Innovative pathways for low carbon and climate resilient building stock and built environment (Built4People Partnership)

This grant opportunity is part of Horizon Europe's Built4People Partnership, aimed at fostering innovative solutions for low-carbon and climate-resilient building environments. Specifically identified as HORIZON-CL5-2026-02-RIA, this funding initiative will be open for applications starting September 16, 2025, with submissions due by February 17, 2026. Eligible applicants include research institutions, universities, small and medium-sized enterprises, large enterprises, and public-private partnerships, all collaborating in consortia.

The funding type is a lump sum grant, typically between 1 million to 5 million euros per project. Projects must focus on developing replicable and scalable planning methods that improve the entire lifecycle carbon performance of buildings while emphasizing circularity, sustainability, and climate resilience. The initiative targets the EU and associated countries, promoting greater involvement from a wide array of stakeholders, including local municipalities and civil organizations.

The project stages will entail both research and development activities, aligning with the broader goals of the European Union to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The application process is single-stage, categorizing it under an open call. Financial support is categorized solely as monetary, and while co-funding is generally not required for such initiatives, specifics will depend on the nature of each project.

No specific success rate is indicated, but it is generally understood that competition can be high given the comprehensive evaluations that grants undergo. The Joint Research Centre may participate in the consortium to add value, particularly focusing on resource efficiency and innovative building solutions.

The overarching aim is for projects to not only address technical innovations but also to embed social innovation, enhancing societal impacts and community benefits through inclusive methodologies. The potential outcomes include improved methodologies for building and renovation projects, with an emphasis on adapting to user needs and ensuring occupant comfort.

The funding structure and application guidance, including detailed conditions and regulatory frameworks, will be accessible through the Horizon Europe program’s official channels.

This EU funding opportunity focuses on innovative pathways for a low carbon and climate-resilient building stock and built environment, specifically targeting the 'People-centric sustainable built environment' (Built4People) partnership. The call falls under Horizon Europe, Cluster 5, with the call number 02-2026 (WP 2025) (HORIZON-CL5-2026-02). The type of action is HORIZON-RIA (Research and Innovation Actions), utilizing a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] Model Grant Agreement. It employs a single-stage deadline model. The planned opening date is September 16, 2025, and the deadline for submission is February 17, 2026, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcomes of projects funded under this opportunity are: improved planning methods and procedures that are replicable and scalable across Europe and globally, embedding the uptake of building solutions to improve whole life carbon performance, circularity, sustainability, climate resilience, safety, and durability, aligning with the EU's climate neutrality goal by 2050. It also aims for a measurable increase in value chain actors applying these methods and quantified pathways to improved carbon performance.

The scope of the projects should address the development and validation of replicable and scalable planning methods and procedures that embed innovative building solutions for developing or regenerating building stock and the built environment. Validation should occur in at least three countries with varying climatic conditions and building stock characteristics, with relevance to renovation in at least two cases. Projects should investigate innovative tools and methods for adapting building stock to user needs, positively contributing to occupant comfort and health. A methodology for assessing the effectiveness of decarbonization and climate resilience pathways, including whole life carbon reduction compared to a business-as-usual scenario, is required. Active involvement of public and private stakeholders, including municipalities, citizens, civil society organizations, and building and construction sector professionals, is essential. Projects should also contribute to the objectives of the Built4People partnership and its network of innovation clusters.

The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may be involved to provide added value on innovative building solutions for resource efficiency, safety, durability, and adaptability, including experimental research on full-scale prototype buildings. The call emphasizes the effective contribution of SSH (Social Sciences and Humanities) disciplines and expertise, including social innovation, to enhance the societal impact of research activities. Projects are expected to report results to the Built4People partnership to support the monitoring of its KPIs.

The general conditions 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 are 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 allow the JRC to participate as a consortium member. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are detailed in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes. Evaluation and award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in Annex D, while submission and evaluation processes are in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is also in Annex F. Legal and financial aspects specify that eligible costs will be in the form of a lump sum, as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021, with further details in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes and the specific topic of the Work Programme.

Application and evaluation forms, as well as the Model Grant Agreement (MGA), are available in the Submission System, including the Standard Application Form (HE RIA, IA) and Standard Evaluation Form (HE RIA, IA). Guidance is provided in the HE Programme Guide, Lump Sum MGA, call-specific instructions, detailed budget table (HE LS), and guidance on lump sums. Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2025 (General Introduction, Climate, Energy and Mobility, and General Annexes), HE Programme Guide, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, the Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The budget overview lists several HORIZON-CL5-2026-02 topics, each with a specified budget, action type (HORIZON-IA, HORIZON-RIA, HORIZON-PCP, HORIZON-CSA), stage (single-stage), opening date (2025-09-16), deadline (2026-02-17), contributions, and indicative number of grants. Examples include HORIZON-CL5-2026-02-D3-01 (HORIZON-IA, 33,000,000 EUR, around 3 grants), HORIZON-CL5-2026-02-D3-13 (HORIZON-PCP, 20,000,000 EUR, around 1 grant), and HORIZON-CL5-2026-02-D3-14 (HORIZON-CSA, 6,000,000 EUR, around 3 grants).

Partner search announcements are available, and LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests. The submission system will open on the date stated in the topic header. A general FAQ and support services are available, including the Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network, IT Helpdesk, European IPR Helpdesk, CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk, ETSI Research Helpdesk, the European Charter for Researchers, and a Partner Search tool.

In summary, this Horizon Europe funding opportunity aims to foster innovative building solutions and planning methods that contribute to the decarbonization and climate resilience of the building stock and built environment in EU and associated countries. It encourages collaborative projects involving diverse stakeholders, with a focus on replicability, scalability, and the active involvement of SSH expertise. The funding is provided as a lump sum, and projects are expected to align with the objectives of the Built4People partnership. The call provides a comprehensive framework for applicants, including detailed conditions, guidance documents, and support services to facilitate the preparation and submission of high-quality proposals.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated but can be inferred to include a range of entities such as research organizations, universities, SMEs, large enterprises, municipalities, housing associations, civil society organizations, and other public and private stakeholders involved in the building and construction value chain. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission can also participate as a member of the consortium.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, under the Horizon Europe Programme. There are different types of actions that can be funded: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), HORIZON Innovation Actions (IA), HORIZON Pre-commercial Procurement (PCP), and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (CSA).

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as member of the consortium selected for funding.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and Associated Countries to the Horizon Europe Programme. 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 building and construction sector, with a focus on promoting innovative pathways for a low-carbon and climate-resilient building stock and built environment. This includes addressing energy performance, circularity, sustainability, resource efficiency, climate resilience, safety, durability, and adaptability of buildings. It also emphasizes the importance of social innovation and the involvement of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity explicitly mentions the European Union (EU) and associated countries. It also refers to non-EU/non-Associated Countries that have specific provisions for funding participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Project Stage: The project stage varies depending on the type of action. It can range from research and innovation (RIA) to innovation actions (IA), pre-commercial procurement (PCP), and coordination and support actions (CSA), indicating a broad range from development to validation and implementation.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary significantly depending on the specific topic and type of action, ranging from EUR 6,000,000 to EUR 33,000,000. The indicative number of grants per topic also varies.

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 lump sum grant.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants for each topic provides some insight into the potential success rate.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

This Horizon Europe funding opportunity, under Cluster 5 and the Built4People Partnership, aims to foster innovative solutions for a low-carbon and climate-resilient building sector. It seeks to improve planning methods and procedures for building and renovation projects, encouraging the uptake of innovative building solutions across the EU and associated countries. The call is open to a wide range of stakeholders, including research organizations, businesses, municipalities, and civil society organizations. Projects should focus on developing and validating replicable and scalable planning methods, incorporating social innovation, and contributing to the objectives of the Built4People partnership. Funding is provided as lump sum grants, with varying amounts depending on the type of action, and the application process involves a single-stage submission. The overall goal is to support the EU's commitment to climate neutrality by 2050 through advancements in sustainable building practices.