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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

Core objective: This grant aims to reduce pollution originating from the food and drink industries, contributing to cleaner air, water, and soil, and fostering sustainable, resilient food systems.
Target recipient type and size: Organizations involved in research, innovation, and food/drink industries, often as part of multi-actor consortia. No specific size limitations are mentioned.
SECTOR-SPECIFIC: This grant is highly sector-specific, focusing exclusively on the food and drink industries.
Geographic scope and location requirements: Primarily EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries. International cooperation is strongly encouraged.
Key filtering criteria: Focus on food and drink industries, pollution reduction, multi-actor approach, and innovation actions.
Grant frequency and program context: This is a single-stage call for 2025 under Horizon Europe's Cluster 6 (Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment), specifically targeting 'Clean environment and zero pollution'.

Financial Structure

Funding is available for Innovation Actions (IA) under this specific topic.
A total budget of €12,000,000 is allocated for this topic.
It is expected that 2 grants will be awarded under this topic.
Each grant is expected to receive a contribution of €6,000,000.
The minimum funding amount per grant is €6,000,000.
The maximum funding amount per grant is €6,000,000.
Eligible and ineligible costs, as well as co-financing and funding rates, are determined by the general rules outlined in Annex G of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and the EU Grants Annotated Model Grant Agreement (AGA).
Standard Horizon Europe financial reporting and audit requirements will apply.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Type and Structure

A multi-actor approach is mandatory, requiring a diverse consortium that includes researchers, national agencies/authorities, laboratories, and stakeholders from the food and drink industry (including strategic innovation platforms and federations).
Organizations should be involved in research and innovation.

Geographic Location

Eligible countries are defined in Annex B of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Typically includes EU Member States and countries associated with Horizon Europe.

Technical Requirements

Proposals should demonstrate capability to develop analytical methods (e.g., using the Environmental Footprint method).
Ability to propose monitoring/tracking methods for pollutants.
Expertise in identifying and developing effective methods/best available technologies for pollution reduction.
Capacity for multi-disciplinary research, including environmental science and biodiversity.
Consideration of AI domain for enhanced scientific capacity is mentioned.

Exclusion Criteria

Projects solely focused on depollution in large industrial installations not specifically within the food and drink sector, or general climate ambition outside this scope, should refer to the Innovation Centre for Industrial Transformation and Emissions (INCITE) and are likely outside the scope of this call.

Application Process

Application Timeline

The call officially opened on 2025-05-06.
The submission session became available on 2025-05-14.
The final deadline for proposal submission is 2025-09-17. This is a single-stage submission process.

Submission Materials

Applicants must use the standard application form for Horizon Europe Innovation Actions (HE IA).
The application form is available in the online Submission System.
Proposals must adhere to page limits and layout requirements described in Part B of the Application Form and Annex A and E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.

Submission Process

Proposals are submitted electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal.
Access the submission system by clicking the 'submission-button' corresponding to the action type (HORIZON Innovation Actions).

Support and Guidance

Various resources are available for applicants:
- Online Manual: Provides guidance on procedures from submission to grant management.
- Horizon Europe Programme Guide: Detailed guidance on structure, budget, and political priorities.
- Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ: Answers to common questions.
- Research Enquiry Service: For general questions on European research and Framework Programmes.
- National Contact Points (NCPs): Guidance, practical information, and assistance for participation.
- Enterprise Europe Network (EEN): Advice for businesses, especially SMEs, on EU research funding.
- IT Helpdesk: For technical issues with the Funding & Tenders Portal.
- European IPR Helpdesk: Assistance on intellectual property issues.
- CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk: Advice on standardisation in project proposals.
- Partner Search: Tool to find partner organizations for proposals.

Post-Award Requirements

Grant agreements are established based on Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Model Grant Agreements (MGA).
Projects are expected to have a clear plan for collaboration with other selected projects under this topic and relevant EU partnerships (e.g., Water4All, Horizon Europe Missions, Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking).
Collaboration includes participation in joint activities, workshops, focus groups, social labs, and common communication and dissemination activities.
Applicants should budget for these collaborative activities.

Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation criteria are described in Annex D of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and will use a standard evaluation form for Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) or Innovation Actions (IA). While specific scoring details are not provided here, based on the scope and expected outcomes, evaluation will likely focus on: Quality and Methodology

Clarity and pertinence of the project's objectives in reducing pollution from food and drink industries.
Soundness of the proposed methodology, including analytical methods (e.g., Environmental Footprint method), monitoring/tracking methods, and identification of best available technologies.
Inclusion of a multi-actor approach and the quality of the multi-disciplinary research.
Quality of the consortium, including expertise and complementarity of partners.

Impact

Potential contribution to the European Green Deal priorities, zero pollution action plan, chemical strategy for sustainability, Farm to Fork strategy, biodiversity strategy for 2030, and EU’s climate ambition.
Expected outcomes such as better understanding of pollution, availability of emission measurement/reduction methods for industries, and contribution to Food 2030 priorities.
Demonstrated potential for significant impact on climate mitigation/adaptation, biodiversity, environmental sustainability, circularity, healthy nutrition, and economic benefits for businesses.
Feasibility and quality of plans for collaboration with other relevant projects and EU partnerships.
Plans for communication, dissemination, and upscaling of results.

Excellence and Innovation

Degree of innovation in proposed solutions, including addressing emerging/less known pollutants and cocktail effects.
Relevance to key knowledge gaps identified in emerging pollutants and their interactions.
Contribution to scientific capacity and development of innovative solutions.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance

Projects must comply with relevant EU regulations and policies, including:
- Industrial and Livestock Rearing Emissions Directive.
- EU water legislation and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
- Revised legislation on industrial emissions and air quality.
- EU’s chemicals strategy for sustainability, including focus on PFAS.
- Common Agricultural Policy and the announced future EU Vision for agriculture and food.
- EU biodiversity strategy for 2030 and the Nature Restoration Regulation.
- European Green Deal priorities, zero pollution action plan, chemical strategy for sustainability, Farm to Fork strategy, and EU’s climate ambition for 2030 and 2050.
Compliance with the precautionary principle and an effective 'zero pollution hierarchy' is expected.

Ethical Standards and Data Protection

Adherence to ethical standards typically required for Horizon Europe projects.
Compliance with data protection and privacy regulations, including the Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

Intellectual Property

General Horizon Europe policies on Intellectual Property will apply, with support available from the European IPR Helpdesk.

Special Project Design Requirements

Mandatory Multi-actor Approach: Proposals must involve a wide range of food system actors (e.g., researchers, national agencies, industry).
Multi-disciplinary Research: Research should incorporate various disciplines, including environmental science and biodiversity.
International Cooperation: Strong encouragement for international partnerships to maximise impact.
Building on Existing Knowledge: Activities should build and expand on the results of past and ongoing research projects.
Collaboration and Upscaling: Projects must plan for collaboration with other projects under this topic and relevant EU partnerships through joint activities and budget accordingly for these activities. Projects should also demonstrate potential for upscaling of their results.

Risk Management

While not explicitly detailed, projects are expected to identify and address knowledge gaps, particularly concerning emerging and less-known pollutants and their 'cocktail effects'.

Cross-cutting Themes

Projects are expected to address cross-cutting priorities such as the Multi-Actor Approach, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the Digital Agenda.
Integration of AI domain for enhanced scientific capacity is noted as a relevant area.

Grant Details