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Innovative Solutions for mitigating the environmental impact of waterborne transport in… (ZEWT Partnership)

Full title in the source: Innovative Solutions for mitigating the environmental impact of waterborne transport in marine and aquatic Ecosystems (ZEWT Partnership)

Opens 15 Dec 2026

The EU's Horizon Europe programme expects to make 2 awards of €7 million each, from a total budget of €14 million. Applications close on 14 Apr 2027 (EU calls usually close at 17:00 Brussels time). Organisations in EU member states and Horizon Europe associated countries such as Türkiye can usually take part; the topic conditions control.

Expected outcome

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes.

• Improved water resilience and good environmental and good ecological status in European waters and contribute to the achievement of the European Union's environmental targets, including the European Water Resilience Strategy and the European Ocean Pact.

• A comprehensive understanding of the future environmental impacts of waterborne transport on marine and other aquatic ecosystems, addressing in particular pollution sources from: i) navigation on renewable low and zero-carbon fuels; and ii) accidental spills of renewable low and zero-carbon fuels for marine waters, inland waters and ports (water and air quality).

• Innovative prevention, abatement and mitigation systems and strategies for reducing and eliminating the harmful impacts of waterborne transport on waters.

• Enhanced pollution prevention and mitigation in marine waters, inland waterways and port areas, reducing the likelihood and impact of accidents involving renewable low and zero-carbon fuels.

Scope

The European Union aims to protect and conserve its marine and freshwater environments by achieving Good Environmental and Good Ecological Status [1] . The European Water Resilience Strategy and the European Ocean Pact further emphasize the need to enhance the resilience of European waters to human-induced pressures. Projects like the Horizon Europe EMERGE have researched the impacts of shipping on marine ecosystems. The introduction of technologies to decarbonize the sector may enable, to a certain extent, to phase-out relevant current sources of water and air pollution. However, renewable low and zero-carbon fuels and procedures pose new risks to marine and other aquatic ecosystems like rivers and lakes yet to be explored and addressed, both from the normal function of waterborne transport [2] and from accidental spills of renewable low and zero-carbon fuels. In addition, other pollution sources can be addressed today [3] . This topic aims to evaluate, forecast, control and mitigate the impact of waterborne transport on marine and other aquatic ecosystems, with a focus on developing and demonstrating innovative abatement and mitigation systems and strategies to mitigate and eliminate, where possible, the harmful impact of waterborne transport in the ocean and inland waters. New technologies and solutions addressing the decarbonization of waterborne transport will be considered, as well as the potential risks and challenges associated with these.

Who can apply

Consortium of at least 3 independent legal entities from 3 different EU Member States or associated countries, at least one in a Member State (Horizon Europe standard rule).

Applicant categories are a starting point. The official call decides eligibility.

Timing

Single-stage call. Next deadline 2027-04-14. The portal states the exact cut-off time (EU calls usually close at 17:00 Brussels time).

How to apply

1. Read the full topic on the Funding & Tenders Portal: expected outcome, scope, type of action and the topic conditions, including any country restrictions.
2. Register each participating organisation in the Funding & Tenders Portal to get a PIC.
3. Consortium of at least 3 independent legal entities from 3 different EU Member States or associated countries (Horizon Europe standard rule; Türkiye is associated). Confirm in the topic conditions.
4. Prepare Part A (administrative forms and budget, completed in the portal) and Part B (the technical description on the official template for this type of action).
5. Submit in the portal before the cut-off time on the deadline day. Late submissions are not accepted.

From the call text

Who can apply

Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page

Company stage

Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page

Single applicant or consortium

Read the topic conditions on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for eligible countries, consortium requirements, budget and the application route.

Where applicants must be based

Read the topic conditions on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for eligible countries, consortium requirements, budget and the application route.

Where to apply

Read the topic conditions on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for eligible countries, consortium requirements, budget and the application route.

Read the EU application guide

Where these facts come from

Official sources

Official call page

Facts on this page come from the funder’s official data, taken on 14 Nov 2026. The funder's own documents, including later amendments, always take precedence.

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