Filter Search for grants
Call Navigation
Call key data
EU Digital Twin Ocean: Contribution to the EU DTO core infrastructure through applications for sustainable ocean management
Funding Program
Horizon Europe: Missions
Call number
HORIZON-MISS-2025-03-OCEAN-08
deadlines
Opening
07.05.2025
Deadline
24.09.2025 17:00
Funding rate
70%
Call budget
€ 12,000,000.00
Estimated EU contribution per project
€ 6,000,000.00
Link to the call
Link to the submission
Call content
short description
Proposals should target at least two new Digital Twin Ocean (DTO) domain applications, either addressing policy or regulatory implementation or sustainable marine or maritime business operations (aquaculture and fisheries, sustainable tourism, etc.), with demonstrated usability at different geographical scales, for ocean and coastal management and planning, policy or regulatory implementation and decision-making or sustainable marine and maritime business operations.
Call objectives
The European Digital Twin of the Ocean core infrastructure (EDITO) is the platform that consolidates European Marine Knowledge, bringing together marine observation and data, an extended variety of ocean models (covering all the dimensions, from physics to social-ecological), digital applications and tools as well as advanced computing capabilities. The goal is to enable the development of multiple verified virtual representations of the marine and coastal systems, including transitional waters (e.g.: land-sea continuum), which will simulate the complex and dynamic nature of oceanic systems and test their evolution under different future scenarios, offering insights and capabilities that go beyond traditional models or simulations.
By integrating real-time and historical observations with advanced numerical modelling, artificial intelligence and high-performance computing, digital twins of the ocean can provide ocean stakeholders (scientists, business operators, regulatory authorities, policy makers and civil society) with an innovative set of user-driven and interactive digital tools to support their activities. In particular, they will support decision making, allowing to monitor and continuously refine the assessment of the impacts of decisions, in terms of sustainability, efficiency, effectiveness and durability under different possible future scenarios (climate change, ecosystems adaption, anthropogenic pressures, etc.). Interactive visualisation tools will allow users to explore and interact with simulated ocean environments in intuitive ways, enhancing understanding and facilitating communication of complex oceanic phenomena.
EDITO is conceived, and being built, as a public service and open co-working environment to support and facilitate the development of specific sectorial and/or local digital twin ocean applications. The objective of this topic is to develop specific user-driven digital twin ocean applications, relying on the EU DTO core infrastructure (EDITO) capabilities but also contributing to its development by enriching the array of open data, models and services it provides.
Each verified use cases (implementation of the domain applications at different geographic settings, including the relevant data, models, tools and interactions with stakeholders) should be demonstrated in at least 3 different sea basins (amounting to 6 use cases in total), with each of the 4 EU sea basins (1. Atlantic and Arctic Sea basin, 2. Baltic and North Sea, 3. Mediterranean Sea basin and 4. Danube River basin and Black Sea) covered at least by one use-case.
Importantly, while these digital twin ocean applications are the desired end-product, they have an integrative function: to transform the available knowledge into actionable information for use from policy, industry and/or civil society. When designing a specific application, the whole knowledge value chain should be considered by the proposals, with a multi-actor approach, to ensure the involvement of the appropriate actors, including implementing authorities in the appropriate level of jurisdiction (national and/or regional authorities), at each step:
- Co-creation with stakeholders: include the end-users of these applications, for each sea-basin use-case, along the full process of the digital twins’ development, ensuring incorporating their needs, promoting common understanding and ensuring ownership of the outcomes (what scenarios are relevant, what policy alternatives are feasible, what are the limitations, for instance on uncertainties created by data gaps, etc.). The relevant stakeholders may evolve throughout each development phase/step.
- Data: identification of data needs to verify the credibility of each application; identification of gaps and their impact on the quality of results; potential for improvements (if data is to be made available).
- Models and what-if scenarios: primary data processing and analysis, model developments, refinements and downscaling; model coupling to serve targeted needs and development of what-if and policy scenarios (together with relevant stakeholders), quality of modelled assessment data products.
- Interactive visualisation tools. Specific attention to the design of appropriate interfaces with and for end-users, utilising new technologies as artificial intelligence, gaming interfaces, virtual reality and more.
- Quality assurance processes and appropriate quality labelling should accompany all steps of development to provide guarantee to the end-users of the applications: labelling of applications, comparative analysis, characterisation and communication of uncertainties in particular in the context of decision-making support, etc.
Proposals are encouraged to cooperate with actors such as the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) on model scenarios (as for the Blue2MF) in support of marine policies.
Proposals should favour open data, open source, and public-use models and algorithms with open-source licensing and must develop the applications directly into the EU Digital Twin of the Ocean core infrastructure (EDITO).
Proposals should leverage the data and services available through EMODnet and through the European Open Science Cloud, as well as data from relevant Data Spaces in the data-driven analyses and should also demonstrate clear links to Copernicus Marine and associated Member State Coastal Systems (MSCS). Proposals are encouraged to consider, where relevant, the data, expertise and services offered by European research infrastructuresThe catalogue of European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) research infrastructures portfolio can be browsed from ESFRI website.
read more
Expected effects and impacts
Proposals are expected to build on the outcomes of EDITO-Infra and EDITO-Model Lab and to contribute to the enrichment of the portfolio of biogeochemical, ecosystem marine and integrated coastal models, beyond those already integrated by EDITO-model lab.
While proposals are free to address the application domains of their choice, aiming for the greatest possible impacts, specific aspects should be followed for applications relating to the implementation of EU legislation, as indicated below:
- Models targeting MSFD implementation at the regional and national levels should implement a multi-descriptor approach including possible connectivity between descriptors and propose methodological frameworks for the design of effective measures to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES), based on the requirements of the Directive.
- Applications relevant to Descriptors 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 of the MSFD should address multispecies systems (group of species), according to the requirements of Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 and the 2021 ICES advice sr.2021.14.2.
- The what-if scenarios of applications to implement marine nature based-solutions for climate change adaptation and mitigation, should also address the achievement of Good Environmental Status.
- Applications for decision support tools on the planning and management of marine space (MSPD) should include environmental, social, economic and policy considerations and take into account climate change impacts through appropriate scenarios.
- Applications targeting the CFP should support the assessment of Essential Fish Habitats and Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (also relevant for Regional Fisheries Management Organisations - RFMOs, Biodiversity Strategy and more), while also addressing the sustainability of the fisheries sector through scenarios related to fishing gear, decarbonisation of the sector and more.
read more
Expected results
Project results are expected to contribute to all following expected outcomes:
- Digital Twin Ocean applications, co-designed through appropriate stakeholder engagement along the marine knowledge value chain, and in particular the final users (local and regional authorities, business, etc).
- Improved FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) dataflows and best practices across the data value chain: harmonisation and standardisation of data formats (including units), acquisition, collection, quality assurance and sharing.
- Increased availability of models and related best practices on the EU DTO core infrastructure (EDITO) and development of relevant applications directly on the EDITO infrastructure, using the offered capabilities. Models availability enhancement could therefore relate, for instance, to bio-geochemical, species distribution, ecosystem and integrated coastal and marine models, coupled models incorporating environmental, social, economic and policy considerations, and more.
- Improved data assimilation processes and interconnections between models, including land use, hydrological (water quality and quantity) and marine models in a source-to-sea perspective. The resolution of the models should be adequate to properly resolve the requirements of each application, while identifying and quantifying the impact of increased availability of data in the quality and scope of the applications.
- Improved and increased amount of digital twin intermediate and final open services, directly developed into the EU DTO core infrastructure (EDITO).
read more
Eligibility Criteria
Regions / countries for funding
Moldova (Moldova), Albania (Shqipëria), Armenia (Հայաստան), Azerbaijan (Azərbaycan), Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosna i Hercegovina / Босна и Херцеговина), Canada, Faeroes (Føroyar / Færøerne), Georgia (საქართველო), Iceland (Ísland), Israel (ישראל / إِسْرَائِيل), Kosovo (Kosova/Kosovë / Косово), Montenegro (Црна Гора), Morocco (المغرب), New Zealand (Aotearoa), North Macedonia (Северна Македонија), Norway (Norge), Serbia (Srbija/Сpбија), Tunisia (تونس /Tūnis), Türkiye, Ukraine (Україна), United Kingdom
eligible entities
EU Body, Education and training institution, 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
To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the following countries:
- the Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions
- the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States
- countries associated to Horizon Europe - see list of particpating countries
Only legal entities forming a consortium are eligible to participate in actions provided that the consortium includes, as beneficiaries, three legal entities independent from each other and each established in a different country as follows:
- at least one independent legal entity established in a Member State; and
- at least two other independent legal entities, each established in different Member States or Associated Countries.
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 Regulation have been met, along with any other conditions laid down in the specific call topic.
A ‘legal entity’ means any natural or legal person created and recognised as such under national law, EU law or international law, which has legal personality and which may, acting in its own name, exercise rights and be subject to obligations, or an entity without legal personality.
Specific cases:
- Affiliated entities (i.e. entities with a legal or capital link to a beneficiary which participate in the action with similar rights and obligations to the beneficiaries, but which do not sign the grant agreement and therefore do not become beneficiaries themselves) are allowed, if they are eligible for participation and funding.
- Associated partners (i.e. entities which participate in the action without signing the grant agreement, and without the right to charge costs or claim contributions) are allowed, subject to any conditions regarding associated partners set out in the specific call conditions.
- 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 to protect the EU’s financial interests equivalent to those offered by legal persons.
- Legal entities created under EU law (EU bodies) including decentralised agencies may be part of the consortium, unless provided for otherwise in their basic act.
- International European research organisations are eligible to receive funding. International organisations with headquarters in a Member State or Associated Country are eligible to receive funding for ‘Training and mobility’ actions or when provided for in the specific call/topic conditions. Other international organisations are not eligible to receive funding, unless provided for in the specific call/topic conditions, or if their participation is considered essential for implementing the action by the granting authority.
- Joint Research Centre (JRC)— Where provided for in the specific call conditions, applicants may include in their proposals the possible contribution of the JRC but the JRC will not participate in the preparation and submission of the proposal. Applicants will indicate the contribution that the JRC could bring to the project based on the scope of the topic text. After the evaluation process, the JRC and the consortium selected for funding may come to an agreement on the specific terms of the participation of the JRC. If an agreement is found, the JRC may accede to the grant agreement as beneficiary requesting zero funding or participate as an associated partner, and would accede to the consortium as a member.
- Associations and interest groupings — Entities composed of members (e.g. European research infrastructure consortia (ERICs)) may participate as ‘sole beneficiaries’ or ‘beneficiaries without legal personality’. However, if the action is in practice implemented by the individual members, those members should also participate (either as beneficiaries or as affiliated entities, otherwise their costs will NOT be eligible.
- EU restrictive measures — Entities subject to EU restrictive measures under Article 29 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and Article 215 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU) as well as Article 75 TFEU, are not eligible to participate in any capacity, including as beneficiaries, affiliated entities, associated partners, third parties giving in-kind contributions, subcontractors or recipients of financial support to third parties (if any).
- Legal entities established in Russia, Belarus, or in non-government controlled territories of Ukraine — Given the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the involvement of Belarus, there is currently no appropriate context allowing the implementation of the actions foreseen in this programme with legal entities established in Russia, Belarus, or in non-government controlled territories of Ukraine. Therefore, even where such entities are not subject to EU restrictive measures, such legal entities are not eligible to participate in any capacity. This includes participation as beneficiaries, affiliated entities, associated partners, third parties giving in-kind contributions, subcontractors or recipients of financial support to third parties (if any). Exceptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis for justified reasons.
With specific regard to measures addressed to Russia, following the adoption of the Council Regulation (EU) 2024/1745 of 24 June 2024 (amending Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 of 31 July 2014) concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine, legal entities established outside Russia but whose proprietary rights are directly or indirectly owned for more than 50% by a legal person, entity or body established in Russia are also not eligible to participate in any capacity. - Measures for the protection of the Union budget against breaches of the principles of the rule of law in Hungary — Following the Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2506, as of 16 December 2022, no legal commitments can be entered into with Hungarian public interest trusts established under the Hungarian Act IX of 2021 or any entity they maintain. Affected entities may continue to apply to calls for proposals and can participate without receiving EU funding, as associated partners, if allowed by the call conditions. However, as long as the Council measures are not lifted, such entities are not eligible to participate in any funded role (beneficiaries, affiliated entities, subcontractors, recipients of financial support to third parties, etc.).In case of multi-beneficiary grant calls, applicants will be invited to remove or replace that entity in any funded role and/or to change its status into associated partner. Tasks and budget may be redistributed accordingly.
other eligibility criteria
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).
Beneficiaries will be subject to the following additional obligations regarding open science practices: if projects collect in-situ data and marine observations, beneficiaries must make them openly available through the European Marine Observation and Data network (EMODnet), based on the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles.
Grants awarded under this topic will be linked to the following action(s): HORIZON-MISS-2024-OCEAN-IBA-01 EU Public Infrastructure for the European Digital Twin Ocean, phase 2.
Additional information
Topics
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)
Additional Information
Applications must be submitted electronically via the Funders & Tenders Portal electronic submission system (accessible via the topic page in the Search Funding & Tenders section). Paper submissions are NOT possible.
Applications must be submitted using the forms provided inside the electronic submission system (not the templates available on the topic page, which are only for information). The structure and presentation must correspond to the instructions given in the forms.
Applications must be complete and contain all parts and mandatory annexes and supporting documents.
The application form will have two parts:
- Part A (to be filled in directly online) contains administrative information about the applicant organisations (future coordinator and beneficiaries and affiliated entities), the summarised budget for the proposal and call-specific questions;
- Part B (to be downloaded from the Portal submission system, completed and then assembled and re-uploaded as a PDF in the system) contains the technical description of the project.
Annexes and supporting documents will be directly available in the submission system and must be uploaded as PDF files (or other formats allowed by the system).
The limit for a full application (Part B) is 45 pages.
Call documents
Horizon Europe Work Programme 2025 - MissionsHorizon Europe Work Programme 2025 - Missions(1773kB)
Contact
RTD-HORIZON-EUROPE-MISSIONS@ec.europa.eu
Website
National Contact Points for Horizon Europe
Website
To see more information about this call, you can register for free here
or log in with an existing account.
Log in
Register now