Grants8 | The most comprehensive grants search on the web

Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

This grant aims to improve the effectiveness and user-friendliness of environmental observing systems and their associated governance structures. It seeks research and innovation projects that develop quantitative, cost-effective, and user-friendly tools to optimize current and future environmental monitoring. The grant is SECTOR-SPECIFIC, focusing on environmental sciences, climate action, and the application of advanced digital technologies for environmental monitoring. It targets entities involved in research and innovation, including universities, research organizations, public bodies, and companies. Geographically, it covers EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries, with strong encouragement for international cooperation. Key filtering criteria include a focus on robust research, innovative use of digital technologies, and direct relevance to global environmental policy implementation.

Financial Structure

The total estimated budget for this topic is €10,000,000.
It is expected that 2 grants will be awarded under this topic.
The maximum contribution per grant is €5,000,000.
The minimum contribution per grant is €5,000,000.
The currency for funding is EUR.
Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum, as defined in the specific Decision of 7 July 2021 on lump sum contributions under Horizon Europe.
This means a fixed amount is agreed upon for the project, covering all eligible costs within the scope of the lump sum agreement. The funding rate for the lump sum is considered 100.0% of the agreed lump sum amount.
Specific details on the financial setup of grants are described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Type and Status

Any legal entity established in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country is eligible to receive funding.
Specific provisions may apply for funding eligibility for participants from non-EU/non-Associated Countries.
Organizations must meet the financial and operational capacity requirements as described in Annex C of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Participants must not be subject to exclusion criteria as defined in Annex C.

Project Specific Requirements

If projects utilize satellite-based Earth observation, positioning, navigation, and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS data/services (other data/services may be used additionally).

Consortium Requirements

While not explicitly stated as 'mandatory', the nature of a Research and Innovation Action (RIA) of this scale (€5,000,000 per grant), the encouragement of international cooperation, and the expectation to leverage various research infrastructures, strongly implies that applications should be submitted by a consortium of multiple entities.

Application Process

Application Submission

Application Deadline: 2025-09-24 00:00:00+00.
The submission session is available via the Funding & Tenders Portal.
The application procedure is a single-stage submission.
Required documentation includes the application form specific to this call, available in the Submission System (Part B of the Application Form).
General admissibility conditions regarding proposal page limits and layout are described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.

Evaluation and Award Process

Evaluation criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
An indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is provided in Annex F.

Support and Resources

Applicants can access the Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, and Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ for guidance.
Support is available from the Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network, and the IT Helpdesk for technical issues.
The European IPR Helpdesk and CEN-CENELEC/ETSI Research Helpdesk offer specific advice.
A Partner Search tool is available to help find partner organizations for proposals.
Specific guidance documents for lump sum grants are available, including 'Lump sums - what do I need to know?' and a Detailed budget table (HE LS).

Evaluation Criteria

Overall Project Quality and Impact

Proposals will contribute to more cost-effective and user-friendly environmental observing systems serving science, policy, and decision-makers.
Expected to lead to improved international cooperation in support of EU and global climate/environmental policies and reporting obligations.
Projects should result in more sustainable and resilient environmental observing systems based on advanced governance models and informed decision-making.

Technical Excellence and Innovation

Proposals are expected to exploit the latest digital technologies (e.g., Artificial Intelligence, digital twins, IoT) and scientific methods (e.g., data assimilation and analysis, models).
Development of innovative, generic, quantitative, cost-effective, and user-friendly tools to optimize orbital and non-orbital observing systems.
Methodologies like Observing System Experiments (OSEs) and Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) are expected.

Policy Relevance and User Engagement

Projects should identify and propose solutions for technical, socio-economic, cultural, geo-political, or other barriers to the usability, accessibility, effectivity, interoperability, and exploitation of environmental observing systems.
Demonstrate a good understanding of data requirements for policy implementation.
Optimization of observing systems should identify and address in an iterative process the needs of well-identified user groups (e.g., modelling communities, Copernicus, Destination Earth, international organizations, regional/national authorities).
Approaches should be flexible enough to be applied to other observing systems and examples.

Governance and Decision-Making

Investigation of innovative decision-making approaches to support international governance and negotiations, and national actors on sustainable and resilient environmental observations.
Consideration of interoperability with European data spaces and other existing data infrastructures.

Cross-Cutting Aspects and Strategic Alignment

Inclusion of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines is encouraged.
International cooperation is encouraged and will likely be a positive factor.
Projects must address one of two specific use cases: Area A (monitoring global anthropogenic and natural greenhouse gas emissions and sinks in support of the Paris Agreement) or Area B (ozone depleting substances and F-Gases in support of the Montreal Protocol).
Expected to benefit from and leverage underlying work of ESA, EUMETSAT, Copernicus, or European Research Infrastructures (ICOS, ACTRIS, etc.).

Award Specifics

To ensure a balanced portfolio, grants will be awarded not only by ranking but also to ensure at least one highest-ranked proposal from Area A and one from Area B, provided all thresholds are attained.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance

Projects must adhere to regulatory compliance requirements related to financial and operational capacity, as well as exclusion criteria outlined in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Legal and financial setup of grants adheres to the provisions described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes and the EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509.

Technical and Data Requirements

If utilizing satellite-based Earth observation, positioning, navigation, or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS data/services.
Interoperability with European data spaces and other existing data infrastructures should be considered in project design.

Ethical and Cross-Cutting Standards

The inclusion of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines is highly encouraged, indicating a preference for integrated, multidisciplinary approaches.
International cooperation is encouraged to foster broader impact and knowledge exchange.

Project Scope and Focus

Proposals must clearly address one of two specific use case areas:
Area A: Monitoring global anthropogenic and natural greenhouse gas emissions and sinks, in support of the Paris Agreement.
Area B: Ozone depleting substances and F-Gases, in support of the Montreal Protocol.
Projects are expected to demonstrate a strong understanding of data requirements for effective policy implementation within their chosen use case.
Tools and approaches developed should be flexible enough to be applicable to other observing systems and examples.
Projects are expected to leverage and build upon the work of existing entities such as ESA, EUMETSAT, Copernicus, or European Research Infrastructures (e.g., ICOS, ACTRIS).

Grant Details