Integration of biodiversity monitoring data into the Digital Twin Ocean

DIGI4ECO implemented a dedicated Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) mechanism through an open and competitive cascading grants call to address critical data gaps limiting the performance of its Digital Twin of the Ocean (DTO). The initiative targeted external data holders possessing valuable but non-digitalised or non-standardised biological, environmental, and socio-ecological datasets relevant to the four DIGI4ECO demonstration sites: OBSEA, SmartBay, Kristineberg, and Ancona.

With a total budget of €260,000 and individual grants of up to €60,000, the call supports activities focused on data identification, digitalisation, quality control, standardisation, and publication. All funded activities are required to comply with FAIR principles and international standards, particularly those of EMODnet Biology, ensuring interoperability and long-term usability within European marine data infrastructures.

The call follows transparent evaluation criteria, lump-sum funding modalities, and strict governance procedures in full compliance with the Horizon Europe Model Grant Agreement. Beyond technical outcomes, the mechanism actively fosters ecosystem engagement, mobilising research institutions, public authorities, NGOs, fisheries organisations, and citizen-science networks, while reinforcing the European dimension of DIGI4ECO and directly supporting Mission Ocean objectives.

Applications at: https://digi4eco.eu/cascading-grants/