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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

This grant, part of the 'Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment' program, aims to modernize and enhance systems for monitoring, controlling, and surveilling fisheries. It seeks innovative solutions to improve data collection, efficiency, and enforcement, particularly targeting illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices. The grant is SECTOR-SPECIFIC, focusing on organizations involved in fisheries, aquaculture, marine environment, and related technological development. It targets a broad range of entities including public and private sector actors, researchers, SMEs, local authorities, communities, NGOs, and civil society. Geographically, projects must include case studies covering EU small-scale fisheries in European Seas (Mediterranean, Baltic, Black, North East Atlantic), EU small-scale fisheries in EU Outermost Regions, recreational fisheries in EU waters, and EU long-distance fisheries in the Indian Ocean or Pacific Ocean. The primary goal is to contribute to sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food systems while protecting marine ecosystems.

Financial Structure

This grant is a HORIZON Innovation Action (IA).

Total Funding: The total budget allocated for this specific topic ('HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-11') in 2025 is 12,000,000 EUR.
Grant Amount Per Project: The grant expects to fund 2 projects, with each project receiving a minimum and maximum contribution of 6,000,000 EUR.
Currency: All amounts are in Euro (EUR).
Funding Rate: The funding rate for Innovation Actions is not specified in the provided documents, but generally for Horizon Europe Innovation Actions, it is up to 70% of eligible costs for for-profit entities and up to 100% for non-profit entities (e.g., universities, research organizations, public bodies).
Eligible and Ineligible Costs: Specific eligible and ineligible cost categories are not detailed here but would adhere to the 'Legal and financial set-up of the grants described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes'. Innovation Actions typically cover costs related to research, development, demonstration, and market uptake activities.
Matching Fund Requirements: No explicit matching fund percentages are stated in the provided documents. However, indirect cost policies and financial reporting requirements would follow standard Horizon Europe guidelines, typically found in the Model Grant Agreement (MGA).

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for this grant, applicants typically need to adhere to the general conditions outlined in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, specifically Annex A (page limit and layout), Annex B (eligible countries), Annex C (financial and operational capacity and exclusion), Annex D (evaluation and award criteria), Annex F (submission and evaluation processes, indicative timeline), and Annex G (legal and financial set-up of grants). Specific details not provided in this document are found in these annexes and the Online Manual. Key aspects mentioned: - Eligible Organization Types: While specific types are not exhaustively listed, the grant encourages participation from a wide array of stakeholders, including 'public and private sector actors', 'researchers', 'SMEs', 'food, drink and hospitality industry', 'retailers', 'social economy actors', 'local authorities and communities', 'NGO and civil society'. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) is also explicitly stated as eligible to participate as a consortium member. - Geographic Location: Organisations from countries 'described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes' are eligible for funding. Generally, this includes EU Member States and Associated Countries. The projects themselves must demonstrate geographic coverage within specific regions for case studies, including European Seas (Mediterranean, Baltic, Black, North East Atlantic), EU Outermost Regions, EU waters for recreational fisheries, and international waters like the Indian Ocean or Pacific Ocean for long-distance fisheries. - Organizational Size: While no strict limits are set, 'SMEs participation is particularly promoted' under this funding destination. - Consortium Requirements: Although not explicitly mandated as a 'requirement' in the grant text for every applicant, the emphasis on 'multi-actor and socially innovative approaches' and the explicit mention that 'the JRC may participate as member of the consortium selected for funding' strongly suggests that consortium applications are highly encouraged or effectively required for comprehensive project delivery. - Technical Expertise: Proposals are expected to develop and apply solutions involving 'artificial intelligence technologies', 'remote sensing technology', 'satellite imaging systems', 'automatic detection abilities', 'vessel monitoring systems (VMS)', 'electronic monitoring systems', and 'e-logbooks'. Applicants must demonstrate competence in these areas. - Compliance: Adherence to the 'revised Fisheries Control Regulation (EU Regulation 2023/2842)' is paramount, as well as the 'Data Collection Framework (DCF)' and other relevant EU fisheries policies. Exclusion Criteria: Information on specific exclusion criteria or disqualifying factors beyond the general Horizon Europe rules (e.g., financial incapacity, past non-compliance) is not detailed in the provided documents but would be found in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Application Process

Application Deadline: The final submission deadline for proposals is 2025-09-16 at 00:00:00 UTC+00:00.
Submission System: Applications must be submitted electronically through the 'Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission Service'. This is a 'single-stage' submission process.
Required Documentation: Applicants must use the 'Standard application form (HE RIA, IA)' available in the Submission System. Proposal page limits and layout are described in 'Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes' and specifically in 'Part B of the Application Form'.
Project Implementation Timeline: Specific project durations are not provided for this call, but Horizon Europe projects are typically multi-year. The call aims for outcomes contributing to the 'United Nations 2030 Agenda'.
Reporting Obligations: Successful projects will have ongoing reporting requirements, including electronic submission of 'fishing logbooks' (at least daily, or after the last fishing operation before entering port), and 'prior notifications' (at least four hours before estimated arrival at port or landing site for vessels 12 meters or more in length). Data from 'Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM)' systems, including CCTV, must be made available to competent authorities. Compliance with data standardisation and harmonisation is expected.
Support for Applicants: Extensive support is available through various channels:
- Online Manual: Provides guidance on procedures from proposal submission to grant management.
- Horizon Europe Programme Guide: Offers detailed guidance on the program's structure, budget, and priorities.
- Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ: Answers common questions on submission, evaluation, and grant management.
- Research Enquiry Service: For general questions about European research.
- National Contact Points (NCPs): Provide guidance, information, and assistance on participation in Horizon Europe, including in many non-EU/non-Associated countries.
- Enterprise Europe Network (EEN): Offers advice to businesses, especially SMEs, including guidance on EU research funding.
- IT Helpdesk: For technical issues with the Funding & Tenders Portal.
- European IPR Helpdesk: Assists with intellectual property issues.
- CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk: Advise on standardisation in project proposals.
- Partner Search: Tools and services to help find partner organizations for proposals.

Evaluation Criteria

The detailed 'Award criteria, scoring and thresholds' are 'described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes'. The provided grant documents do not list the specific evaluation criteria or scoring system for this particular call, but they outline the expected outcomes and scope, which implicitly form the basis for evaluation. Proposals will likely be assessed on how well they contribute to the following: - Impact: Expected project results must contribute to all of the following: - Improving data collection (including position and catch data) for small-scale fisheries (SSF), recreational fisheries, and long-distance fisheries, while reducing costs. - Enhancing efficiency, saving costs, and advancing fisheries monitoring, surveillance, control, and enforcement technologies to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices. - Providing effective and, where possible, real-time tools for monitoring fishing operations, technical measures, and mitigation requirements. - Increasing and enhancing data collection resolution by interconnecting vessel tracking and e-logbooks. - Contributing to the standardisation of data collection and harmonisation of implementing procedures for fisheries management and scientific advice. - Improving mechanisms for sharing fisheries-dependent data among authorities and scientific institutions. - Boosting the digital readiness of SSF, recreational, and long-distance fisheries through solutions and business models that encourage technology adoption and data sharing. - Contribution to the 'United Nations 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals' and 'global biodiversity framework COP-15 goals and targets for marine ecosystems and fishing areas'. - Innovation and Technological Advancement: Emphasis on 'innovative vessel tracking systems', 'innovative remote sensing technology', 'automatic detection abilities', and 'applications of artificial intelligence technologies'. The overall funding destination encourages a balance of 'high as well as low Technological Readiness Levels (TRLs)'. - Quality and Efficiency of the Project Plan: Proposals should demonstrate an 'integrated approach', involve 'fishers, other relevant actors, including citizens, and end users' in all stages (multi-actor approach), and allocate tasks and resources to link with relevant existing Horizon Europe projects (e.g., Fish-X, EveryFish, OptiFish, SURIMI, SEADITO, OBAMA-NEXT, MARCO-BOLO, DiverSea, B-USEFUL). - Cross-cutting Themes: The impact on 'gender and other socio demographic groups' should be considered within the 'multi-actor and socially innovative approaches'. Integration of 'Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH)' is required to apply a human-centred approach and support social innovation.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance: Projects must strictly comply with EU regulations, including the 'Common Fisheries Policy (CFP)', the 'Data Collection Framework (DCF) (Regulation EU 2017/1004)', and especially the 'revised Fisheries Control Regulation (EU Regulation 2023/2842)'. Adherence to the 'Farm to Fork strategy goals', 'Food 2030 R&I policy framework', 'EU biodiversity strategy', 'EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive', and 'EU action plan on protecting and restoring marine ecosystems' is also crucial.
Data Protection and Privacy: Solutions involving 'Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) systems' (such as CCTV) must ensure privacy and data protection. If 'natural persons can be identified on such recorded video material', the competent authorities must ensure 'anonymisation of the personal data as soon as possible'. Data collected must be 'FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Re-usable)'. Processing of personal data must comply with 'Regulation (EU) 2016/679' (GDPR) and 'Regulation (EU) 2018/1725'.
Ethical Standards: The grant context implies strong ethical considerations, particularly in light of discussions around 'illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing' and the explicit mention of 'forced labour' as a serious infringement, aligning with 'ILO Convention No 29 on Forced Labour'. While not directly imposed on grant applicants, projects should avoid any association with such practices and promote ethical conduct.
Intellectual Property Policies: While not detailed in the provided grant text, standard Horizon Europe IP policies (typically outlined in the Model Grant Agreement) would apply. The 'European IPR Helpdesk' is listed as a support resource.
Technical Specifications: Projects must develop and integrate specific technologies, including 'secure, tamper-resistant, accurate and innovative vessel tracking systems', 'remote sensing technology and satellite imaging systems equipped with automatic detection abilities', and 'applications of artificial intelligence technologies'. Systems must be 'cost-effective' and 'easily deployed and maintained'.
Risk Management: Proposals should address how they will combat 'IUU fishing activities' and ensure compliance with fisheries regulations, which inherently involves risk management strategies for non-compliance.
Unique Aspects and Strategic Opportunities: This call emphasizes a 'multi-actor approach', requiring involvement of diverse stakeholders from 'conceptual development until the implementation of the outcomes'. It strongly encourages the integration of 'Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH)' to adopt a human-centred approach and foster social innovation. There is a strong push for 'SMEs participation' and 'international cooperation', notably with the 'EU-Africa Partnership on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA)'. Projects should seek synergies with other EU Missions (e.g., 'A Soil Deal for Europe', 'Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030') and European partnerships.
Knowledge Sharing: Data produced should be made available through platforms like the 'European Marine Observation and Data network' and the 'EU Digital Twin Ocean core infrastructure (EDITO)'. Leveraging data and services from 'European Research Infrastructures' federated under the 'European Open Science Cloud' is also encouraged.

Grant Details