Experimental local action for EU missions: knowledge institutions as focal points of transdisciplinary research and innovation activities with European outreach

1. Purpose of the call The call is published as part of the implementation of the European RISTANC project, which is financed by the Horizon Europe programme. The project contributes to the implementation of the EU Mission “Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030”, with a focus on the Slovenian marine area, which is prt of the cross-border North Adriatic region. 2. Key challenges The call encourages projects that contribute to addressing the following thematic areas: • The establishment and management of moorings in the Slovenian sea for recreational and tourist vessels that prevent damage to marine seabed habitats, • The planning and implementation of interventions in the coastal zone of the Slovenian sea that harmonise the various needs and interests of people and the environment, • Other measures in the Slovenian sea area (and potentially beyond) that contribute to the objectives of the EU Mission “Restore Our Ocean & Waters”, such as reducing pollution in the marine environment (including plastic and other waste), the conservation and restoration of marine ecosystems, and the development of a sustainable blue economy. 3. Eligible activities Activities eligible under the call are those that contribute to the objectives of the RISTANC project and the EU Mission “Restore Our Ocean & Waters”, and address one or more of the challenges listed inthe call. The following types of activities, in particular, are eligible: • Experimental activities (projects implementing innovative approaches in support of the Mission “Restore Our Ocean & Waters”, i.e. for the cleaning, protection, or restoration of the marine environment, or for the establishment of a zero-emission, circular, and sustainable blue economy). • Prototype development (activities focused on developing prototypes to solve specific challenges related to marine ecosystems). • Feasibility studies and scoping (assessing the feasibility of larger-scale measures). • Research and innovation (initiatives to research new methods or technologies that contribute to reducing pollution and to the protection or restoration of biodiversity, including improvements to regulatory frameworks and governance structures). • Artistic, cultural and community activities (initiatives and programmes that use art and culture to engage local communities in pollution prevention, nature protection and restoration, and awareness campaigns on ocean health and related human well-being). • Educational activities and capacity-building initiatives (education, training and workshops for stakeholders, children, young people and adults, including professionals, to strengthen knowledge, competencies and skills in sustainable practices related to reducing pollution, the conservation or restoration of biodiversity, and the sustainable blue economy). • Monitoring and citizen science activities (activities to assess the effectiveness and impacts of implemented solutions on marine ecosystems, citizen science activities). • Knowledge brokering and transfer (activities that translate existing research results into actionable evidence for policy-making or practice, such as synthesis reports, policy recommendations, stakeholder dialogues, living labs, etc.; also includes institutions as focal points for transdisciplinary research and innovation activities with European reach). • A combination of the above activities. Proposed projects must contribute to the development of sustainable and inclusive solutions for challenges facing the marine environment in the North Adriatic area. 4. Duration The project shall commence on the date the funding agreement is signed (no earlier than 1.1.2027) and may last for a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 12 months. Regardless of the project duration, it must be completed by 28 February 2028 at the latest.