Sustainable, inclusive, affordable and beautiful solutions for thermal comfort in buildings

The grant opportunity HORIZON-NEB focuses on sustainable and inclusive solutions for thermal comfort in buildings under the New European Bauhaus initiative within Horizon Europe. This initiative aims to develop and demonstrate innovative approaches that prioritize aesthetic appeal, energy efficiency, and environmental sustainability in the built environment. Eligible applicants include a wide variety of organizations such as research institutions, universities, enterprises, non-profits, and public-private partnerships, promoting a transdisciplinary approach. Projects must be consortium-based, requiring collaboration among multiple partners from different Member States or Associated Countries to leverage diverse expertise across architectural design, engineering, and social sciences. The total funding available for this call is €12 million, with approximately €4 million allocated per grant, allowing for an estimated three grants to be awarded. The financial support is provided through a lump sum grant under the HORIZON Innovation Actions mechanism, simplifying budget management and operations for participants. The application process is a single-stage submission, opening on May 5, 2026, and closing on December 1, 2026. Projects should demonstrate at least two thermal comfort solutions across varied climatic zones, including at least one cultural heritage building, evaluate life cycle greenhouse gas emissions and costs, and ensure accessibility for vulnerable groups. Participants are expected to allocate a minimum of 0.8% of the budget for engagement with the New European Bauhaus hub for result dissemination and impact assessment. Success rates for this opportunity are not explicitly stated, but it can be anticipated that competition will be high, with rates typically ranging from 10% to 39% for similar Horizon Europe calls. Co-funding is not explicitly required, allowing projects to potentially cover full costs with the awarded grant. Overall, this grant represents a commitment to advancing sustainable construction practices that integrate cultural heritage and aesthetic beauty, aligning with the EU's environmental goals to become climate-neutral by 2050.

This is a Horizon Europe call focused on "Beautiful, inclusive and sustainable neighbourhoods for communities" (HORIZON-NEB-2026-01). The call aims to develop and demonstrate effective solutions for achieving thermal comfort in buildings while reducing life cycle energy use and GHG emissions. These solutions should be inspired by vernacular principles, nature-based solutions, bioclimatic design, and frugal innovation.

The expected outcome is a significantly higher awareness among construction ecosystem actors regarding solutions inspired by vernacular knowledge, nature-based solutions, bioclimatic design, and frugal innovation. The application of developed solutions should help achieve and maintain thermal comfort in buildings, significantly reducing life cycle energy use, GHG emissions, and costs compared to current market solutions.

The scope of the call addresses the need to reduce life cycle GHG emissions in buildings to meet the Green Deal’s objectives. It acknowledges that achieving thermal comfort often relies on energy-intensive solutions like air conditioning, which emit GHGs, increase energy costs, and contribute to urban heat island effects. The call seeks to develop and demonstrate beautiful, sustainable, and affordable solutions for thermal comfort inspired by vernacular principles, nature-based solutions, bioclimatic design, and frugal innovation.

Proposals are expected to:

Develop and demonstrate at least two solutions for achieving thermal comfort in buildings based on vernacular principles, nature-based solutions, bioclimatic design, and/or frugal innovation.

Demonstrate the two solutions on new and/or existing buildings, including at least one cultural heritage building, in at least two different climatic zones located in different Member States and/or Associated Countries.

Evaluate the reduction in life cycle GHG emissions and life cycle costs, as well as the improvement in affordability, compared to solutions currently on the market.

Ensure the accessibility of the solution to groups in a vulnerable situation and the aesthetic appeal of the solutions developed.

Identify barriers hindering the implementation, scalability, and replicability of the proposed solutions, including regulatory aspects, and provide recommendations and guidance to overcome them.

Proposals should follow a participatory and transdisciplinary approach, integrating different actors and disciplines. Synergies should be explored with other relevant initiatives, such as the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, particularly the topic HORIZON-MISS-2025-01-CLIMA-04.

Proposals are expected to allocate at least 0.8% of their budget for engaging with the Horizon Europe-funded 'New European Bauhaus hub for results and impact' to share their intermediate and final results, findings, and learning, as well as to contribute to impact assessment.

The general conditions include:

Admissibility Conditions:Proposal page limit and layout described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form.

Eligible Countries described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Other Eligible Conditions described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Evaluation and award:Award criteria, scoring, and thresholds described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Evaluation and award:Submission and evaluation processes described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

Evaluation and award:Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Legal and financial set-up of the grants:Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021.

Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme and Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA):

Application form templates are available in the Submission System (Standard application form HE RIA, IA).

Evaluation form templates will be used with necessary adaptations (Standard evaluation form HE RIA, IA).

Guidance is provided in the HE Programme Guide.

Model Grant Agreements (MGA) include the Lump Sum MGA.

Call-specific instructions include a detailed budget table (HE LS) and guidance on lump sums.

Additional documents include:

HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction

HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 13. New European Bauhaus Facility (NEB)

HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes

HE Programme Guide

HE Framework Programme 2021/695

HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764

EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509

Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme

Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment

EU Grants AGA Annotated Model Grant Agreement

Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual

Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions

Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement

The budget overview includes the following topics:

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-BUSINESS-01 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of €10,500,000, opening on 2026-05-05 and closing on 2026-12-01, with an indicative number of 3 grants around €3,500,000 each.

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-BUSINESS-02 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €7,000,000, opening on 2026-05-05 and closing on 2026-12-01, with an indicative number of 2 grants around €3,500,000 each.

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-BUSINESS-03 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €9,000,000, opening on 2026-05-05 and closing on 2026-12-01, with an indicative number of 2 grants around €4,500,000 each.

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-PARTICIPATION-01 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of €12,600,000, opening on 2026-05-05 and closing on 2026-12-01, with an indicative number of 2 grants around €6,300,000 each.

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-PARTICIPATION-02 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of €10,000,000, opening on 2026-05-05 and closing on 2026-12-01, with an indicative number of 2 grants around €5,000,000 each.

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-PARTICIPATION-03 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a budget of €15,000,000, opening on 2026-05-05 and closing on 2026-12-01, with an indicative number of 3 grants around €5,000,000 each.

HORIZON-NEB - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of €12,000,000, opening on 2026-05-05 and closing on 2026-12-01, with an indicative number of 3 grants around €4,000,000 each.

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-REGEN-02 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of €10,000,000, opening on 2026-05-05 and closing on 2026-12-01, with an indicative number of 2 grants around €5,000,000 each.

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-REGEN-03 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of €15,000,000, opening on 2026-05-05 and closing on 2026-12-01, with an indicative number of 3 grants around €5,000,000 each.

Partner search announcements can be viewed and edited by LEARs, Account Administrators, or self-registrants. The submission system is planned to open on the date stated on the topic header.

This Horizon Europe call is centered around developing and implementing innovative solutions for thermal comfort in buildings, aligning with the EU Green Deal objectives. It encourages projects that not only reduce GHG emissions and energy consumption but also enhance the aesthetic appeal and accessibility of buildings, particularly for vulnerable populations. The call emphasizes the importance of drawing inspiration from traditional building methods, nature, and resource-efficient designs. Successful proposals will demonstrate practical solutions in diverse climates, evaluate their impact, and address barriers to wider adoption, all while fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing within the construction ecosystem. The funding mechanism is based on lump sum contributions, and projects are expected to engage with the New European Bauhaus initiative.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but based on the nature of Horizon Europe projects, eligible applicants can include universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other types of organizations involved in research and innovation. The call emphasizes a participatory and transdisciplinary approach, suggesting that a diverse range of actors from different disciplines are encouraged to 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 levels of innovation maturity and funding intensity.

Consortium Requirement:The call emphasizes a participatory and transdisciplinary approach, suggesting that a consortium of multiple applicants is preferred. The requirement for demonstrating solutions in different climatic zones and member states further implies the need for a consortium.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and Associated Countries. The call mentions that non-EU/non-Associated Countries may also be eligible if they have made specific provisions for funding their participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Target Sector:The program targets the buildings and construction sector, with a focus on reducing life cycle GHG emissions and improving thermal comfort in buildings. It also touches on climate adaptation, sustainable neighborhoods, nature-based solutions, bioclimatic design, frugal innovation, and cultural heritage.

Mentioned Countries:The opportunity mentions EU Member States and Associated Countries as geographically eligible regions. 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 ranges from development to demonstration. The call specifically seeks proposals that will "develop and demonstrate" solutions, indicating a need for projects that are beyond the initial research phase and ready for real-world application.

Funding Amount:The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call. The indicative number of grants and contributions are as follows:

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-BUSINESS-01:Total budget €10,500,000, with individual contributions around €3,500,000, and an indicative number of 3 grants.

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-BUSINESS-02:Total budget €7,000,000, with individual contributions around €3,500,000, and an indicative number of 2 grants.

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-BUSINESS-03:Total budget €9,000,000, with individual contributions around €4,500,000, and an indicative number of 2 grants.

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-PARTICIPATION-01:Total budget €12,600,000, with individual contributions around €6,300,000, and an indicative number of 2 grants.

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-PARTICIPATION-02:Total budget €10,000,000, with individual contributions around €5,000,000, and an indicative number of 2 grants.

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-PARTICIPATION-03:Total budget €15,000,000, with individual contributions around €5,000,000, and an indicative number of 3 grants.

HORIZON-NEB:Total budget €12,000,000, with individual contributions around €4,000,000, and an indicative number of 3 grants.

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-REGEN-02:Total budget €10,000,000, with individual contributions around €5,000,000, and an indicative number of 2 grants.

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-REGEN-03:Total budget €15,000,000, with individual contributions around €5,000,000, and an indicative number of 3 grants.

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 consists of a single stage.

Success Rates:The success rates are not explicitly stated, but the indicative number of grants for each topic provides some insight. For example, a topic with a budget of €10,000,000 and an indicative number of 2 grants suggests a more competitive environment than a topic with a similar budget and 3 grants.

Co-funding Requirement:The need for co-funding is not explicitly mentioned. However, Horizon Europe grants typically fund a percentage of the total project costs, implying that applicants may need to secure additional funding from other sources.

This Horizon Europe call, part of the New European Bauhaus initiative, aims to foster sustainable, inclusive, and aesthetically pleasing solutions for thermal comfort in buildings. The call seeks to reduce the environmental impact of buildings by promoting alternatives to energy-intensive air conditioning, such as nature-based solutions, bioclimatic design, and frugal innovation. Projects should develop and demonstrate at least two solutions in different climatic zones, evaluate their impact on GHG emissions and costs, ensure accessibility for vulnerable groups, and address barriers to implementation. The call encourages a participatory and transdisciplinary approach, requiring applicants to engage with the New European Bauhaus hub and explore synergies with other EU initiatives. Funding is provided as a lump sum grant, and applications are submitted through a single-stage process. The geographic scope includes EU Member States and Associated Countries, with potential eligibility for non-EU countries under specific conditions. This opportunity is geared towards organizations involved in research, innovation, and the construction ecosystem, aiming to create a more sustainable and resilient built environment.