Submission deadline extended: AquaLoops4Med Open Call

The AquaLoops4Med initiative - an EU‑funded effort advancing sustainable and circular water management in Mediterranean agrifood systems - has officially extended the deadline for its open call. Applicants now have until 27 March 2026 at 17:00 (Brussels time) to submit their proposals, giving interested SMEs additional time to prepare strong, competitive applications.

A Boost for Sustainable Water Innovation in the Agrifood Sector

AquaLoops4Med focuses on accelerating innovative solutions in water and wastewater management, irrigation, agricultural water efficiency, and reduction of emissions from wastewater treatment. The extended submission window supports the call’s mission to encourage higher-quality proposals aligned with the project's broader goals of enhancing water resilience in Mediterranean agrifood value chains.

The initiative supports:

• Demonstration and validation of innovative water technologies

• Scale‑up and deployment of solutions

• Commercialisation and market uptake across key Mediterranean regions

These activities underpin a strategic push toward sustainable water use where climate pressure and water scarcity most strongly affect agriculture.

Eligible Participants and Funding Framework

The AquaLoops4Med call remains open exclusively to SMEs operating within specific European regions, including:

• Catalonia (Spain)

• Basilicata (Italy)

• Attica (Greece)

• Thessaly (Greece)

All applicants must comply with EU SME definitions and submit the SME self‑assessment tool as part of the application package. Furthermore, only small interregional consortia of 2–3 SMEs from at least two different eligible regions are permitted - single‑SME proposals remain ineligible.

Each selected SME may receive up to €60,000 in financial support, contributing to a total funding pool of €850,000 earmarked to strengthen interregional innovation ecosystems focused on water sustainability.

Evaluation Process and Criteria

Applications submitted by the extended deadline will undergo a structured four‑step evaluation, including:

1. Admissibility check

2. Eligibility verification

3. Scientific and impact evaluation by three independent reviewers

4. Final selection and ranking

To be considered for funding, proposals must score a minimum of 60% per evaluation criterion and achieve an overall score of at least 70%. Detailed evaluation guidelines are available via the linked application portal.

Where to Apply

Although the call is managed centrally through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, submissions are accessed directly through the application link referenced on the Catalan Water Partnership (CWP) announcement page https://tally.so/r/mRO6Vv

If you are a startup, farmer, researcher or organisation interested in applying – or looking for partners – find hundreds of opportunities at: https://agriventures.co/dashboard/funding-preview

Agriventures is here to support you with:

• Call screening and strategic fit analysis

• Consortium building

• Proposal development and review

Contact us: start@agriventures.co