Decontaminate and bioremediate aquatic pollution
EU funding for research and innovation projects aimed at developing novel approaches for bioremediation and decontamination of marine and freshwater ecosystems. Two-phase procedure: submission deadlines 16.04.2026 and 23.09.2026.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Development and demonstration of novel, cost-efficient, and environmentally compatible biotechnological processes for the purification and restoration of aquatic ecosystems from persistent pollutants and emerging contaminants (e.g., PFAS, micropollutants, microplastics).
Eligible expenses
- Personnel expenses
- Material costs
- Travel expenses
- Equipment rental
- Subcontractor services
Non-eligible expenses
- Acquisition of real estate
- Retroactive costs
- Debt settlement
Eligible to apply
- Companies
- Non-profit Organizations
- Educational Institutions
- Public Institutions
- Founders
Funding requirements
- Consortium of at least three independent partners from three EU Member States or associated countries
- Project duration 36 months
- Focus on biotechnological or behavior-based decontamination solutions
Documents required for application
- Project description according to Horizon Europe template
- Financial plan
- CVs of key personnel
- Ethics self-assessment
- Open science plan
Evaluation criteria
- Excellence of the research design
- Innovation potential
- Environmental and climate contribution
- Quality of implementation and the consortium
Description
The EU-funded research and innovation program HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-01 aims to develop and test novel biotechnological methods for the decontamination and restoration of marine and freshwater ecosystems. Within a two-stage procedure (outline by 16.04.2026, full proposal by 23.09.2026), consortia with at least three independent partners from three EU Member States or associated countries can apply to research innovative approaches against persistent pollutants such as PFAS, micropollutants, and microplastics. ‘Research and Innovation Actions’ with a duration of 36 months and a funding amount between €7,000,000 and €8,000,000 per project at a funding rate of 100% will be supported. Eligible costs include personnel expenses, consumables and travel costs, equipment rental, as well as subcontracting services. Purchases of real estate, retrospective costs, and debt settlements are excluded.
Particularly interested are research institutions, technology providers, municipal and regional water and environmental authorities, as well as stakeholders in the environmental and climate protection sectors who wish to develop, test, and implement biotechnological or behavior-based decontamination solutions. Submitted project proposals must demonstrate excellence in research design, innovation potential, environmental and climate contribution, as well as the quality of implementation and consortium composition. A structured financial plan, CVs of key personnel, an ethics self-assessment, and an open science plan are part of the required application documents. By strengthening monitoring, assessment, and decontamination technologies, the program makes an essential contribution to the EU Mission “Zero Pollution” and supports the objectives of the European Green Deal to secure clean, resilient waters for future generations.