R/V Svea available through the EU initiative AQUARIUS – apply now
It is now possible to apply for fully funded access to the Swedish research vessel R/V Svea – and to 56 other leading research infrastructures across Europe. The EU-funded project AQUARIUS has launched its second and final call for proposals.
Researchers from academia, government agencies, industry and civil society are invited to apply for support to carry out projects using research vessels, drones, fixed monitoring stations, aircraft, satellite services, experimental facilities and data labs.
In addition to access to infrastructure, the programme also provides funding for travel and accommodation, as well as technical, logistical and scientific support from infrastructure operators. Project budgets can be as high as EUR 1 million. In total, the call allocates EUR 4 million in funding from the EU Horizon Europe programme.
“This is a real opportunity for more researchers to conduct cutting-edge science at sea. AQUARIUS makes costly infrastructure truly accessible, and we hope international teams will also discover the unique value of R/V Svea,” says Lasse Thorell, Head of the Vessel Unit at SLU.
“Svea is designed to be flexible and serve a broad range of scientific disciplines. We welcome projects involving everything from biological sampling to acoustic surveys and physical oceanography – often at the same time. That makes the vessel particularly valuable for interdisciplinary research,” says Lasse Thorell.
Be inspired!
Want to get a sense of what a research expedition can involve? Read our feature Climate clues and microbial mysteries from a 2025 research cruise with Svea.
Important if you are planning to use R/V Svea
Research teams aiming to use Svea within the AQUARIUS framework must contact SLU well in advance. This is essential for coordinating ship time and ensuring your project aligns with the vessel’s technical capabilities and current schedule.
How to apply
The call is open until 28 October 2025.
- Visit aquarius-ri.eu/access for full details of the call.
- Register and activate your account on the Transnational Access Platform
- Explore the Research Infrastructure Catalogue Research Infrastructure Catalogue
- Contact the infrastructure operator (e.g. SLU for R/V Svea) to discuss feasibility and scheduling.
- Complete and submit your application through the TAP-platform.
Applications are welcome for both small-scale projects and larger initiatives involving multiple infrastructures. All projects must contribute to the objectives of the EU Mission: Ocean and Waters.
AQUARIUS
AQUARIUS is an EU-funded initiative offering researchers free access to state-of-the-art infrastructures for marine and freshwater research.
The project includes 57 infrastructures in total, such as research vessels, monitoring stations, drones, aircraft, satellite services, laboratories and virtual data platforms.
Running from 2024 to 2028, AQUARIUS is coordinated by the Marine Institute of Ireland. SLU participates with the research vessel R/V Svea.
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