UPSTREAM - Open Call 1 Collection and Valorisation
Funding for public authorities to deploy and scale solutions for plastic and microplastic removal and valorisation in river systems.
Type of projects to be funded: Local pilot projects supporting the deployment of UPSTREAM solutions for the monitoring, prevention, collection, and valorisation of riverine plastic litter and microplastics. Activities must include real-world implementation (not research-only), such as recovery schemes, valorisation trials, logistics models, digital monitoring, citizen engagement, and data sharing.
Sectors / domain: River and freshwater systems, waste/plastic pollution, water management, circular economy, environmental monitoring, public sector innovation.
Individual or consortium: Applications must be submitted by regional or local public authorities, or by organisations directly representing them. Only one application per authority is allowed. No explicit mention of multi-partner consortia being eligible.
Specific eligibility requirements: Applicants must be public authorities (or bodies directly representing them) from associated regions in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries not already covered by UPSTREAM.
Priority is given to regions with high plastic leakage to rivers/sea (e.g. selected Balkans, Mediterranean, North Africa).
Applicants subject to EU restrictive measures are ineligible.
Maximum one funded application per region across the entire UPSTREAM programme.
No double funding or already completed activities allowed.
Specific topics or challenges: Projects must contribute to at least one of the following:
Monitoring & digitalisation of plastics/MP
Zero-waste/prevention strategies (e.g. biobased alternatives)
Capture/recovery systems in freshwater
Valorisation & recycling of plastics
Nature-based solutions
Citizen science & co-creation
Open data & knowledge sharing via UPSTREAM
Projects duration: 6 months
Budget, funding rates and payment conditions:
Funding rate: 100% (lump sum)
Budget conditions / limitations: €70,000 per project (maximum lump-sum grant). Subcontracting capped at 30% of the total grant; must be justified
2–3 projects expected to be selected (across both calls)
Payments:
40% at contract signature
40% after mid-term deliverables
20% at final acceptance
Deliverables and reporting: Kick-off package, mid-term update, final report
KPIs may include: capture efficiency, tonnes collected, policy impact, dataset sharing, etc.
Open data and use of UPSTREAM/EU visual identity required
Links
Closes
16/03/2026
Max funding per project
70.000€