Maritime regional cooperation fostering Smart Specialisation and Innovation in the Sustainable Blue Economy (Topic 1)
This program, EMFAF-2025-PIA-FLAGSHIP-I3, aims to foster smart specialisation and innovation within the sustainable blue economy across EU sea basins. It supports strategic interregional partnerships that develop and implement highly innovative solutions for pressing maritime challenges, complementing the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument. The initiative is a competitive grant opportunity designed to drive sustainable development in vital blue economy sectors.
Who is Funded
The EMFAF-2025-PIA-FLAGSHIP-I3 program targets a diverse range of entities, including businesses, public bodies, and research institutions, all collaborating within strategic interregional partnerships. Geographically, activities must primarily occur within specific EU sea basins, with a core objective to drive innovation in the sustainable blue economy. The program emphasizes collaboration between different types of organisations to foster a quadruple helix approach to innovation.
What is Funded
This funding program supports a wide array of projects centered on fostering innovation in the sustainable blue economy, covering various sectors from fisheries to renewable energy. Eligible activities focus on developing and implementing cutting-edge solutions. The financial support is structured as a budget-based grant, covering a percentage of actual incurred costs and specifically allowing for depreciation of equipment. Projects are expected to be in later stages of development, aiming for practical implementation and market introduction.
Type and Scope of Funding
The EMFAF-2025-PIA-FLAGSHIP-I3 program provides financial support in the form of grants, with a significant co-financing rate covering most eligible project expenses. The indicative funding amount per project is designed to support impactful initiatives within the sustainable blue economy. Clear guidelines are provided for cost eligibility and how the grant contributes to the overall project budget.
Conditions and Requirements
Adherence to specific conditions and requirements is crucial for applicants and beneficiaries of the EMFAF-2025-PIA-FLAGSHIP-I3 program. These stipulations cover consortium composition, financial capacity, budget allocation, and operational aspects, ensuring strong and well-managed projects. The program also defines eligible costs and emphasizes transparency in reporting.
Application Procedure
The application process for EMFAF-2025-PIA-FLAGSHIP-I3 follows a structured single-stage submission. Proposals are evaluated based on strict criteria, with clear thresholds for success. Applicants are guided through the required documentation and formatting, and support is available for various aspects of the application. The selection process ensures that only the most relevant and impactful projects are awarded funding.
Legal Basis
The EMFAF-2025-PIA-FLAGSHIP-I3 program is firmly grounded in a comprehensive set of legal and official documents, ensuring its legitimacy and guiding its operational framework. These foundational texts include specific EU regulations and broader financial rules governing EU funding.
Similar Programs
Funding Overview
Funding Status:
Closed
Maximum Amount:
2,500,000 €
Allocated Budget:
5,700,000 EUR
Award Channel:
Competitive Tender
Region:
Atlantic waters (Ireland, France, Portugal, Spain, including French North Sea parts), Western Mediterranean waters (France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Malta), Black Sea waters (Bulgaria, Romania), and EU Outermost Regions marine areas. Proposals can target a specific sub-region or adopt a cross-sea basin perspective. Limited activities may extend into neighboring non-EU waters if demonstrably necessary and justified by the project's nature and objectives. The Adriatic Sea (including Croatia, Slovenia, Greece) and other North Sea regions are relevant for cross-basin projects.
Sectors:
Agriculture and Agribusiness, Food Processing, Renewable Energy, Water and Waste Management, Transportation and Logistics, Information and Communication Technology, Green Technology, Research and Development, Service Sector, Tourism, Environmental and Climate Protection, Other
Beneficiaries:
Enterprises in fisheries, aquaculture, marine renewable energy, blue biotechnology, and coastal/maritime tourism; regional administrations, research institutions, and international organizations.
Application Type:
Consortium Required
Funding Stages:
Applied Research, Experimental Development, Prototyping, Pilot Testing, Product Development, Process Optimization, Market Introduction
Funding Provider
Program Level:
European Union
Funding Body:
European Commission
Managed By:
CINEA
Additional Partners:
S3 Thematic Platform for Sustainable Blue Economy, S3 Community of Practice
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