On 21 January, the European Commission presented the 2026 topics under the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027 at the Mission ‘Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030.’ InfoDay. The Work Programme launches the Mission’s sixth round of funding calls, with a total indicative budget of EUR 244 million, including EUR 120 million dedicated to the 2026 topics. Since 2021, 80 Horizon Europe Mission Ocean and Waters projects have received funding, delivering practical solutions to safeguard and restore Europe’s aquatic ecosystems.
Scaling proven solutions
The session highlighted that the 2026-2027 Work Programme targets the Mission’s deployment and upscaling phase (2026–2030), replicating proven solutions to advance Mission Ocean and Waters and European Green Deal objectives. It aims to adapt innovations to new local contexts, speed up the innovation cycle of ocean and water technologies, and leverage funding from EU, national and philanthropic sources.
The event introduced the five 2026 topics, detailing each call’s budget, scope and expected outcomes:
- HORIZON-MISS-2026-03-OCEAN-01: Large-scale demonstration for mapping the distribution and condition of marine habitats to implement the Nature Restoration Regulation.
- HORIZON-MISS-2026-03-OCEAN-02: Addressing aquatic pollution and biodiversity loss through nature positive solutions from source to sea.
- HORIZON-MISS-2026-03-OCEAN-03: By fishers, for fishers: co-management of marine and freshwater ecosystems and resources.
- HORIZON-MISS-2026-03-OCEAN-04: Towards a European network of ocean technology testing sites.
- HORIZON-MISS-2026-03-OCEAN-05: Regional (sea-basins) components of the EU Digital Twin Ocean.
The calls will open on 4 February 2026, with a submission deadline set for 23 September 2026.
The full recording of the InfoDay is available here.