BONUS vision
Economically and ecologically prosperous Baltic Sea region where resources and goods are used sustainably and where the long-term management of the region is based on sound knowledge derived from multidisciplinary research.

The ERDF aims to strengthen economic and social cohesion in the European Union by correcting imbalances between its regions.
The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is allocated by the European Union with a purpose is to transfer money from richer regions (not countries), and invest it in the infrastructure and services of underdeveloped regions. This will allow those regions to start attracting private sector investments, and create jobs on their own.
The ERDF focuses its investments on several key priority areas. This is known as 'thematic concentration':

Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme and is aimed at securing Europe's global competitiveness. This funding instrument focuses on supporting research and innovation. The goal is to ensure Europe produces world-class science, removes barriers to innovation and makes it easier for the public and private sectors to work together in delivering innovation.
Over 7 years, for the period 2014–2020 the programme has had ca. €80 billion of funding available.

Horizon Europe is the EU’s main funding programme for research and innovation. The overall objectives of the program are tackling climate change, helping achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and boosting the EU’s competitiveness and growth. In particular, the Horizon Europe program hosts the “Restore our Ocean and Waters” EU Mission funding mechanism (in short: Mission Ocean) which aims to protect and restore the health of ocean and waters through research and innovation, citizen engagement and blue investments. 

The Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007–2013 is a financing tool for co-operation in the Baltic Sea Region. The Programme 2007–2013 is closed.

The Programme supports integrated territorial development and cooperation for a more innovative, better accessible and sustainable Baltic Sea region.

Interreg Baltic Sea Region is a source of EU funding for those with smart ideas to shape the region. The Programme supports partners from countries around the Baltic Sea in putting innovative, water-smart and climate-neutral solutions into practice.
The Programme is an agreement between EU member states Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden and the northern parts of Germany as well as partner neighbouring country Norway. The Programme is funded by the European Union and approved by the European Commission.

The Central Baltic Programme 2014–2020 is a cross-border cooperation programme. Its scope is to finance high quality projects in Finland (including Åland), Estonia, Latvia and Sweden, that aim at solving common challenges together and across borders.
Projects applying for this funding should involve partners from at least two countries of the programme area. A typical duration of a project is 2-4 years.

The Central Baltic Programme 2021-2027 is a EU cross-border cooperation programme. Its scope is to finance high quality projects with European Regional Development Funds in Finland (including Åland), Estonia, Latvia and Sweden, that aim at solving common challenges together and across borders. The programme budget for 2021-2027 is EUR 118 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which can be applied for in the calls.

The Interreg South Baltic Programme aims at unlocking South Baltic’s potential for blue and green growth through cross-border cooperation between local and regional actors from Denmark, Germany, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden. The “blue growth” addresses the economic potential of the Baltic Sea for growth and jobs across the shores of the South Baltic. At the same time, “green growth” underlines the need to pursue the path of economic growth in balance with the environment, in particular by utilising South Baltic’s rich natural and cultural heritage in a sustainable and preserving manner.

LIFE is the EU’s financial instrument supporting environmental, nature conservation and climate action projects throughout the EU.
Anyone registered in the EU can make a proposal for LIFE funding, while project partners can come also from outside the EU, provided that the coordinating beneficiary is based in the programme area. A call for proposals is published every year.
The priority areas of the LIFE programme are:

The projects eligible to the funding from the Nordic Council of Ministers must benefit the Nordic countries, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland. Projects may also include at least two out of the Nordic countries, Greenland, Åland, and the Faroe Islands and a non-Nordic country. Projects must generate Nordic synergies and have a strategic purpose. Most of them are run by a particular administrative body.

The Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO) is an International Financial Institution established by the Nordic Governments in 1990. NEFCO provides results-based green financing targeted at small and medium-sized projects (SMPs) with demonstration value. Moreover, NEFCO’s financing is aimed at increasing use of the best Nordic Solutions in terms of experience and practices, and at serving as a forerunner enabling bigger projects and scaling-up possibilities, which in many cases are then driven forward by the larger International Financial Institutions.

The Swedish Institute promotes international exchange within the areas of culture, education, and research. The goal is to strengthen the work of sustainable development in our partner countries and create important relationships for Sweden.
SI provides funding support for projects, but also for scholarships and leadership programmes. When applying for projects, details should be checked for the particular open calls.
The main applicant of the projects eligible to SI funding has to be based in Sweden.

The Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU) is one of Europe's largest environmental foundations, dedicated to promoting sustainable innovations and environmental protection. Established in 1990 and actively funding projects since 1991, the DBU has supported over 11,100 projects aimed at advancing ecological sustainability, resource efficiency, and climate protection.