Funding programme

Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation.

Read more about the Horizon Europe programme here.

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Call overview

This call aims to foster soil education in schools, universities and professional education in EU Member States and Associated Countries.

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Scope

As highlighted in the EU Soil Strategy for 2030 and in the implementation plan of Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’, soil is a scarce and non-renewable resource which is vital to ensure life on Earth. However, the value of soil is not fully recognised in society. Individuals are often unaware of the relevance of soil in their daily lives and of the pressures that human activities pose on soil health. To improve society’s understanding of soils and incentivise behavioural change, there is a need to embed soil related subjects more firmly into the various levels of education and link enhanced information on soils with people’s values. Activities under this topic will foster soil education in schools, universities and professional education in EU Member States and Associated Countries.

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Expected outcome

This topic contributes to the implementation of the Mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’, in particular to its specific objective 8 “Increase soil literacy in society across Member States”. It supports the objectives of the European Green Deal, the European Climate Pact and the EU Soil Strategy for 2030.

In addition, results obtained under this topic should contribute to the objectives of the European Education Area, the Education for Climate Coalition and improve the European sustainability competence framework (GreenComp) to prepare people to face the challenges of a changing climate world.

Project results should contribute to all of the following outcomes:

• teaching programmes and targeted communication, education and engagement materials on soil are more widely available in numerous European languages;
• higher uptake and diffusion of good practices and hands-on activities related to soil education across the EU and Associated Countries;
• soil literacy is more firmly embedded in educational curricula at all levels and supports behavioural change and the adoption of sustainable practices both individually and collectively based on a better understanding of the vital importance of soils for human life and planetary health;
• increased awareness of the importance of soil and its functions, as well as of the Mission objectives, amongst pupils, students and professionals across Europe.

‍Read more in the Work Programme - Missions, page 303.

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Eligibility

To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:

• the Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions;
• the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States;
• eligible non-EU countries including countries associated to Horizon Europe and low- and middle-income countries.

Any legal entity, regardless of its place of establishment, including legal entities from non-associated third countries or international organisations (including international European research organisations 1) is eligible to participate (whether it is eligible for funding or not), provided that the conditions laid down in the Horizon Europe Regulation have been met, along with any other conditions laid down in the specific call topic.

A ‘legal entity’ means any natural or legal person created and recognised as such undernational law, EU law or international law, which has legal personality and which may, acting in its own name, exercise rights and be subject to obligations, or an entity without legal personality.

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Consortium composition

Proposals must apply the multi-actor approach, thus ensure the participation of a range ofstakeholders with complementary expertise.

Unless otherwise provided for in the specific call conditions, legal entities forming a consortium are eligible to participate in actions provided that the consortium includes:

• at least one independent legal entity established in a Member State; and
• at least two other independent legal entities, each established in different Member States or Associated Countries.

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Budget

EUR 6,000,000.