- The grants come from different European funds for which the Biodiversity Foundation acts as an intermediate management body
The Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) has published four new calls for grants, with a total endowment of more than 73 million euros, aimed at promoting projects that promote the bioeconomy, marine research, the sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture and training for green employment.
The grants come from different European funds for which the Biodiversity Foundation acts as an intermediate management body. Specifically, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) and the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+).
PROMOTION OF THE BIOECONOMY AND RESEARCH
Two of the calls are co-financed with ERDF funds and total more than 45 million. The first, endowed with 39.6 million, will support the promotion of the bioeconomy with a special focus on projects that promote the agroecological transition, the development of forestry activity and the promotion of economic activity in rural and demographically challenging environments, and gives continuity to two calls approved in 2021 and 2023 whose projects are developed in these areas. Local administrations, non-profit entities and organizations, research organizations and professional organizations and associations may apply for these grants. The deadline for submitting proposals is 23 July 2025.
The second, with an endowment of 6 million, will focus on financing research projects for the conservation and restoration of the marine environment, in order to improve scientific knowledge on marine biodiversity, as well as the development of a coherent, connected and effectively managed network of marine protected areas. These calls may be applied for by non-profit organisations, research organisations, technology centres and professional associations, both individually and in groups. Applications can be submitted until July 16, 2025.
FISHERIES SUSTAINABILITY AND GREEN EMPLOYMENT
Within the framework of the Pleamar Programme, co-financed by the FEMPA, a new call has been approved with 14.5 million, which aims to strengthen the environmental sustainability of fishing and aquaculture activities. It is aimed at supporting projects that promote the blue economy, reduce marine pollution, improve the management of the marine Natura 2000 Network and promote awareness of both the sector and society. The beneficiary entities may be associations of the fishing and aquaculture sector, scientific or technical bodies recognised in Spain, non-profit organisations and public sector entities. The projects must be supra-autonomous or executed in marine protected areas under state jurisdiction, with a maximum duration of between 18 and 24 months and must have the participation of the sector during their execution. The deadline for the submission of these projects ends on July 28, 2025.
For its part, the aid from the Empleaverde+ Programme, co-financed by the ESF+ and with a budget of 13.2 million, is aimed at promoting training and recruitment for employment and entrepreneurship in sectors linked to the ecological transition. This line of aid will support projects that improve employability, encourage new professional learning and promote gender equality and opportunities, especially in areas affected by natural disasters.
As a novelty, special reference is made to threats associated with the impacts and risks derived from climate change and the loss of biodiversity, such as the dana or forest fires, by promoting the training of civilian pilots of specific aircraft. Interested entities may submit projects individually or in groups, with a maximum duration of 24 months and a grant of between 150,000 and 2,000,000 euros per project. The deadline for submitting applications is July 28, 2025.
HOW TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS
Applications must be submitted through the Biodiversity Foundation website, in the corresponding sections of each call:
- Call for ERDF grants for the promotion of the bioeconomy
- Call for ERDF grants for conservation and restoration projects of marine species and habitats
- Call for the Pleamar Program
- Call for applications for the Empleaverde+ Programme
