The Water4All Partnership, co-funded by the European Union, has officially launched the 2025 Joint Transnational Call (JTC) for research and innovation projects. This year’s call is focused on the crucial theme of “Water and Health” and is backed by 33 funding agencies from 30 countries across Europe and beyond. With an estimated budget of €28 million, the call invites cross-border collaborative projects that aim to address pressing global challenges at the intersection of water quality, public health, and sustainable innovation.
Strategic Context
The 2025 call builds on Theme IV (“Water and Health”) of the Water4All Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA). It aligns with key European and international frameworks such as the European Green Deal, the Zero Pollution Action Plan, the Water Framework Directive, the Just Transition Mechanism, the Water Resilience Strategy, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In particular, this call reflects the One Health approach, which acknowledges the deep interconnections between human, animal, and environmental health. It emphasises the importance of integrated, science-based solutions to reduce health risks associated with water contamination and inadequate sanitation.
Objectives and Focus Areas
The Water4All JTC 2025 is part of Pillar B – Research and Innovation Development of the broader Water4All initiative. It seeks to fund high-impact, interdisciplinary projects that respond to one or more of the following focus areas:
- Water Quality and Public Health: Investigating chemical and microbial contaminants and their health implications.
- Water Treatment Technologies: Developing or improving sustainable, cost-effective, and scalable solutions.
- Monitoring and Risk Assessment: Innovating accurate, efficient methods for water quality monitoring and early warning systems.
- Implementation of One Health Principles: Promoting holistic research that integrates human, animal, and environmental health outcomes.
- Socio-Economic and Policy Integration: Including cross-cutting issues like equity, governance, and capacity development in proposed solutions.
Projects should also consider current research efforts funded by other instruments or national and European programmes to avoid duplication and maximise impact.
Key Dates and Timeline
The call follows a two-stage submission process:
- Call opening: 12 September 2025
- Deadline for pre-proposals: 13 November 2025, 15:00 CET
- Selection of pre-proposals: February 2026
- Deadline for full proposals: 13 April 2026, 15:00 CEST
- Selection of funded projects: September 2026
- Project start date: Late 2026 or early 2027
- Kick-off meeting for funded projects: Spring 2027
An International Info Day Webinar will be held on 25 September 2025, from 13:30 to 15:30 CEST to provide detailed guidance for applicants. Registration is required.
Special Focus: Early Career Researchers (ECRs)
A notable feature of the 2025 call is the dedicated modality for Early Career Researchers (ECRs). Specific eligibility criteria and consortium composition guidelines apply for ECR-led proposals, offering a valuable opportunity for emerging researchers to take leadership roles in international consortia. Details can be found in the official call documents.
How to Apply
Applicants must submit proposals via the online submission tool (link available on the Water4All website). The process includes two phases: submission of a pre-proposal and, if selected, a full proposal. Applicants are encouraged to use the partner search tool to build or join consortia aligned with the call topics.
The technical help desk can be reached at:
[email protected]
For general enquiries regarding the call, applicants should contact the Water4All Call Secretariat:
- Aldo Covello, Yasmine Iollo, Sara Cella
Italian Ministry for Universities and Research (MUR) – Directorate General for Internationalization
Email: [email protected]
The Water4All Secretariat can be reached at:
water4all[@]agencerecherche.fr
Broader Impact
The projects funded under this call are expected to deliver scientific, technological, and policy-relevant results that support the evidence-based development of water management strategies. These outcomes will contribute to safer drinking water, more resilient health systems, and more sustainable development pathways for Europe and its global partners.
By leveraging international collaboration and aligning with global priorities, the Water4All JTC 2025 aims to foster innovation that delivers real-world solutions to the urgent water and health challenges of our time.
VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE FOR MORE
For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram , WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and Telegram
Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the hiring organization. For any inquiries, please contact the hiring organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
