A pre-announcement has been published for the 4th Joint Transnational Research and Innovation Call (Joint Transnational Call – JTC) to be launched under the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP).
With a total budget of approximately €37 million, contributed by 35 funding organisations from 28 countries, the call aims to support transnational research and innovation projects that will contribute to Europe's transition towards a sustainable blue economy. As in the 2025 Call, projects funded under this call will be co-branded under the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (UN Ocean Decade) to enhance their visibility.
Project proposals will be supported under the following four priority areas:
- Priority Area 1: Transitioning the blue economy sectors for sustainability and strategic autonomy
- Priority Area 2: Managing sea-uses by advancing digital and ecosystem-based approaches
- Priority Area 3: Promoting sustainable blue bioresources through innovation in marine production and harvesting
- Priority Area 4: Building resilience in coastal communities with infrastructure and businesses
The indicative timeline for the call is as follows:
- Call launch: 14 September 2026 (The call documents have not yet been published.)
- Pre-proposal submission deadline: 16 November 2026
- Full proposal submission deadline: 14 June 2027
To facilitate consortium building, the SBEP Partner Search Tool has already been made available for researchers and organisations seeking project partners. The platform enables users to share project ideas and establish international collaborations.