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Call key data
Demonstrating solutions to help hotspots in coastal regions to adapt to climate change
Funding Program
Horizon Europe: Missions
Call number
HORIZON-MISS-2025-01-CLIMA-03
deadlines
Opening
06.05.2025
Deadline
24.09.2025 17:00
Funding rate
70%
Call budget
€ 30,000,000.00
Estimated EU contribution per project
€ 10,000,000.00
Link to the call
Link to the submission
Call content
short description
In support of the European Green Deal, the EU Adaptation Strategy and the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, successful proposals will support adaptation efforts in regional and local authorities located in coastal areas and identified as hotspot to climate change.
Call objectives
As highlighted in the first European Climate Risk assessment by the European Environment Agency: Southern Europe, low-lying coastal regions (including many densely populated cities) and EU outermost regions are geographical ‘hotspots’ concentrating climate risks with high severity and demanding urgent action. On the other hand, the IPCC sixth assessment report recognised sea level rise as an “existential threat for coastal communities and their heritage, particularly beyond 2100”, also highlighting the urgency for increasing adaptation efforts. This is why this topic specifically addresses coastal resilience in hotspot regions.
Solutions sought
Proposals should identify approaches and demonstrate innovative solutions to increase climate resilience in coastal areas. They should explore, in a systemic way, how to best adapt to different pressures -- ranging from sea level rise (e.g., coastal floods, coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion) and invasive species to changing physical and chemical properties of the waters. Proposals should outline how the innovative solutions they put forward avoid maladaptation, consider equity and inclusivity and address long-term climate impacts (i.e. 2100 and beyond).
Nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation should be explored as a priority, in line with the Mission Implementation Plan and the Nature Restoration Law recently adopted. Blue-green infrastructures (as opposed to grey) may represent multipurpose, “no regret” solutions, which simultaneously provide environmental, social and economic benefits and help build climate resilience.
As coastal areas will likely need to undergo significant transformations to become climate-resilient (i.e. transformational adaptation is needed), proposals should integrate stakeholder and citizen engagement. In other words, the solutions put forward in the proposals are expected to be co-designed with regional and local stakeholders and tailored to their needs. To achieve this, the proposals should consider socio-economic impacts (including on vulnerable groups), social acceptability and expected population response to the proposed coastal adaptation measures and solutions. When assessing socio-economic impacts, trade-offs and co-benefits should be considered to ensure coherent and systemic approaches. Thus, this topic requires the effective contribution of social sciences and humanities (SSH) disciplines and the involvement of SSH experts, institutions as well as the inclusion of relevant SSH expertise, in order to produce meaningful and significant effects enhancing the societal impact of the related research activities.
Looking into the potential of digital solutions for adaptation could be part of the proposals and would support the digital transition. This includes connecting climate adaptation measures to early-warning systems to limit the effects of extreme-weather events in near-real time.
Demonstration sites and related activities
The Mission encourages collaborations between coastal regional and local authorities facing similar challenges and considers this to be a very efficient approach to secure a large impact.
Proposal should address all the following aspects:
- Demonstration activities must take place in the territory of at least 3 different coastal regional or local authorities, each established in a different Member States or Associated Country, with the involvement of these regional or local authorities (preferably participating in the consortium as a beneficiary or associated partner).
- The territory of at least one of those 3 demonstration activities should be located in a “EUCRA hotspot area” -- i.e. Southern Europe, low-lying coastal area, or EU Member State outermost regions.
- The proposals should already identify at least 3 “replicating” coastal regional or local authorities from 3 different Member States or Associated Countries, interested in reapplying the lessons learnt (totally, partially or with the required adjustments) in their territories. For the replication, the consortium could include one or more partners that would provide support for the technical exchanges and the knowledge uptake in the “replicating” regions or local authorities. Replicating regions are not expected to conduct a demonstration or carry out on the ground activities already in the course of the project. However, replicating regions should at least prepare the theoretical framework for replicating the successful solutions (through exchanges with the demonstration regions), and explore means to fund the implementation of those solutions.
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Expected effects and impacts
Links to the Mission and to other projects and initiatives
Proposals should build (when relevant) on existing knowledge and adaptation solutions, developed by previous projects and explore synergies with ongoing projects funded by EU and national programmes. The most relevant EU programmes and initiatives include Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, Interreg, LIFE, and Copernicus and the EU Mission Restore our Oceans and Waters. Additionally, if any part of the proposal involves assessing climate risks, then the risk assessment module should be fully compatible with the developments of the CLIMAAX framework (and, if applicable, its possible updates under topic ‘HORIZON-MISS-2025-01-CLIMA-01’).
Synergies with other funding sources (EU and national) should be sought to support the transfer of knowledge and innovative solutions to other regional and local authorities. This ranges from identifying opportunities to scaling up the solutions demonstrated and fostering their broad deployment across Europe. These funding sources could be public, private or a mix of both. Relevant public funding includes the LIFE programme, and its integrated projects in particular, the European Regional Development and European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Funds.
Proposals should include a mechanism and the resources to establish operational links and collaboration with the Mission Implementation Platform , and other relevant knowledge platforms such as Climate-ADAPT. Projects funded under this topic will get direct access to and will be expected to participate in the exchanges of the Mission’s Community of Practice, to the networking activities supported by the Mission Implementation Platform, and to share relevant knowledge to feed the work of the project stemming from HORIZON-MISS-2024-CLIMA-01-01. These networking and joint activities could, for example, involve the participation in joint workshops, the exchange of knowledge, the development and adoption of best practices, or joint communication activities.
In addition, projects will be requested to feed their results and contribute to the monitoring in place under the leadership of the Mission Implementation Platform on the progress towards the objectives of the Mission and provide information and data to contribute to the visualisation of the Mission progress in Europe. To that end, proposals are encouraged to (dedicate resources to) link up their monitoring to the framework developed by the project stemming from HORIZON-MISS-2024-CLIMA-01-03.
Applicants should acknowledge these requests and already account for them in their proposal, making adequate provisions in terms of resources and budget to engage and collaborate with the Mission.
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Expected results
Projects results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:
- Climate resilience solutions to protect citizens and activities in coastal regions have been demonstrated and are made largely available for upscaling. This includes social, governance, nature-based and digital solutions.
- Coastal regions, cities and local authorities (in the projects and beyond) have increased their climate resilience and are better prepared to adapt to climate change.
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.
other eligibility criteria
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.
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.
Demonstration activities must take place in the territory of at least 3 different coastal regional or local authorities, each established in a different Member States or Associated Country.
Activities are expected to achieve TRL 6 to 8 by the end of the project.
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
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