Deadline: 30-Mar-2026
The European Partnership on Animal Health and Welfare (EUPAHW) has launched its 2nd Co-funded Call to support research that improves animal health, welfare, and sustainable livestock, poultry, and aquaculture systems across Europe. The call funds projects on animal welfare throughout the production cycle and on prevention and control of infectious diseases, including responsible antimicrobial use. Funding varies by country, with multi-million-euro opportunities available through national funding agencies.
Overview of the Call
EUPAHW is a European research and innovation partnership that promotes:
• Sustainable livestock, poultry, and aquaculture systems
• Prevention and control of infectious animal diseases
• Responsible antimicrobial use
• High animal welfare standards
• Alignment with the European Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy
The 2nd Co-funded Call supports 12 priority Research Actions outlined in the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA).
The overall vision is to ensure resilient, productive, and sustainable animal production systems that protect:
• Animal health
• Animal welfare
• Public health
• Environmental sustainability
• Food safety
Strategic Objectives
EUPAHW aims to:
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Prevent and manage infectious animal diseases using innovative tools
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Reduce antimicrobial resistance through responsible antimicrobial use
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Improve welfare conditions across the entire production cycle
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Strengthen collaboration between research bodies, authorities, industry, and NGOs
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Promote preventive and sustainable farming practices
The partnership integrates animal health and welfare with socio-economic and environmental dimensions.
Research Topics Under the 2nd Co-funded Call
Proposals must address one of two main topics:
Topic 1: Animal Welfare Across the Production Cycle
Projects may focus on:
• Welfare at birth and rearing
• Welfare during transport
• Humane slaughter practices
• Positive welfare indicators
• On-farm welfare assessment technologies
• Transport assessment systems
• Innovative livestock and poultry transport systems
Socio-economic analysis is encouraged, including:
• Trade-offs between welfare improvements and environmental impacts
• Economic implications for farmers and industry
• Societal acceptance and consumer perspectives
Topic 2: Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases
Projects should aim to:
• Develop innovative therapeutics and vaccines
• Reduce antimicrobial use
• Improve disease resilience in production systems
• Standardize and improve diagnostic tools
• Study pathogen transmission dynamics
Certain research actions require mandatory industrial collaboration.
Socio-economic research may complement these projects to assess impacts on sustainability and productivity.
Funding Structure by Country
Funding is provided by national agencies across Europe. Amounts and durations vary.
Below is a structured summary:
Austria
• Agency: FWF
• Up to €1,600,000 per project
• €450,000–€800,000 per partner
• Grant period: 4 years
Belgium
• F.R.S.-FNRS: €300,000 (1 year)
• FIO: Up to €800,000 (2 years)
• FPS Health: Up to €495,000 (3–4 years)
• FWO: €700,000 (2–3 years)
Denmark
• IFD: Up to €1,000,000
• €300,000–€500,000 per partner
• 3–5 years
Estonia
• ETAG: €150,000–€300,000
• 1 year
Finland
• MMM: €400,000
• €200,000–€300,000 per partner
• 2 years
France
• ANR: Up to €2,000,000
• €300,000–€1,000,000 per partner
• 5–7 years
Germany
• BMLEH/BLE: Up to €750,000
• Grant period not specified
Ireland
• DAFM: €650,000
• €325,000 per partner
• 2–3 years
Italy
• MOH: €500,000
• €150,000–€350,000 per partner
• Grant period not specified
Baltic States
• Latvia (LZP): Up to €500,000 (1–2 years)
• Lithuania (LMT): €300,000 (1–2 years)
• ZUM: €120,000 (1 year)
Netherlands
• MINLVVN: Up to €2,000,000
• €350,000–€1,000,000 per partner
• 5–7 years
Norway
• RCN (Terrestrial): €1,280,000 (4–5 years)
• RCN (Aquatic): €1,020,000 (3–4 years)
Romania
• ANC: €500,000
• ANSVSA: €500,000 (2 years)
Slovakia
• CVTISR: Up to €600,000
• Grant period not specified
Spain
• AEI: €1,000,000 (5–7 years)
• CDTI: €400,000 (2 years)
Türkiye
• TAGEM: €200,000 (4 years)
• TUBITAK: €600,000 (4 years)
United Kingdom
• DEFRA: Up to €2,300,000 (4 years)
• BBSRC: €4,315,000 (5 years)
This decentralized funding model enables multinational consortia with country-specific financial support.
Who Is Eligible?
Eligible applicants include:
• Universities and higher education institutions
• Public research institutions
• Non-profit organizations
• Private companies
• Civil society organizations
Eligibility depends on national regulations of the participating funding body.
Non-eligible partners may join with their own funding but cannot act as project coordinators.
How the Application Process Works
Step 1: Form an International Consortium
Use the partnering tool provided by EUPAHW to identify collaborators.
Step 2: Align With SRIA Research Actions
Ensure your proposal matches one of the 12 priority Research Actions.
Step 3: Check National Eligibility Rules
Confirm funding limits and conditions with your national funding agency.
Step 4: Develop a Scientific and Innovation Proposal
Include:
• Clear objectives
• Methodology
• Expected outcomes
• Socio-economic impact analysis
• Industrial collaboration (if required)
Step 5: Submit According to Call Guidelines
Follow both European-level and national-level submission requirements.
Why This Call Matters
This call is important because:
• Infectious animal diseases threaten food systems and public health
• Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global risk
• Sustainable production systems are central to climate goals
• Animal welfare expectations are increasing across Europe
• Research collaboration accelerates innovation
The initiative directly supports European sustainability strategies while strengthening food system resilience.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Ignoring national eligibility rules
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Failing to include required industrial partners
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Overlooking socio-economic impact analysis
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Submitting proposals outside the 12 priority Research Actions
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Weak integration of animal health and welfare components
Strong proposals integrate science, innovation, sustainability, and stakeholder collaboration.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is EUPAHW?
EUPAHW is a European research partnership focused on improving animal health, welfare, and sustainable production systems.
2. What are the two main research topics?
Animal welfare across the production cycle and prevention and control of infectious diseases.
3. Is industrial collaboration mandatory?
For certain Research Actions under the prevention and control topic, yes.
4. Can private companies apply?
Yes, subject to national funding rules.
5. Can non-funded partners join a consortium?
Yes, but they must use their own resources and cannot coordinate the project.
6. How long can projects last?
Project durations vary by country, ranging from 1 to 7 years depending on the funding agency.
7. Does the call support aquaculture projects?
Yes. Livestock, poultry, and aquaculture systems are all eligible under the program scope.
Conclusion
The European Partnership on Animal Health and Welfare 2nd Co-funded Call provides substantial funding opportunities for collaborative research that strengthens sustainable animal production systems across Europe.
By integrating animal welfare, infectious disease prevention, antimicrobial stewardship, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic analysis, the call supports a resilient and future-ready livestock and aquaculture sector aligned with European climate and food system strategies.
For more information, visit EUPAHW.
