AQUARIUS Funding Call – Marine and Freshwater Infrastructure Access: Open 02 September 2025 – 28 October 2025
Our Vision for the Future
Marine and freshwater systems extend beyond national borders, scientific research on these systems must do the same.
This is where the European Research Area (ERA) comes in. This EU policy framework creates a single, integrated market enabling the free movement of researchers, innovation, and knowledge across borders, strengthening Europe’s autonomy, security, and global leadership in research and innovation.
AQUARIUS implements this vision. For the first time, it brings together and provides transnational access to a unique and diverse catalogue of research infrastructures (RIs) for observing and analysing marine and freshwater ecosystems. AQUARIUS enables research, levels the playing field for scientists, wherever they are from, and strengthens Europe’s capacity to address complex environmental challenges.
1. Research Vessels
2. Mobile Marine Observation Platforms
3. (Gliders, AUVs, USVs, ROVs, Ferrybox systems)
4. Fixed Marine Facilities (Databuoys, seafloor observatories)
5. Experimental Research Facilities
6. River and Basin Supersites
7. Aircraft
8. Drones
9. Satellite Services
10. Data Centers & Virtual Labs
Full view
Terminology
- Research infrastructures (RIs) are facilities, resources and services used by the research community to conduct research and promote innovation.
- Transnational Access (TA) allows researchers to use leading RIs across borders.
Transnational Access to Marine and Freshwater RIs can help address complex challenges
Protecting and restoring ocean and freshwater health
Support and
resilience of coastal and island communities and outermost regions
Competitiveness
of the EU sustainable blue economy
Water
resilience
The energy transition
The impacts of climate change
Biodiversity loss
Sharing research infrastructures across borders represents a high-impact, cost-effective way of advancing marine and freshwater science that maximises the value of major national and European investments in these facilities.
Transnational access levels the playing field
- Fair and merit-based access to state-of-the-art facilities, regardless of where scientists are based
- Cross-border collaboration, network building and skills exchange
- Efficient use of public investments Stronger, more connected European science
How does it work?
Transnational Access Funding Calls are competitive funding opportunities that cover the costs for researchers to access and use research infrastructures from another country.
Funded projects
Projects funded under the first AQUARIUS Call cover topics as diverse as hydrography and ocean currents impact on climate in the North Atlantic, impacts of ocean processes on biodiversity in the Mediterranean, harmful algal blooms and processes across the land-sea interface in the Black Sea, and volatile organic compound emissions in the Baltic.
AQUARIUS offer beyond access to Research Infrastructures
- Early Career Training (Summer Schools, Internships, Floating Universities)
- FAIR Data Approach
- Research visibility for higher impact!
The role of FAIR data
AQUARIUS ensures that data from funded projects is safeguarded and made widely accessible. AQUARIUS funded projects commit to deliver open and FAIR data (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable) to key European data service such as EMODnet, Copernicus, and the European Digital Twin Ocean, making this information a shared resource that informs policy, drives innovation, and supports the sustainable management and restoration of aquatic ecosystems.
AQUARIUS Legacy
Beyond supporting excellent science and research, AQUARIUS supports implementation of a range of ambitious policies, initiatives and strategic activities for Europe. Sustaining the project’s benefits as a long-term AQUARIUS service will be a crucial legacy, with multiplying value for European science and policy.