Biggest European Grant and Funding Opportunities for Marine Projects

Europe offers several major funding sources for marine science, technology, sustainability, and blue-economy innovation:

European Commission Programmes

• Horizon Europe – The EU’s flagship research & innovation programme funds wide-ranging marine research, including blue growth, ocean sustainability and climate resilience.

• European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) – A dedicated EU fund for sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, marine ecosystems and coastal economies (2021–2027). 

• LIFE Programme – The EU environmental and climate action fund also supports projects tied to marine biodiversity, pollution reduction, habitat protection, and water quality. 

European Research Agencies

• European Research Council (ERC) – Provides competitive research grants, including for frontier marine science and ocean studies. 

• Joint European Disruptive Initiative (JEDI) – A Paris-based funding agency investing in breakthrough technologies with themes that include oceans and environment. 

Partnerships & Networks

• Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership – Co-funds transnational calls targeting innovation across marine sectors with contributions from 38 funding bodies and the EU.

• European Marine Biological Resource Centre (EMBRC) – While not a funding agency per se, EMBRC helps researchers access EU and transnational access funding for marine labs and infrastructures.

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