Cluster 6 and the Mission to Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030
This year saw Ireland meet and extend a milestone in terms of our Horizon Europe performance by passing the €1.07bn mark. Our own latest analysis of the results suggests that €94.3m of this relates to marine and maritime research performance – 8.8% of the total which is an immense figure when you consider that the contribution of marine and maritime sectors is approximately 1% of GNI* to the overall economy. Programmes like Horizon Europe facilitate industry to stay ahead in fast-changing markets by fostering adaptation to the digital and green transitions. Marine and maritime SME and industry partners have currently been awarded €35m in funding – often partnering with Research Performing Organisations and Higher Education Institutes who are responsible for €56m with the remainder being allocated to public bodies.
These planned research and innovation activities are happening at an important juncture – under Pillar 4 “Advancing Ocean Research, Knowledge, Skills, and Innovation”, the European Commission is developing the next Ocean R&I strategy in support of the Ocean Pact which will subsequently translate into an Ocean Act proposed by the end of 2026. Ireland will play an important role in the development and launch of the Ocean R&I Strategy under the Presidency of the Council of the EU from July to December 2026. Your voices will be an important part of the development of that Strategy. The European Commission has launched a public consultation to help shape the European Ocean Act which is open for responses until 16 July 2026. This follows a call for evidence in January, which gathered input from stakeholders on priorities for ocean science, technology, and innovation as well as for the Water Resilience Strategy. These last two years of Horizon Europe are an important stepping stone into the next Framework Programme and Competitiveness Fund.
Save the date: PHAROS MarCoLab Ireland Mega Event 26-28 May 2026
PHAROS is a Horizon Europe-funded Mission Ocean project which aims to provide nature-based solutions for restoring ecosystems and biodiversity while tackling climate change and human impacts in the Atlantic and Arctic maritime regions. Coordinated by the Canary Islands Ocean Platform (PLOCAN), the consortium comprises 24 organisations and the project runs from September 2024 to August 2029.
The second PHAROS Mega Event takes place from 26-28 May in South-West Ireland. Hosted by Munster Technological University (Kerry Campus) and Bantry Marine Research Station, the three-day event will combine policy dialogue, research excellence, community engagement, and real-world demonstration sites, positioning Ireland as a living lab for marine innovation.
The event will include;
· High-level policy discussions on Ireland's Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and ocean governance
· Showcases of cutting-edge research and innovation in marine sustainability
· Interactive living labs and citizen engagement activities
· Field visits to coastal and marine demonstration sites
· Networking opportunities with international experts, practitioners, and communities
Spaces for the event are limited. Further information and registration for the PHAROS Mega Event can be found here.
Current Horizon Europe funded marine and maritime projects
A range of exciting marine and maritime projects are currently underway. Five recently funded projects are summarised below.
ICONIC-Innovative Communities on Neutral Islands for Climate
ICONIC is a €4.9m Innovation Action that runs from 2025 to 2028. University of Galway and Comharchumann Forbartha Árann Teoranta are project partners. The project aims to foster energy independence, climate neutrality, and sustainable development of rural and island communities across Europe. ICONIC deploys advanced technologies such as renewable energy systems, smart water management (solar-powered desalination, intelligent irrigation), off-grid biogas systems, and sustainable mobility solutions. These innovations are tested through real-world pilot demonstrations in Inis Mór (Ireland), La Graciosa (Spain), and Berchidda (Italy), where the project works closely with local stakeholders to co-design tailored solutions.
BLUECOAT is a €3.5m Research and Innovation Action that runs from 2025 to 2029 and is coordinated by the University of Birmingham - the Irish SME Zirkulu Limited is a project partner. The project aims to develop 12 bio-based, low-carbon coating formulations specifically designed for the marine, textile and construction industry. They are using materials such as biopolymers, natural fibres and plant proteins. The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% while cutting down on harmful volatile organic compounds. The project’s coatings will deliver antifouling and anti-corrosion for ship hulls, antimicrobial durability for outdoor garments and flame-retardant, antifungal properties for insulation boards.
MARMADE - MARine bioMass valorizAtion for fooD and fEed innovation
MARMADE is a €3.5m Research and Innovation Action that runs from 2025 to 2029 and is coordinated by Universita degli studi di Camerino, Italy and University College Cork is a project partner. MARMADE aims to develop sustainable, high-value food and feed ingredients from marine biomass, focusing on crustacean residues (shrimp shells and blue crabs) and seaweed. The key objectives are to 1) establish efficient biorefinery processes for extracting ingredients (pre/postbiotics, vitamins, peptides, oligosaccharides, fats, emulsifiers, and digestibility enhancers); 2) develop innovative food and feed prototypes with improved nutritional and sensory properties; 3) ensure compliance with safety, sustainability, and regulatory standards, paving the way for future market uptake.
SEAMPHONI is a €12m Innovation Action that runs from 2025 to 2029. Coordinated by Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (Spain), with University College Dublin as a project partner, the project is pioneering new digital tools to improve offshore marine monitoring. The project combines three innovative monitoring technologies: environmental DNA, which detects species presence from genetic traces in water; acoustic monitoring, which tracks marine life and activity through sound; and imaging, which captures high-resolution visual data from the seafloor and water column. The aim is to build a shared observing system for scientists, decision-makers, MPA managers, and citizens in the form of an Intelligent Marine Digital Twin interoperable with the European Digital Twin Ocean.
COIN - Control-Oriented INnovations for future wave energy farms
COIN is a €4m Research and Innovation Action that runs from 2025 to 2029 and is coordinated by Technische Universitaet Braunschweig (Germany) and Hewlett-Packard Galway Limited is a project partner. The project addresses key techno-economic challenges of wave energy through advanced control-oriented solutions. The project will design smart connectors to protect subsea infrastructure, AI-driven real-time wave predictions for efficient energy management as well as digital twins for condition monitoring that boost performance and lifespan. These innovations will enable smarter design, operation, and maintenance of ocean energy devices, contributing to more efficient, cost-effective, and competitive marine renewable energy systems. The goal of COIN is to help Europe diversify its renewable energy mix while advancing sustainability and energy security.