The European Commission has launched two Calls for Evidence to support the development of the Future Ocean and Water Research and Innovation Strategy, which aims to strengthen Europe’s research and innovation capacity in the fields of oceans and water. The strategy is expected to be adopted by the end of 2026.
The new strategy seeks to enhance Europe’s ability to address growing environmental challenges such as climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, and water scarcity. It will also promote the uptake of research and innovation results and improve coordination among activities carried out at EU, national, and regional levels.
The calls are based on a holistic source-to-sea approach, recognizing the interconnected nature of rivers, lakes, groundwater, coastal areas, and marine ecosystems. In this context:
The Ocean Research and Innovation Call for Evidence focuses on marine ecosystems, ocean observation systems, marine data, and the sustainable blue economy.
The Water Resilience Research and Innovation Call for Evidence addresses freshwater systems, water efficiency, water resilience, and innovative solutions for sustainable water management.
Researchers, innovators, public authorities, industry representatives, civil society organizations, and citizens are invited to submit their views and recommendations through the European Commission’s Have Your Say platform until 2 August 2026. The contributions received will help define Europe’s future research and innovation priorities and inform investment planning for the post-Horizon Europe period.
This initiative constitutes an important component of the European Commission’s ongoing efforts under the European Ocean Pact and the EU Water Resilience Strategy, supporting the development of a more coordinated and impactful research and innovation framework for Europe’s oceans and waters.
Relevant consultation pages can be accessed through the links below: