The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership’s (SBEP) Fourth Joint Transnational Co-Funded Call

The call's total estimated budget is approximately EUR 38 million. Projects must have a duration of 36 months and address one of four priority areas:

• Priority area 1: Transitioning the blue economy sectors for sustainability and strategic autonomy
• Priority area 2: Managing sea-uses by advancing digital and ecosystem-based approaches
• Priority area 3: Promoting sustainable blue bioresources through innovation in marine production and harvesting
• Priority area 4: Building resilience in coastal communities with infrastructure and businesses

Projects must be impact-driven contributions to a more resilient and carbon-neutral blue economy. Proposals are recommended to consider at least two European sea basins and assess their potential impact across different basins.

Consortium requirements:

• At least three eligible partners from three different participating countries, requesting funding from at least three participating funding organisations.
• At least two independent legal entities from two different EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries, eligible for EU funding under the call.
• Self-funded partners are allowed but do not count towards the minimum eligible consortium size.
• Applicants are strongly encouraged to involve SMEs, industry, authorities, public administrations, associations and civil society organisations.

Norwegian participation and funding:

• RCN funds all four priority areas, subject to the Norwegian thematic restrictions below.
• Applicants may be affiliated with an academic institution, company/industry, the public sector or an NGO. Sole proprietorships cannot apply for RCN funding.
• The Project Leader (PL) or principal investigator (PI) must have completed a doctoral degree or have corresponding qualifications.
• RCN funding commitment: EUR 3,000,000.
• Maximum RCN funding: EUR 300,000 per project proposal, plus up to EUR 30,000 for projects coordinated by a Norwegian research organisation.

Norwegian thematic eligibility: Funding from RCN is limited to research and innovation activities aligned with sustainable blue bioeconomy, biotechnology and environmental sustainability, including enabling technologies with a clear and direct application in these areas. Projects targeting the seafood industry (fisheries and aquaculture – all species including low-trophic species), related infrastructures and value chains, relevant biotechnology, and research targeting the marine environment and climate are eligible.

The following topics are not eligible for RCN funding when they are the primary focus:

• Energy production, energy systems and marine energy infrastructure (including offshore renewable energy and energy security)
• Exploration, extraction or utilisation of mineral resources from the seabed (including deep-sea mining)
• Carbon capture and storage or carbon sequestration activities in the marine domain
• Development of industrial offshore or marine infrastructure, unless clearly justified as supporting sustainable bioresources, environmental management or ecosystem-based approaches

Proposals including such elements may still be eligible if these activities are not the primary focus, represent a limited part of the overall project, and the project primarily addresses sustainable blue bioresources, environmental impacts, biotechnology or enabling technologies supporting these domains.

Norwegian applicants shall not submit a national proposal to RCN before a funding decision is made. 

Funding awarded to undertakings under this call constitutes State aid and will be granted in accordance with the EEA rules on State aid. The Research Council of Norway awards State aid under the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER). The maximum aid intensity depends, among other things, on the type of research and development activity and the size of the undertaking.

For more information about State aid and applicable aid intensities, see the Research Council of Norway’s State aid guidelines.

Website: https://bluepartnership.eu/funding-opportunity/sustainable-blue-economy-partnerships-fourth-joint-transnational-call