Innovative solutions for the sustainable and beautiful use of vertical space

The opportunity titled "HORIZON-NEB:Innovative Solutions for the Sustainable and Beautiful Use of Vertical Space" is part of the Horizon Europe framework, specifically under the New European Bauhaus (NEB) Facility. This initiative focuses on developing and demonstrating innovative solutions that utilize underused vertical spaces in urban environments, such as rooftops and areas above streets, to address pressing issues related to housing affordability, land preservation, and urban biodiversity.

Eligible applicants include a range of entities such as research institutions, universities, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), larger companies, public authorities, non-profit organizations, and consortia that bring together different types of organizations. The funding mechanism is a lump sum grant under the HORIZON-IA (Innovation Action) category, with an overall budget of €15 million allocated for three projects, each receiving approximately €5 million.

The geographic eligibility encompasses EU Member States, countries associated with Horizon Europe, and select non-EU countries under specific conditions. The projects must engage in a demonstration and development stage, showcasing practical solutions rather than theoretical concepts, integrating participating local communities and cultural sectors in the process.

The application process is structured as a single-stage submission, opening on May 5, 2026, and closing on December 1, 2026. Success rates for Horizon Europe Innovation Actions typically range from 10 to 20%, suggesting that this call will be competitive due to the number of projects expected to be funded.

Proposals are required to adopt a transdisciplinary approach and prioritize community involvement while aligning with principles of sustainability, circular economy, and social inclusion. Specific funding allocations may include provisions for engaging with the NEB Hub for sharing results and fostering knowledge management. Although co-funding isn't mandated, applicants are encouraged to explore potential external funding sources to enhance project scope.

In essence, this funding opportunity seeks innovative projects that creatively leverage vertical spaces to make urban environments more sustainable and livable, targeting areas such as affordable housing, urban greening, and inclusive community design.

This is a summary of the Horizon Europe funding opportunity focused on innovative solutions for the sustainable and beautiful use of vertical space in urban environments. The call, titled "Beautiful, inclusive and sustainable neighbourhoods for communities (HORIZON-NEB-2026-01)", falls under the Horizon Europe (HORIZON) program and aims to address the conflict between the increasing demand for housing and the need to preserve nature and biodiversity by promoting efficient use of existing built environments.

The primary goal is to develop and implement innovative solutions that utilize underused vertical spaces in cities, such as rooftops and areas above streets, to create affordable housing and green spaces. These solutions should adhere to circular economy principles, minimize negative impacts of densification, and contribute to urban greening goals outlined in the Nature Restoration Regulation. International cooperation is encouraged, and the effective contribution of social sciences and humanities (SSH) disciplines is required. Projects are expected to allocate at least 0.8% of their budget to engage with the Horizon Europe-funded 'New European Bauhaus hub'.

The call encompasses several specific topics, each with its own budget, type of action, and indicative number of grants:

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-BUSINESS-01:HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) with a budget of €10,500,000. It is a single-stage application process, opening on 2026-05-05 and closing on 2026-12-01, aiming to award around 3 grants with contributions of approximately €3,500,000 each.

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-BUSINESS-02:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) with a budget of €7,000,000. It is a single-stage application process, opening on 2026-05-05 and closing on 2026-12-01, aiming to award around 2 grants with contributions of approximately €3,500,000 each.

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-BUSINESS-03:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) with a budget of €9,000,000. It is a single-stage application process, opening on 2026-05-05 and closing on 2026-12-01, aiming to award around 2 grants with contributions of approximately €4,500,000 each.

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-PARTICIPATION-01:HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) with a budget of €12,600,000. It is a single-stage application process, opening on 2026-05-05 and closing on 2026-12-01, aiming to award around 2 grants with contributions of approximately €6,300,000 each.

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-PARTICIPATION-02:HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) with a budget of €10,000,000. It is a single-stage application process, opening on 2026-05-05 and closing on 2026-12-01, aiming to award around 2 grants with contributions of approximately €5,000,000 each.

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-PARTICIPATION-03:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) with a budget of €15,000,000. It is a single-stage application process, opening on 2026-05-05 and closing on 2026-12-01, aiming to award around 3 grants with contributions of approximately €5,000,000 each.

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-REGEN-01:HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) with a budget of €12,000,000. It is a single-stage application process, opening on 2026-05-05 and closing on 2026-12-01, aiming to award around 3 grants with contributions of approximately €4,000,000 each.

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-REGEN-02:HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) with a budget of €10,000,000. It is a single-stage application process, opening on 2026-05-05 and closing on 2026-12-01, aiming to award around 2 grants with contributions of approximately €5,000,000 each.

HORIZON-NEB:HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) with a budget of €15,000,000. It is a single-stage application process, opening on 2026-05-05 and closing on 2026-12-01, aiming to award around 3 grants with contributions of approximately €5,000,000 each.

The general conditions for admissibility, eligibility, and evaluation are detailed in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Eligible costs will be reimbursed as a lump sum. The application forms and model grant agreements are available in the Submission System. Additional documents, including the Horizon Europe Work Programme, Framework Programme, Specific Programme Decision, EU Financial Regulation, and guidance documents, are also provided.

In essence, this funding opportunity seeks to foster innovative projects that creatively utilize vertical spaces in urban areas to enhance sustainability, affordability, and quality of life, while also promoting community involvement and international collaboration. It's about finding new ways to build 'up' instead of 'out', making cities greener and more livable.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, based on the nature of Horizon Europe calls and the emphasis on innovation actions, research and innovation actions, and the involvement of various actors and disciplines, it can be inferred that eligible applicants could include: research institutes, universities, SMEs, large enterprises, cultural and creative industries, local community organizations, and other relevant stakeholders. The call encourages a transdisciplinary approach, suggesting a wide range of organizations can apply.

Funding Type:The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant. The call includes both HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) and HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA), indicating different focuses within the grant framework.

Consortium Requirement:The text does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, the emphasis on a participatory and transdisciplinary approach, the integration of different actors and disciplines, and the encouragement of international cooperation suggests that consortia are preferred, if not required. Partner search announcements are available, further indicating the potential for collaborative projects.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The primary geographic eligibility appears to be focused on EU Member States, associated countries, and third countries under the Horizon Europe programme. The text mentions "countries beyond EU Member States, associated countries, or third countries under the Horizon Europe programme" in the context of international cooperation, suggesting that while international cooperation is encouraged, the core beneficiaries should be from within the EU and associated 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. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Target Sector:The program targets multiple sectors, including: housing, urban development, environment, sustainability, circular economy, cultural and creative industries, social sciences and humanities, and research and innovation. The core focus is on innovative solutions for the sustainable and beautiful use of vertical space in urban environments, aiming to improve the availability and affordability of housing and green spaces.

Mentioned Countries:The text refers to EU Member States, associated countries, and third countries under the Horizon Europe programme. It also mentions "non-EU/non-Associated Countries". Therefore, the regions mentioned are EU, associated countries, and third countries participating in Horizon Europe.

Project Stage:The expected maturity of the project for this opportunity ranges from development to demonstration. The call specifies "Develop and demonstrate at least one innovative solution," indicating that projects should move beyond the research phase and into practical application and validation.

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:€10,500,000 (indicative grant: around €3,500,000)

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-BUSINESS-02:€7,000,000 (indicative grant: around €3,500,000)

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-BUSINESS-03:€9,000,000 (indicative grant: around €4,500,000)

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-PARTICIPATION-01:€12,600,000 (indicative grant: around €6,300,000)

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-PARTICIPATION-02:€10,000,000 (indicative grant: around €5,000,000)

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-PARTICIPATION-03:€15,000,000 (indicative grant: around €5,000,000)

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-REGEN-01:€12,000,000 (indicative grant: around €4,000,000)

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-REGEN-02:€10,000,000 (indicative grant: around €5,000,000)

HORIZON-NEB:€15,000,000 (indicative grant: around €5,000,000)

Application Type:The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process. The planned opening date is 05 May 2026, and the deadline for submission is 01 December 2026.

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

Application Stages:The application process consists of a single stage.

Success Rates:The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants for each topic is provided, which can be used to estimate the potential success rate based on the number of applications received.

Co-funding Requirement:The text does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required. However, Horizon Europe grants often require some level of co-funding, so applicants should verify this in the specific call documents.

Summary:This Horizon Europe call, "Beautiful, inclusive and sustainable neighbourhoods for communities (HORIZON-NEB-2026-01)", focuses on developing and demonstrating innovative solutions for the sustainable and beautiful use of vertical space in urban environments. The call aims to address the increasing demand for housing and green spaces while limiting urban sprawl by utilizing under-used vertical spaces above buildings and streets. Projects should develop solutions that improve the availability and affordability of housing, provide more green spaces, integrate circularity principles, assess life cycle impacts, and address regulatory and societal barriers. The call encourages a participatory and transdisciplinary approach, involving local communities and cultural and creative industries in the co-creation process. International cooperation is also encouraged. Funding is provided as a lump sum grant, and the application process is a single-stage submission. The call includes various topics related to business, participation, and regeneration, each with its specific budget and indicative number of grants. Applicants should consult the Horizon Europe Programme Guide and other relevant documents for detailed guidance on eligibility, evaluation criteria, and application procedures.