Living Labs for soil remediation and green redevelopment of brownfields

The Horizon Europe grant opportunity, titled "Living Labs for Soil Remediation and Green Redevelopment of Brownfields," is part of the EU's initiative "A Soil Deal for Europe." This grant aims to establish a network of living labs focused on innovative solutions for soil health and the redevelopment of brownfield sites.

Eligible applicants must form consortia including universities, research institutions, SMEs, public-private partnerships, NGOs, and local stakeholders. The requirement is to collaborate across at least three EU Member States or Associated Countries, focusing on interdisciplinary and participatory approaches to design and implement practical solutions.

The grant, categorized as a Research and Innovation Action, has a total budget of €12 million for a single project. The expected maturity level for projects aligns with Technology Readiness Levels between 6 and 8, emphasizing the development and demonstration phases.

Projects must support the establishment of four to five living labs, emphasizing real-world testing of solutions for soil remediation and urban regeneration. Each lab is expected to cover multiple sites, potentially addressing a variety of soil health challenges. The geographical scope is restricted to EU Member States and Associated Countries, with no explicit mention of third-country eligibility.

The application process is a single-stage open call, with a submission deadline of September 30, 2025. The grant is intended to foster partnerships and provide funding for locally relevant, participatory solutions while encouraging the sustainability of initiatives beyond the funding period. Although explicit co-funding requirements are not stated, collaboration with various stakeholders is encouraged.

Overall, the initiative aligns not only with the European Green Deal but also responds to soil degradation challenges, aiming to establish approximately 100 living labs by 2030. It supports the transition towards sustainable soil management practices, emphasizing economic viability, stakeholder engagement, and the sharing of knowledge to facilitate better policy-making.

This is a Horizon Europe call, specifically HORIZON-MISS-2025-05-SOIL-01, focused on "Living Labs for soil remediation and green redevelopment of brownfields." It falls under the "Supporting the implementation of the Soil Deal for Europe Mission" (HORIZON-MISS-2025-05) call. The action type is HORIZON-RIA (Research and Innovation Actions) with a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG] Model Grant Agreement.

The call adopts a single-stage submission model, opening on May 6, 2025, and closing on September 30, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The budget for this specific topic is 12,000,000 EUR, and it is expected that around one grant will be awarded.

The expected outcome of projects funded under this topic is to increase capacities for participatory, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary Research and Innovation to co-create and co-implement economically viable solutions for soil remediation and green redevelopment of brownfields. It also aims to make practice-oriented knowledge and tools more easily available to land managers and land users, enhancing the consideration and uptake of effective solutions. Furthermore, the call seeks to ensure that policymakers are more aware of local needs regarding soil remediation and green redevelopment of brownfields, including the economic sustainability of solutions, to design and implement more effective policies.

The scope of the call addresses the issue of brownfields resulting from de-industrialization and abandonment, which pose concerns for the economy, environment, human health, and quality of life. The call recognizes the opportunity these brownfields present for sustainable urban regeneration initiatives, aligning with the New European Bauhaus initiative. Projects are intended to expand the network of Mission Soil living labs and lighthouses, aiming to establish 100 such sites by 2030.

The call emphasizes the "Living Labs" approach, which involves long-term collaborations between multiple actors to address soil health challenges in real-life settings. Each living lab should ideally include 10 to 20 sites, but exceptions can be made depending on the context. Individual sites can include abandoned commercial and industrial sites, former mining areas, or zones with former or current military activities. Sites demonstrating exemplary performance can be designated as "lighthouses."

Living labs should address soil health challenges across various land uses, including agricultural, (peri-)urban, (post)-industrial, forest, and (semi-)natural areas. Projects are expected to initiate or build upon existing participatory processes. While projects typically run for four years, the duration should accommodate the timescales required for participatory processes and soil processes.

Proposals should support the setup of four to five living labs working on soil remediation and green redevelopment of brownfields, located in at least three different Member States and/or Associated Countries. The rationale and mechanisms for cooperation across the living labs, and their contribution to the Mission’s specific objectives, should be clearly explained. Proposals should present a realistic combination of variables, such as the number of soil health challenges addressed, pedo-climatic conditions, land uses, and Mission objectives.

An interdisciplinary, participatory, and multi-actor approach is required, involving researchers, landowners, industry representatives, public administrators, and civil society. Solutions should be adapted to different environmental, socio-economic, and cultural contexts.

Each living lab must establish a baseline for relevant soil descriptors/indicators, using the set of soil health indicators/descriptors presented in the proposal for a Directive on Soil Monitoring and Resilience as a basis, with potential additions depending on the specific context.

Innovative solutions for soil remediation and green redevelopment plans should be proposed and assessed, demonstrating their technical, social, economic, cultural, and environmental viability.

Sites demonstrating high performance should be identified for potential conversion into lighthouses. Strategies for the long-term sustainability of the living labs beyond Horizon Europe funding should be proposed, including business models, public-private funding schemes, financial instruments, cooperation with local authorities, and engagement of social economy entities, SMEs, and investors.

The multi-actor approach is mandatory, with effective contributions from social sciences and humanities and the arts (SSHA) expected to foster social innovation, knowledge transfer, and socio-cultural and behavioural change.

Applicants are reminded of the various participation options available in Horizon Europe, including beneficiaries, associated partners, third parties giving in-kind contributions, subcontractors, and recipients of financial support to third parties (FSTP). Financial support to third parties (FSTP) can be provided to facilitate the active involvement of small actors, with a maximum amount of EUR 200,000 per third party.

Collaboration with SOILL, the structure supporting soil health living labs and lighthouses, is required, including regular reporting of living labs performance.

Proposals should build on existing knowledge and solutions, collaborate with relevant projects and initiatives, engage in Mission Soil clustering activities, and consider data, expertise, and services offered by European research infrastructures (ESFRI). Cooperation with Horizon Europe Partnerships on Agroecology and on Sustainable Food Systems and/or relevant networks active at local level is encouraged.

Proposals should demonstrate a route towards open access, longevity, sustainability, and interoperability of knowledge and outputs through close collaboration with the EU Soil Observatory (EUSO) and the project SoilWise, ensuring that data is FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Re-usable).

The general conditions for participation include admissibility conditions (proposal page limit and layout), eligible countries, other eligible conditions (multi-actor approach), financial and operational capacity and exclusion, evaluation and award criteria, submission and evaluation processes, indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement, and legal and financial set-up of the grants.

Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA) templates are available in the Submission System. Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2025, HE Programme Guide, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, EU Grants AGA, and Funding & Tenders Portal resources.

This funding opportunity aims to address the critical issue of soil degradation in Europe, particularly in brownfield sites, by fostering collaborative, multi-actor "living labs" focused on developing and implementing innovative soil remediation and green redevelopment solutions. It seeks to not only improve soil health but also to create economically sustainable models for brownfield regeneration, contributing to the broader goals of the European Green Deal and the Soil Deal for Europe Mission. The emphasis on participatory approaches, knowledge sharing, and long-term sustainability makes this a comprehensive and impactful initiative.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity include researchers, landowners or land managers, industry representatives (e.g. SMEs), public administrators, and civil society (e.g. consumers, local residents, environmental NGOs, youth organisations). The multi-actor approach is mandatory, and the composition of each living lab may vary based on its unique characteristics.

Funding Type: The funding type for this opportunity is primarily a grant, specifically HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) under the Horizon Europe program. Financial support to third parties (FSTP) is also a component, provided in the form of grants.

Consortium Requirement: This opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. Proposals should support the setup of four to five living labs, located in at least three different Member States and/or Associated Countries.

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 target sectors for this program are primarily environment, agriculture/food, and innovation, with a focus on soil health, brownfield remediation, and sustainable urban regeneration. It also touches upon sectors such as biotech/medtech (biomanufacturing), and industrial processes/components.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity explicitly mentions EU Member States and Associated Countries as geographically eligible. It also refers to non-EU/non-Associated Countries that have made specific provisions for funding participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project for this opportunity is development and demonstration, with a focus on establishing and expanding living labs and lighthouses. The projects are expected to kick-start or build on existing participatory processes.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call, ranging from €3,000,000 to €12,000,000. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 200 000.

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 grants. Additionally, they will receive non-monetary services through collaboration with SOILL and access to data, expertise, and services offered by European research infrastructures (ESFRI) and other relevant projects and initiatives.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly stated, but the indicative number of grants for each topic suggests a relatively competitive environment. For example, several topics indicate "around 1" grant, while one indicates "around 2" grants.

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

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, "Living Labs for soil remediation and green redevelopment of brownfields," aims to expand the network of living labs and lighthouses under the 'A Soil Deal for Europe' Mission. The goal is to promote the transition to healthy soils by 2030 through participatory, interdisciplinary research and innovation. Projects should establish living labs in at least three different EU Member States and/or Associated Countries, focusing on soil remediation solutions and green redevelopment of brownfields. The call encourages a multi-actor approach, involving researchers, landowners, SMEs, public administrators, and civil society. Funding ranges from 3 to 12 million EUR per project, with additional financial support available for third parties. Proposals should demonstrate the viability of solutions, propose strategies for long-term sustainability of the living labs, and ensure open access to knowledge and outputs through collaboration with the EU Soil Observatory and other relevant initiatives. The call supports the European Green Deal, the EU soil strategy for 2030, and the Sustainable Development Goals, addressing soil health challenges and promoting sustainable urban regeneration.