Deadline: 20 June 2026 (rolling, cut-off every four months)

The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership, funded by the European Commission, offers pan-European access to approximately 50 marine and maritime research infrastructures across the Atlantic, North Sea, Baltic, Black Sea, and Mediterranean, operating on a rolling submission basis. This call represents a strategic action to enhance transnational collaboration, foster innovation, and strengthen the science-policy interface in support of a sustainable and climate-neutral blue economy.

Infrastructures

The Partnership provides access to:
•    Research Vessels
•    Fixed Platforms & Experimental Stations
•    Mobile Platforms (AUVs, gliders, aircraft)
•    Analytical Laboratories & Test Benches
•     High Performance Computing & Digital Facilities
•    Virtual Access to data infrastructures

Access modalities include:
•    Physical Access: the presence of the user team is required/recommended during the whole operation period
•    Remote Access: the requested facility is operated by the owner’s staff and the presence of the user team is not required.
•    Virtual Access: access is provided through digital platforms, computational infrastructures, databases, or simulation environments, where no physical presence is needed. This includes the use of high-performance computing facilities, cloud-based services, data repositories, or virtual laboratories, enabling advanced modelling, digital testing, or analysis of datasets.

A full catalog of the available research infrastructures and contact points is available here.

Eligibility

1. Proposals must address at least one specific objective of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda.
2. Proposals must formulate a clear request of access to at least one and up to two research infrastructures.
3. Proposals must address at least one geographical area among: Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Baltic Sea, North Sea, Atlantic Ocean. If applicable, proposals must indicate regional areas (e.g. Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Celtic Sea, Adriatic Sea, Aegean Seas, etc.) or their scope must be proved to be relevant for one or more above mentioned geographical areas.
4. Applicants must demonstrate own funding to conduct the project.
5. Proposals must involve at least two Partners from two different countries and requesting access to a beneficiary making infrastructure available as provider. Not all team members shall necessarily access the infrastructure and can be involved in other activities in support to the project.
6. The Project Leader PI and the majority (> 50%) of the team members must be employed in a country other than the country that owns and operates the infrastructure. They cannot apply for access to a research infrastructure from their own country.
7. The PI of a given entity submitting a proposal can act as PI of the Project Leader (coordinator) only in one proposal per cut-off. He/she can apply as PI/team member of a Project Partner in other proposals under the same cut-off.

Funding

Successful applicants will be granted free access to the selected infrastructures. The cost for using the infrastructure is co-funded by the Partnership, the European Commission, and the RI provider. No other costs of the project nor personnel effort/travel/shipping of equipment or any other support will be provided to the members of the team

Duration

The access must be initiated within 6 months from the reception of the outcomes of the evaluation and terminated within 18 months from the starting date.

How to apply

Applicants must:
1.    Contact the selected research infrastructure provider before submission;
2.    Obtain feasibility confirmation;
3.    Submit your proposal here.

Additional information can be obtained here.