Cofunded by the European Union

The results of the first step of the second Water4All Joint Transnational Call for research and innovation projects have now been communicated to the applicants. The online platform (EPSS) to submit the full proposal is open.

The Water4All partnership, co-funded by the European Union within the frame of Horizon Europe research and innovation programme, is pleased to announce the results of the first step of the Water4All 2023 Joint Transnational Call on “Aquatic Ecosystem Services”.

Over 30 M€ have been provisionally allocated for this Joint Transnational Call by 36 participating Funding Partner Organisations (FPOs) from 30 countries, in collaboration with the European Union. 

Research & innovation proposals are addressing at least one of the following topics: 

  • Topic 1: Mapping, monitoring, and assessment for a better understanding of ecosystem services in a context of changes, from local to global change.
  • Topic 2: Understanding and predicting multiple pressures (including anthropogenic pressures) - impact – response relationships in ecosystem services through advanced methods and techniques.
  • Topic 3: New tools and solutions for better integration of ecosystem services into the management of water resources.

The received pre-proposals have been assessed for eligibility by the Call Secretariat and the FPOs, and evaluated by a panel of international scientific experts. A total of 116 pre-proposals were submitted in the first step, and 59 pre-proposals have now been invited to submit a full proposal for the second step. The online platform (EPSS) to submit the full proposal is open from 28 February 2024 to 29 April 2024 (15:00 CEST).

Expression of interest for the 2023 Water4All Knowledge Hub

Applicants invited to submit a full proposal can still join the 2023 Water4All Knowledge Hub on Aquatic Ecosystem Services. Joining the Knowledge Hub activities is an opportunity to valorise the outcomes and increase the outreach of R&I project results to key stakeholders. To express interest in joining the Knowledge Hub, please consult the Knowledge Hub modality that can be found in the call announcement and Annex C – Terms of reference of the Water4All Knowledge Hub.

Widening Option

Furthermore, the applicants of the full proposals can include in their consortia, either on request of the funding partner organisations (FPOs) or voluntarily (if maximum changes allowed not reached, see 6.2 of call announcement), a new partner established in one of the undersubscribed countries: Belgium (limited to VLAIO), Italy (limited to MIMIT), Malta (MEEE), Israel (MoE), Lithuania (LMT), Slovakia (SAS), South Africa (WRC), Turkey (TUBITAK), Brazil (CNPq and CONFAP: all FAPs expect FA and FAPEMIG).

Organisations interested in joining a consortium, which is invited to submit a full proposal, can declare their interest on the Water4All partnering tool. To facilitate contact with the coordinator of the full proposal, organisations are encouraged, when declaring their interest in the partnering tool, to include the acronym of the proposal they want to join. Interested organisations can also check if invited consortia have submitted an offer on the partnering tool.

Organisations wanting to join existing consortia shall verify in advance their national eligibility criteria both through the National Regulations and by contacting their appropriate FPO contact point, (please see Annex A - NCPs and matrix of topics and modalities for details). The inclusion of a new partner should be approved by the consortium and all FPOs involved in the consortium.

Please note that the eligible changes between step 1 (pre-proposal stage) and step 2 (full proposal stage) are those complying with paragraph 6.2 of the Call Announcement. The information given in the pre-proposals is binding. No major changes regarding the proposals’ content will be allowed between the pre-proposals and full proposals. Take this into account when adding new partners to the consortium!

More information...
For more details on the Knowledge Hub opportunity and the Widening Option, visit the 2023 Joint Transnational Call webpage.

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The Water4All Partnership - Water Security for the Planet - is a funding programme for scientific research in freshwater. It aims to tackle water challenges to face climate change, help to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and boost the EU’s competitiveness and growth.

It is co-funded by the European Union within the frame of the Horizon Europe programme (a key funding programme for research and innovation). The Partnership duration is for seven years from 2022.

The Water4All objective is to enable water security at a large scale and in the long term. Its goal is also to tackle water issues in a holistic frame. 

All forms of life on earth need water. All human activities operate with this resource. Water is part of our everyday life. It is also integrated within urban and countryside landscapes. It is one of the most valuable elements we share with plants and animals.

These simple facts must be kept in mind to understand the Water4All ambition.

This resource is weakened in many places due to climate changes, and human habits. We know that we can improve the way we use water. Everyone has a role to play and especially the scientific research community.

Scientific research is the heart of the Partnership as It is a powerful tool to improve knowledge on preserving, restoring, and managing this essential resource. 

International cooperation is also needed as water has no borders on Earth and runs from one country to another.

Water4All brings together a broad and cohesive group of 90 partners from 33 countries in the European Union and beyond. This consortium gathers partners from the whole water Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) chain.