Connect NEB & Co-create NEB Open Call 2027

The EIT Community New European Bauhaus, led by EIT Urban Mobility with EIT Food and Climate‑KIC, invites proposals to the Connect NEB and Co‑create NEB 2027 Open Call to support community‑led innovation and place‑based neighbourhood transformation. Connect NEB is a mono‑beneficiary strand with a total project budget of €18,000 (€15,300 EIT funding plus €2,700 co‑funding) for up to 10 months, while Co‑create NEB is a multi‑beneficiary strand with a total project budget of €58,000 (€49,300 EIT funding plus €8,700 co‑funding) for consortia of 2–4 partners including a city or affiliated entity. Eligible applicants are legal entities established in EU Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries and projects must address NEB thematic priorities, meet mandatory KPIs and deliverables, and comply with the Call Manual. Applications must be submitted via the EIT Urban Mobility NetSuite portal by 30 September 2026 at 17:00 CEST; selected projects receive lump‑sum payments (50% pre‑financing, balance on approved deliverables) and programme support.

What the call funds

Purpose

Two complementary 10-month programmes to support New European Bauhaus local action:Connect NEB for single community-led experiments and participation activities; Co-create NEB for multi-partner, place-based transformation of public space involving municipalities or affiliated entities. Projects must reflect NEB core values: Sustainable, Beautiful, Together.

Who can apply:Legal entities established in EU Member States or countries associated to Horizon Europe. Connect NEB: mono-beneficiary (one legal entity rooted in the territory). Co-create NEB: consortium of 2–4 legal entities, at least one being a city, region or entity affiliated with a city/region. Applicants may apply to both streams but may be Lead Partner for only one ¹.

1. 1Deadline: 30 September 2026, 17:00 CEST.
2. 2Project duration: up to 10 months (expected Feb–Nov 2027).
3. 3Open to initiatives in urban and rural contexts; RIS country applications encouraged.

Money and format

Total indicative EIT funding for the call:€566,100 (lump-sum scheme). Funding is pre-defined per project and paid 50% pre-financing, 50% on approved deliverables and KPIs.

Key application and selection points

Applications must be submitted through the EIT Urban Mobility Programmes Portal (NetSuite). Admissibility and eligibility checks are followed by evaluation by external and internal experts. Connect NEB proposals must score >35/55 to be eligible for funding; Co-create NEB proposals must score >=45/60 and are ranked within primary thematic areas (Climate, Urban Mobility, Food).

Mandatory KPI for all projects:All proposals must target KPI EITHE08.1: minimum 25 participants in non-labelled education/training during the project.

1. 1Submission portal and guidance: register and apply via the EIT Urban Mobility Programmes Portal (NetSuite).
2. 2Information webinar: 3 September 2026.
3. 3Evaluation results communicated December 2026; projects tentatively start February 2027.

Full call documents (Call Manual, Guidelines, templates) and the application portal are available from the EIT Urban Mobility call page Call page and the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Opportunity page. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1See the Call Manual and Guidelines for Applicants for full eligibility rules, deliverables, evaluation criteria, co-funding requirements and submission steps.

Call identity and timeline

Call title:Connect NEB & Co-create NEB Open Call 2027. Call reference/identifier: HORIZON-EIT (Callccm2 Id 15021). Lead KIC: EIT Urban Mobility in collaboration with EIT Food and Climate-KIC as the EIT Community New European Bauhaus. Call published: 15 July 2026. Application deadline: 30 September 2026, 17:00 CEST. Tentative project period: February 2027 to November 2027 (maximum duration 10 months). Estimated total EIT funding for the call: €566,100 (lump sum). Number of projects expected to be funded: up to 17 (8 Connect NEB projects and 9 Co-create NEB projects).

Key documents and submission portal:Applicants must consult the Call Manual, Guidelines for Applicants (Connect NEB and Co-create NEB), Co-create NEB Budget Calculation tool, Declaration of Affiliation template and Financial Support Agreement template. Proposals must be submitted through the EIT Urban Mobility Programmes Portal (NetSuite). More details and call pages are maintained on the EIT Urban Mobility call webpage and the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Call page ¹.

Programme structure and objectives

This single open call comprises two complementary, but separately evaluated, programmes under the EIT Community NEB: Connect NEB and Co-create NEB. Both programmes pursue the New European Bauhaus (NEB) core values: Sustainable, Beautiful and Together. Both aim to improve quality of life in neighbourhoods through community activation, participation and place-based transformation while integrating Knowledge Triangle Integration principles and promoting gender, diversity and inclusion.

Connect NEB (mono-beneficiary)

Purpose:support community-led initiatives to test new ideas, activate local communities, prototype participatory approaches, living labs and new forms of governance inspired by NEB. Applicant profile: single legal entity established in an EU Member State or a country associated to Horizon Europe. Eligible contexts: urban and rural neighbourhoods. Maximum duration: 10 months.

Co-create NEB (multi-beneficiary)

Purpose:support consortia to deliver visible, place-based transformation in public spaces through collaboration between communities, municipalities and other local actors. Consortium composition: 2 to 4 legal entities; at least two partners must be independent of each other; at least one partner must be a city, region or an entity affiliated with a city or region (affiliation must be evidenced by legal document or completed Declaration of Affiliation where applicable). Maximum duration: 10 months.

Structured answers to categorisation and eligibility questions

Eligible Applicant Types:Eligible applicant types across both programmes include legally established organisations in EU Member States and in Third countries associated to Horizon Europe. Specifically targeted applicant types: citizen-led collectives (must apply through a legally recognised entity), local NGOs and third-sector organisations, social innovators, artists and designers, SMEs, research groups, universities and research institutes, municipalities and other public organisations, affiliated entities linked to city/region authorities, private organisations such as consultancies or cooperatives. Applications from Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) countries are encouraged. Individuals cannot apply directly; only legal entities. Lead partner roles: a legal entity may submit multiple proposals but can be Lead Partner for only one programme across both calls.

Funding Type:Primary funding mechanism: grant in the form of fixed lump sum payments under a Financial Support Agreement with the respective KIC. The lump sum logic is used (first payment 50% pre-financing; second payment up to 50% based on approval of mandatory deliverables and KPIs and performance assessment).

Consortium Requirement:Connect NEB: single applicant only (mono-beneficiary). Co-create NEB: consortium required with 2 to 4 legal entities; at least two independent entities; at least one city, region or entity affiliated with a city/region.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Eligible geographies: legal entities established in EU Member States and in Third countries associated to Horizon Europe. RIS countries encouraged. Specific exclusions: entities subject to EU restrictive measures are ineligible; legal entities established in Russia, Belarus or non-government-controlled territories of Ukraine are ineligible; entities majority-owned (over 50%) by Russian legal persons are generally ineligible; special measures apply to certain Hungarian public interest trusts — consult Call Manual and legal annexes for details.

Target Sector:Thematic sectors covered: place-based urban and neighbourhood transformation spanning circularity, climate resilience, biodiversity, mobility and public space, food systems, built environment, social inclusion, culture and design. Explicit thematic areas for Co-create NEB: Urban Mobility, Food, Climate. The call is cross-sectoral and targets innovation, civic engagement, urban design, sustainable mobility, local food systems, circular economy and climate resilience.

Mentioned Countries:The call text does not list specific eligible countries by name beyond the categories: Member States of the European Union and Third countries associated to Horizon Europe. It explicitly excludes legal entities established in Russia, Belarus, and non-government-controlled territories of Ukraine. It references RIS countries as a regional focus but no other countries are named in the call text.

Project Stage:Expected maturity: local experimentation, prototyping, implementation and demonstration at neighbourhood level. Typical project stages covered: testing, prototyping, validation, demonstration, early implementation and short-term scale-up or transferability planning. Co-create NEB may support both direct physical public realm improvement interventions and research/new methodologies to inform medium- and long-term planning.

Funding Amount:Connect NEB: fixed total project budget €18,000 comprising €15,300 EIT funding (85%) and €2,700 co-funding (15%). Up to 8 projects. Co-create NEB: fixed total project budget €58,000 comprising €49,300 EIT funding (85%) and €8,700 co-funding (15%). Up to 9 projects. Overall call envelope: €566,100. Payments are lump sums paid as 50% pre-financing and up to 50% final payment upon approval of deliverables and KPIs. See Annex 2 of Call Manual for performance reduction rules.

Application Type:Open competitive call. Single-stage submission via EIT Urban Mobility Programmes Portal (NetSuite). Applicants must register on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal to obtain a PIC and then register in NetSuite to complete the Partner Information Form and application form. Information session provided (3 September 2026).

Nature of Support:Monetary support: lump sum grants (EIT funding) combined with mandatory partner co-funding at project level. Non-financial services: programme support, online thematic workshops, cohort activities, visibility and communication support, follow-up monitoring and possible technical assistance from EIT Community NEB teams.

Application Stages:Single-stage submission. Administrative admissibility & eligibility checks followed by evaluation by an Evaluation Panel composed of one external expert (60% weight) and one internal KIC expert (40% weight). Panel produces Summary Evaluation Report; consensus meeting and ranking. Communication of results, standstill period, financial validation and contracting (Financial Support Agreement). Total effective stages: 3 (1. submission and admissibility/eligibility, 2. evaluation and ranking, 3. contracting and validation).

Success Rates:The Call Manual provides the number of projects expected to be funded (8 Connect NEB and 9 Co-create NEB) out of all eligible applicants but does not publish a historical success rate. Success likelihood depends on quality, thematic fit and score thresholds: Connect NEB threshold 35/55 points; Co-create NEB threshold 45/60 points. Selection also considers geographic spread and newcomers when scores tie.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes. Mandatory fixed co-funding at project level: Connect NEB requires €2,700 (15% of total €18,000). Co-create NEB requires €8,700 (15% of total €58,000). For Co-create NEB consortia, partners can allocate co-funding differently across partners but the overall project co-funding must meet the required total amount. All partners must have a budget allocation (no partner budget may be zero).

Eligibility and evaluation details

Admissibility requirements include timely submission via NetSuite, completion of the Partner Information Form (PIF) with correct PICs for each partner, English language application, inclusion of mandatory annexes and adherence to character limits and form structure. Eligibility specifics differ per programme: Connect NEB permits only a single legal entity (mono-participant) established in an eligible country; Co-create NEB requires 2–4 legal entities, at least two independent and at least one city/region or affiliated entity. Applications must identify and address KPI EITHE08.1 and meet required minimum KPI targets. Exclusion criteria follow standard EU rules (bankruptcy, fraud, sanctions, conflict of interest, etc.).

1. 1Connect NEB minimum eligibility: single legal entity; co-funding €2,700; mandatory DEL 1 Final Report; KPI EITHE08.1 minimum 25 participants.
2. 2Co-create NEB minimum eligibility: consortium 2–4 legal entities; at least two independent entities; at least one city/region or affiliated entity (evidence required if affiliated); co-funding €8,700; mandatory DEL 1 Final Report and either DEL 2_A Public space improvement or DEL 2_B Research/methodologies; KPI EITHE08.1 minimum 25 participants; if DEL 2_A chosen then KPI KSN03 minimum 1 public realm improvement.

Evaluation scoring and thresholds:Connect NEB scored out of 55 (Excellence 20, Impact 15, Implementation 20). Funding selection expects projects scoring above 35 points and ranks proposals; up to 8 selected. Co-create NEB scored out of 60 (Excellence 20, Impact 15, Implementation 25). Only proposals scoring 45 or above are eligible; ranking is done within primary thematic areas (Urban Mobility, Food, Climate) with up to 3 selected per thematic area; alternative selection rules allow use of secondary thematic area and cross-area ranking if needed.

Deliverables, KPIs and payment rules

All awarded projects must sign the Financial Support Agreement and Declaration of Honour. Payments follow the lump sum logic: 50% pre-financing at contract signature and up to 50% final payment contingent on satisfactory submission and approval of mandatory deliverables and KPIs. Deliverables and KPIs are linked to payment and may trigger partial reductions or rejection of final payment if not met. The call manual provides templates for deliverables and KPI reporting and describes the performance-based reduction methodology and appeal/rectification procedures.

Application process and templates

Registration and submission steps:1) Register organisation on EU Funding & Tenders Portal to obtain PIC. 2) Register or log into the EIT Urban Mobility Programmes Portal (NetSuite) and complete Partner Information Form (PIF). 3) Access the Open Calls area in NetSuite, create an application and complete the form and mandatory attachments in English. Connect NEB applicants create a mono-participant application; Co-create NEB applicants must add 2–4 partners by PIC in NetSuite. Applicants must save frequently and submit before the deadline; NetSuite will refuse incomplete forms. Technical failure complaints must be raised within 3 calendar days with screenshots and the application ID.

Templates and structure of application forms:the NetSuite application form is structured into sections detailed in the Guidelines for Applicants. Applicants should prepare answers offline and paste final text respecting character limits. Typical form sections include: Main Information (title, summary, location, keywords), Partner Information (PICs, partner descriptions, independence links), Project Scope (need and relevance, NEB alignment across sustainability, inclusion and beauty, outcomes, durability/transferability, target groups), Quality and Implementation (team capacity, work plan, co-creation methodologies, risk management, ethics and security), Work Plan and Deliverables (create a single Work Package titled Project Implementation and link mandatory deliverables), KPIs (select required KPI codes and set minimum targets), Budget (lump sum allocation per partner using the Co-create NEB Budget Calculation tool where applicable), Supporting Documents (Declaration of Affiliation if required), and final Submission.

1. 1Recommended application structure and text areas to prepare offline: Executive summary; Local challenge description; NEB alignment (sustainability, inclusion/diversity, quality of place); Project objective and measurable outcomes; Target groups and engagement plan; Team and partner roles; Detailed workplan timeline (monthly/quarterly) mapped to deliverables and KPIs; Budget explanation matching the lump sum and co-funding requirements; Risk register and mitigation measures; Ethics/security disclosures; Supporting documents (PIC, legal documents, Declaration of Affiliation if applicable).
2. 2NetSuite-specific templates and controls: the system enforces mandatory fields and attachments; deliverable and KPI templates will be provided by EIT Community NEB for reporting during implementation; Co-create NEB consortia should use the provided Excel support tool for budget sharing across partners.

Evaluation criteria summary

Evaluation criteria for both programmes are based on Excellence, Impact and Quality of Implementation. Scoring scales and weightings differ by programme. Connect NEB: Excellence 20, Impact 15, Implementation 20 (total 55) with a funding threshold of 35. Co-create NEB: Excellence 20, Impact 15, Implementation 25 (total 60) with funding threshold of 45 and ranking within primary thematic areas. Evaluators include one external expert (60% weight of total scoring) and one internal KIC expert (40%). External evaluators produce a Summary Evaluation Report (SER) and act as rapporteurs; consensus meetings finalize scores. Tie-breakers: geographic spread within EIT Community NEB portfolio and preference for newcomers to the EIT Community NEB ecosystem.

Risks, checks and legal rules

Applicants are subject to exclusion and selection checks in line with EU rules, including financial and operational capacity verifications where relevant. The KIC may request additional information, financial guarantees, or enhanced monitoring for applicants with doubtful capacity. Awarded projects are subject to audits, checks by EIT, the Commission, OLAF, EPPO and the Court of Auditors, and must comply with intellectual property, ethical, data protection and visibility obligations. Applicable law: EU legal framework governing EIT, EIT grant and Horizon Europe rules and, where necessary, Belgian national law for unresolved matters. Disputes are settled before the courts of Brussels. The call may be amended, cancelled or declared unsuccessful under specified conditions.

Contact points:General call coordination: neb@eitcommunity.eu. Programme and content questions: EIT Urban Mobility carolina.barreiros@eiturbanmobility.eu; EIT Food karine.akopian@eitfood.eu; Climate-KIC ellen.gale@climate-kic.org. NetSuite servicedesk: servicedesk@eiturbanmobility.eu. Appeals: pmo@eiturbanmobility.eu (see EIT Urban Mobility Appeal Procedure).

Concluding summary

What this opportunity is about and how to explain it:The Connect NEB & Co-create NEB Open Call 2027 is a targeted, single-stage competitive funding opportunity run by the EIT Community New European Bauhaus (led by EIT Urban Mobility with EIT Food and Climate-KIC). It supports community-driven experimentation and tangible neighbourhood-level public space transformation across Europe, guided by the NEB values of sustainability, aesthetic quality and social inclusion. There are two distinct strands: Connect NEB funds single-organisation, community-led prototyping projects with small lump sums (€15,300 EIT funding per project) focused on activation, co-creation and experimentation; Co-create NEB funds multi-organisation consortia to deliver place-based interventions or research/methodology outputs in public spaces with larger lump sums (€49,300 EIT funding per project). Applications must be submitted via NetSuite, follow the eligibility and documentation rules in the Call Manual and Guidelines, and meet mandatory deliverables and KPI targets to secure final payment. Applicants should prepare a concise, locally grounded proposal that demonstrates strong community involvement, NEB alignment, realistic workplan and deliverables, and a feasible co-funding plan. The call includes capacity-building and visibility support, and projects are expected to start in February 2027 and finish by end of November 2027, with possible no-cost extensions to 31 December 2027 if justified.

Applicants are strongly advised to read the Call Manual and Guidelines for Applicants carefully, register their organisation PIC and NetSuite PIF early, attend the information session on 3 September 2026, and use the provided templates and budget calculation tools to ensure admissibility and eligibility before submitting by the 30 September 2026 deadline. Detailed rules on deliverables, KPI reporting, lump sum payment adjustments and legal obligations are provided in Annex 2 and other annexes of the Call Manual ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Call Manual and supporting documents available on the EIT Urban Mobility Call page and the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. See Call Manual Connect NEB & Co-create NEB Open Call 2027 (published 15 July 2026) accessible via the EIT Urban Mobility website and the EU portal.

Programme Structure and Objectives

The EIT Community New European Bauhaus (NEB), led by EIT Urban Mobility in collaboration with EIT Food and Climate KIC, offers two complementary funding streams to support local innovation, citizen engagement, and place-based transformation across Europe [1][2]. Both programmes aim to improve quality of life and neighbourhood environments while adhering to the three core NEB values: Sustainable, Beautiful, and Together [1].

Connect NEB:A mono-beneficiary programme supporting community-led initiatives to test new ideas, activate local communities, and experiment with participatory approaches, living labs, and new governance forms [1].

Co-create NEB:A multi-beneficiary programme supporting partnerships between communities, municipalities, and local actors to deliver visible, place-based transformation in public spaces [1].

Funding Details and Financial Conditions

Connect NEB provides a grant of up to €15,300 with a mandatory co-funding of €2,700, totaling an €18,000 project budget [1]. Co-create NEB typically offers up to €45,000 per project with a minimum 25% co-funding rate, consistent with previous 2024 and 2023 calls [6][12]. Applicants must submit separate proposals for each programme but can be the Lead Partner for only one [1].

Eligibility and Applicant Requirements

Who Can Apply

1. 1Community organisations and associations
2. 2Citizen-led initiatives and NGOs
3. 3Social innovators, artists, and designers
4. 4SMEs and research groups
5. 5Municipalities, cities, and regions (mandatory for Co-create NEB)

Applications are open to all legal entities established in EU Member States or Third countries associated with Horizon Europe, with specific encouragement for applicants from Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) countries [1][5]. For Co-create NEB, consortia must include 2 to 4 members, with at least one being a city, region, or an entity affiliated with a city or region [1][12].

Thematic Focus Areas

All proposals must address at least one of the four EIT Community NEB challenge areas:Re-connecting with nature, Re-gaining sense of community and belonging, Prioritising places and people that need it most, and Long-term life cycle thinking in industrial ecosystems [5]. Projects should also align with challenges related to climate, urban mobility, food, and manufacturing [5].

Application Process and Key Dates

Applications must be submitted via the EIT Urban Mobility Programmes Portal (NetSuite) by 30 September 2026 at 17:00 CEST [1][2]. An information session is scheduled for 3 September 2026 to guide applicants [2]. Organisations must first register in the EU Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal to obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC) and then access the NetSuite platform [5].

Additional Support and Benefits

Selected projects receive funding, capacity-building support, peer learning opportunities, European visibility, and access to the wider EIT Community NEB ecosystem [2]. The programme emphasizes translating grassroots creativity into scalable and replicable solutions to foster social cohesion [16].

Footnotes

1. 1Co-create NEB funding amounts are estimated based on the 2024 Open Call for Proposals which allocated €45,000 per project with a 25% co-funding rate [12].
2. 2Official call details and application portal are available at the EIT Community NEB website [1].