Path4Med

1) Where can I find more details on the Open Call? Any Guide for Applicants?

The Path4Med Open Call Kit (with all relevant documents and instructions) can be found on the Path4Med project website under the Open Call tab (https://www.path4med.eu/open-call/).

2) Are single applicants eligible to apply, or is this call meant for consortia only?

For the Path4Med Open Call, only single entities and specifically public authorities can apply. Consortia are not eligible. Applications with more than 1 entity will be rejected during the eligibility criteria evaluation phase.

3) How many applications can one entity submit? And how many of them can be selected for funding?

Applicants can participate in only one proposal in the call. If any applicant is found to participate in multiple applications, all respective applications will be rejected. If multiple versions of the same application are submitted, only the last version will be evaluated. All the previous ones will not be considered and will be discarded.

4) Can successful applicants receive payment in advance after contracting?

In all selected subprojects, payments are deliverable-based, meaning that the subgrantees have to deliver a specific report after the end of each phase to receive the payment (no pre-financing is foreseen). First payment will take place after the submission and evaluation of the first deliverable as outlined in section 4 (Implementation of Path4Med Open Call), of the Applicants Guide.

5) For how long will the platform accept proposals?

The platform will open for proposal submission on the 29th of October 2025 and it will remain open until 17:00 CET on the 30th of January 2026.

6) Can entities from non-EU countries submit proposals to the Path4Med Open Call?

Applicants from non-EU countries may apply if they are eligible under Regulation (EU) 2021/695 and the List of Participating Countries (Horizon Europe: V3.5 – 20.08.2025), and are explicitly included in the list of eligible countries provided in Paragraph 3.2.2 of the Path4Med Open Call Applicants’ Guide. Applicants from countries not included in this list are not eligible to participate in the Path4Med Open Call.

7) Can an institute of public health - a regional body founded by the regional government and that executes water quality monitoring programmes (both state-defined and regionally funded) be an eligible applicant? In Croatia, water quality monitoring is entrusted to the regional institutes of public health by law. Among other roles, the institutes also have an advisory role in in drafting state laws. Thank you

According to the Applicants' Guide (page 9) "For the purposes of this Open Call, only local and/or regional public authorities are eligible to apply.

• Public authorities acting on a regional or local level are governmental or administrative bodies established under public law that operate within a specific sub-national geographical area (region, city, town, etc.) and are responsible for exercising public functions and providing services to the population within that area.

The Path4MED open call seeks applications from public authorities with clearly defined responsibilities including (but not limited to): Water management, Soil management, Environmental protection, Meteorology, and Agricultural policies. Public authorities active in other domains relevant to the implementation and testing of the innovative solutions described in the applicant's guide and Annex 10 are also welcome to apply."

If the interested organization exercises regulatory or administrative authority, related to water quality monitoring, it may be considered eligible provided this mandate is clearly defined in the organisation’s establishment documents or relevant national legislation.

8) Can a combination of DNA- and RNA-based indicators together with nutrient and physico-chemical parameter monitoring using field and laboratory methods (excluding IoT) be considered an eligible example of Solution 1 – Novel Monitoring Strategies? If yes, when applying DNA- and RNA-based indicators (e.g., DNA metabarcoding), should the focus be on obtaining greater biological diversity or on achieving higher taxonomic resolution?

Yes, according to the Applicants' Guide (page 14), a combination of DNA- and RNA-based indicators together with nutrient and physico-chemical parameter monitoring using field and laboratory methods can be considered an eligible example of Solution 1 – Novel Monitoring Strategies, even if it excludes IoT, however the exact methodology and technical approach is up to the applicant to decide. Independent evaluators will assess each proposal based on the award criteria clearly described in pages 25-26 of Guidelines for applicants.