Innovative solutions for the European Water Resilience Strategy
Funds innovative projects to restore water cycles, promote water-smart economies, and ensure clean, affordable water in support of the European Water Resilience Strategy.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
European Commission has archived this opportunity.
Funder: European Commission
Due Dates: April 8, 2027 (Stage 1) | September 14, 2027 (Stage 2)
Funding Amounts: €11,000,000 total; ~€5.5 million per project; 2 projects expected; lump sum funding; project duration typically 36-48 months
Summary: Supports breakthrough innovations to implement the European Water Resilience Strategy, restoring water cycles, advancing water-smart economies, and ensuring clean, affordable water for all.
Key Information: Two-stage application; mandatory multi-actor approach; lump sum grant model applies.
Description
This Horizon Europe Innovation Action funds projects that deliver innovative solutions for the European Water Resilience Strategy. The call seeks creative or disruptive approaches that contribute to restoring the water cycle, enabling water-smart economies, and ensuring clean, affordable water for all EU citizens. Projects should focus on demonstration, testing, or validation of new tools and solutions, and must involve key stakeholders such as farmers, water-intensive industries, energy producers, land managers, water governance bodies, and local authorities.
Applicants are encouraged to address topics such as:
- Retaining water in natural ecosystems (including groundwater and river restoration)
- Enhancing preparedness for water scarcity, droughts, and floods
- Improving hydrological and ecological monitoring, with cross-border collaboration and open data
- Developing water efficiency techniques and indicators
- Proposing water pricing and certification systems to support sustainable management
- Upscaling water reuse and recycling, including potable applications
- Increasing public engagement in water resource protection and river basin management
- Ensuring equitable access to affordable water, especially for vulnerable groups
- Developing methodologies to improve water consumption patterns
Collaboration with other projects funded under this topic is required to maximise impact and avoid duplication. Proposals must implement a multi-actor approach and outline plans for future uptake and scaling at various governance levels.
