Deadline: 31 January 2019
European Commission is inviting proposals for its Blue Labs grant program with an aim at promoting innovative laboratories (“Blue Labs”) to pilot new and economically viable solutions addressing selected maritime and marine challenges and opportunities.
The focus of this action is to support young scientists supported by experienced researchers, industry and local stakeholders, to team up and develop innovative technologies, products and services in support of a sustainable blue economy, preserving marine resources and ecosystems.
Themes
For this topic, we seek to fund projects that will develop innovative solutions relating to one of the following themes. Applicants must select only one of the following specific themes per proposal:
- Blue bio-remediation: e.g. exploiting metabolites, biomolecules, enzymes and genes from micro-organisms living in extreme marine environments in order to develop new technologies, products or services which can solve problems such as pollution, disposal of hazardous materials, etc.;
- Unexploded ordnances at sea: e.g. development of innovative solutions and tools (algorithm, artificial intelligence systems, methods and standards) to identify and recognize different types of unexploded ordnances, to detect their deterioration (e.g. corrosion state, release of toxins, movement) and their impact on the environment, to disarm, safely remove and demolish ammunition from the sea, including to sense and neutralise chemical agents;
- Innovative marina and leisure boat design: e.g. development of technological solutions/products and services for marinas to adapt to changing demand from customers (e.g. access to marinas and boats for an ageing population; ICToriented requirements from young people) and/or address environmental challenges (e.g. safe dismantling and recycling of leisure boats); Marine biomass and blue-bioeconomy: e.g. development of new technological solutions/products and approaches to add value to otherwise low value marine biomass, including jellyfish, algae, mollusc shells, and fish (also fish products for non-direct human consumption);
- Ecofriendly aquaculture : e.g. establishment of new markets, product support, and adaptation of existing production towards the most eco-friendly and sustainable practices such as multi-species, multi-product production (e.g. Integrated MultiTrophic Aquaculture and aquaponics).
Funding Information
- Indicative budget: EUR 5,000,000
- Estimated EU contribution per project: Between EUR 500,000 and EUR 1,000,000.
- Number of projects to be funded: EASME expects to fund approximately six proposals.
Eligibility Criteria
- In order to be eligible for a grant, the applicants must:
- be legal persons
- belong to one of the following categories: private entities, public entities, or international organisations
- be directly responsible for the preparation and management of the project with the other applicants, i.e. not acting as an intermediary
- be established in an EU Member State (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)) or for projects with activities extending to neighbouring waters outside the territory of the EU:
- be established in one of the following eligible non-EU countries:
- for activities related to the EU Atlantic Sea Strategy: Canada and United States of America;
- for activities related to the EU Baltic Sea Strategy: Belarus, Iceland, Norway and Russia;
- for activities related to the Adriatic-Ionian Macro-regional Strategy: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia;
- for activities related to the Union for the Mediterranean (including the Western Mediterranean Framework for Action): Algeria, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, Turkey;
- for activities related to the Black Sea Synergy: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine;
- for activities related to the waters of an EU Outermost Region: the countries with neighbouring waters. and
- be necessary for the implementation of the project (in view of its nature and its objectives).
- be established in one of the following eligible non-EU countries:
- Natural persons are NOT eligible.
- EU bodies (with the exception of the European Commission Joint Research Centre) can NOT be part of the consortium.
- The applications must be submitted by a consortium complying with the following conditions:
- Minimum two legal entities from two different countries. One of these must act as the consortium coordinator, while the others will act as partners. Applications by single applicants are NOT allowed.
- The consortium must comprise at least:
- one scientific/research body/institution (such as a higher education institution, research centre, technology institute) and
- one business entity (such as companies, business associations).
- Other entities such as local authorities, NGOs, public and financial institutions etc. can also be included based on the scope and the expected results of the project proposal.
- International organisations are eligible as additional partners.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted via given website.
For more information, please visit European Commission.