Living labs co-creating innovative solutions for forests and freshwater ecosystems restoration

The grant opportunity is part of Horizon Europe, specifically focused on living labs aimed at innovative solutions for restoring forests and freshwater ecosystems. This initiative aligns with the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and climate resilience goals, emphasizing collaborative research across multiple nations.

Eligible applicants for this grant must form consortia, including research institutions, universities, non-profit organizations, and public-private partnerships, requiring collaboration across at least three EU Member States or Associated Countries. The call prioritizes existing consortia that have expertise in biodiversity projects.

Funding for this initiative is structured as a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, with individual project grants anticipated to be between €1 million and €5 million, based on similar projects. The proposal process is two-stage; first, applicants submit a brief outline which is evaluated based on its excellence and impact followed by the submission of a full proposal if the outline is approved. The grant supports transdisciplinary projects aiming to develop and test innovative solutions in real-world settings.

Geographically, the funding is available only to projects located within EU Member States and Associated Countries. The primary sectors targeted include environmental restoration, biodiversity, climate action, forestry, and the integration of social sciences and humanities.

No specific success rates are mentioned in the documentation, reflecting the competitive nature of Horizon Europe grants which typically range from 10 to 39%. Notably, while there is typically a co-funding expectation in Horizon initiatives, this specific lump-sum model may not require explicit co-funding from applicants.

The call opens for submissions on May 6, 2025, with the first submission deadline on September 4, 2025, and a second on February 18, 2026. Successful proposals are expected to significantly contribute to enhancing knowledge and practices around ecosystem restoration, addressing challenges related to biodiversity loss, and ensuring sustainable practices are integrated into regional development plans.

The overall objective is to bolster collaboration among diverse stakeholders, enhance capacities related to climate change adaptation, and deliver comprehensive solutions that offer multiple ecological benefits. The grant aims to not only facilitate research but also to empower communities in their ecosystem restoration efforts while maintaining a focus on practical and sustainable approaches.

This is a Horizon Europe (HORIZON) call under Cluster 6, specifically call 01 which follows a two-stage submission process (HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-two-stage). The topic is titled "Living labs co-creating innovative solutions for forests and freshwater ecosystems restoration" (HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-01-two-stage). It is a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-RIA) and utilizes a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] model grant agreement.

The call opened for submission on May 6, 2025. The first deadline for submissions is September 4, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The second deadline is February 18, 2026, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcome of successful proposals is to improve knowledge and develop innovations, methods, pathways, and tools to restore degraded ecosystems, ensuring the provision of ecosystem services, including for adaptation and/or mitigation to climate change. Project results should contribute to enhanced capacities of researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and other stakeholders, facilitating effective collaboration among research, practice, and policy. Practice-oriented knowledge and tools should be available to stakeholders for ecosystem restoration and non-deterioration. Competent authorities should be aware of effective solutions, methods, and tools for ecosystem restoration. Collaborations between actors across territories and sectors should be strengthened, and consideration of effective solutions for ecosystem restoration and non-deterioration should be increased in regions where living labs are operating. Social, economic, and environmental co-benefits and trade-offs of nature restoration activities should be demonstrated, including for climate mitigation and adaptation.

The scope of the call aligns with the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030, which aims to restore significant areas of degraded and carbon-rich ecosystems, prevent deterioration of habitats and species, and ensure that at least 30% reach favourable conservation status or show a positive trend. It also aligns with the EU Nature Restoration Regulation, which establishes a framework for Member States to implement effective and area-based restoration measures, targeting at least 20% of land and sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. The call also supports the European Climate Law, which promotes nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation in national adaptation strategies and plans.

Successful proposals are expected to establish living labs that develop and deploy innovative solutions for restoring key ecosystems, delivering multiple ecosystem functions and services relevant for climate action, including carbon sequestration, regulating water regimes, and other climate adaptation aspects. Proposals should combine research on forest and freshwater ecosystems.

Proposals should apply the three main principles of the living labs research concept: co-creating innovative solutions in real-life sites focusing on end-users’ needs; co-deciding/co-creating with end-users throughout the project; and bringing together actors with complementary knowledge. Living labs should correspond to the definition of the European Network of Living Labs and involve partners from different backgrounds, disciplines, and sectors, comprising at least seven experimental sites.

More specifically, proposals should:

Set up at least three living labs to work together on ecosystem restoration, covering forests and freshwater ecosystems, located in at least three different EU Member States and/or Associated Countries.
Establish a detailed work plan for activities undertaken in a transdisciplinary way, ensuring co-design, co-development, and co-implementation of locally adapted innovative solutions.
Conduct participatory and transdisciplinary research and innovation in living labs to find practical solutions to ecosystem restoration, considering drivers of biodiversity loss, climate change, and invasive alien species.
Address challenges with scaling up and transferability of solutions, adapting strategies to different environmental, socio-economic, and cultural contexts.
Select sites along a gradient of anthropogenic pressure to evaluate restoration challenges in heterogeneous areas.
Seek an action-oriented and collaborative approach combining local expertise in economics, ecology, and locally created sustainable innovations.
Integrate the gender dimension.
Establish for each living lab a satisfactory level for ecosystem condition, allowing for accurate assessment of conditions and changes and clear monitoring of progress.
Consider impacts of forestry and forestry practices on freshwater ecosystem health.
Monitor and assess innovative practices for ecosystem restoration and their effectiveness, including conditions for non-deterioration.
Demonstrate the economic viability of proposed solutions and develop appropriate business models.
Document newly developed solutions in an accessible way and widely disseminate them.
Foresee cooperation with the EC Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity and the Science Service project BioAgora.
Nature-based solutions are relevant if they concern the restoration of ecosystems.
The topic requires the effective contribution of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines.

The submission session was made available on May 8, 2025, for HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-02-two-stage, HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-01-two-stage, HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-01-two-stage, and HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-01-two-stage.

General conditions for admissibility, eligibility, financial and operational capacity, exclusion, evaluation, award, and legal and financial set-up are described in the relevant annexes of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum.

Application form templates are available in the Submission System, including standard application forms for HE RIA, IA, and HE RIA IA Stage 1. Evaluation form templates and guidance documents are also provided. Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programmes, HE Programme Guide, HE Framework Programme, EU Financial Regulation, and other relevant guidelines and regulations.

The budget overview indicates that 14,000,000 EUR is allocated for HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-01-two-stage and HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-02-two-stage, with an indicative number of 2 grants each, around 7,000,000 EUR. 10,000,000 EUR is allocated for HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-01-two-stage and HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-01-two-stage, with an indicative number of 2 grants each, around 5,000,000 EUR.

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The call aims to fund research and innovation actions that establish living labs across Europe to develop and implement innovative solutions for the restoration of forest and freshwater ecosystems. It seeks to address biodiversity loss and climate change by promoting nature-based solutions and fostering collaboration among researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and local communities. The projects should contribute to the EU's biodiversity strategy for 2030 and the EU Nature Restoration Regulation by restoring degraded ecosystems, enhancing ecosystem services, and promoting climate mitigation and adaptation. The funding is provided as a lump sum, and the application process involves a two-stage submission. Applicants are encouraged to consult the provided guidance documents and seek support from National Contact Points and other relevant networks.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly defined in the provided text. However, based on the context of Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Innovation Actions (IA), eligible applicants typically include universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, non-profit organizations, and other relevant stakeholders involved in research and innovation activities. The call specifies the need for a multi-actor approach, suggesting that various types of actors are encouraged to participate.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant. The call also mentions HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and HORIZON Innovation Actions (IA), which are funding schemes under Horizon Europe.

Consortium Requirement: A consortium is required. The call specifies that proposals should set up at least three living labs, located in at least three different EU Member States and/or Associated Countries. Living labs should be composed of at least seven experimental sites. This indicates that multiple partners are needed to form a consortium. The proposals must apply the multi-actor approach.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and/or 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.

Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: environment, climate, agriculture/food, and research/innovation. Specifically, it focuses on biodiversity, ecosystem restoration, climate action, nature-based solutions, and the integration of social sciences and humanities (SSH).

Mentioned Countries: The call specifies that the living labs should be located in at least three different EU Member States and/or Associated Countries. No specific countries are mentioned, but the geographic scope is limited to EU Member States and Associated Countries.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on development, validation, demonstration, and potentially scale-up. The call emphasizes setting up living labs to develop and deploy innovative solutions, conducting participatory and transdisciplinary research, monitoring and assessing innovative practices, and documenting and disseminating newly developed solutions.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic. For HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-01-two-stage and HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-02-two-stage, the budget is EUR 14,000,000 with an indicative grant amount of around EUR 7,000,000. For HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-01-two-stage and HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-01-two-stage, the budget is EUR 10,000,000 with an indicative grant amount of around EUR 5,000,000.

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 involves two stages.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The need for co-funding is implied, as the call mentions that appropriate business models and actions possibly involving local authorities, business communities, SMEs, investors, and entrepreneurs should be developed, including with co-funding schemes.

Summary:

This Horizon Europe Cluster 6 call focuses on "Living labs co-creating innovative solutions for forests and freshwater ecosystems restoration." It aims to improve knowledge and develop innovations for restoring degraded ecosystems and ensuring the provision of ecosystem services, including climate change adaptation and mitigation. The call is structured around setting up living labs in at least three different EU Member States and/or Associated Countries, each involving at least seven experimental sites. These living labs should combine research on forest and freshwater ecosystems, applying the principles of co-creation, co-decision, and bringing together actors with complementary knowledge.

The projects should conduct participatory and transdisciplinary research to find practical solutions for ecosystem restoration, considering drivers of biodiversity loss like climate change and invasive species. The proposals should also address challenges related to scaling up and transferring solutions, adapting strategies to different environmental, socio-economic, and cultural contexts. Furthermore, the projects should establish ecosystem condition levels, monitor innovative practices, assess their effectiveness, and demonstrate the economic viability of the proposed solutions.

The call requires a multi-actor approach, encouraging the participation of researchers, policymakers, practitioners, public and private land managers, foresters, environmental NGOs, local authorities, business communities, SMEs, investors, and entrepreneurs. The funding is provided as a lump sum grant under the Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Innovation Actions (IA) schemes. The application process is a two-stage open call, with deadlines in September 2025 and February 2026. The geographic scope includes EU Member States and Associated Countries, with potential provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries. The overall goal is to enhance the capacities of stakeholders, provide practice-oriented knowledge and tools, inform national restoration and climate adaptation plans, strengthen collaborations, and demonstrate the co-benefits of nature restoration activities.