GBI is looking for partners from Europe to build a consortium to apply for this Horizon Europe Call in collaboration with partners from India. 

The Horizon Europe Call for proposals on the cumulative impacts of marine pollution on marine organisms and ecosystems is now open. This call is a joint effort under the EU-India Strategic Partnership and the EU-India Trade and Technology Council (TTC) Working Group 2 (WG2) commitment to Research & Innovation on marine pollution. It is jointly supported by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, and the European Commission through the Horizon Europe programme.

The call aims to investigate the harmful effects of various marine pollutants, including persistent organic pollutants (POPs), pharmaceuticals, PFAS, heavy metals, microplastics, and other contaminants, on marine life and human health.

Call Details

Horizon Europe Call ID: HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-05

Closing Date: 17 September 2025 (17:00 CET)

Total Budget

• MoES: INR 90 Crore (for Indian consortium))
• Horizon Europe: EUR 12 million (for EU consortium)

Maximum Funding per Project

• MoES: INR ~45 Crore per project for Indian Consortium
• Horizon Europe: EUR ~6 million per project for EU Consortium

Expected Outcomes

• Improved scientific understanding of the interaction and degradation of pollutants in marine ecosystems.
• Enhanced risk assessment of pollutants’ cumulative impacts on marine organisms and human health.
• Insights for policymakers on the triple planetary crises (climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution) affecting marine life.
• Strengthened cooperation between the EU and Indian research communities on marine pollution.

Scope

This initiative focuses on the negative effects of marine pollutants on marine species and ecosystems, as well as their risks to human health.

Proposals should address:

• Development of new tools and methods for pollutant detection.
• Assessing the risks and ecotoxicological effects of pollutants on marine organisms.
• Studying the cumulative impacts of pollutants and their interplay with climate change.
• Examining bioaccumulation and biomagnification in the marine food chain and implications for human health.

This call is a significant step towards reinforcing EU-India cooperation on marine pollution research, with joint funding totalling approximately INR 180 Crore from the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, for Indian organisations, alongside funding through the EU’s Horizon Europe programme for EU Member States/Associated Countries (MS/AC).

Please contact Harsha Lingam (hlingam [at] globalbusinessinroads.com (hlingam[at]globalbusinessinroads[dot]com)) or Debayan Bose (dbose [at] globalbusinessinroads.com (dbose[at]globalbusinessinroads[dot]com)) for further details.

Horizon EU Horizon Europe marine resources marine technology