Europe is strengthening access to advanced research infrastructure to support innovation in aquaculture with the launch of a new call under the AQUASERV project, funded by the Horizon Europe programme. The initiative will allow selected projects to access, with fully or partially covered costs, a network of around 60 leading research facilities located across different European countries.
The call targets research and innovation projects in sustainable aquaculture and related fields, offering access to specialised laboratories, advanced technological platforms, experimental facilities and high-level aquaculture systems. Its aim is to enable experimental work and pilot-scale studies that are often difficult to carry out without access to large, shared research infrastructures.
One of the key features of the call is that selected projects may benefit from up to three months of access to the chosen facilities, allowing for research with a genuine experimental scope and practical outcomes. This shared-access model is designed to lower financial barriers and accelerate the development of solutions in critical areas such as production sustainability, animal health and resource efficiency.
Proposals may address a broad range of topics, including the development of new low-trophic species for aquaculture, more sustainable feed production technologies, the management of pathogens and parasites, improvements in product quality and safety, waste management and other sustainability-related challenges facing the sector. These areas reflect many of the technical and regulatory pressures currently shaping European aquaculture.
Although AQUASERV is rooted in the research domain, eligibility is not limited to academia. The call is open to PhD candidates, early-career researchers, engineers and research professionals affiliated with universities, technology centres, non-profit organisations and registered companies. This inclusive approach broadens the initiative’s reach and strengthens its potential to support knowledge transfer towards the productive sector.
Submitted proposals will be assessed through a multi-stage evaluation process, including eligibility and feasibility checks and a scientific review. Evaluation criteria include scientific excellence, originality, feasibility within the AQUASERV framework and a clear justification for the requested access to infrastructure. Applicants will be informed of the results following the close of the call.
The deadline for submissions is 31 March. Ahead of this date, the AQUASERV consortium will host an online information session on 25 February, providing guidance on the application process and an overview of the services available through the network. The initiative reflects a broader shift in European research policy towards open, shared infrastructures designed to provide sustained support for innovation in strategic sectors such as aquaculture.
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