Innovative approaches for the spatial design of neighbourhoods

The European Union is offering a grant opportunity under Horizon Europe titled "Innovative approaches for the spatial design of neighbourhoods" (HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-PARTICIPATION-02). This initiative is part of the New European Bauhaus Facility, which aims to foster innovative and inclusive approaches to urban planning and design, targeting the creation of unique, sustainable, and well-designed public spaces.

The call is open to a diverse range of eligible applicants including universities, research institutions, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), larger enterprises, municipalities, non-profit organizations, and design firms with demonstrated experience in participatory design processes. It encourages partnerships that bring together expertise from various fields like architecture, urban planning, social sciences, and community engagement, particularly emphasizing a transdisciplinary collaboration.

The funding type is a lump sum grant, with a budget of €5 million allocated for each project, and a total budget of €10 million available for two expected grants. The application process is a single-stage open call, set to open on May 5, 2026, and closing on December 1, 2026. The projects should cover at least three different neighbourhoods across various EU Member States or Associated Countries, demonstrating methodologies that engage diverse community perspectives and promote inclusivity and sustainability.

Proposals are expected to illustrate innovative design methods and assess the impact of spatial design on various user groups, evaluating factors such as age, gender, and accessibility. Effective community engagement is encouraged, aiming to empower inhabitants by integrating their perspectives in the planning and design phases. The expected project outcomes should align with addressing climate resilience, biodiversity, cultural heritage, and community cohesion.

The application does not impose explicit co-funding requirements; however, leveraging additional funding sources from national or regional levels is encouraged to enhance project sustainability. The estimated success rate for this call is roughly 50%, indicating a competitive but attainable opportunity for applicants.

Overall, this funding call aims to turn theoretical approaches to urban design into practical solutions, facilitating a greener and more inclusive urban environment in Europe through collaborative and community-focused efforts.

The EU Funding and Tenders Portal presents a call for proposals under the Horizon Europe (HORIZON) program, specifically targeting "Beautiful, inclusive and sustainable neighbourhoods for communities" (HORIZON-NEB-2026-01). The topic is "Innovative approaches for the spatial design of neighbourhoods" with a specific focus on HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-PARTICIPATION-02.

The action type is a HORIZON Innovation Action (HORIZON-IA) utilizing a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] Model Grant Agreement (MGA). This is a forthcoming, single-stage application process. The planned opening date is 05 May 2026, and the deadline for submission is 01 December 2026 at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcome of the projects should contribute to:

Demonstrated approaches aligned with the New European Bauhaus (NEB) that enable architects, designers, spatial planners, and neighbourhood decision-makers to efficiently and effectively integrate user perspectives in the spatial design and/or transformation of public spaces.
Approaches that deliver positive climate, environmental, social, and cultural impacts, addressing inequalities and enhancing social cohesion, community resilience, civic engagement, and a sense of security, ownership, and belonging.

The scope of the call emphasizes that the design of neighbourhood public spaces influences functionality, power dynamics, and the sense of belonging. It highlights the need for a fair green transition where public spaces are designed and managed for diverse users. The call encourages the integration of new methods like research-by-design, security-by-design, or life-centric design in architectural design and spatial planning to:

Reflect on the values, practices, and stakeholder relations that underpin the design of public spaces.
Rethink how public spaces are understood.
Overcome potential conflicts between accelerating planning and the time needed for participatory, inclusive, and deliberative processes.
Speed up the green transition while actively including diverse inhabitant perspectives.

Proposals should address the following:

Assess how spatial design determines gendered, age-appropriate, and identity-related patterns of use, including mobility, safety, sense of security, and access to public and private spaces. They should also explore how inclusive approaches and accessibility can address diverse user and community needs and experiences.
Develop an approach to designing and planning public space using innovative methods that:
Analyze the values, practices, and stakeholder relations that underpin the design of public space in neighbourhoods.
Adapt to the sociocultural factors of the neighbourhoods and use co-creation to incorporate diverse inhabitant perspectives and exploit the potential of cultural, creative, and educational (academic) sectors.
Address climate-resilience, water resilience, civil security, and biodiversity of public space, as well as the safety, well-being, and security of its users.
Assess the multisensory perception of public spaces, including their beauty and aesthetics, by users and the community.
Be adaptable, replicable, and scalable to local specificities.
Demonstrate the approach in at least three neighbourhoods (in urban, peri-urban, and rural areas) located in different Member States and/or Associated Countries.
Develop plans and recommendations for the take-up of the demonstrated approach, including assessing its potential application to other areas of the green transition of neighbourhoods (e.g., water-resilient design planning, public service design, procurement) and identifying skills needs and gaps.

Proposals are expected to follow a participatory and transdisciplinary approach, integrating different actors and disciplines. The call requires the effective contribution of social sciences and humanities (SSH) disciplines, involving SSH experts, institutions, and relevant expertise to enhance the societal impact of the research activities.

A minimum of 0.8% of the budget should be allocated for engaging with the Horizon Europe-funded 'New European Bauhaus hub for results and impact' to share intermediate and final results, findings, and learning, as well as to contribute to impact assessment.

General conditions for participation include:

Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limits and layout are 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. Specific provisions may apply to non-EU/non-Associated Countries, as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
Other Eligible Conditions: Described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Financial and operational capacity and exclusion: Described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Legal and financial set-up of the grants: Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum, as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021. Further details are in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes and the specific topic of the Work Programme.

Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreements (MGA) are available in the Submission System. Standard application forms (HE RIA, IA) and evaluation forms will be used with necessary adaptations. Guidance documents include the HE Programme Guide, Lump Sum MGA, call-specific instructions, a detailed budget table (HE LS), and guidance on lump sums.

Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 (General Introduction, New European Bauhaus Facility (NEB), and General Annexes), the HE Programme Guide, the HE Framework Programme 2021/695, the HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, the EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, the Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, the EU Grants AGA (Annotated Model Grant Agreement), the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and the Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The budget overview for the call in 2026 includes various topics:

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-BUSINESS-01: HORIZON Innovation Actions, with a budget of EUR 10,500,000, opening on 2026-05-05 and closing on 2026-12-01, with an indicative number of 3 grants around EUR 3,500,000 each.
HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-BUSINESS-02: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, with a budget of EUR 7,000,000, opening on 2026-05-05 and closing on 2026-12-01, with an indicative number of 2 grants around EUR 3,500,000 each.
HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-BUSINESS-03: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, with a budget of EUR 9,000,000, opening on 2026-05-05 and closing on 2026-12-01, with an indicative number of 2 grants around EUR 4,500,000 each.
HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-PARTICIPATION-01: HORIZON Innovation Actions, with a budget of EUR 12,600,000, opening on 2026-05-05 and closing on 2026-12-01, with an indicative number of 2 grants around EUR 6,300,000 each.
HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-PARTICIPATION-02: HORIZON Innovation Actions, with a budget of EUR 10,000,000, opening on 2026-05-05 and closing on 2026-12-01, with an indicative number of 2 grants around EUR 5,000,000 each.
HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-PARTICIPATION-03: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, with a budget of EUR 15,000,000, opening on 2026-05-05 and closing on 2026-12-01, with an indicative number of 3 grants around EUR 5,000,000 each.
HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-REGEN-01: HORIZON Innovation Actions, with a budget of EUR 12,000,000, opening on 2026-05-05 and closing on 2026-12-01, with an indicative number of 3 grants around EUR 4,000,000 each.
HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-REGEN-02: HORIZON Innovation Actions, with a budget of EUR 10,000,000, opening on 2026-05-05 and closing on 2026-12-01, with an indicative number of 2 grants around EUR 5,000,000 each.
HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-REGEN-03: HORIZON Innovation Actions, with a budget of EUR 15,000,000, opening on 2026-05-05 and closing on 2026-12-01, with an indicative number of 3 grants around EUR 5,000,000 each.

Partner search announcements can be viewed and edited by LEARs, Account Administrators, or self-registrants after logging into the portal. The submission system is planned to open on the date stated on the topic header.

For support, applicants are encouraged to read the provisions carefully, consult the Online Manual, the Horizon Europe Programme Guide, the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, the Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), the Enterprise Europe Network, the IT Helpdesk, the European IPR Helpdesk, and the CEN-CENELEC/ETSI Research Helpdesks. They are also advised to consult the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment and to use the Partner Search tool.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call focuses on developing innovative and inclusive approaches to spatial design in neighbourhoods to promote a fair green transition, enhance community well-being, and foster a sense of belonging. It emphasizes participatory and transdisciplinary methods, the integration of social sciences and humanities, and collaboration with the New European Bauhaus hub. The call provides funding opportunities for both research and innovation actions, with a focus on demonstrating and scaling up successful approaches in diverse European neighbourhoods.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, given the nature of Horizon Europe calls, eligible applicants typically include universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, non-profit organizations, and public entities from EU member states and associated countries. The call encourages participation from social sciences and humanities (SSH) experts and institutions, suggesting that these entities are also eligible.

Funding Type: The funding type is primarily a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, as indicated by the "Type of MGA: HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS]" designation. The call also includes both HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) and HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA), which are both grant mechanisms.

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required, but it strongly implies that a consortium is necessary. The scope mentions demonstrating the approach in at least three neighbourhoods located in different Member States and/or Associated Countries, suggesting that multiple partners are needed to cover this geographic diversity. The call also emphasizes a participatory and transdisciplinary approach, which typically requires a consortium of different actors and disciplines.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and Associated Countries, as explicitly mentioned in the scope: "Demonstrate the approach in at least three neighbourhoods (in urban, peri-urban and rural areas) located in different Member States and/or Associated Countries." The general conditions also mention that 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 target sectors are multidisciplinary, focusing on the built environment, urban planning, architecture, social sciences and humanities, climate resilience, water resilience, civil security, biodiversity, and cultural and creative sectors. The call specifically targets the design and transformation of neighbourhood public spaces, emphasizing a fair green transition and the integration of user perspectives. It falls under the broader thematic area of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) facility.

Mentioned Countries: The text mentions EU Member States and Associated Countries as the primary geographic focus. It also alludes to non-EU/non-Associated Countries that may have specific provisions for funding participation in Horizon Europe projects.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project is at the demonstration and validation stage. The call requires demonstrating an approach in at least three neighbourhoods, indicating that the projects should be beyond the initial research phase and ready for real-world application and testing.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call. The budget overview provides the following ranges:
HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-BUSINESS-01: EUR 10,500,000 (indicative grant amount around EUR 3,500,000, 3 grants)
HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-BUSINESS-02: EUR 7,000,000 (indicative grant amount around EUR 3,500,000, 2 grants)
HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-BUSINESS-03: EUR 9,000,000 (indicative grant amount around EUR 4,500,000, 2 grants)
HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-PARTICIPATION-01: EUR 12,600,000 (indicative grant amount around EUR 6,300,000, 2 grants)
HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-PARTICIPATION-02: EUR 10,000,000 (indicative grant amount around EUR 5,000,000, 2 grants)
HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-PARTICIPATION-03: EUR 15,000,000 (indicative grant amount around EUR 5,000,000, 3 grants)
HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-REGEN-01: EUR 12,000,000 (indicative grant amount around EUR 4,000,000, 3 grants)
HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-REGEN-02: EUR 10,000,000 (indicative grant amount around EUR 5,000,000, 2 grants)
HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-REGEN-03: EUR 15,000,000 (indicative grant amount around EUR 5,000,000, 3 grants)

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process, as indicated by "Deadline model: single-stage."

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

Application Stages: The application process consists of a single stage, meaning applicants submit a full proposal at once.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants for each topic provides some insight. For example, the HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-PARTICIPATION-02 topic has a budget of EUR 10,000,000 and aims to award around 2 grants. The success rate will depend on the number of proposals received, but Horizon Europe success rates are typically below 10 to 39%.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement. However, Horizon Europe projects often encourage or require some level of co-funding, which would be detailed in the specific call documents.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, "Beautiful, inclusive and sustainable neighbourhoods for communities (HORIZON-NEB-2026-01)," aims to foster innovative approaches to the spatial design and transformation of neighbourhood public spaces. It seeks to align these approaches with the New European Bauhaus (NEB) values, ensuring they are inclusive, sustainable, and have a positive climate, environmental, social, and cultural impact. The call encourages projects that integrate user perspectives, address inequalities, enhance social cohesion, and promote community resilience.

The call is structured around several topics, including business-related innovation actions, participatory actions, and regeneration actions, each with its specific budget and number of grants. Projects are expected to demonstrate their approaches in at least three neighbourhoods across different EU Member States and Associated Countries, involving a transdisciplinary consortium of actors, including social sciences and humanities experts. The funding is provided as a lump sum grant, and the application process is a single-stage submission. This call is an opportunity for architects, designers, spatial planners, researchers, and community stakeholders to collaborate on creating more beautiful, inclusive, and sustainable neighbourhoods that contribute to the broader goals of the European Green Deal and the New European Bauhaus initiative.