Creating urban co-creation spaces for driving sustainable food system transformation

The Horizon Europe grant opportunity titled "HORIZON-CL6" is focused on creating urban co-creation spaces aimed at transforming food systems sustainably. It targets a variety of applicants including research institutes, universities, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), public-private partnerships, and local governance bodies. Financing will be in the form of a grant specifically categorized as a Horizon Lump Sum Grant, emphasizing a collaborative, multi-actor approach. Eligible countries include EU member states, associated countries, and widening countries, with encouragement for international cooperation. The specific sectors targeted by this grant encompass urban food systems, sustainable agriculture, bioeconomy, climate change, social inclusion, and community engagement. Projects should typically be in the development or validation stage, with a strong focus on innovation through the use of living labs. While the exact funding amounts are variable, similar projects under Horizon Europe’s Cluster 6 usually range between €1 million and €5 million. The application process is a single-stage open call, requiring participants to submit their proposals by September 16, 2025. Unlike other funding opportunities, this grant does not require co-funding from applicants. The nature of support provided is purely financial, through lump-sum contributions that cover eligible project costs. Although specific success rates for this call are not provided, Horizon Europe typically sees rates between 10% and 39%. In summary, this grant is designed to support initiatives that foster sustainable urban food systems and community involvement, aligning with broader EU objectives surrounding the Green Deal and the Farm to Fork strategy. It invites diverse stakeholders to collaboratively develop creative solutions that address food security and sustainability in urban contexts.

This is a summary of multiple Horizon Europe Cluster 6 calls for proposals, all with a single-stage submission process, an opening date of May 6, 2025, and a deadline of September 16, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. These calls are focused on Climate, Communities, and Farm to Fork initiatives. The type of action varies across the calls, including HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), HORIZON Innovation Actions (IA), and HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions (COFUND), as well as Coordination and Support Actions (CSA). Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025).

Here's a breakdown of the specific calls and their respective budgets and objectives:

Climate-Related Calls:

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-CLIMATE-01:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €12,000,000, aiming for around 2 grants.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-CLIMATE-02:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €19,500,000, aiming for around 3 grants.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-CLIMATE-03:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €10,000,000, aiming for around 2 grants.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-CLIMATE-04:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €12,000,000, aiming for around 2 grants.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-CLIMATE-05:HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions with a budget of €24,000,000 in 2025, €23,000,000 in 2026 and €23,000,000 in 2027, aiming for 1 grant.

Communities-Related Calls:

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-COMMUNITIES-01:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €13,000,000, aiming for around 2 grants.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-COMMUNITIES-02:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €6,000,000, aiming for around 1 grant.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-COMMUNITIES-03:HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of €6,000,000, aiming for around 1 grant.

HORIZON-CL6:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €12,000,000, aiming for around 2 grants. This specific call, titled "Creating urban co-creation spaces for driving sustainable food system transformation," seeks proposals that contribute to the European Green Deal, Farm to Fork strategy, EU biodiversity strategies, and the EU's climate ambition. It aims to enhance skills, improve local governance, and promote sustainable diets in urban areas. Proposals should address at least three of several key areas, including creating living labs, promoting community gardens, enhancing participation of vulnerable groups, increasing the attractiveness of sustainable food, involving local governance, connecting living labs, and establishing data monitoring approaches.

Farm to Fork-Related Calls:

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-01:HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions with a budget of €30,000,000 in 2025, €30,000,000 in 2026 and €30,000,000 in 2027, aiming for 1 grant.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-02:HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions with a budget of €40,000,000 in 2025, €40,000,000 in 2026 and €40,000,000 in 2027, aiming for 1 grant.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-03:HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of €12,000,000, aiming for around 2 grants.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-04:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €11,000,000, aiming for around 2 grants.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-05:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €12,000,000, aiming for around 2 grants.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-06:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €16,000,000, aiming for around 2 grants.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-07:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €12,000,000, aiming for around 2 grants.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-08:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €6,000,000, aiming for around 1 grant.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-09:HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions with a budget of €3,000,000, aiming for around 1 grant.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-10:HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of €12,000,000, aiming for around 2 grants.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-11:HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of €12,000,000, aiming for around 2 grants.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-12:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €10,000,000, aiming for around 2 grants.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-13:HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions with a budget of €2,000,000, aiming for around 1 grant.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-14:HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of €12,000,000, aiming for around 2 grants.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-15:HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions with a budget of €50,000,000 in 2025, €45,000,000 in 2026 and €35,000,000 in 2027, aiming for 1 grant.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-16:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €6,000,000, aiming for around 1 grant.

HORIZON-CL6-2025-02-FARM2FORK-17:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €8,000,000, aiming for around 2 grants.

General Conditions:

The general conditions for these calls include admissibility conditions related to proposal page limits and layout, eligible countries, and other eligibility criteria. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are also specified. The evaluation and award process follows the guidelines in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. Eligible costs will be reimbursed as a lump sum.

Specific Conditions:

Specific conditions are detailed in the specific topic descriptions within the Work Programme. Application forms, evaluation templates, model grant agreements, and guidance documents are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Overall, these Horizon Europe Cluster 6 calls aim to support the European Green Deal, the Farm to Fork strategy, and the EU's climate ambitions by funding research and innovation projects focused on sustainable food systems, climate action, and resilient communities. The calls encourage collaboration, multi-actor approaches, and the integration of social sciences and humanities disciplines. Cooperation with legal entities in widening countries and international cooperation are also strongly encouraged. The funding is provided as a lump sum, and detailed guidance and support are available through the Funding & Tenders Portal and related resources.

In simpler terms, this funding opportunity is all about making our food systems more sustainable, helping communities adapt to climate change, and ensuring everyone has access to healthy and affordable food. The EU is putting money on the table for projects that can come up with new ideas, test them in real-world settings (like community gardens and living labs), and create policies that will transform the way we produce, distribute, and consume food. They are looking for projects that involve a wide range of people, from farmers and scientists to chefs and everyday citizens, and that pay attention to the needs of vulnerable groups. If you have a project that can help make our food systems greener, fairer, and more resilient, this could be the funding opportunity for you.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but based on the nature of Horizon Europe, they likely include a mix of legal entities such as universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, NGOs, and other organizations. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as a member of the consortium. Cooperation with legal entities established in widening countries is strongly encouraged, and international cooperation is also encouraged, suggesting a broad range of eligible participants.

Funding Type:The funding type is primarily grant-based, specifically HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA), HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA), HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) and HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions (HORIZON-COFUND) under the Horizon Europe Programme. The eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum.

Consortium Requirement:The opportunity appears to favor consortia, as collaboration is encouraged, and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as a member of the consortium. The use of a multi-actor approach is encouraged.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The geographic eligibility includes EU member states, associated countries, and widening countries. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. International cooperation is also encouraged.

Target Sector:The program targets the following sectors: food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture, environment, climate, urban development, social inclusion, and social economy. It focuses on sustainable food systems, nutrition, circularity, resource efficiency, innovation, and empowering communities. The topic should involve the effective contribution of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines.

Mentioned Countries:No specific countries are mentioned, but the opportunity is open to EU member states, associated countries, and widening countries. International cooperation is encouraged, implying eligibility for entities beyond these regions as well.

Project Stage:The project stage varies depending on the type of action. Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) suggest projects in the research, development, or validation stage. Innovation Actions (IA) imply projects in the demonstration, commercialization, or scale-up stage. Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) focus on networking, coordination, and dissemination, which can support projects at various stages.

Funding Amount:The funding amounts vary widely depending on the specific topic and type of action:

HORIZON-RIA:typically around €4M to €8M per project, but can range from €5M to €6.5M.

HORIZON-IA:typically around €6M per project.

HORIZON-CSA:typically around €2M to €3M per project.

HORIZON-COFUND:total budgets range from €70M to €130M, with the EU contribution ranging from €23M to €50M.

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 lump sum grants to cover eligible costs.

Application Stages:The application process is a single-stage process.

Success Rates:The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants for each topic suggests that the success rate is likely to be in the 10 to 39% range.

Co-funding Requirement:Co-funding is required for HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions (HORIZON-COFUND), where the EU contribution is a portion of the total budget. For other action types (RIA, IA, CSA), co-funding requirements are not explicitly mentioned but may be implied through the lump sum funding model.

Summary:This Horizon Europe Cluster 6 call focuses on creating sustainable and inclusive food systems, promoting climate action, and empowering communities, particularly in urban areas. It seeks to enhance skills, improve governance, and foster consumer behavioral change towards sustainable diets. The call includes various funding instruments such as Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), Innovation Actions (IA), Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), and Programme Cofund Actions (COFUND), each with different scopes and funding levels. Eligible applicants include a wide range of legal entities from EU member states, associated countries, and widening countries, with international cooperation strongly encouraged. The application process is a single-stage open call, and funding is provided as lump sum grants. The call aims to support projects that contribute to the European Green Deal, the Farm to Fork strategy, and the EU's climate ambitions for 2030 and 2050, while also addressing the Food 2030 priorities.