The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership Call 2026 is now open with an estimated €38 million in funding for international research and innovation projects across marine sustainability, ocean digitalisation, blue bioresources and coastal resilience. Researchers, universities, research organisations, companies and other eligible partners can build 36-month transnational projects, with the pre-proposal deadline set for November 16, 2026, at 15:00 CET. Applicants invited after the first-stage evaluation will move to the full-proposal stage in 2027.
This is not a single-institution research grant. The call brings together 33 funding organisations from 28 countries, and eligible consortia must be built across multiple participating countries and funding bodies. For applicants, choosing the right partners is therefore just as important as developing a strong research idea.
Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership Call 2026: Quick Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Programme | Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership Fourth Joint Transnational Call |
| Call theme | Building a sustainable and innovative Blue Economy: mastering digital opportunities and fostering resilience |
| Estimated funding | €38 million |
| Project duration | 36 months |
| Pre-proposal deadline | November 16, 2026, 15:00 CET |
| Full-proposal deadline | June 14, 2027 |
| Participating countries | 28 |
| Funding organisations | 33 |
| Minimum consortium | Eligible partners from at least 3 participating countries |
| Main areas | Blue economy, digital ocean management, blue bioresources, coastal resilience |
| Funding framework | Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership under Horizon Europe |
What Is the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership Call?
The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership is a European partnership under the Horizon Europe Programme. Its broader goal is to support a climate-neutral, sustainable and resilient blue economy through international research, innovation and cooperation.
Its fourth co-funded call focuses on projects that can translate research into measurable environmental, economic or societal change.
This distinction matters.
The call’s Theory of Change guidance separates outputs, such as data, methods, models and prototypes, from outcomes, which occur when stakeholders actually use those outputs. Long-term impact may then include wider environmental, economic, industrial or social change.
So a proposal that simply promises publications, datasets or a new technology may not go far enough. Applicants need to explain who could use those results, how uptake could happen and what change the project is ultimately trying to create.
Researchers exploring other international opportunities may also want to check our latest European research grants and Horizon Europe funding opportunities including ERC Consolidator Grant 2027 and ERC Starting Grant 2027.
Four Priority Areas for the 2026 Call
Every project must address one of four priority areas, subject to the areas supported by the relevant national or regional funding organisations.
1. Sustainable and strategically resilient blue economy sectors
Projects can examine how marine and maritime industries can become more sustainable while strengthening strategic autonomy.
This could create space for work involving cleaner production, resource efficiency, circularity, low-carbon maritime technologies and other innovations relevant to the transition of blue economy industries.
2. Digital and ecosystem-based management of sea uses
The second priority connects digital technologies with better management of marine space and ecosystems.
Projects may therefore be relevant to researchers working in marine monitoring, digitalisation, modelling, data systems, ocean observation or ecosystem-based approaches.
3. Sustainable blue bioresources
The third priority focuses on innovation in marine production and harvesting.
This is particularly relevant to teams working on marine biotechnology, aquaculture, algae, biological resources, sustainable harvesting and new marine-derived products.
If your research sits at the intersection of biotechnology and sustainability, explore our latest biotechnology research fellowships and funding opportunities as possible alternatives.
4. Resilient coastal communities
The final priority focuses on coastal infrastructure, communities and businesses.
This opens the call to more than traditional marine science. Projects can connect environmental research with engineering, climate adaptation, infrastructure, economic activity and community resilience.
Which Countries Are Participating?
The call combines resources from 33 funding organisations across 28 countries, alongside European Union support.
Participating countries include Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, the Faroe Islands, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, Tunisia, Türkiye and Ukraine.
Researchers should not assume that participation by a country automatically means every institution, project type or priority area is funded under identical conditions. National and regional funding rules remain important.
The call documentation also identifies specific participating beneficiary organisations, including research bodies in countries such as Belgium, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Türkiye.
For researchers comparing multinational programmes, our international research grants and funded research opportunities can help identify other calls with different country or consortium requirements.
Who Can Apply? Consortium Requirements Explained
This is where applicants should pay close attention.
An eligible consortium must include eligible partners from at least three different countries participating in the call, with financial support requested from at least three participating funding organisations.
There is another requirement: the project must involve at least two independent legal entities from two different EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries that are eligible for EU funding under the call.
Self-funded partners can also participate, including organisations from countries or regions outside the funded call. However, they do not count toward the minimum eligible consortium size.
This means that finding three organisations interested in the same topic is not enough. Applicants need to check whether each partner satisfies the relevant funding and geographic rules.
The Partnership also encourages participation from SMEs, industry, authorities, public administrations, associations and civil society organisations where relevant.
Researchers still assembling international collaborations may find our guides to European research fellowships and international academic opportunities including Georg Arnhold Senior Fellowship 2028 in Germany, MOPGA Fellowship 2027 in France, University of Konstanz Postdoctoral Fellowships 2027 and many more useful while building a longer-term funding strategy.
Projects Should Think Beyond Research Outputs
One of the strongest signals in the call documentation is the emphasis on impact.
Applicants are asked to develop an Impact Plan showing how the project can contribute to longer-term change and how those contributions will be strengthened during the project. The guidance specifically points toward societal, technical, environmental, economic, policy and behavioural impact beyond academia.
The recommended Theory of Change approach works backwards from the desired long-term impact toward the outcomes, outputs and activities needed to reach it.
Applicants are also encouraged to consider barriers such as market conditions, policy developments, institutional resistance or limited capacity, and to identify indicators that can show whether outputs are actually being used.
That makes stakeholder involvement more than an optional networking exercise.
Which European Sea Basins Should Projects Cover?
Projects are recommended to consider at least two European sea basins and assess their potential impact across different marine regions.
The call particularly highlights:
- Baltic Sea
- Black Sea
- Mediterranean Sea
- North Sea
- Atlantic Ocean
Other regional seas can also be addressed, including areas such as the Adriatic, Aegean, Arctic, Barents and Celtic seas.
The practical opportunity here is comparative research. A technology, monitoring system or management approach tested across different marine conditions may demonstrate stronger transferability than a narrowly local solution.
Those working specifically on climate adaptation may also want to browse our climate research grants and sustainability fellowships for opportunities that do not require a multinational marine consortium.
Careers Help Desk Counter Angle: Build the Consortium Around the Problem
The biggest mistake would be to treat the consortium requirement as an administrative box to tick.
Three universities with similar expertise may satisfy part of the eligibility structure, but they do not automatically create a convincing impact pathway.
Start instead with the problem.
If a project proposes a digital system for coastal resilience, for example, ask who produces the data, who develops the technology, who would implement it and who ultimately makes decisions using it. Those answers can reveal which partners actually belong in the consortium.
The call’s own impact framework reinforces this logic. It asks applicants to think about stakeholder engagement, communication, monitoring and evaluation, capacity strengthening and risk management throughout the project.
In practical terms, consortium building and proposal writing should happen together, not sequentially.
The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership also provides a Partner Search Tool, while its matchmaking event runs until November 13, 2026. Researchers without a complete consortium therefore still have a route to find projects or potential partners before the pre-proposal deadline.
What Should Applicants Do Before November 16?
With a transnational call like this, the first useful step is not writing a long scientific proposal. It is checking whether the project idea, countries, funding organisations and partner composition fit together.
Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership Call 2026 Application Guidelines
Then map the project against one priority area, identify the intended users of the results and work backwards from the impact you want to create.
The pre-proposal must be submitted by November 16, 2026, at 15:00 CET. Applicants invited to the second stage will then work toward the full-proposal deadline of June 14, 2027.
Download the Sustainable Blue Economy Grant Pre-Proposal Form
For teams working on marine science, blue biotechnology, coastal resilience, digital ocean systems or sustainable maritime innovation, this €38 million call provides a substantial opportunity to turn an international research collaboration into a 36-month impact-driven project.
Ready to Apply for the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership Research Grants
The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership Call 2026 offers around €38 million for 36-month international research and innovation projects across marine sustainability, digital ocean management, blue bioresources and coastal resilience. The key challenge is not only developing a strong project idea, but also building an eligible multinational consortium and a credible pathway from research to real-world impact before the November 16, 2026 pre-proposal deadline. Applicants should review the full call documentation, national and regional funding conditions, proposal forms and partner requirements before preparing a submission.
Official Source: Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership Fourth Joint Transnational Call for Applications
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership Call 2026?
The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership Fourth Joint Transnational Call is an international research and innovation funding opportunity under the Horizon Europe framework. It supports collaborative projects aimed at creating a more sustainable, innovative and resilient blue economy.
How much funding is available under the SBEP 2026 call?
The fourth Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership call has an estimated total budget of approximately €38 million, combining national and regional funding with a contribution from the European Union.
What is the deadline for the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership Call 2026?
The deadline for submitting a pre-proposal is November 16, 2026, at 15:00 CET. Applicants invited to the second stage are expected to submit their full proposals by June 14, 2027, at 15:00 CEST.
Who can apply for the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership funding?
Applications are submitted by international consortia. An eligible consortium must generally include funded partners from at least three participating countries, requesting support from at least three participating funding organisations. National and regional eligibility rules also apply to individual partners.
What research areas are funded by the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership?
The 2026 call covers four main areas: sustainable and strategically resilient blue economy sectors, digital and ecosystem-based management of sea uses, sustainable blue bioresources, and resilient coastal communities and infrastructure.
Can universities and research institutes apply?
Yes. Universities and research institutions are among the organisations that may participate, depending on the eligibility requirements of the relevant national or regional funding organisation. Companies, SMEs, authorities, associations and civil society organisations may also participate where permitted.
Can researchers from outside Europe join the consortium?
The call allows self-funded partners, including organisations from countries or regions that are not participating in the funded call. However, self-funded partners do not count toward the minimum funded consortium requirement.
How long can funded projects run?
Projects funded through this call are expected to run for 36 months.
Does the call fund aquaculture and marine biotechnology research?
Yes. The blue bioresources priority includes areas such as aquaculture, fisheries, harvesting, algae, circular blue bioeconomy approaches and the development of marine-derived products.
Is an Impact Plan required for the SBEP proposal?
Yes. Applicants are expected to explain how their research can move beyond academic outputs and contribute to wider societal, environmental, technical, economic or policy impact. The call encourages applicants to structure this using a Theory of Change and a clear impact pathway.
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