Beautiful, sustainable and inclusive street furniture for the transformation of neighbourhoods

The grant opportunity under the New European Bauhaus Facility focuses on transforming neighborhoods through sustainable and inclusive street furniture design. It is part of the Horizon Europe program and targets diverse applicant types, including universities, research institutes, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), public authorities, and other entities eligible under Horizon Europe. The total budget for this call is €10.4 million, with individual project funding likely ranging from €1 million to €5 million.

A consortium comprising partners from at least three different EU Member States or Associated Countries is mandatory for proposals. This requirement emphasizes cross-border collaboration to ensure diverse impacts across Europe. The eligible geographic scope covers EU Member States and associated countries, promoting projects that align with local needs while contributing to overarching EU sustainability goals.

The call specifically targets sectors related to urban development, design, and cultural industries, aiming to address infrastructural decay and safety concerns in older and poorer neighborhoods. It seeks to promote sustainable practices while incorporating social inclusion and regenerative design principles. Emphasis is placed on innovation and real-world demonstration, and projects should achieve Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) of 6 to 8.

Applications are open in a single-stage submission format, with a deadline set for November 12, 2025. The nature of support provided is monetary, with grant funding intended to facilitate collaborative and participatory approaches in project development. While co-funding is encouraged, it is not mandatory.

Success rates for this call typically align with those of competitive Horizon Europe grants, generally estimated between 10% and 39%. The approach requires a transdisciplinary method that integrates various actors and disciplines, including insights from social sciences and humanities, showcasing a dedication to impactful community engagement and sustainability.

In summary, this funding opportunity emphasizes the importance of innovative street furniture designs that enhance public spaces and improve the quality of life in European neighborhoods. It invites collaborative proposals that reflect sustainability, inclusivity, and aesthetic quality, aligning with the core values of the New European Bauhaus initiative.

This is a summary of EU funding opportunities related to the New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative, specifically focusing on the transformation of neighborhoods through innovative street furniture. The calls are part of the Horizon Europe program and aim to address challenges in older and poorer European neighborhoods, such as infrastructural decay, unequal access to public amenities, and safety concerns. The core idea is that well-designed street furniture can improve the quality of life, promote social interaction, and boost local economies.

The funding opportunities are structured around several key areas: Business, Participation, and Regeneration (REGEN). Each area has multiple topics, with a mix of HORIZON Innovation Actions (IA), HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (CSA).

Key aspects of the funding include:

Expected Outcomes: Projects should lead to better integration of public authorities, social actors, and the arts into street furniture design. They should also provide evidence on how street furniture and co-creation can improve quality of life, safety, sustainability, resilience to climate change, and inclusiveness.

Scope: Projects should develop and demonstrate innovative street furniture designs that: contribute to functional common spaces year-round, improve environmental performance using nature-based solutions and sustainable materials, strengthen aesthetic and cultural integrity, and meet the needs of diverse population groups.

Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP): Project consortia can provide financial support (up to EUR 100 000 per party) to SMEs, education or research institutions, and other relevant actors for prototyping and demonstration.

Approach: Proposals should use a participatory and transdisciplinary approach, involving various actors and disciplines, including social sciences and humanities (SSH). A minimum of 0.2% of the total budget should be dedicated to sharing results with the 'New European Bauhaus hub for results and impact'.

General Conditions: The standard Horizon Europe rules apply regarding admissibility, eligible countries, financial and operational capacity, exclusion, evaluation, award, and legal/financial setup.

Specific Conditions: Detailed requirements are specified in the work program for each topic.

Application Process: Application forms are available in the Submission System. Standard application and evaluation forms will be used.

Additional Documents: Several guidance documents and legal frameworks are referenced, including the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, Programme Guide, Model Grant Agreements, EU Financial Regulation, and rules for legal entity validation.

Budget Overview:

HORIZON-NEB-2025-01-BUSINESS-01 (HORIZON-IA): EUR 12 000 000, Indicative number of grants: 2, Contribution per grant around EUR 6 000 000
HORIZON-NEB-2025-01-BUSINESS-02 (HORIZON-IA): EUR 12 000 000, Indicative number of grants: 3, Contribution per grant around EUR 4 000 000
HORIZON-NEB-2025-01-BUSINESS-03 (HORIZON-RIA): EUR 12 000 000, Indicative number of grants: 3, Contribution per grant around EUR 4 000 000
HORIZON-NEB-2025-01-PARTICIPATION-01 (HORIZON-RIA): EUR 10 500 000, Indicative number of grants: 3, Contribution per grant around EUR 3 500 000
HORIZON-NEB-2025-01-PARTICIPATION-02 (HORIZON-RIA): EUR 9 000 000, Indicative number of grants: 3, Contribution per grant around EUR 3 000 000
HORIZON-NEB-2025-01-PARTICIPATION-03 (HORIZON-IA): EUR 10 400 000, Indicative number of grants: 2, Contribution per grant around EUR 5 200 000
HORIZON-NEB-2025-01-PARTICIPATION-04 (HORIZON-CSA): EUR 2 500 000, Indicative number of grants: 1, Contribution per grant around EUR 2 500 000
HORIZON-NEB-2025-01-REGEN-01 (HORIZON-IA): EUR 16 000 000, Indicative number of grants: 2, Contribution per grant around EUR 8 000 000
HORIZON-NEB-2025-01-REGEN-02 (HORIZON-RIA): EUR 10 000 000, Indicative number of grants: 2, Contribution per grant around EUR 5 000 000
HORIZON-NEB-2025-01-REGEN-03 (HORIZON-RIA): EUR 8 000 000, Indicative number of grants: 2, Contribution per grant around EUR 4 000 000
HORIZON-NEB-2025-01-REGEN-04 (HORIZON-IA): EUR 16 000 000, Indicative number of grants: 2, Contribution per grant around EUR 8 000 000

The opening date for submissions is May 6, 2025, and the deadline is November 12, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time.

Partner Search: A partner search function is available on the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Support: Various support services are available, including an Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points, Enterprise Europe Network, IT Helpdesk, and European IPR Helpdesk.

In summary, this funding opportunity aims to revitalize European neighborhoods by promoting the design and implementation of innovative, sustainable, and inclusive street furniture. It encourages collaboration between various stakeholders, including public authorities, businesses, research institutions, and local communities, to create public spaces that are functional, aesthetically pleasing, and beneficial for all members of society. The emphasis on prototyping, demonstration, and participatory design highlights the practical and community-driven nature of this initiative.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types include SMEs, education or research institutions, public authorities, local actors from targeted neighborhoods, civil society, actors from the cultural and creative sectors, and other relevant actors such as not-for-profit entities. Project consortia are expected to integrate different actors and disciplines, such as architecture or design, arts and crafts, civil engineering, and health, and to involve social sciences and humanities experts and institutions.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is grants, specifically HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA), HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) under the Horizon Europe Programme. Beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties in the form of grants, with a maximum of EUR 100 000 per third party for prototyping and demonstration of innovative designs.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. Proposals are expected to follow a participatory and transdisciplinary approach through the integration of different actors.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU member states and associated countries, as well as a number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding but have made specific provisions for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the Horizon Europe Programme Guide for more information.

Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: architecture, design, arts and crafts, civil engineering, health, cultural and creative sectors and industries, social sciences and humanities, urban development, and sustainable development, with a focus on improving public spaces and street furniture in older and poorer European neighborhoods. It also targets the integration of nature-based solutions and sustainable materials.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are explicitly mentioned, but the focus is on European neighborhoods, implying eligibility for EU member states and associated countries. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for their participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project is at the prototyping and demonstration stage, with a focus on developing and demonstrating innovative designs for street furniture.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call, ranging from EUR 2,500,000 to EUR 16,000,000 per topic. The indicative number of grants per topic ranges from 1 to 3. Beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties, with a maximum of EUR 100,000 per third party.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants. They may also provide financial support to third parties in the form of grants.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly stated, but the indicative number of grants per topic suggests a competitive process.

Co-funding Requirement: The information provided does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, "A research agenda for a beautiful, inclusive and sustainable transformation of neighbourhoods (HORIZON-NEB-2025-01)", focuses on the design, development, and demonstration of innovative street furniture to improve the quality of life in older and poorer European neighborhoods. The call aims to address challenges such as infrastructural decay, unequal access to public amenities, and safety concerns by promoting attractive, sustainable, and inclusive design solutions. Project consortia are expected to integrate public authorities, social actors, and the arts, and to follow a participatory and transdisciplinary approach. Funding is provided through HORIZON Innovation Actions, HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions, with individual grants ranging from EUR 2,500,000 to EUR 16,000,000. A key aspect of the call is the provision of financial support to third parties, allowing for prototyping and demonstration of innovative designs, with a maximum of EUR 100,000 per third party. The call emphasizes the importance of social sciences and humanities, nature-based solutions, sustainable materials, and the principles of the New European Bauhaus. The application process is a single-stage submission, with the deadline for submission on 12 November 2025.