Bio-fabricated materials for sustainable and beautiful construction

The EU Funding and Tenders Portal announces a grant opportunity under the Horizon Europe program, specifically for the topic "Bio-fabricated materials for sustainable and beautiful construction" (HORIZON-NEB-2025-01-REGEN-02). The objective is to promote the use of bio-fabricated materials in sustainable construction practices. This funding falls under Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) and is designed to support projects that address several challenges in the development and application of these innovative materials.

Eligible applicants include various actors such as public authorities, local community members, civil society organizations, private owners, architecture and design firms, and engineering entities, indicating a wide range of participation from government, research institutions, businesses, and non-profits. The grants aim to cover research, development, and innovation activities, with no repayment obligations.

Consortium requirements mandate participation from at least three EU Member States or Associated Countries, promoting transdisciplinary collaboration. The beneficiary scope encompasses EU member states, Associated Countries, and potentially includes non-EU countries that have arrangements for Horizon Europe participation.

Target sectors are primarily linked to the built environment, with a focus on developing sustainable construction materials that advance the circular economy and mitigate climate change. Projects are expected to work on technical challenges related to bio-fabricated materials, researching, developing, and demonstrating at least two innovative materials that feature properties such as self-repair, carbon storage, and thermal regulation. The projects should involve lifecycle assessments to evaluate environmental and socio-economic impacts.

The funding amount ranges from €1 million to €5 million per project, with a total allocation for this specific call set at €10 million. The application process is a single-stage, open call, with a submission deadline of November 12, 2025. The expected success rates for proposals are around 10% to 39%, a typical range for competitive calls under Horizon Europe.

Co-funding requirements remain unspecified, but while matched funding might strengthen proposals, it is not explicitly required. Proposals are encouraged to adopt a collaborative approach, engaging diverse stakeholders to create materials that are not only technically viable but also socially and economically beneficial.

This initiative supports large-scale demonstrations of innovative bio-engaged construction materials, promoting sustainability and aesthetics in the built environment. The aim aligns with broader EU priorities for transitioning to climate neutrality and a circular economy, asserting the importance of collaborative R&D efforts in transforming construction practices across Europe.

The EU Funding and Tenders Portal presents a call for proposals under the Horizon Europe (HORIZON) program, specifically focusing on "A research agenda for a beautiful, inclusive and sustainable transformation of neighbourhoods" (HORIZON-NEB-2025-01). The call aims to promote the use of bio-fabricated materials in sustainable construction. The specific topic highlighted is HORIZON-NEB-2025-01-REGEN-02, which falls under HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) with a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG] model grant agreement.

The call is currently open for submission with a single-stage deadline. The opening date for submissions was May 6, 2025, and the deadline for submissions is November 12, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcomes of the projects funded under this call are: Increased awareness and acceptance of bio-fabricated construction materials and their beneficial properties among construction ecosystem professionals; Mass-scale production of innovative, sustainably sourced, and aesthetically pleasing bio-fabricated construction materials at competitive costs.

The scope of the call includes: Addressing technical challenges of bio-fabricated materials through research; Developing and testing at least two innovative sustainable bio-fabricated construction materials with innovative features (e.g., self-repair, adaptability, carbon storage, heating/cooling capabilities, extended lifespan); Ensuring the materials can be used for interior, exterior, or structural purposes and comply with relevant EU standards and regulatory frameworks; Assessing the materials' properties, benefits, and design/construction applications, covering structural, mechanical, thermal, acoustic, health-related, durability, and aesthetic aspects, considering environmental variations; Studying the feasibility of mass-scale production using high-technological manufacturing techniques (e.g., 3D printing, robotics, BIM, parametric design, high-performance sensors, AI); Analyzing the environmental footprint using a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach; Analyzing the social and economic impacts throughout the material’s whole life cycle using social life-cycle assessment (SLCA) and life-cycle costing (LCC) approaches.

Proposals should adopt a participatory and transdisciplinary approach, integrating various actors (public authorities, local actors, civil society, private owners) and disciplines (architecture, design, arts, civil engineering). A minimum of 0.2% of the total budget should be dedicated to sharing results with the Coordination and Support Action 'New European Bauhaus hub for results and impact' (HORIZON-MISS-2024-NEB-01-03).

The general conditions for participation include: Admissibility conditions related to proposal page limits and layout, as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form; Eligible countries, as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries outlined in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide; Other eligible conditions, as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes; Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria, as described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes; Evaluation and award criteria, scoring, and thresholds, as described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes; Submission and evaluation processes, as described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual; Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement, as described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes; Legal and financial set-up of the grants, as described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA) details: Application form templates are available in the Submission System, including a standard application form (HE RIA, IA); Evaluation form templates will be used with necessary adaptations, including a standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA); Guidance is provided in the HE Programme Guide; The Model Grant Agreement (MGA) is the HE MGA.

Additional documents include: HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 1. General Introduction; HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 13. New European Bauhaus Facility (NEB); HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 14. General Annexes; HE Programme Guide; HE Framework Programme 2021/695; HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764; EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509; Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme; Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment; EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement; Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual; Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions; Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The budget overview for the call includes various topics: HORIZON-NEB-2025-01-BUSINESS-01 (EUR 12,000,000, around 2 grants); HORIZON-NEB-2025-01-BUSINESS-02 (EUR 12,000,000, around 3 grants); HORIZON-NEB-2025-01-BUSINESS-03 (EUR 12,000,000, around 3 grants); HORIZON-NEB-2025-01-PARTICIPATION-01 (EUR 10,500,000, around 3 grants); HORIZON-NEB-2025-01-PARTICIPATION-02 (EUR 9,000,000, around 3 grants); HORIZON-NEB-2025-01-PARTICIPATION-03 (EUR 10,400,000, around 2 grants); HORIZON-NEB-2025-01-PARTICIPATION-04 (EUR 2,500,000, around 1 grant); HORIZON-NEB-2025-01-REGEN-01 (EUR 16,000,000, around 2 grants); HORIZON-NEB-2025-01-REGEN-02 (EUR 10,000,000, around 2 grants); HORIZON-NEB-2025-01-REGEN-03 (EUR 8,000,000, around 2 grants); HORIZON-NEB-2025-01-REGEN-04 (EUR 16,000,000, around 2 grants).

There are 14 partner search announcements available for collaboration on this topic. LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests.

To start the submission process, applicants should access the Electronic Submission Service and select the appropriate type of action and model grant agreement.

The EU Funding & Tenders Portal is offering funding for research and innovation actions focused on bio-fabricated materials for sustainable construction, as part of the New European Bauhaus initiative. The goal is to develop and test new bio-based materials that are not only environmentally friendly but also aesthetically pleasing and economically viable for widespread use in the construction industry. The projects should address the technical challenges, assess the materials' properties, and analyze their environmental and socio-economic impacts. The call encourages a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach, bringing together various stakeholders to drive the transformation of the built environment towards sustainability and circularity. Successful projects are expected to contribute to the increased acceptance and use of bio-fabricated materials, helping to achieve zero-waste goals and reduce carbon emissions in the construction sector.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity is open to a variety of actors including public authorities, local actors from targeted neighborhoods, civil society, private owners, architecture or design firms, arts organizations, and (civil) engineering entities. This suggests a broad eligibility encompassing government, research institutions, businesses (including SMEs and large enterprises), and non-profits.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically through HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), HORIZON Innovation Actions (IA) and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) under the Horizon Europe Programme. The grants are budget-based.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity encourages a participatory and transdisciplinary approach, implying that a consortium of multiple applicants is preferred, although not explicitly stated as mandatory. The inclusion of diverse actors such as public authorities, local actors, civil society, and various disciplines suggests that a consortium would be well-suited to meet the requirements.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU member states and associated countries, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-associated countries that have made funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. The Horizon Europe Programme Guide provides further details on eligible countries.

Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: bioeconomy, built environment, construction, architecture, design, arts, engineering, sustainability, circular economy, advanced materials, and related high-technological solutions. It focuses on bio-fabricated materials and their integration into the built environment to achieve zero-waste goals and reduce environmental impact.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity does not explicitly mention specific countries, but refers to EU member states, associated countries, and non-EU/non-associated countries that have specific provisions for funding participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project ranges from research and development to demonstration and validation, depending on the specific action type (RIA, IA, or CSA). The focus is on developing, testing, and assessing innovative bio-fabricated construction materials, as well as studying the feasibility for mass-scale production.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic and action type. The indicative funding ranges are:
HORIZON-IA: around 4,000,000 EUR to 8,000,000 EUR
HORIZON-RIA: around 3,000,000 EUR to 5,000,000 EUR
HORIZON-CSA: around 2,500,000 EUR
The total budget allocated to the different topics is 12,000,000 EUR for business-related topics, 10,500,000 EUR or 9,000,000 EUR or 10,400,000 EUR or 2,500,000 EUR for participation-related topics, and 16,000,000 EUR or 10,000,000 EUR or 8,000,000 EUR for regeneration-related topics.

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 a grant to support their research, development, and innovation activities.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage, meaning applicants submit a full proposal that undergoes evaluation.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants for each topic provides some insight. For example, some topics aim to fund 1-3 projects, which suggests a competitive selection process.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required. As a Horizon Europe action grant, co-funding may be implied, but this would need to be confirmed in the specific call documents and the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

This Horizon Europe call, part of the New European Bauhaus initiative, seeks to promote the development and adoption of bio-fabricated materials in the construction sector. It addresses the need for sustainable, circular, and aesthetically pleasing building materials to meet zero-waste goals and reduce environmental impact. The call encompasses several topics under the research agenda for a beautiful, inclusive, and sustainable transformation of neighborhoods. The funding is distributed across different types of actions: Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), Innovation Actions (IA), and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA).

The RIA topics focus on research and development activities, aiming to develop and test innovative bio-fabricated construction materials with enhanced properties such as self-repair, carbon storage, and thermal regulation. These projects are expected to assess the materials' properties, production feasibility, environmental footprint, and socio-economic impacts. The IA topics aim to scale up and demonstrate the application of these materials in real-world settings, fostering innovation and market uptake. The CSA topics support coordination and networking activities to disseminate knowledge and best practices related to bio-fabricated materials.

Applicants are expected to adopt a participatory and transdisciplinary approach, involving diverse stakeholders such as public authorities, local communities, and experts from various fields. This collaborative approach aims to ensure that the developed materials are not only technically sound but also socially and economically viable. The call encourages the use of advanced technologies like 3D printing, robotics, and AI in the manufacturing processes to enhance efficiency and affordability.

The overall goal is to transform the construction industry by integrating bio-fabricated materials, thereby contributing to a more sustainable, circular, and beautiful built environment. The call provides a significant opportunity for researchers, businesses, and other stakeholders to collaborate and drive innovation in this critical sector.