EUROLakes Replication Call

GRANT PURPOSE AND TARGET

Core Objective

The EUROLakes Replication Call provides funding for local and regional authorities to replicate and adapt innovative, nature-based solutions for restoring and protecting natural lake ecosystems. The grant aims to transfer successful methodologies from the EUROLakes project's demonstration sites to three new 'Associated Regions' to improve their ecological and chemical status.

Funding Organization

The European Union, through its Horizon Europe Programme and the EU-funded project EUROLakes.

Target Recipients

• Local and regional authorities, such as municipalities, conservation agencies, and regional governments.

Sector Focus

• SECTOR-SPECIFIC: This grant is exclusively focused on projects in the environmental sector, specifically for the protection and restoration of natural lake ecosystems.

Geographic Scope

• Applicants must be from EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries.
• Exclusion: Authorities from countries already represented in the main EUROLakes Consortium (Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Romania) are not eligible to apply.

Key Filtering Criteria

• The project must focus on replicating and adapting proven nature-based solutions for lake restoration.
• The grant is for implementing small-scale protection and restoration measures.
• The project involves co-developing a replication plan with EUROLakes partners and includes knowledge exchange and training.

FINANCIAL STRUCTURE

Funding Range

• Award Size: Successful applicants will receive a lump-sum grant of up to EUR 75,000.
• Number of Awards: Three grants will be awarded.

Co-financing

• Funding Rate: The grant provides a 100% funding rate, meaning no co-financing or matching funds are required from the applicant.

Eligible Costs

• Lump Sum: The grant is provided as a lump sum intended for implementing small-scale protection and restoration measures. Activities funded include:
  • Co-development of replication plans and roadmaps.
  • Knowledge-exchange and training activities.
  • Establishing local communities of practice involving key stakeholders.

Ineligible Costs

• Definition not specified in grant materials.

Payment & Reporting

• Payment: The grant is a lump sum. Payment is typically tied to the successful completion of work packages and milestones, not to reporting actual costs.
• Reporting: Financial reporting is simplified due to the lump-sum model. Reporting will focus on the progress and completion of project activities and deliverables.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Formal Criteria

• Organizational Type: The lead applicant must be a local or regional public authority (e.g., municipality, conservation agency, regional government).
• Geographic Location: The applicant must be located in an eligible EU Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated Country (see specific exclusions below).
• Responsibility: The applicant authority must be responsible for overseeing, managing, or protecting natural lakes and their catchment areas.
• Contextual Fit: The applicant must be situated in an 'Associated Region' that faces environmental challenges similar to those at the EUROLakes demonstration sites.
• Single Funding Rule: Applicants must not have previously received funding under the same Horizon Europe topic (HORIZON-MISS-2023-OCEAN-01-04).

Organizational Status

• Lead Applicant: Must be a legal public entity. Applications can be submitted by a single authority or a local partnership.
• Partnerships: While other entities like NGOs or universities can participate as subcontractors or partners, only a local or regional authority can be the Lead Applicant and recipient of the grant.

Technical Expertise

• While no specific technical degrees are mandated, applicants must demonstrate they have the professional competencies, qualifications, and capacity to successfully implement, monitor, and report on the project in line with Horizon Europe standards.

Exclusion Criteria

• Geographic Exclusion: Authorities from countries with demonstration sites or partners in the main EUROLakes consortium are ineligible. This includes: Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Norway, and Romania.
• Lead Applicant Type: Any organization that is not a local or regional authority is excluded from being the lead applicant.

APPLICATION PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Deadlines

• Call Opening: June 2024
• Application Deadline: 15 January 2026 at 17:00 CET
• Evaluation Period: February - April 2026 (including interviews in March)
• Contract Signature: May 2026
• Project Kick-off: June 2026

Required Documents

• Application Form: Applicants must download, complete, and submit the official Application Form available on the EUROLakes website.

Application Process

• Submission Method: Completed Application Forms (in PDF format) must be submitted via email to [email protected].
• Note: This call does not use the standard EU Funding & Tenders Portal for submission.
• Evaluation Steps:
  1. Eligibility screening.
  2. Review by an expert committee.
  3. Interviews with the top 6-7 applicants.
  4. Final selection of 3 winning proposals.

Support

• Financial: A lump-sum grant of up to €75,000.
• Non-Financial: Successful applicants receive hands-on support, mentorship, and expert guidance from the EUROLakes consortium partners. This includes support to co-develop restoration plans, training, and access to a collaborative network.

Post-Award Obligations

• Implementation: Implement the agreed-upon restoration plan.
• Collaboration: Work closely with EUROLakes project partners.
• Reporting: Fulfill monitoring and reporting requirements in line with Horizon Europe standards.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Proposals are evaluated through a multi-stage process, including an initial eligibility screening, a detailed review, and interviews for the top-ranked applicants. The review is based on four equally weighted criteria:

Scoring Factors

• Relevance (25%): How well the proposal aligns with the EUROLakes project's objectives and the 4 Returns Framework (inspiration, social, natural, and financial returns). The assessment considers the local lake's context and the project's contribution to key EU policies like the Green Deal and the Water Framework Directive.
• Impact (25%): The project's expected environmental, social, and economic benefits. This includes the potential to achieve the '4 Returns', the scalability of the proposed solutions, and its contribution to improved governance and stakeholder engagement.
• Quality (25%): The coherence, technical soundness, and cost-effectiveness of the proposal. Evaluators will look for clear milestones, a realistic budget, and an effective risk management plan.
• Implementation (25%): The applicant's demonstrated experience, capacity, and readiness to deliver high-quality results. This includes the ability to monitor progress, report effectively according to Horizon Europe standards, and engage local stakeholders throughout the project.

Innovation & Impact

The evaluation prioritizes projects that replicate innovative nature-based solutions and demonstrate a clear pathway to achieving significant environmental, social, and economic benefits. The 'Impact' criterion specifically measures the likely scale and significance of the project's contributions.

Project Quality

Assessed under the 'Quality' and 'Implementation' criteria, focusing on the proposal's technical soundness, clear work plan, realistic budgeting, risk management, and the applicant's capacity to deliver results.

Strategic Fit

Assessed under the 'Relevance' criterion, which requires proposals to demonstrate strong alignment with the objectives of the EUROLakes project and broader EU environmental policies.

Cross-cutting Themes

The 4 Returns Framework for Landscape Restoration is a central theme, ensuring projects deliver not only natural returns but also social, financial, and inspirational value. Stakeholder engagement and good governance are also key evaluation points.

COMPLIANCE AND SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Regulatory Compliance

• Projects must align with and contribute to the goals of major EU environmental policies, including:
  • The EU Green Deal
  • The Water Framework Directive
  • The EU Mission 'Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030'
• Applicants are expected to adhere to all relevant national and local environmental regulations for restoration work.

IP Policy

• The grant materials do not specify rules regarding intellectual property.

Unique Aspects

• Replication Focus: The call is not for novel research but for the replication and adaptation of existing, proven solutions from the EUROLakes project.
• Email Submission: Unlike most Horizon Europe calls, applications are submitted via email, not through the EU's official portal.
• 4 Returns Framework: Applicants are expected to base their restoration plans on the '4 Returns' methodology (Natural, Social, Financial, Inspiration).

Industry-Specific Rules

• Definition not specified in grant materials, but projects must comply with all relevant water and ecosystem management laws.