In the coming years, Horizon Europe, the European Union’s flagship research and innovation programme, will place strong emphasis on one of its most ambitious initiatives: the Mission “Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030.” Far more than a classic environmental project, this mission represents a systemic effort to connect science, innovation, policy, and society in addressing the degradation of Europe’s marine and freshwater ecosystems.
The mission responds to a clear scientific and societal diagnosis: Europe’s seas, rivers, lakes, and coastal zones are under mounting pressure from pollution, biodiversity loss, climate change, and unsustainable resource use. Research funding under Horizon Europe is therefore increasingly oriented not only toward understanding these processes, but toward testing, demonstrating, and scaling solutions that can deliver measurable impact.
Three Strategic Pillars
At the core of the mission are three tightly interlinked objectives:
1. Restoring and protecting ecosystems and biodiversity
Funding will support research and large-scale demonstrations aimed at rehabilitating degraded marine and freshwater habitats—from seagrass meadows and wetlands to river systems and coastal zones. Scientific knowledge is expected to translate into concrete restoration actions aligned with EU nature policies.
2. Preventing and eliminating water pollution
A second priority is tackling pollution “from source to sea.” This includes nutrients, plastics, chemical contaminants, and other stressors that accumulate along river basins and ultimately affect marine ecosystems. Nature-based solutions and integrated watershed approaches are particularly encouraged.
3. Enabling a sustainable, climate-neutral blue economy
The mission also targets innovation in fisheries, aquaculture, maritime transport, and other water-related sectors, promoting circular, low-carbon models that reconcile economic activity with ecosystem health.
Together, these pillars align with broader EU frameworks such as the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the Zero Pollution Action Plan, and the European Climate Law.
What Will Be Funded in 2026?
Within the Horizon Europe 2026–2027 Work Programme, the Mission “Restore Our Ocean and Waters” will open a new set of calls in 2026, with an indicative budget exceeding €115 million. The funding is designed for collaborative projects involving universities, research institutes, companies, public authorities, and civil society actors.
The main thematic directions include:
- Large-scale demonstrations for mapping and restoring marine habitats, supporting the implementation of EU nature restoration policies.
- Innovative solutions to reduce pollution and biodiversity loss, using ecosystem-based and nature-based approaches across entire river–sea systems.
- Co-developed governance models for fisheries and freshwater management, created in partnership with local communities and stakeholders.
- A European network of marine and freshwater testing sites, accelerating the transition of new technologies from laboratories to real-world environments.
- Key components of the “EU Digital Twin Ocean,” a virtual, data-driven representation of ocean systems that will enable real-time monitoring, scenario testing, and evidence-based decision-making.
From Knowledge to Action
A defining feature of this funding stream is its strong focus on deployment and scalability. Projects are expected to move beyond isolated research results and demonstrate how scientific insights can inform policy, guide management decisions, and be replicated across regions and basins. Digital tools, open data, and stakeholder engagement are central to this approach.
In this sense, the mission reflects a broader shift in European science funding: from producing knowledge alone to ensuring that knowledge actively shapes environmental governance and societal choices.
A European Contribution to Global Challenges
Led by the European Commission, the Mission “Restore Our Ocean and Waters” also positions Europe as a global actor in ocean and water sustainability. While focused on European waters, its scientific outputs, technological solutions, and governance models are intended to contribute to international efforts under frameworks such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Conclusion
European research funding is increasingly being mobilised as a strategic tool for environmental transformation. Through the Mission “Restore Our Ocean and Waters,” Horizon Europe is investing not just in understanding ecological crises, but in building the scientific, technological, and social foundations needed to reverse them. The 2026 calls mark an important step toward turning scientific ambition into tangible restoration of Europe’s waters—by 2030 and beyond.
Main sources
- European Commission – Mission “Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030” (Horizon Europe)
- Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026–2027: Mission Restore Our Ocean and Waters
- EU Research & Innovation policy documents on biodiversity, zero pollution, and climate action