EU Digital Twin Ocean: Contribution to the EU DTO core infrastructure through applications for sustainable ocean management
Mission Restore our Ocean, seas and waters by 2030
Funding Amount
Amount not specified
Deadline
24/09/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution
Trusted by
What is the EU Digital Twin Ocean: Contribution to the EU DTO core infrastructure through applications for sustainable ocean management Call?
Grant Description
This call seeks to develop user-driven digital twin ocean applications on the European Digital Twin of the Ocean core infrastructure (EDITO). Projects will integrate real-time and historical marine observations with advanced numerical models, artificial intelligence and high-performance computing to simulate coastal and ocean systems under different scenarios. The aim is to deliver interactive, stakeholder-co-designed tools for policy makers, industry and civil society to support sustainable mar...
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
- User-driven Digital Twin Ocean applications co-designed with stakeholders for policy, regulatory, management or business decision-support
• Improved FAIR dataflows and best practices: harmonised formats, quality assurance and open sharing across the marine data value chain
• Increased availability and integration of diverse ocean models (biogeochemical, species distribution, ecosystem, coastal, coupled socio-economic) on EDITO
• Enhanced data assimilation processes and interconnectivity between land, hydrological and marine models in source-to-sea workflows
• Adequate model resolution matched to application needs, quantifying benefits of increased data availability
• Expanded portfolio of intermediate and final digital twin open services developed on EDITO
• Interactive visualisation tools enabling intuitive exploration of simulated ocean environments
• Quality-labelled applications with characterised uncertainties to support transparent decision-making
• Improved FAIR dataflows and best practices: harmonised formats, quality assurance and open sharing across the marine data value chain
• Increased availability and integration of diverse ocean models (biogeochemical, species distribution, ecosystem, coastal, coupled socio-economic) on EDITO
• Enhanced data assimilation processes and interconnectivity between land, hydrological and marine models in source-to-sea workflows
• Adequate model resolution matched to application needs, quantifying benefits of increased data availability
• Expanded portfolio of intermediate and final digital twin open services developed on EDITO
• Interactive visualisation tools enabling intuitive exploration of simulated ocean environments
• Quality-labelled applications with characterised uncertainties to support transparent decision-making
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
- Target at least two new DTO domain applications addressing either policy/regulatory implementation or sustainable marine/maritime business operations
• Validate each application via six verified use cases (two applications × three different sea basins) covering all four EU sea basins: Atlantic & Arctic; Baltic & North Sea; Mediterranean; Danube & Black Sea
• Apply a multi-actor approach: involve appropriate implementing authorities at national/regional levels and end-users at every development phase
• Data: identify credibility requirements, gaps and potential improvements; adhere to FAIR principles
• Models & Scenarios: develop, refine, downscale and couple models; co-create policy scenarios; ensure model resolution matches application requirements
• Interactive Visualisation: deliver user-centric interfaces leveraging AI, gaming, VR/AR
• Quality Assurance: implement QA labelling, uncertainty communication, and comparative analysis
• Use only open data, open-source and public-use models with open-source licensing
• Build directly into EDITO core infrastructure and enrich its data, model and service catalogues
• Leverage EMODnet, EOSC, Copernicus Marine, Member State Coastal Systems, relevant data spaces and ESFRI research infrastructures
• Build on outcomes of EDITO-Infra and EDITO-Model Lab and further expand biogeochemical, ecosystem and integrated coastal model portfolios
• For EU legislation applications: implement MSFD multi-descriptor frameworks; address descriptors 1,2,3,4,6 with multispecies systems per Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 and ICES advice; ensure GES in nature-based solution scenarios; integrate environmental, social, economic and policy considerations for MSPD; support CFP tasks (Essential Fish Habitats, VMEs, gear scenarios, decarbonisation)
• Validate each application via six verified use cases (two applications × three different sea basins) covering all four EU sea basins: Atlantic & Arctic; Baltic & North Sea; Mediterranean; Danube & Black Sea
• Apply a multi-actor approach: involve appropriate implementing authorities at national/regional levels and end-users at every development phase
• Data: identify credibility requirements, gaps and potential improvements; adhere to FAIR principles
• Models & Scenarios: develop, refine, downscale and couple models; co-create policy scenarios; ensure model resolution matches application requirements
• Interactive Visualisation: deliver user-centric interfaces leveraging AI, gaming, VR/AR
• Quality Assurance: implement QA labelling, uncertainty communication, and comparative analysis
• Use only open data, open-source and public-use models with open-source licensing
• Build directly into EDITO core infrastructure and enrich its data, model and service catalogues
• Leverage EMODnet, EOSC, Copernicus Marine, Member State Coastal Systems, relevant data spaces and ESFRI research infrastructures
• Build on outcomes of EDITO-Infra and EDITO-Model Lab and further expand biogeochemical, ecosystem and integrated coastal model portfolios
• For EU legislation applications: implement MSFD multi-descriptor frameworks; address descriptors 1,2,3,4,6 with multispecies systems per Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 and ICES advice; ensure GES in nature-based solution scenarios; integrate environmental, social, economic and policy considerations for MSPD; support CFP tasks (Essential Fish Habitats, VMEs, gear scenarios, decarbonisation)
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
- Proposals must develop applications directly within the EDITO core infrastructure
• All data collected (in-situ, marine observations) must be openly shared via EMODnet under FAIR principles
• Satellitebased EO projects must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS services
• Models, algorithms and applications must be open source with public‐use licensing
• Mandatory cooperation with EC JRC on model scenarios is encouraged
• Proposals must demonstrate clear links to EMODnet, EOSC, Copernicus Marine, MSCS and consider ESFRI infrastructures
• Compliance with Horizon Europe MGA requirements, admissibility (Annex A/E), eligibility (Annex B), capacity (Annex C), evaluation (Annex D/F) conditions
• Proposals on offshore renewables or marine litter must ensure complementarity with specific Horizon Europe calls (HORIZON-CL5-2025-05-D3-08, HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-05, HORIZON-MISS-2025-03-OCEAN-02)
• All data collected (in-situ, marine observations) must be openly shared via EMODnet under FAIR principles
• Satellitebased EO projects must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS services
• Models, algorithms and applications must be open source with public‐use licensing
• Mandatory cooperation with EC JRC on model scenarios is encouraged
• Proposals must demonstrate clear links to EMODnet, EOSC, Copernicus Marine, MSCS and consider ESFRI infrastructures
• Compliance with Horizon Europe MGA requirements, admissibility (Annex A/E), eligibility (Annex B), capacity (Annex C), evaluation (Annex D/F) conditions
• Proposals on offshore renewables or marine litter must ensure complementarity with specific Horizon Europe calls (HORIZON-CL5-2025-05-D3-08, HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-05, HORIZON-MISS-2025-03-OCEAN-02)
Important dates
Open from: 07/05/2025
Deadline:24/09/2025
Application period has ended
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