Environmental biotechnology applications in service of remediation of polluted ecosystems

Topic updates

18 September 2025

PROPOSAL NUMBERS

Call HORIZON-CL6-2025-01 has closed on 17/09/2025

515 proposals have been submitted.

The breakdown per topic is:

·HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-03  :          35 

Evaluation results are expected to be communicated in January 2026.

11 June 2025
Please note that due to a technical issue, during the first days of publication of this call, the topic page did not display the description of the corresponding destination. This problem is now solved. In addition to the information published in the topic page, you can always find a full description of the 7 destinations (Biodiversity and ecosystem services; Fair, healthy and environment-friendly food systems from primary production to consumption; Circular economy and bioeconomy sectors; Clean environment and zero pollution; Land, ocean and water for climate action; Resilient, inclusive, healthy and green rural, coastal and urban communities; Innovative governance, environmental observations and digital solutions in support of the Green Deal) that are relevant for the call in the Work Programme 2025 part for “Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment”. Please select from the work programme the destination relevant to your topic and take into account the description and expected impacts of that destination for the preparation of your proposal.

Environmental biotechnology applications in service of remediation of polluted ecosystems

TOPIC ID: HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-03

Type of grant: Call for proposals

General information

Programme:

Call: Cluster 6 Call 01 - single stage (HORIZON-CL6-2025-01)

Type of action: HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions

Type of MGA: HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS]

Status: Open for submission

Deadline model: single-stage

Opening Date: 06 May 2025

Deadline dates: 17 September 2025 17:00 (Brussels time)

Topic description

Expected Outcome:

In line with the zero pollution action plan, successful proposals will address the remediation of polluted ecosystems through bio-based and nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change, in accordance with the European Climate Law.

Project results are expected to contribute to all the following expected outcomes:

• engage public authorities, scientists and operators in the protection and restoration of ecosystems through bio-based and nature-based solutions;
• integrate in local, regional and national plans and strategies for ecosystems restoration, bio-based and nature-based solutions able to remediate degraded soil, sediment, surface water and groundwater affected by pollutants and threats such as salinization, and improve their resilience to climate change and/or their capacity to reduce greenhouse gases emissions/increase carbon removals;
• take advantage of innovative tools enabled by digital innovation, including AI, for the remediation of pollution in emergency conditions.

Scope:

Degradation of soil, sediment and water due to anthropogenic causes may result from continuous exposure to pollution and/or unsustainable exploitation, but also from sudden accidents. Degradation may be exacerbated by negative effects of climate change or other threats (e.g., heat waves, fires, floods and landslides, soil/coastal erosion, ocean acidification, etc.). Moreover, in case both the exposure of soil, sediment and water to degrading factors and their vulnerability are high, whereas their resilience is low, the degradation may take the dimension of a disaster. The scope of this topic is the remediation of contaminated soil, sediment and water from pollutants, such as hazardous chemicals, pharmaceutical and waste, including litter and plastics, and their further restoration, including in case of accidents and disasters driven by anthropogenic activities and extreme climate and environmental events. The results from projects funded under this topic will contribute to one of the restoration measures included in the Nature Restoration Regulation to (Annex VII, point (32) Stop, reduce or remediate pollution from pharmaceuticals, hazardous chemicals, urban and industrial wastewater, and other waste including litter and plastics as well as light in all ecosystems). Project results will also help Member States to implement national adaptation strategies that promote nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change, in accordance with the European Climate Law.

Proposals should:

• select and analyse a set of case-studies of degraded soil, sediment and water affected by pollution and contaminants in the EU and Associated Countries. This could include cases where the degradation is exacerbated by climate change or biodiversity loss or other natural events or anthropogenic forcings;
• include a task in the project to develop bio-based solutions for the environmental remediation of the degraded soil, sediment and water in the selected case-studies, driven by biotechnology applications, and the integration of such bio-based solutions with nature-based solutions. The task should include the assessment of the alignment with the precautionary principle, environmental sustainability and efficiency of the developed solutions in remediating soil, sediment and water, also addressing biodiversity loss and the functional state of the ecosystems. Moreover, it should evaluate the improvement of resilience to the impacts of climate change on the affected ecosystems, due to the applications of the developed solutions;
• include a task in the project on the development of models enabled by digital innovation, including based on artificial intelligence, for the optimization of remediation approaches, also in case of emergency facing disaster sand extreme climate and environmental events like fires, droughts, floods, etc.;
• identify and assess the economic, social and safety risks and benefits of the remediation activities in the selected case-studies, in particular in terms of circular economy and of the reduction of the risks for human health resulting from exposure to the contaminants (e.g., vulnerable populations, integrating the gender dimension). The risk reduction should take into consideration the bioavailability and mobility of the contaminants, including heavy metals, other metals (e.g., the ones used in electronic devices, Li, REE, etc.), plastics and organic chemicals (i.e., PFAS, PAHs, pesticides, etc.);
• include a task in the project to deliver the overall environmental, economic, social and safety risk assessment for the developed integrated bio-based and nature-based solutions.

Proposals should include a task dedicated to sharing methodologies and findings with all projects funded under this topic and with similar recent or ongoing projects, e.g., those funded under the topic HORIZON-CL6-2021-ZEROPOLLUTION-01-10: Environmental services: improved bioremediation and revitalization strategies for soil, sediments and water, or under the topic HORIZON-CL6-2023-ZEROPOLLUTION-01-6: Biosensors and user-friendly diagnostic tools for environmental services.

Integrating Citizen Science in research approach is encouraged to contribute to the selection and analysis of case-studies of degraded ecosystems. This topic requires the effective contribution of SSH disciplines, including citizen social science approach and gender studies, especially for the risk assessment on human health. Multi-actor approach and international cooperation are encouraged.

The JRC may contribute with its expertise related to chemical pollutants in the environment and bio-based approaches, as well as to the interface between the research activities and regulatory aspects.

Start submission

To access the Electronic Submission Service, please click on the submission-button next to the type of action and the type of model grant agreement that corresponds to your proposal. You will then be asked to confirm your choice, as it cannot be changed in the submission system. Upon confirmation, you will be linked to the correct entry point.

To access existing draft proposals for this topic, please login to the Funding & Tenders Portal and select the My Proposals page of the My Area section.

Get support

Please read carefully all provisions below before the preparation of your application.

Online Manual is your guide on the procedures from proposal submission to managing your grant.

Horizon Europe Programme Guide contains the detailed guidance to the structure, budget and political priorities of Horizon Europe.

Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – find the answers to most frequently asked questions on submission of proposals, evaluation and grant management.

Research Enquiry Service – ask questions about any aspect of European research in general and the EU Research Framework Programmes in particular.

National Contact Points (NCPs) – get guidance, practical information and assistance on participation in Horizon Europe. There are also NCPs in many non-EU and non-associated countries (‘third-countries’).

Enterprise Europe Network – contact your EEN national contact for advice to businesses with special focus on SMEs. The support includes guidance on the EU research funding.

IT Helpdesk – contact the Funding & Tenders Portal IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc.

European IPR Helpdesk assists you on intellectual property issues.

CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk – the European Standards Organisations advise you how to tackle standardisation in your project proposal.

The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment – consult the general principles and requirements specifying the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers, employers and funders of researchers.

Partner Search help you find a partner organisation for your proposal.