New European Union-funded call for sustainable and circular water management in the agri-food sector

• 17 Dec 2025

Applications are now open for the new AquaLoops4Med call funded by the European Union, through the Interregional Innovation Investment Instrument, and aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The objective is to create an interregional network that promotes efficient and sustainable water management across the Mediterranean, with a specific focus on the agrifood sector.

Through interregional investments, the project intends to give visibility, implement on a large scale and commercialize innovative, sustainable and circular solutions to improve water management, reduce water losses, and utilize alternative water sources and wastewater treatment practices.

The themes of innovation and sustainability of the water cycle will also be central to the next edition of Accadueo which will be held from November 26 to 27, 2026 at the Nuova Fiera del Levante in Bari.

Who it is for

The initiative is intended exclusively for SMEs, legally established at least 6 months prior to the deadline, based in one of the following European regions: Basilicata (Italy), Catalonia (Spain), Attica (Greece), or Thessaly (Greece). To apply, SMEs must form small interregional consortia composed of 2 or 3 SMEs coming from at least two different eligible regions. Applications from single enterprises are excluded.

While a series of leading SMEs will be involved from the start as project partners, a second group of SMEs will be supported through cascade funding.

What is funded

The primary objective of the call is to support between 15 and 18 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through the financing of approximately 5 to 9 sub-projects with a maximum duration of 8 months. The proposed solutions must have high technological maturity and aim at the demonstration, scale-up, and commercialization of circular and sustainable practices.

 The thematic areas of interest for the interventions cover the entire agrifood water management value chain, articulated in four main categories:

• Water and wastewater management
• Irrigation 
• Agricultural practices for water efficiency
• Control of gas emissions derived from wastewater treatment

• Economic parameters 

The call makes available a total budget of 850,000.00 euros. For companies, the contribution is disbursed in the form of a lump sum. The maximum financial support that can be offered is 60,000.00 euros per single SME, regardless of whether the consortium is composed of 2 or 3 applicants.

Deadlines

The procedure involves an evaluation based on criteria of relevance, impact, and quality of implementation. The time windows for the call are as follows:

• Call opening: December 1, 2025
• Submission deadline: by 17:00 CET on February 27, 2026
• Evaluation: March 2026
• Project start: May 2026 (provisional date).

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