PRIMA CALL | Thematic Area 1 - Water Management in the Nexus

PRIMA (Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area) has opened a call under its 2026 Annual Work Programme for Topic 1.1.1 - an Innovation Action (IA) focused on developing and validating decentralised, renewable-energy-powered brackish water desalination systems tailored for smallholder and peri-urban farmers across the Mediterranean region.

This call sits within Thematic Area 1: Water Management in the Nexus, contributing to PRIMA's Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) Operational Objectives 1 (Water Saving Solutions) and 2 (Land and Water Sustainability), with additional cross-cutting alignment to Soil Sustainability, Socio-Economic Research, Stakeholder Involvement, and the Digital Revolution. It aligns directly with the European Water Resilience Strategy, the Water Framework Directive, the New Circular Economy Action Plan, the Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas, and A Vision for Agriculture and Food.

Funding & Budget

• Total Indicative Budget: EUR 10.815 million
• Expected EU Contribution per Project: approximately EUR 3.6 million (proposals requesting different amounts may still be submitted and selected)
• Funding Rate: 70% of eligible costs for for-profit entities; up to 100% for non-profit legal entities
• Indirect Costs: 25% flat rate applied to total eligible direct costs
• Project Duration: 36 months (other durations may be considered)
• Type of Action: Innovation Action (IA)

Technology Readiness Level (TRL)

Projects are expected to achieve TRL 7–8 by the end of the project. Proposals must clearly state the starting and end TRLs of the key technology or technologies targeted. Applicants are encouraged to use PRIMA's TRL self-assessment tool to accurately determine their proposal's TRL.

Key Dates

Call Publication & Opening

20 March 2026

Stage 1 Submission Deadline

15 May 2026

Stage 1 Evaluation Results

30 June 2026

Stage 2 Submission Deadline

18 September 2026

Stage 2 Evaluation Results

11 December 2026

The Problem This Call Addresses

Water scarcity is one of the most pressing challenges facing the Mediterranean. Agriculture accounts for 64–79% of freshwater withdrawals across the region, particularly in southern and eastern areas, placing enormous pressure on already overexploited aquifers. Brackish water desalination presents a viable alternative but high costs, energy intensity, brine disposal challenges, and limited integration with renewable energy and digital tools have significantly slowed adoption.

This call directly targets those barriers, funding the co-design and real-world validation of affordable, low-energy, nature-positive desalination solutions that work for smallholder farmers and peri-urban agricultural communities not just large-scale operators.

Expected Outcomes

Projects funded under this topic are expected to deliver on all five of the following outcomes:

1. Improved access to sustainable irrigation water — through decentralised, renewable-energy-powered brackish water desalination systems specifically designed for Mediterranean smallholders.
2. Demonstration of scalable, low-energy desalination solutions — adapted to rural and peri-urban farming contexts, including circular brine management strategies that prevent environmental harm.
3. Progress toward a climate-neutral, circular agricultural economy — enabling recovery and reuse of by-products (e.g., nutrients, minerals) and reducing the environmental footprint of irrigation practices.
4. Evidence-based policy recommendations — supporting regulatory guidance on non-conventional water use and Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), developed in collaboration with competent authorities and regional platforms.
5. A clear market uptake pathway — including cost-performance benchmarks, validated business models for smallholder adoption, and engagement with local SMEs, technology providers, and financial actors to enable scalability and post-project continuity.

Scope & Eligible Activities

Projects must address at least three of the following four activities:

1. Develop and pilot decentralised, low-cost brackish water desalination systems — specifically tailored for agricultural reuse and environmentally sustainable operation.
2. Test and validate renewable-energy-powered desalination units — across different agro-ecological contexts, ensuring energy efficiency and seasonal adaptability.
3. Assess lifecycle impacts — including environmental, economic, and social dimensions: carbon footprint, soil health, cost–benefit analysis, and WEFE (Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystems) Nexus indicators.
4. Produce guidelines and toolkits — for the design, implementation, and scaling of sustainable desalination solutions for agricultural use, adaptable to various local Mediterranean contexts.

Projects must also demonstrate economic and financial viability, including cost-effectiveness and affordability for smallholder and peri-urban farmers, and must present scalable business and financing models with engagement of relevant market actors.

The use of digital monitoring and optimisation tools such as IoT, Digital Twins, and AI is strongly encouraged where these improve performance or reduce operating costs.

Important Compliance Requirement — Do No Significant Harm (DNSH)

All proposed solutions must comply with the Do No Significant Harm (DNSH) principle under the EU Taxonomy Regulation, as amended by the Delegated Act of 4 July 2025. Projects must ensure no harm to freshwater or marine ecosystems, biodiversity, or circular resource use, and must apply the "water efficiency first" principle of the European Water Resilience Strategy. Compliance will be verified by PRIMA during project implementation, specifically at reporting time.

Who Can Apply

This is a transnational call requiring a minimum consortium of 4 independent legal entities.

Mandatory Consortium Structure:

At least 3 independent legal entities, each from a different PRIMA Participating State, of which: At least 1 must be from an EU Member State or Horizon Europe-associated country (not a Mediterranean Partner Country) At least 1 must be from a Mediterranean Partner Country (MPC)

An additional entity from a Mediterranean Partner Country (MPC) bringing the minimum to 4 partners

At least one for-profit legal entity or SME established in a PRIMA Participating State must be included

Eligible Countries:

• EU Member States: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain (including Overseas Countries and Territories)
• Third Countries Associated to Horizon Europe: Egypt, Israel, Tunisia, Türkiye
• Third Countries not Associated to Horizon Europe (eligible under specific conditions): Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco*, Algeria*

Morocco's and Algeria's eligibility remains subject to the conclusion and entry into force of relevant international agreements with the EU. Check the PRIMA website for the latest status before submission.

Types of Organisations That Can Participate:

• Universities and higher education institutions
• Public and private research organisations
• SMEs and private companies (at least one required)
• Water user associations and farmers' cooperatives
• Technology providers and start-ups
• Public authorities and government agencies
• Industry associations and NGOs

Not Eligible to Participate in Any Capacity:

• Entities established in Russia or Belarus
• Entities in non-government-controlled territories of Ukraine
• Legal entities established in China (excluded from Innovation Actions)
• Entities subject to EU restrictive measures
• Hungarian public interest trusts under Act IX of 2021 (ineligible for funded roles while current EU measures remain in effect)

Organisations from non-PRIMA countries may join as associated partners but are not eligible for funding and must provide a letter confirming sufficient funds to cover their participation.

Gender Equality Plan (GEP) — Eligibility Requirement

Public bodies, research organisations, and higher education establishments based in EU Member States or Horizon Europe-associated countries applying as beneficiaries must have a GEP in place at the time of grant agreement signature, maintained throughout the project duration.

Key Cross-Cutting Requirements

• Multi-Actor Approach (MAA): All key actors farmers, water user associations, SMEs, technology providers, researchers, and competent authorities must be meaningfully involved throughout the full project lifecycle, from needs definition through to policy recommendations.
• Living Labs: Encouraged as a framework for participatory co-design and iterative adaptation in real-world settings.
• Social Sciences & Humanities (SSH): Strong contributions from agronomy, water and resource management, socio-economics, and SSH are required. The SSH contribution must be clearly reflected in the work plan, stakeholder engagement, and impact pathways.
• Environmental Impact Assessment: Must be included, with particular attention to brine management and ecosystem protection.
• Recommended KPIs: PRIMA encourages applicants to include indicators related to energy use, operational costs, brine management, and farm-level adoption to strengthen monitoring and implementation.
• Societal Readiness: Consortia are encouraged to use the Societal Readiness Thinking Tool (Bernstein et al., Science & Engineering Ethics, 2022) to address societal needs, ethical considerations, and adoption pathways.

Relevant SDGs

• SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation
• SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 13 – Climate Action

How to Apply

Proposals must be submitted through the PRIMA Foundation portal. Registration in the EC Participant Register to obtain a PIC (Participant Identification Code) is strongly recommended prior to submission. For the most current information on participating state eligibility, national funding rules, and submission guidelines, visit: https://prima-med.org

Click HERE to visit the official website.