The fourth call of the European Partnership "Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership" is open, with the participation of the CDTI Innovation

Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP), the European partnership for a sustainable blue economy, has launched its fourth transnational joint call for research and innovation projects, in which CDTI Innovation participates as a funding agency. The initiative, co-financed by the European Union within the framework of Horizon Europe, aims to promote the transformation towards a climate-neutral, sustainable and innovative blue economy through international cooperation in research and innovation in the maritime field.

The call has an estimated budget of 38 million euros and the participation of 35 funding organizations from 28 countries, including Spain, where the State Research Agency (AEI) and the CDTI Innovation participate.

The projects should last 36 months and be aimed at generating solutions with an impact on the transformation towards a more resilient blue economy and contributing to the objectives of carbon neutrality, following an approach based on impact pathways.

Priority areas

The proposals must address one of the four priority areas established in the call for proposals:

• Priority Area 1: Transition of the blue economy sectors towards sustainability and strategic autonomy
• Priority Area 2: Managing the use of the sea by advancing digital and ecosystem-based approaches
• Priority Area 3: Promoting sustainable blue biological resources through innovation in marine production and exploitation
• Priority Area 4: Strengthening the resilience of coastal communities through infrastructure and business activities

It is recommended that the proposals contemplate at least two European sea basins and assess their impact in different geographical areas. Among the recommended basins are the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, although the projects will also be able to address other European regional seas, such as the Adriatic Sea or the Aegean Sea.

The proposals must be presented by international consortia formed by entities from at least three participating countries. In order to facilitate the search for partners and the creation of consortia, the partnership has made available a specific tool for the search for partners.

More general information about the call:
https://www.bluepartnership.eu/funding-opportunity/sustainable-blue-economy-partnerships-fourth-joint-transnational-call

Participation of the CDTI Innovation

The CDTI Innovation will participate in the call through grants directed to Spanish companies, with an aid intensity of up to 70% of the bankable budget. Each Spanish company that participates in a consortium must submit, through the electronic headquarters of CDTI Innovation, a preliminary PAR request accompanied by a technical report in Spanish that describes the R&D activities and the budget corresponding to its participation in the international proposal.

The deadline for submission of proposals will be open from 14 September to 16 November 2026. The deadline for Spanish companies to submit the preliminary PAR application will be 16 November 2026.

The SBEP is a network of partner institutions from different European countries and other participating countries, together with the European Commission, which makes it possible to coordinate investments in research and innovation and to align national programmes at pan-European level, taking into account the size of the main sea basins and the Atlantic Ocean.

Contact

It is recommended that each partner contacts their agency as soon as possible, as soon as they have a project idea. To receive additional information on the call and personalized advice on the preparation of proposals, you can contact Héctor González, from the Department of International Technological Cooperation of the CDTI Innovation, through the mail hgm@cdti.es.
 

CDTI Innovation

The Center for Technological Development and Innovation, CDTI E.P.E. It is the innovation agency of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, whose objective is the promotion of technological innovation in the business environment. The mission of the CDTI is to ensure that the Spanish business fabric generates and transforms scientific and technical knowledge into globally competitive, sustainable and inclusive growth. In 2025, within the framework of the Strategic Plan 2024-2027, the CDTI provided 2,423 million euros of support to Spanish companies and startups.

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