Grants8 | The most comprehensive grants search on the web

Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

Core objective: To increase the resilience of agriculture to water scarcity by scaling up circular water management systems, enabling farmers to adopt sustainable and resource-efficient practices, and reducing pressure on water bodies, in line with European Green Deal objectives.
Target recipients: Consortia involving scientists, companies (especially SMEs) working in water management and agriculture, farmers, and consumers.
Designation: SECTOR-SPECIFIC (Agriculture, Water Management, Food Systems)
Geographic scope: EU and Associated Countries, with encouraged international cooperation (particularly with Africa and the Mediterranean).
Key filtering criteria: Focus on circular water management for agriculture, mandatory multi-actor approach, and testing solutions in real-life, large-scale contexts.
Grant frequency: Part of the annual Horizon Europe Work Programme 2025, implying recurring opportunities within the broader program context.

Financial Structure

Funding type: HORIZON Innovation Actions (IA).
Expected grants: 2 projects are expected for this topic.
Grant amount per project: Minimum EUR 6,000,000, Maximum EUR 6,000,000.
Total budget for topic: EUR 12,000,000.
Currency: EUR (Euro).
Funding rate: For Horizon Europe Innovation Actions, funding can cover up to 70.0% of eligible costs for for-profit entities and 100% for non-profit entities. This is implied by the 'HORIZON Innovation Actions' type of action.
Financial reporting and audit: Described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Financial sustainability: Projects should identify financially viable and long-term economic sustainability business models.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Type

Consortium: Mandatory, proposals must implement the multi-actor approach (MAA).
Multi-actor approach (MAA): Consortium must involve at least scientists, companies working in the field of water management and agriculture, farmers and consumers.
SMEs: Participation is particularly promoted.
Joint Research Centre (JRC): May participate as a member of the consortium.

Geographic and Regulatory Requirements

Eligible Countries: Defined in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. This includes all EU Member States and countries associated to Horizon Europe. Specific testing should occur in EU and Associated Countries.
- EU Member States: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
- Associated Countries (common examples): Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom.
International Cooperation: Encouraged to tap into international expertise, particularly from Africa and the Mediterranean Area.
Satellite Data Use: If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS.

Technical and Project Requirements

Scope: Projects must test different strategies and technologies for irrigation or other agricultural purposes using alternative water sources in real-life contexts across EU and Associated Countries, at a larger scale beyond small experimental sites.
Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH): Effective contribution of SSH disciplines is required, especially in societal and behavioural sciences, adoption and acceptance processes.
Farming Systems: Proposals should benefit various farming systems/approaches, one of which should be organic farming.

Application Process

Application Timeline and Deadlines

Submission Deadline: 2025-09-16T00:00:00+0000.
Planned Opening Date: 2025-05-06.
Submission Procedure: Single-stage.
Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement: Described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Required Documentation and Submission

Application Form: Standard application form (HE RIA, IA) available in the Submission System. Part B describes page limits and layout.
Page Limits and Layout: Described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Submission Platform: Electronic Submission Service via the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Project Implementation and Reporting

Project Activities: Test strategies/technologies in real-life contexts, identify business models, evaluate long-term impacts, monitor water quality/quantity, identify societal/regulatory challenges, develop recommendations for incentives/policies, disseminate knowledge.
Dissemination: Proposals should include dissemination activities to increase awareness.
Practice-oriented Materials: Proposals should develop diverse practice-oriented dissemination materials (e.g., audiovisuals, brochures).
Complementarities: Explore synergies with relevant EU financial programs, initiatives (e.g., KICs of EIT), and international cooperation programs (e.g., DeSIRA).
Reporting: Legal and financial set-up of grants described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Support and Assistance

Guidance: Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ.
Direct Assistance: Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), IT Helpdesk.
Specific Expertise: European IPR Helpdesk, CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk, ETSI Research Helpdesk.
Partner Search: Available through the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Evaluation Criteria

Expected Outcomes (Contribution to Project Impact)

Development of sustainable pathways to scale up alternative water sources in agriculture in the EU and Associated Countries.
Availability of enhanced knowledge for farmers on the long-term impact of alternative water sources, including emerging contaminants.
Increased resilience of farming systems to water scarcity, especially in drought-prone areas.
Increased awareness and confidence of farmers and consumers in alternative water use in agriculture.
Contribution to EU strategic autonomy by fostering food and nutrition security and safeguarding long-term sustainability.
Enablement of farmers and agricultural actors to manage sustainable, efficient, profitable, circular, low greenhouse gas-emitting farming systems.
Contribution to ecosystems' health by promoting sustainable and resource-efficient farming, minimizing pollution, and restoring biodiversity.
Development of the just transition to overall sustainable, healthy, and inclusive food systems.
Transformation of food environments to empower citizens towards healthy, affordable, sustainable diets, and to foster thriving food businesses.

Scope and Methodology (Quality of the Proposal)

Testing different strategies and technologies for irrigation/agricultural purposes using alternative water sources in real-life, large-scale contexts.
Identification and testing of different business models for financial viability and long-term economic sustainability.
Evaluation of the long-term impact of alternative water sources on soil health, crop productivity/quality, food/feed safety, and freshwater resources/ecosystems.
Development and documentation of cost-efficient methodologies and techniques for monitoring water quality/quantity and removing contaminants.
Identification of societal, behavioural, and regulatory challenges and development of suitable solutions.
Development of recommendations for improved and targeted incentives and policies.
Demonstration of effective dissemination of existing knowledge, training, and advice for farmers.
Effective contribution of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines.
Implementation of the multi-actor approach (MAA).
Balanced approach regarding high and low Technological Readiness Levels (TRLs).

Innovation and Impact

Proposals should apply the most efficient, state-of-the-art agricultural practices and technologies.
Maximising co-benefits across nutrition, health, climate, environmental sustainability, circularity, and resource efficiency.
Potential to stimulate environmentally friendly, healthy, circular, and diversified practices, products, and processes within food-related businesses.

Cross-Cutting Themes

Consideration of gender and other socio-demographic groups.
Integration of social innovation at regional and local levels.
Exploration of complementarities with EU Missions and European Partnerships.
Encouragement of international cooperation.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory and Policy Compliance

EU Water Related Policies: Projects must align with the Water Framework Directive and the Water Reuse Regulation.
EU Strategic Objectives: Contribution to European Green Deal objectives for agriculture and the Climate Adaptation Strategy.
Agricultural Policy: Contribution to the nine specific objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and other related policies (e.g., organic production action plan, food safety regulations).
Environmental Standards: Minimizing pollution (surface/groundwaters, marine environment), restoring/protecting biodiversity.
Water Management Guidelines: Regarding aquifer recharging, proposals should take into consideration guidelines provided by the Working Group Groundwater.

Project Approach and Scope

Multi-actor approach (MAA): Mandatory, involving scientists, companies, farmers, and consumers.
Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH): Effective contribution of SSH disciplines is required.
Organic Farming: Projects should benefit various farming systems/approaches, one of which should be organic farming.
Real-life Contexts: Testing strategies and technologies at a larger scale beyond small experimental sites, covering the whole water cycle in agriculture.

Data and Technology Usage

Satellite Data: If using satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data/services, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS.
Most Efficient Technologies: Applicants should apply the most efficient, state-of-the-art agricultural practices and technologies.

Cross-cutting and Strategic Aspects

Innovation Actions: Balanced in terms of high as well as low Technological Readiness Levels (TRLs).
International Cooperation: Encouraged, particularly with Africa and the Mediterranean Area. Explore complementarities with PRIMA and Water4All partnerships.
Synergies: Encourage synergies with EU Missions ('A Soil Deal for Europe', 'Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030') and European Partnerships.
Knowledge Sharing: Emphasis on practice-oriented dissemination materials and engaging with existing knowledge channels (e.g., European and national AKIS).

Grant Details