Aim. Provide targeted financial support and technical assistance to associated regions to replicate, scale and localise UPSTREAM solutions for monitoring, prevention, removal and valorisation of plastic litter and microplastics in rivers and connected waters.
Objective. Enable regions to design and trial circular/zero‑waste measures that prevent plastic leakage to rivers and seas; replicate UPSTREAM prevention solutions.
Funding. Lump‑sum grants up to €70,000 per application; 8 months implementation; [2–3] projects expected (OC2 total budget €140,000).
Who can apply. Regional/local public authorities (or directly‑representing bodies) from associated regions (EU MS/AC) excluding:
a) UPSTREAM beneficiary countries (Spain, Belgium, Slovenia, Portugal, Serbia, Greece, Germany, The Netherlands, France, Italy, UK)
INSPIRE project funded
b) INSPIRE project funding regions in the FSTP Open Calls: 1) Cork City Council, Ireland; 2) Municipality of Stari Grad Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3) İstanbul Boğazı Belediyeler Birliği, 4) Khotyn City Council, Ukraine and 5) Opština Jezero, Bosnia and Herzegovina
c) UPSTREAM funded regions in FSTP Open Call 1. A region cannot receive funding twice across Call 1 & 2. Regions funded in OC1 1) Turkey, West Marmara, Tekirdağ Sub-region; 2) Turkey, Mediterranean Region, Antalya Sub-region; 3) Cyprus, Nicosia District
Primary geographies. Eligible associated regions in EU Member States/Associated Countries not covered by the UPSTREAM consortium, with indicative priority to regions with high leakage to rivers/sea (e.g., selected Balkans/Mediterranean/ North African basins). See list of eligible and non-eligible countries using this link: (list-3rd-country-participation_horizon-euratom_en.pdf)
Activities sought. Substitution & procurement pilots; zero‑waste supply chain measures; behaviour‑change and producer responsibility pilots; enabling policies; monitoring impacts.
Evaluation. External experts score per criteria; internal consensus ranks; awards by the Call Owner. All eligible applicants receive an Evaluation Summary Report (ESR).
Contact. OpenCall@upstream-project.eu subject: Question │ FAQs: [Annex G]
Applications opening: June 16, 2026 (12:00 PM CET)
Applications deadline: August 17, 2026 (17:00 PM CET)
How to apply. Submit online OC2 – Application Form (Annex A) + OC2 – Declaration of Honour (Annex D) + Legal status proof to OpenCall@upstream-project.eu with the subject: name of the call.
Format: pdf. Language: English. One application per authority. Guidelines for filling the Application Form are available here.
Projects must demonstrably support UPSTREAM objectives through:
Not eligible: Basic research; routine municipal operations; activities completed before grant start; double-funded activities; purchases unrelated to project tasks; measures with significant negative environmental impacts.
Admissibility: Application complete; submitted via e-mail: OpenCall@upstream-project.eu before deadline; in English; all mandatory annexes provided.
Eligibility (all must hold): – Applicant is a regional/local public authority or body directly representing it; legal status proof attached; – Located in an eligible associated region (EU MS/AC) that is outside UPSTREAM beneficiary countries, UPSTREAM FSTP OC1 regions and INSPIRE FSTP regions; – Proposal aligns with Call objectives and eligible activities list; – No double funding (self‑declaration); activities not started before grant; – EU restrictive measures do not apply to applicant or key subcontractors.
Geographical diversity rule: One award per region across the whole programme.
Resubmissions: Allowed across calls if not yet funded.
Process: 1. Admissibility & eligibility screening; 2. Remote evaluation by three internal consortium experts; 3. Internal consensus meeting for final ranking and funding cut-off; 4. Ethics/risk checks; 5. Awards & grant prep.
Criteria & weights (100 pts total; minimum quality thresholds apply): 1. Concept & innovation – 25 pts: clarity, credibility, interoperability, novelty (tech/strategic/implementation/practice). 2. Team capacity & excellence – 25 pts: skills, roles, governance, delivery track-record; access to required permits/sites. 3. Alignment & work plan – 25 pts: logic, milestones, deliverables, verification means; budget realism; subcontracting justification. 4. Impact & European dimension – 25 pts: fit with Mission Ocean goals; scalability/replicability; cross-border relevance; KPIs.
Thresholds. Min 60/100 overall and ≥12/25 in each criterion. Ties broken by higher Impact score, then Concept score, then geographic balance.
Outputs to applicants. ESR with strengths/weaknesses & scores; ineligible applicants receive reasoned notice and appeal route.
Mandatory deliverables: – D1: Kick-off package (work plan, risk & ethics checklist, data plan, comms plan) – M1; – D2: Mid-term update (evidence of activities, preliminary results) – mid-point; – D3: Final pack (technical report, datasets, photos/videos, replication & exploitation plan, communication assets) – final month.
Illustrative KPIs (select per project): capture efficiency; tonnes/items collected; MP concentration trends; citizens engaged; policy changes enacted; % bio-based substitutions; valorisation outputs; open datasets published.
Visibility: Use MISSION OCEAN/EU/UPSTREAM logos and funding statement on all outputs; provide consented media assets; follow project visual ID.
Open data: Publish non-sensitive results to UPSTREAM platforms/Portal as applicable.
Applicants may lodge an appeal within 7 calendar days of notification where they believe a procedural error occurred. Appeals are reviewed by an internal panel uninvolved in the original decision. Appeals cannot re-evaluate scientific/technical merit unless a manifest error is evidenced. Applicants will receive an appeal response within 14 days of confirmed receipt of the appeal.
Who can apply? Local or regional public authorities or bodies directly representing them, located in eligible associated regions.
Can an authority apply to both calls? Yes, but a region can only receive funding once during the programme.
Is subcontracting allowed? Yes, when justified. Subcontracting above 30% must be clearly justified.
What costs are eligible? Costs are covered through a lump-sum grant linked to delivery of milestones and outputs.
When are payments made? Payments are made in tranches linked to project milestones and final acceptance.
What reporting is required? Kick-off package, mid-term update and final report with evidence of results.
Are permits required? Yes, applicants must ensure all necessary permits and approvals are in place. How is data handled? In compliance with GDPR and UPSTREAM data management rules.