Deadline Date: November 17, 2025
The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP) is a Research and Innovation (R&I) initiative under the Horizon Europe Programme that aims to strengthen the EU Blue Economy’s competitiveness through collaboration, innovation, and sustainable development.
The focus areas of the Partnership are Digital Twins – development and use, Transitioning Blue Economy Sectors, Managing Sea Uses, Blue Bioresources, and Resilient Coastal Communities and Businesses.
The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership was launched in 2022 as part of Horizon Europe’s Cluster 6, focusing on Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment. The Partnership connects and creates synergies with other EU initiatives such as Animal Health and Welfare, Rescuing Biodiversity to Safeguard Life on Earth (Biodiversa+), Clean Energy Transitions (CETP), Driving Urban Transitions (DUT), FutureFoodS, Water Security for the Planet (Water4All), and Zero Emission Waterborne Transport (ZEWT). It also aligns with major EU missions such as “Restore our Ocean and Waters” and its associated area-based “lighthouses.”
Funding for this call totals €43,500,000, supporting innovative projects that advance sustainable blue economy solutions across Europe.
The 2025 Joint Call marks the third call under the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership, combining financial resources from 38 Participating Funding Organisations (PFOs) across 28 countries, together with contributions from the European Union. These organisations play a vital role in funding research and innovation initiatives related to the blue economy.
The Partnership’s intervention areas translate high-level strategies into actionable research and innovation calls and activities, addressing challenges and opportunities across marine ecosystems, sustainable resource use, and ocean-related industries.
Applicants must ensure their proposals meet both the general eligibility criteria and the national or regional eligibility requirements set by their respective funding organisations. Each project partner will be funded by their national or regional body and must adhere to all relevant rules. Some funding agencies may also require the submission of additional national documents alongside the international proposal, and not all funding bodies support every type of organisation.
For more information, visit Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership.
