societal challenges like demographic change in different areas and migration, in particular, aging society (active aging, best agers, silver economy strategies) and related new public services (adaptation of key services and infrastructure), social and spatial segregation, and brain drain. Also all topics on migration (policy tools, strategic planning, integration).

    All projects where ICT has a significant role, including tailor-made ICT solutions in different fields, as well as digital innovation hubs, open data, Internet of Things; ICT access and connecting (remote) areas with digital infrastructure and services; services and applications for citizens (e-health, e-government, e-learning, e-inclusion, etc.); services and applications for companies (e-commerce, networking, digital transformation, etc.).

    This is about the mitigation and management of risks and disasters, and the anticipation and response capacity towards the actors regarding specific risks and management of natural disasters, for example, prevention of flood and drought hazards, forest fire, strong weather conditions, etc.. It is also about risk assessment and safety.

    Education and training projects on expanding educational opportunities, reducing barriers in the field of education, improving higher education and lifelong learning, training and labour mobility, educational networks, higher vocational education, common learning programmes.

    Topics on energy management, energy-saving methods, evaluating energy efficiency measurements, energy rehabilitation/efficiency in buildings / public infrastructure, promotion of energy efficiency, cooperation among experienced energy efficiency firms, institutions and local administrations, co-generation.

    Projects focussing on wind, solar, biomass, hydroelectric, geothermal and other renewable energy, increasing the production of sustainable renewable energy and improving research capacities in biomass. Also projects focussing on storage and management of renewable energy, new technologies, sustainable regional bioenergy policies and financial Instruments for investments on renewable energy.

    Social projects concerning people with disabilities and excluded groups; enhancement of the capacity of children, young people, women and elderly; creation of infrastructure to improve access for disabled people, integration of socially vulnerable people; innovate in the care of victims of gender violence, social inclusion of women, etc.

    This deals with the development of health and social services and improved accessibility and efficiency for different groups (elderly, children, etc.). It is also about new healthcare models and medical diagnosis and treatments (dementia, cancer, diabetes, etc.), hospitals, care management, and rare diseases, as well as improving wellbeing and promoting sports.

    Projects about (organised) crime, efficient and secure borders, such as enhancing the effectiveness of the police in the prevention of drug crimes, the development of safety services, or tackling security and organised crime issues.

    Activities related to:

    • Transport and mobility covering all sorts of transport (incl. urban transport) and mobility.
    • Improving transport connections dealing with traffic and/or transport connections, rehabiliation/modernisation, better connectivity, improving accessibility/connections, but also public transport.
    • Multimodal transport and logistics and freight transport focusing on using different means of transport, developing multimodal connections, optimising intermodal transport chains; offering multimodal logistics solutions and providing access to clean, efficient and multimodal transport corridors and hubs; establishing cooperation among logistic centres and developing multimodal mobility strategies.

    Activities related to:

    • urban development, such as planning and design of cities and urban areas, urban renewal, urban-rural links (climate, sustainable mobility, water efficiency, participation, sustainable land use, smart cities, public urban areas, regeneration)
    • regional planning and development, such as the implementation of regional development policies/instruments and programmes, sustainable land use management plans, integrated regional action plans, spatial planning, and marine protected area management.
    • rural and peripheral development, referring to remote, sparsely populated areas, rural community development, and rural economics, in particular access to remote areas and policies for rural areas.
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Call key data

Maritime regional cooperation fostering Smart Specialisation and Innovation in the Sustainable Blue Economy (Topic 1)

Funding Program

European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund

Call number

EMFAF-2025-PIA-FLAGSHIP-I3

deadlines

Opening
26.09.2024

Deadline
18.02.2025 17:00

Deadline - 2nd stage

Opening
15.10.2024

Funding rate

70%

Call budget

€ 3,800,000.00

Estimated EU contribution per project

between € 1,500,000.00 and € 2,500,000.00

Link to the call

Link to the submission

Call content

short description

The objective of this call topic is to animate and underpin the S3 Thematic Platform for Sustainable Blue Economy with strategic interregional partnerships that develop and implement highly innovative solutions addressing priorities in the EU sustainable blue economy (i.e. decarbonisation of the blue economy sectors, energy transition, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, circular blue economy, new forms of aquaculture including algae, coastal resilience and marine litter prevention, sustainable food systems, and green coastal and maritime tourism).

Call objectives

This topic will focus on:

  • Boosting existing interregional partnerships that work on the identification of innovative blue economy solutions and investment with business potential.
  • Promoting the creation of interregional partnerships by building on existing smart specialisation strategies and shared blue economy priorities of European regions.
  • Addressing thematic priorities (within the five blue economy sectors mentioned under section 1 and listed below under ‘Activities that can be funded’) supporting a sea basin or cross-sea basin approach, including the sea basin-scale cooperation of the Mission Ocean lighthouses.

Expected effects and impacts

Applicants will describe in their proposals the concrete and measurable results within the duration of the project and their expected impact, including indicators for the monitoring and measurement of progress and impact.

The project activities should result in:

  • Innovative technologies tested and adopted by the maritime industry and public administrations.
  • Innovative solutions deployed improving businesses’ confidence, competences and means to digitalise and grow the EU sustainable blue economy ecosystem.
  • The uptake of technologically/economically reliable and viable solutions on the market.
  • The deployment of new green and digital technologies fostering the growth of Europe’s blue economy sectors.
  • Identification of possible sources of funding and financing to cover the residual investment needs (public-private partnerships for the deployment of innovation, collaboration with venture capital investors, the BlueInvest platform and EIB group, etc).
  • Reinforcing the capacity of regions to co-invest together, joining forces on common S3 investment priorities (interregional investments).
  • Identifying new interregional business and investment opportunities and value chains, services, technologies and applications in highly innovative, high potential blue economy sub-sectors or sub-domains.
  • Promoting and disseminating the benefits and added value of the deployment of the sustainable technologies and innovation at the local level, involving also the youth and civil society.

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Expected results

Projects selected under this call for proposals will be implemented through an investment portfolio approach, which identifies several investment-ready sub-projects that address one or several bottlenecks in a value chain identified in the application, within a specific thematic/technological area of cooperation in one or more of the following five blue economy sectors: fisheries, aquaculture, marine renewable energy, blue biotechnology, coastal and maritime tourism.

These sub-projects are necessary to accelerate the uptake of innovation, thus increasing the competitiveness of EU value chains in the blue economy. The project application must clearly describe the progress from innovation towards commercialisation and upscaling that is expected as a result of the project and its investment portfolio.

The project application must also provide an outline of an exploitation plan that sets out the expected way forward following the completion of the project, especially if the new products/processes or services are not yet ready for the market.

Projects should carry out as many as possible of the following activities. The list is non-exhaustive, and proposals may include other relevant activities that meet the themes and priorities of the call topic:

  • Activities to support plans and arrangements or designs for new, altered or improved products, processes, or services such as demonstrating, testing and piloting activities by companies, large-scale product validation and market replication.
  • Adaptation of existing prototypes and tailoring them to the companies’ needs for the demonstration in a real environment.
  • Development of portfolios of projects for close-to-market investments that deploy new or improved technologies or processes.
  • Activities directly aiming at producing plans with a concrete timetable, arrangements or designs for new, altered or improved products, processes or services. This can include testing, demonstration, piloting, large-scale product validation and market replication.
  • Activities connecting or making complementary use of testing and demonstration facilities to accelerate market uptake and scale-up of innovative solutions in shared smart specialisation areas.
  • Innovation services for interconnecting value chains.
  • Test beds and complementary activities needed to improve regulations, standards and/or to remove barriers and bottlenecks to innovation.
  • Activities bringing innovative ideas and new products to the market.
  • Advisory support for investment: developing or implementing interregional business and “go to market” investment plans in specific value chains.
  • Organising and participating in workshops, matchmaking or networking events with other projects and initiatives at EU level and the S3 thematic partnerships established under the S3 Sustainable Blue Economy Platform.
  • Activities to support the interregional partnerships in terms of mentoring, coaching, training, investment readiness support, or other advisory and financial planning support.

Projects must involve at least two private sector business partners active in the chosen blue economy sector and should be aligned with and build on the priorities of existing Sea Basin strategies, the Smart Specialisation strategies of the regions in the consortium, other relevant instruments and initiatives at EU level (e.g., EU Mission Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030 and its sea basin-level lighthouses, BlueInvest, ERDF, the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership, the Energy Transition Partnership for the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sectors, the strategic guidelines for a more sustainable and competitive EU aquaculture, the EU Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy, the EU Algae Initiative, etc.) as well as at national and regional level.

Projects are encouraged to organise cluster meetings with projects funded under the remit of the Mission Ocean & Waters as well as under other EU programmes and instruments to enhance synergies. Moreover, the organisation of matchmaking activities with local authorities is welcome to promote the alignment of regional funds and synergies across sectors.

Applicants may propose other activities they deem necessary to achieve the objectives of this call, where relevant and justified.

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Eligibility Criteria

Regions / countries for funding

EU Member States, Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT)
Moldova (Moldova), Georgia (საქართველო), Morocco (المغرب), Türkiye, Ukraine (Україна)

eligible entities

Education and training institution, International organization, Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) / Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Other, Private institution, incl. private company (private for profit), Public Body (national, regional and local; incl. EGTCs), Research Institution incl. University, Small and medium-sized enterprise (SME)

Mandatory partnership

Yes

Project Partnership

Proposals must be submitted by a consortium, which complies with the following conditions:

  • Minimum four participants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from two different EU Member States.
  • Minimum one regional administration, minimum two private sector entities active in commercial blue economy sectors and minimum one partner from research/academia.
  • The coordinator must be established in an EU Member State.

Applicants are encouraged to ensure coverage of the quadruple helix by including a balance of partners from public, private, academia/research and civil society, including maritime clusters, and notably when focusing on the establishment of an interregional partnership.


In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:

  • be legal entities (public or private bodies)
  • be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
    • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs))
    • non-EU countries that are part of the EU sea basin strategies targeted in this call for proposals: Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia and Turkey; Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya.

Specific cases:

Exceptional funding — Entities from countries mentioned in the work programme (if any) are only exceptionally eligible, if the granting authority considers their participation essential for the implementation of the action.

Natural persons — Natural persons are NOT eligible (with the exception of self-employed persons, i.e. sole traders, where the company does not have legal personality separate from that of the natural person).

International organisations — International organisations are eligible. The rules on eligible countries do not apply to them.

Entities without legal personality — Entities which do not have legal personality under their national law may exceptionally participate, provided that their representatives have the capacity to undertake legal obligations on their behalf, and offer guarantees for the protection of the EU financial interests equivalent to that offered by legal persons.

EU bodies — EU bodies (with the exception of the European Commission Joint Research Centre) can NOT be part of the consortium.

Associations and interest groupings — Entities composed of members may participate as ‘sole beneficiaries’ or ‘beneficiaries without legal personality’. Please note that if the action will be implemented by the members, they should also participate (either as beneficiaries or as affiliated entities, otherwise their costs will NOT be eligible).

other eligibility criteria

Financial support to third parties is not allowed.

Geographic location (target countries):

Proposals for Topic 1 must relate to activities concerning one of the following sea basins/areas: Black Sea, the Atlantic and the Western Mediterranean Sea basins as well as the EU Outermost regions marine areas.

Proposals can focus on a part/sub-region of these sea basins/areas or have a cross-sea basin perspective.

Activities should normally relate to the EU waters, but may extend into neighbouring waters, if this is necessary for the implementation of the projects (in view of their nature and their objectives).

Additional information

Topics

Agriculture & Forestry, Fishery, Food, Soil quality, 
Arts & Culture, Cultural Heritage, Tourism, 
Competitiveness of Enterprises, Employment/Labour Market, SME & entrepreneurship, 
Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy

Relevance for EU Macro-Region

EUSAIR - EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region, EUSALP - EU Strategy for the Alpine Space, EUSBSR - EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, EUSDR - EU Strategy for the Danube Region

UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs)

project duration

between 24 and 36 months

Additional Information

Proposals must be submitted electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System (accessible via the Topic page in the Search Funding & Tenders section. Paper submissions are NOT possible.

Proposals (including annexes and supporting documents) must be submitted using the forms provided inside the Submission System ( NOT the documents available on the Topic page — they are only for information).

Proposals must be complete and contain all the requested information and all required annexes and supporting documents:

  • Application Form Part A — contains administrative information about the participants (future coordinator, beneficiaries and affiliated entities) and the summarised budget for the project (to be filled in directly online)
  • Application Form Part B — contains the technical description of the project (to be downloaded from the Portal Submission System, completed and then assembled and re-uploaded)
  • mandatory annexes and supporting documents (to be uploaded):
    • detailed budget table: not applicable
    • CVs of core project team: not applicable
    • activity reports of last year: not applicable
    • list of previous projects: applicable

Proposals are limited to maximum 60 pages (Part B). Evaluators will not consider any additional pages.

Contact

EMFAF
+32 2 299 11 11
Website

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