The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership – Joint Transnational Call 2026

The fourth joint transnational call (JTC) for proposals is co-branded by the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development as a means of stimulating new initiatives in co-designed and co-delivered knowledge and solutions for a sustainable ocean economy as part of the Ocean Decade Action Framework.

In total, 35 funding organisations across 28 countries are participating in this call with an available budget of €37M (approximately).

The Call aims to supports research and innovation projects addressing specific Intervention Areas as defined by the partnership’s joint Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda.

The call will be implemented in two stages, i.e. a pre- and a full-proposal phase.

For further information on the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership Call, including the Call Document, participating countries, and general eligibility requirements, please visit the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership website (A link will be available here once the call launches).

Research Ireland will support applications across three of the four priority areas:

• 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 

Pre-proposals submitted to Research Ireland under Priority Area 1 ‘Transitioning the blue economy sectors for sustainability and strategic autonomy’ will be deemed ineligible. 

Awarded projects will have a duration of 36 months. For applicants based in Ireland, Research Ireland will provide the following funding for projects: 

• Up to a maximum of €330,000 direct costs* per award for Irish applicants as Partner on transnational proposals. 

• Up to a maximum of €405,000 direct costs* per award for Irish applicants as Coordinator on transnational proposals. 

*The maximum total award, including overhead contribution, will be €430,000, for a partner and €530,000 for applicants who take on the role of coordinator. 

Only an academic partner or coordinator based in an eligible Research Body in Ireland may apply for Research Ireland funding. 

The Irish-based applicant must: 

• hold a PhD or equivalent qualification for at least 3 years by the pre-proposal deadline. The official date is defined as the day, month and year that the degree was conferred i.e., the month and year printed on the official PhD certificate. 

AND 

• be a member of the academic staff of an eligible Research Body (permanent or with an active contract that covers the period of the grant) 

OR 

• be a contract researcher with a contract that covers the period of the grant, who is recognised by the eligible Research Body as an independent investigator and will have an independent office and research space for which he/she will be fully responsible for at least the duration of the Research Ireland grant 

OR 

• be an individual who will be recognised by the eligible Research Body upon receipt of the grant as an academic staff or as a contract researcher as defined above. The applicant does not necessarily need to be employed by the Research Body at the time of the application submission. 

AND 

• be an author on at least three international peer-reviewed articles. Only original research publications, and not review articles or other secondary research literature, are acceptable. 

Applicants must also meet all general eligibility and consortium requirements as outlined in the Call Text procedures (A link will be available here once the call launches).

In addition: 

• Research Ireland will only accept one application per applicant. 

• Salary-related costs for research personnel. Please use current Research Ireland Team Member Salary Scales. The Irish partner cannot request their own salary. 

• Equipment costs up to a maximum value of €50K 

• Travel costs 

• Direct running costs (materials and consumables) 

• Dissemination and knowledge exchange costs 

• Subcontracting costs are considered an eligible budget category however strong justification for subcontracting must be provided and pre-approved directly with Research Ireland in advance of proposal submission. 

• Overheads should be calculated at 30% of the direct costs, but excluding the cost of all equipment identified in the application. 

Unless otherwise stated, all rules regarding listed eligible costs apply as defined within Research Ireland’s grant budget policy. 

Please use the budget template provided when preparing your budget submission. 

Applicants are advised to prepare budgets in consultation with the Research Office at the Host Institution. 

Ineligible costs 

Research Ireland will not provide a contribution towards the salary of the applicant, international co-applicants or collaborators. All additional ineligible costs apply as described in Research Ireland’s grant budget policy. 

Please give a brief notification of your intent to submit a pre-proposal through email to eu-cofund@researchireland.ie before the submission deadline. Within the notification, please include the following information: 

• List of project partners 

• Irish Host institution* 

• Total budget request to Research Ireland**

• Whether you intend to apply as a coordinating or non-coordinating partner 

 *Please note it is also the responsibility of the applicant to notify the Research Office of their Host Institution of their intention to submit a pre-proposal.  

**Applicants are advised to submit a completed budget template to Research Ireland together with their notification of intent to submit a pre-proposal.

 The completed pre-proposal must be submitted directly on the SBEP submission platform. 

For Programme related queries, please contact eu-cofund@researchireland.ie 

•  Website: About us | The Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership 
• Joint Call 2026 Website: The SBEP Fourth Joint Transnational Call 
• Partner Search Tool: SBEP Partner Search Tool