Deploying circular systemic solutions through living labs in cities and regions (Circular Cities and Regions Initiative topic)

The Horizon Europe call titled "Deploying circular systemic solutions through living labs in cities and regions" falls under the initiative HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-CIRCBIO-01-two-stage. It aims to foster innovation in the circular economy, specifically targeting public local and regional authorities in EU Member States and Associated Countries. This program emphasizes establishing multi-stakeholder consortia including at least five living labs linked to regional authorities, incorporating a diverse range of participants including research organizations, businesses, and civil society.

Funding is provided through a lump sum grant mechanism with a total budget of €10 million, expecting to fund two projects at €5 million each. The application process features a two-stage submission, with the first stage focusing on concept proposals and the second on comprehensive project plans.

Eligible projects should focus on validating and optimizing innovative circular solutions within demonstration cities while preparing for broader replication across Europe. The call encourages a place-based approach, allowing applicants to identify targeted sectors and value chains based on specific regional challenges. Importantly, at least one replication site must be situated in Horizon Europe widening countries, promoting inclusivity in the geographical distribution of circular economy solutions.

The call aligns with broader EU frameworks aimed at advancing climate neutrality and sustainability, including the European Green Deal and the Clean Industrial Deal. The application begins on February 4, 2027, with deadlines for Stage 1 on April 8, 2027, and for Stage 2 on September 16, 2027. Beneficiaries will gain not just financial support, but also access to expert guidance and resources through the CCRI Coordination and Support Office. Overall, this initiative seeks to accelerate the circular economy transition across European regions and cities through collaboration and innovative local solutions.

This is a Horizon Europe call for proposals under the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI), focusing on deploying circular systemic solutions through living labs in cities and regions. The call aims to accelerate place-based innovation, boost skills and capacities, and support the implementation of solutions for a circular systemic transition at the city or region level. The projects should contribute to increased circularity, reduced emissions, widespread deployment of circular solutions, and enhanced collaboration between stakeholders.

The call targets public local and regional authorities (or their groupings) in EU Member States and Associated Countries. Proposals should focus on setting up well-functioning real-life innovation ecosystems, specifically living labs, that enable systematic participation of all ecosystem stakeholders, including citizens, policymakers, research bodies, academia, industries, start-ups and SMEs, social economy entities, and financial intermediaries. A multi-actor approach involving end-users is mandatory.

The scope includes validating, testing, and optimising innovative, circular systemic solutions in selected cities/regions (demonstrators), along with relevant governance models and business plans. The call adopts a place-based approach, meaning proposals should select their targeted sectors and/or value chains based on a detailed analysis of local/regional contexts and specific circular potentials. Knowledge and experience transfer for large-scale replication across Europe is crucial, with actionable recommendations, enabling frameworks, and business cases for replicators.

A consortium must include at least two different demonstration and three replication ‘living labs’ (including cities/regions with their ecosystem partners). One of the three replication labs must be located in Horizon Europe widening countries (including Outermost Regions). Proposals must ensure synergies and complementarities with other relevant circular economy projects and initiatives, including CCRI Projects and Associated Partners, and include a plan for collaboration with the CCRI office.

This call contributes to the European Green Deal, the Clean Industrial Deal, the 2020 circular economy action plan (CEAP), and the new EU bioeconomy strategy. It also supports the Start-ups and Scale-ups strategy. Linkages with initiatives like the Regional Innovation Valleys, the New European Bauhaus, the Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission, and the Adaptation to Climate Change Mission should be explored.

The call is structured as a two-stage process. The planned opening date is 04 February 2027, with deadlines on 08 April 2027 and 16 September 2027. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum.

There are two specific topics under this call:

HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-CIRCBIO-01-two-stage: With a budget of 10,000,000 EUR and an indicative number of 2 grants.

HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-CIRCBIO-02-two-stage: With a budget of 18,000,000 EUR and an indicative number of 3 grants.

The general conditions for participation include admissibility conditions related to proposal page limits and layout (described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form), eligible countries (described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries), and other eligibility conditions such as the requirement for at least five distinct ‘living labs’ and the application of the multi-actor approach. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes. Evaluation and award criteria, submission and evaluation processes, and the indicative timeline are detailed in Annexes D and F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. The legal and financial setup of the grants is described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes, with eligible costs taking the form of a lump sum.

Applicants should use the standard application form available in the Submission System (HE RIA, IA and HE RIA IA Stage 1). Evaluation form templates will be used with necessary adaptations (Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA) and Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA and CSA Stage 1)). Guidance documents include the HE Programme Guide, Lump Sum MGA, detailed budget table (HE LS), and guidance on lump sums. Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, and the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual.

The Funding & Tenders Portal provides various support services, including an Online Manual, FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network, IT Helpdesk, European IPR Helpdesk, and CEN-CENELEC/ETSI Research Helpdesks. Partner search tools are also available.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call aims to foster the deployment of circular economy solutions in cities and regions through living labs, targeting public authorities and their ecosystems. It emphasizes a place-based, multi-actor approach, knowledge transfer, and alignment with EU Green Deal objectives. The call provides funding for innovation actions through a two-stage process, with specific eligibility criteria and a lump sum funding model.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity targets public local and regional authorities (or their groupings) in EU Member States and Associated Countries. The description also mentions that proposed living labs should enable systematic participation of all ecosystem stakeholders in targeted cities and regions. These stakeholders include citizens, policymakers, research bodies, academia, industries, start-ups and SMEs, social economy entities and financial intermediaries.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS]. The call is for HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA).

Consortium Requirement: A consortium of multiple applicants is required. The consortium must include at least five distinct ‘living labs’ linked to regional or local authorities (and possibly together with their public and/or private ecosystem actors operating in their respective territories) as beneficiaries. Among these, at least two living labs must be from different demonstration sites and another three from other and different replication sites.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and Associated Countries. Furthermore, one out of the three replication sites must be located in Horizon Europe widening countries (including Outermost Regions). 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.

Target Sector: The program targets the circular economy, with a focus on deploying circular systemic solutions through living labs in cities and regions. While it does not target specific technologies or industrial sectors, it supports a place-based approach, meaning proposals should select their targeted sector(s) and/or value chain(s) based on a detailed analysis of local/regional contexts and specific circular potentials. The program contributes to the objectives of the European Green Deal and the Clean Industrial Deal, in particular the 2020 circular economy action plan (CEAP), as well as the new EU bioeconomy strategy.

Mentioned Countries: EU Member States, Associated Countries, Horizon Europe widening countries (including Outermost Regions).

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on moving from demonstration to further deployment and upscaling. Proposals should support the validation, testing, and optimisation of innovative, circular systemic solutions.

Funding Amount: For topic HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-CIRCBIO-01-two-stage, the budget is EUR 10,000,000, with an indicative contribution of around EUR 5,000,000 per grant and 2 grants expected. For topic HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-CIRCBIO-02-two-stage, the budget is EUR 18,000,000, with an indicative contribution of around EUR 6,000,000 per grant and 3 grants expected.

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

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant.

Application Stages: The application process is two-stage. There is a first deadline for initial submissions and a second deadline for full proposals.

Success Rates: The success rates cannot be determined from the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This Horizon Europe funding opportunity, under the call HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-CIRCBIO, aims to deploy circular systemic solutions through living labs in cities and regions, supporting the European Commission’s Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI). The program targets public local and regional authorities within EU Member States and Associated Countries, requiring them to form consortia that include at least five distinct ‘living labs’. These living labs should involve a wide range of stakeholders, including citizens, policymakers, research bodies, academia, industries, start-ups, SMEs, social economy entities, and financial intermediaries. The projects should focus on validating, testing, and optimising innovative circular solutions, with at least two demonstration sites and three replication sites, one of which must be in a Horizon Europe widening country. The funding is provided as a lump sum grant, with budgets of EUR 10,000,000 and EUR 18,000,000 available for different topics, and the application process involves a two-stage submission. The initiative contributes to the European Green Deal, the Clean Industrial Deal, and the EU bioeconomy strategy, fostering place-based innovation to make European cities and regions more circular, resilient, and competitive.