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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

This grant aims to improve and integrate polar observation systems globally, regionally, and locally to meet user requirements. It seeks to advance our understanding of polar evolution and its role in the climate system, along with its impact on biodiversity. - SECTOR-SPECIFIC: Focuses on environmental observation, climate science, and digital solutions for polar regions. - Target recipients: Research organizations, universities, businesses, NGOs, and public bodies capable of conducting Research and Innovation Actions. - Geographic scope: Projects must focus on either the Arctic Ocean and coastal regions (Area A) or the Antarctic shelves and Southern Ocean (Area B), with encouraged coupling between polar regions. - Key filtering criteria: Strong focus on polar environmental observation, data systems, and sustainability; commitment to international collaboration; ability to develop solutions to TRL 7-8. - Grant frequency: Part of the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023-2025, suggesting recurring calls within this period.

Financial Structure

Budget for this topic (HORIZON-CL6-2025-03-GOVERNANCE-10): 16,000,000 EUR.
Expected number of grants: Two.
Minimum grant amount per project: 8,000,000 EUR.
Maximum grant amount per project: 8,000,000 EUR.
Currency: EUR.
Eligible and ineligible costs: Detailed in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Matching fund/co-financing requirements: Not explicitly stated in this snippet. For Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), non-profit organizations typically receive 100% funding, while for-profit organizations usually receive 70% of eligible costs.
Payment schedule and mechanisms: Described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Financial reporting and audit requirements: Described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Financial guarantees: Not specified in this snippet.
Indirect cost policies: Described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. Horizon Europe often applies a flat rate for indirect costs.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Type and Structure

Eligible organization types: Typically open to a wide range of legal entities, including universities, research organizations, public bodies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and enterprises (including SMEs). This is a Research and Innovation Action (RIA), which means it targets entities engaged in research and development.
Consortium requirement: Participation in a consortium is highly expected and implicitly required for this type of action. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as a member.

Geographic and Legal Requirements

Eligible countries: As described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. This typically includes EU Member States and countries associated with Horizon Europe. Non-EU/non-associated countries may also be eligible if specific funding provisions are made.
Legal and financial standing: Applicants must meet financial and operational capacity requirements as described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Technical and Project Requirements

Technology Readiness Level (TRL): Activities may start at any TRL, but are expected to achieve TRL 7-8 by the end of the project.
Data requirements: If projects use satellite-based Earth observation, positioning, navigation, or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS. Other data and services may be used additionally.

Exclusion Criteria

Specific exclusion criteria are detailed in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Application Process

Application Timeline and Deadlines

Call opening date: 2025-05-06.
Application deadline: 2025-09-24 00:00:00+00.
Submission procedure: Single-stage submission.

Submission Process

Application platform: Electronic Submission Service via the Funding & Tenders Portal.
Accessing the system: Click on the submission-button next to the type of action and model grant agreement corresponding to your proposal (HORIZON-RIA).
Required documentation: Proposal page limit and layout are described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System, and in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Standard application forms (HE RIA, IA) are used.
Draft proposals: Existing draft proposals can be accessed by logging into the Funding & Tenders Portal and selecting the 'My Proposals' page of the 'My Area' section.

Evaluation and Post-Award

Review process: Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
Indicative timeline: Timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in Annex F.
Project implementation: Activities are expected to achieve TRL 7-8 by the end of the project.
Reporting obligations: Legal and financial set-up of the grants, including reporting, is described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Application Assistance

Online Manual: Guidance on procedures from proposal submission to grant management.
Horizon Europe Programme Guide: Detailed guidance on structure, budget, and political priorities.
Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions.
Research Enquiry Service: For general questions about European research.
National Contact Points (NCPs): Guidance and assistance on participation in Horizon Europe.
Enterprise Europe Network (EEN): Advice for businesses, especially SMEs, on EU research funding.
IT Helpdesk: For technical issues related to the Funding & Tenders Portal.
European IPR Helpdesk: Assistance on intellectual property issues.
CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk: Advice on standardization in project proposals.
Partner Search: A service to help find partner organizations for proposals.

Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation criteria, scoring, and thresholds are primarily described in Annex D of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. While specific detailed scoring factors are not provided in the topic description, the following aspects are highlighted: Project Quality and Impact

Contribution to expected outcomes: Proposals must clearly contribute to improved coordination, governance, sustainability, and resilience of international environmental observing systems for polar regions.
Enhanced usability and accessibility: Proposals should demonstrate how they will enhance the usability, accessibility, effectiveness, interoperability, and exploitation of environmental observing and data systems.
Support for decision-making: Projects should support sustainable management of polar regions and decision-making processes for civil society, authorities, and international organizations.
Sustainability strategy: Clear strategies for ensuring the medium and long-term sustainability of observing systems and delivery of products/services are expected.

Scientific and Technical Excellence

Focus on specific polar region: Projects must focus their scope on only one of the following regional areas: 'Arctic Ocean and coastal regions' (Area A) or 'Antarctic shelves and Southern Ocean' (Area B).
Improvement of observing systems: Proposals should significantly contribute to improving marine and cryospheric observing systems, focusing on optimization, integration, coordination, and governance, including the use of Artificial Intelligence.
Data harmonization: Plans for harmonized, standardized, and interoperable FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and CARE (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, Ethics) Polar Data systems (collection, processing, management, openness, real-time availability) are crucial.
Coupling between polar regions: Strengthening the coupling between the polar regions for in-situ and satellite observations through harmonized strategies and methodologies is expected.

Portfolio Balance and Strategic Alignment

Regional balance: To ensure a balanced portfolio, grants will be awarded not only by ranking but also to at least one highest-ranked proposal from Area A and one from Area B, provided all thresholds are met.
Alignment with policies: Strong alignment with the Green Deal, EU climate action and adaptation strategy, EU Arctic policy, Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, UN 2030 Agenda, and support for Copernicus services, European Digital Twin of the Ocean, and Destination Earth.
International collaboration: Encouraged international cooperation, including contributions to initiatives like the G7 Future of the Seas and Ocean Initiative, GEO Blue Planet Initiative, All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance, Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), and Global Climate Observing System (GCOS).

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory and Ethical Compliance

Regulatory compliance: General regulatory compliance requirements are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Data usage: Projects using satellite-based Earth observation, positioning, navigation, and/or related timing data must utilize Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS.
Data principles: Proposals should ensure harmonized, standardized, and interoperable FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and CARE (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, Ethics) Polar Data systems.
Financial regulation: Compliance with EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509.
Legal framework: Adherence to HE Framework Programme 2021/695 and HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764.

Unique Project Aspects and Collaboration

Regional focus: Projects must strictly focus on only one of two distinct regional areas: 'Arctic Ocean and coastal regions' (Area A) or 'Antarctic shelves and Southern Ocean' (Area B).
Community engagement (Area A): For proposals focusing on the Arctic, improvements to observing systems should include community-based monitoring and incorporate local, traditional, and indigenous knowledge, and where relevant, be co-designed with local communities and Indigenous peoples.
Antarctic support (Area B): Proposals focusing on the Antarctic should support the establishment of the UN Ocean Decade programme Antarctica InSync and contribute to activities of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR).
Inter-regional coupling: Proposals should strengthen the coupling between the polar regions for observations through harmonized strategies and methodologies.
Strategic collaborations: Projects are expected to establish collaborations with relevant ongoing projects (e.g., HiAAOS, POLARIN, EU Polar Cluster) and European research infrastructures.
ESA synergy: Projects should include dedicated tasks and resources to collaborate with relevant ESA activities, including projects under the ESA Polar Science Cluster and the ESA Invitation to Tender 'ESA Sentinel User Preparation Polar Science Foundational Experiment'.
International leadership: This action provides an opportunity for Europe to maintain a leading role in polar research and contribute to international initiatives like the G7 Future of the Seas and Ocean Initiative, GEO Blue Planet, All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance, GOOS, and GCOS.

Grant Details