2nd Associated Regions Call for the ULTFARMS Project
ClosedDescription
The solutions developed and demonstrated within the EU project “ULTFARMS”, Grant Agreement number 101093888, involve the implementation of LTA activities within offshore wind developments to evaluate the environmental and economic suitability of such efforts. These solutions include industry standard as well as novel constructions and take into consideration nature inclusive design parameters. To increase the knowledge development and collaboration potential of this project and it’s results, regions and countries outside of those represented by main partners In the ULTFARMS project are sought to become Associated Regions (ARs) within the Project. These AR projects may request a budget of up to 100.000 Euros to carry out a proposed scope of work in line with Low Trophic Aquaculture and offshore renewable energies. In addition to the proposed scope of work, the ARs will be provided with opportunities to attend trainings and participate in project wide discussions in terms of technical, operational, and planning requirements for LTA. Additional, expertise and support will be provided by the project and its members through a working group which facilitates exchanges and integration of the AR projects into the overall ULTFARMS project and scope.
Beneficiary & submission
The ULTFARMS Project is seeking project proposals lead by Regional or Local Authorities. The objective of this Cascade Funding Call is to facilitate knowledge transfer, build local or regional capacity, and promote knowledge exchange surrounding Low Trophic Aquaculture (LTA) developments, particularly in the combination of LTA and offshore renewable energies. Three Associate Region (AR) projects will be funded under this call. The AR applicants will generate project plans through which they will endeavor to identify the potential for low-trophic aquaculture in their region or locality, enhance existing or develop new plans for realizing such activities, or build capacity and awareness for the integration of low-trophic aquaculture with offshore renewable energy. The activities which can be funded and additional information and supporting materials can be found on the ULTFARMS Website under the Associated Regions section (https://ultfarms.eu/associate-regions/)
Submission
Proposals developed for this call must submitted by a regional or local authority or by a consortium of regional and local authorities. Other entities can be highlighted as potential subcontractors within the scope of work proposed. Frequently Asked Questions, a forum for questions which has arisen during the call, along with a template for proposals can be found on the ULTFARMS project website noted above.
All proposals should be submitted to ULTFARMS@deltares.nl, the subject line should Read “ULTFARMS – AR Call Submission – Your Project Name”.
The deadline for Submission is March 30th, 2025 at 10:00 Central European Time (UTC + 1:00 - Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin)
Evaluation
The proposals will be reviewed by a 3-person panel consisting of members form the ULTFARMS Central Coordination Team (CCT) which have been nominated and approved by the project’s steering group. The 3 members from the CCT will independently assess the proposals based on the award criteria: Impact (8 points), Excellence (6 points) and Quality of implementation (6 points). This evaluation form can be found as an annex to the proposal template on the project website. An average is taken among experts’ scores with 14 of the 20 available points being the minimum viable threshold for applicants to be considered for contracting.
Eligibility:
Local and/or regional authorities established in EU Member States, including their outermost regions, and Associated Countries to the Horizon Europe programme, whom have signed an agreement with the EU, can apply. [1] :
Non Eligible Countries:
Belgium, Denmark, Germany, The Republic of Ireland, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden.
Entities having received FSTP funds from ULTFARMS’ sibling project OLAMUR (https://olamur.eu/) and ULTFARMS first round of AR Call Funding are considered as non-eligible.
EU restrictive measures also applicable for financial support to third parties In relation to this call EU Sanctions Map. The financial support to third parties may only be awarded to local and/or regional authorities from an ‘associated region’, there the applicant body must be a local and/or regional body
Further information
Key Dates
Call Opening – January 28th, 2025
Call Closing – March 30th, 2025 at 10:00 Central European Time (UTC + 1:00 - Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin)
Contracting with Associate Regions – April 2025
Formalization of AR Contracting – May 1st, 2025
Please consult the ULTFARMS project website: https://ultfarms.eu/ under the Associated Regions Section For proposal templates, submission instructions, and further details.
If you have questions about the application process, please consult the Frequently Asked Questions section on the website. Should a response not be found there, direct your questions to ULTFARMS@Deltares.nl with "ULTFARMS AR Proposal Question" in the subject line.