Mainstreaming and scaling-up evidence-based Nature-Based Solutions towards a nature positive and climate-resilient economy

The Horizon Europe funding opportunity titled "Mainstreaming and scaling-up evidence-based Nature-Based Solutions towards a nature positive and climate-resilient economy" is categorized under the call HORIZON-CL6. This initiative is primarily a research and innovation action (HORIZON-RIA) and features a lump sum grant mechanism, with a total budget of €18 million allocated for the topic. The program aims to provide at least three grants, each valued at a minimum of €6 million. The submission process consists of two stages, with the first stage's deadline set for April 16, 2026, and the second stage for September 23, 2026. The call will open for proposals on February 12, 2026. Eligible applicants include a wide range of organizations such as research institutions, universities, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), large enterprises, public authorities, and non-profit organizations, all of which must belong to the EU member states or associated countries. Collaboration among multiple stakeholders in a consortium is highly encouraged to address the systemic integration of nature-based solutions (NbS) across sectors and policy levels. The funding is designed to support projects that co-design, develop, and implement large-scale NbS pilots. Proposals should focus on contributing robust evidence, knowledge, and practices to enhance the understanding and effectiveness of NbS, while also addressing challenges related to climate change, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem resilience. Projects should align with significant EU policies, including the European Green Deal and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. The opportunity not only emphasizes the importance of collaboration but also provides financial support to third parties, allowing additional stakeholders to engage in the projects, with up to €60,000 available per third party. Overall, this call represents a significant investment in advancing research and the practical application of nature-based methods to tackle critical environmental issues. Applicants are encouraged to submit concept outlines by the first deadline and develop comprehensive proposals for the second stage, with funding aimed at fostering innovation in addressing environmental sustainability challenges effectively.

The EU Funding and Tenders Portal presents a Horizon Europe call for proposals focused on "Mainstreaming and scaling-up evidence-based Nature-Based Solutions towards a nature positive and climate-resilient economy," specifically addressing the topic HORIZON-CL6. This call seeks to promote the understanding, communication, and systemic integration of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) across various sectors and policy levels to achieve climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and cost-effectiveness.

The expected outcomes of funded projects include:enhanced stakeholder understanding of NbS impacts, systemic integration of NbS into policy domains, scientifically credible evidence and projections for NbS effectiveness, and increased practitioner capacity to design and implement adaptive NbS management strategies.

The scope of the proposals should focus on equipping policymakers and practitioners with robust evidence, knowledge, and practices related to NbS. Proposals should contribute to the evidence base supporting the role of NbS in creating a nature-positive and climate-resilient society, aligning with strategies for climate adaptation and mitigation, ensuring economic security, respecting planetary boundaries, and addressing climate uncertainties. A multi-actor approach is encouraged, involving researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and experts from SSH disciplines to enhance the societal impact of research activities.

Proposals should also enable the scaling up and mainstreaming of NbS, aligning with key policies such as the European Green Deal, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the Climate Adaptation Strategy, the EU Climate Adaptation Plan, the EU Forest Strategy, the Preparedness Union Strategy, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), the EU water and marine acquis, the European Water Resilience Strategy, and the European Ocean Pact.

Specific actions that proposals should undertake include:co-designing and implementing large-scale NbS pilots, advancing methods for assessing the long-term viability of NbS, facilitating collaboration and knowledge transfer among stakeholders, developing tools to mitigate potential unintended consequences of NbS, and assessing the environmental, social, and economic impacts of NbS. Proposals should also address knowledge gaps identified by IPBES assessments and create synergies with other EU-funded NbS projects, including collaboration with EU NbS Task Forces. Financial support to third parties (FSTP) is permitted, with a maximum of €60,000 granted to each third party.

General conditions for admissibility include adherence to proposal page limits and layout guidelines 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 listed 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. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are detailed in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes. Evaluation and award criteria, submission and evaluation processes, and the indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement are described in Annex D and Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

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 forms are available in the Submission System, including standard forms for HE RIA and IA projects, as well as evaluation form templates. Guidance documents include the HE Programme Guide, Lump Sum MGA, call-specific instructions, a detailed budget table, and guidance on lump sums. Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027, the HE Framework Programme 2021/695, the HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, the EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, and various guidelines and regulations related to Horizon Europe.

The budget overview lists several topics under this call, including:

HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-01-two-stage:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €14,000,000, opening on 2026-02-12 and deadlines on 2026-04-16 and 2026-09-23, with an indicative grant amount of around €7,000,000 and 2 grants expected.

HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-02-two-stage:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €12,000,000, opening on 2026-02-12 and deadlines on 2026-04-16 and 2026-09-23, with an indicative grant amount of around €3,000,000 and 4 grants expected.

HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-03-two-stage:HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of €10,000,000, opening on 2026-02-12 and deadlines on 2026-04-16 and 2026-09-23, with an indicative grant amount of around €5,000,000 and 2 grants expected.

HORIZON-CL6:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €18,000,000, opening on 2026-02-12 and deadlines on 2026-04-16 and 2026-09-23, with an indicative grant amount of around €6,000,000 and 3 grants expected.

HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-01-two-stage:HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of €10,000,000, opening on 2026-02-12 and deadlines on 2026-04-16 and 2026-09-23, with an indicative grant amount of around €5,000,000 and 2 grants expected.

HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-02-two-stage:HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of €18,000,000, opening on 2026-02-12 and deadlines on 2026-04-16 and 2026-09-23, with an indicative grant amount of around €6,000,000 and 3 grants expected.

HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-01-two-stage:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €23,000,000, opening on 2026-02-12 and deadlines on 2026-04-16 and 2026-09-23, with an indicative grant amount of €7,000,000 to €8,000,000 and 3 grants expected.

Partner search announcements are available for collaboration on this topic, and the submission system is planned to open on the date stated on the topic header.

This Horizon Europe call is essentially a funding opportunity for research and innovation projects that focus on using nature to solve environmental and societal problems. It's about finding ways to protect, restore, and manage ecosystems in a sustainable way to address challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, and water scarcity. The EU wants to see projects that not only come up with these nature-based solutions but also provide solid evidence that they work, are cost-effective, and can be scaled up to make a real difference. The goal is to encourage policymakers and practitioners to integrate these solutions into their plans and strategies, creating a more resilient and sustainable future. If you're a researcher, policymaker, or practitioner with innovative ideas on how to use nature to tackle these challenges, this call is an opportunity to get funding and support for your project.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, given the nature of Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Innovation Actions (IA), eligible applicants typically include universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other organizations capable of conducting research and innovation activities. The call encourages a multi-actor approach, suggesting that applicants should engage with actors from research, policy, and practice, as well as Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines.

Funding Type:The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant. Additionally, the opportunity mentions the possibility of providing financial support to third parties (FSTP) in the form of grants, with a maximum amount of €60,000 per third party.

Consortium Requirement:The opportunity encourages a multi-actor approach, implying that a consortium of multiple applicants is preferred. The text mentions the need for collaboration and knowledge transfer among researchers, practitioners, policymakers, public authorities, and SSH disciplines, which suggests that a consortium would be more suitable to address the scope of the call.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The geographic eligibility includes EU and non-EU/non-Associated Countries. The text mentions 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. Further details can be found in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Target Sector:The program targets the following sectors: biodiversity, circular bioeconomy (CIRCBIO), and zero pollution. More specifically, it focuses on nature-based solutions (NbS), climate adaptation and mitigation, water resilience, ecosystem restoration, environmental protection, agriculture, and related research and innovation activities.

Mentioned Countries:The text refers to EU countries and non-EU/non-Associated Countries. It also mentions the European context and encourages expansion beyond it, implying a global scope while prioritizing European interests.

Project Stage:The project stage encompasses development, implementation, and scaling up of nature-based solutions. The call encourages co-design, development, and implementation of large-scale pilots and/or interconnected NbS. It also aims to enable the scaling up and mainstreaming of NbS.

Funding Amount:The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call. The budget overview provides the following indicative amounts:

HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-01-two-stage:€14,000,000 (around €7,000,000 per grant, 2 grants)

HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-02-two-stage:€12,000,000 (around €3,000,000 per grant, 4 grants)

HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-03-two-stage:€10,000,000 (around €5,000,000 per grant, 2 grants)

HORIZON-CL6:€18,000,000 (around €6,000,000 per grant, 3 grants)

HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-01-two-stage:€10,000,000 (around €5,000,000 per grant, 2 grants)

HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-02-two-stage:€18,000,000 (around €6,000,000 per grant, 3 grants)

HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-01-two-stage:€23,000,000 (€7,000,000 to €8,000,000 per grant, 3 grants)

Application Type:The application type is an open call with a two-stage submission process. The planned opening date is 12 February 2026, with deadlines for the first stage on 16 April 2026 and for the second stage on 23 September 2026.

Nature of Support:Beneficiaries will receive monetary support in the form of a lump sum grant. They may also provide financial support to third parties in the form of grants, up to €60,000 per third party.

Application Stages:The application process involves two stages, as indicated by the "two-stage" label in the topic descriptions and the deadline model.

Success Rates:The success rates are not explicitly mentioned. However, the indicative number of grants for each topic provides some insight into the potential success rate, which would depend on the number of proposals received.

Co-funding Requirement:The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement. However, it is common for Horizon Europe grants to require some level of co-funding from the applicants or other parties, which should be verified in the specific call documents.

Summary:This Horizon Europe call focuses on "Mainstreaming and scaling-up evidence-based Nature-Based Solutions towards a nature positive and climate-resilient economy." It aims to support projects that can provide robust evidence, knowledge, and practices on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to policymakers and practitioners. The call aligns with key EU policies, including the European Green Deal and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and encourages a multi-actor approach involving researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and SSH disciplines. The funding is provided as a lump sum grant, and projects should focus on co-designing, developing, and implementing large-scale pilots of NbS, assessing their long-term viability, and facilitating knowledge transfer among relevant stakeholders. The call is structured in a two-stage submission process, with specific deadlines in April and September 2026. The geographic scope includes EU and non-EU/non-Associated Countries, and the projects should address multiple challenges, including climate adaptation and mitigation, water resilience, and biodiversity loss. The call also allows for financial support to be provided to third parties, up to €60,000 per third party, to facilitate their involvement in the projects.