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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

This grant aims to drive the transformation of the European built environment towards a more sustainable and resource-efficient model. The core objective is to validate and implement 'sufficiency measures' that reduce the demand for new construction and raw materials by optimizing the use of existing spaces, buildings, and infrastructure. It seeks to integrate circular economy principles and improve climate adaptability while considering the well-being of inhabitants. This funding is primarily targeted at organizations and consortia capable of conducting research and innovation activities related to urban planning, architectural design, construction, and sustainable development. Projects must involve real-world testing in multiple locations. This is a SECTOR-SPECIFIC grant, focused on the built environment, construction, and urban development. The geographic scope requires projects to be implemented in at least three distinct neighbourhoods (urban, peri-urban, or rural) located in at least three different EU Member States or Associated Countries. Key filtering criteria for initial screening include a clear focus on sufficiency measures, resource demand reduction in the built environment, a strong research and innovation component, and the ability to conduct multi-country pilot projects. This topic is part of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative within the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2025, indicating it is a recurring program, but this specific call is for the 2025 funding cycle.

Financial Structure

Funding Amounts

The total budget allocated for this specific topic, 'Sufficiency measures in the built environment' (HORIZON-NEB-2025-01-REGEN-03), is 8,000,000 EUR.
The grant aims to fund 2 projects.
Each project is expected to receive a maximum contribution of 4,000,000 EUR.
The minimum grant amount per project is also 4,000,000 EUR, indicating a fixed funding amount per successful proposal.

Funding Type This is a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based (HORIZON-AG). This means that funding will be provided based on an agreed budget for eligible project costs. Eligible and Ineligible Costs General categories of eligible costs are not detailed in the provided documents but are typically defined in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes (Annex G). These grants usually cover costs directly related to the research, innovation, testing, and dissemination activities. Matching Fund Requirements The specific funding rate (percentage of eligible costs covered by the grant) and any potential co-financing requirements are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes (details not provided in this document). Specific Budget Allocation Proposals are required to dedicate at least 0.2% of their total budget to sharing intermediate and final results and findings with the Coordination and Support Action 'New European Bauhaus hub for results and impact' (HORIZON-MISS-2024-NEB-01-03). Financial Capacity Information regarding the financial and operational capacity that applicants must demonstrate is available in Annex C of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes (not provided in this document).

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Eligibility While specific definitions for organization types are not provided in the grant text itself, the nature of a 'Research and Innovation Action' (RIA) and the required project scope imply eligibility for a broad range of entities. These typically include:

Research Organizations: Universities, research institutions, and technology organizations.
Public Authorities: Municipalities, regional governments, or other public bodies involved in urban planning, housing, or environmental management.
Enterprises: Companies in sectors such as real estate, construction, architectural design, engineering, sustainable materials, and digital solutions for the built environment. This could include large companies (ENTERPRISE) as well as Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME).
Civil Society Organizations (NGOs): Non-governmental organizations involved in community development, social equity, environmental advocacy, or cultural heritage.
Other: Any other legal entity capable of contributing to the research, innovation, and implementation of sufficiency measures in the built environment, including those with expertise in Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH).

Geographic Eligibility Applicants and consortium partners must be established in EU Member States or countries associated with the Horizon Europe Programme. Furthermore, projects must demonstrate their applicability and impact by testing proposed sufficiency measures in at least three different neighbourhoods across at least three different eligible countries. Capacity Requirements Financial and operational capacity requirements are applicable to all participants and are described in Annex C of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes (specific details are not provided in this document). Partnership Requirements This grant strongly implies, and practically necessitates, a consortium approach. The requirement to test measures in at least three neighbourhoods across three different Member States or Associated Countries, combined with the emphasis on a 'participatory and transdisciplinary approach' involving diverse actors (public authorities, local communities, civil society, private owners) and disciplines (architecture, engineering, arts, SSH), makes a multi-partner collaboration essential for a competitive application.

Application Process

Application Procedure and Timeline

Application Type: This call is for 'HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions' (RIA).
Submission Model: The application process follows a single-stage submission model.
Opening Date: The call opened on May 6, 2025.
Submission Deadline: The final deadline for submitting proposals is November 12, 2025, at 00:00:00 UTC.

Required Documentation and Materials

Application Forms: Applicants must use the application form specific to this call, which is available in the Electronic Submission System. Standard application forms (HE RIA, IA) are used.
Page Limits and Layout: Specific page limits and layout requirements for the proposal are detailed in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, and further elaborated in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.

Submission Format and Platform

Proposals must be submitted electronically through the Funding & Tenders Portal's Electronic Submission Service. Access to the system is typically provided via a 'submission-button' next to the relevant action type on the portal.

Evaluation and Selection Process

Evaluation Criteria and Scoring System: These are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes (details not provided).
Review Process and Timeline: The detailed submission and evaluation processes, along with an indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement, are outlined in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual (details not provided).

Application Assistance While not explicitly detailed within the provided grant text, the Horizon Europe program typically offers various forms of support for applicants, including: * National Contact Points (NCPs) for guidance and assistance. * The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) for advice, particularly for SMEs. * The Funding & Tenders Portal IT Helpdesk for technical issues. * An Online Manual with detailed procedural guidance. * A Research Enquiry Service for general questions about European research funding.

Evaluation Criteria

The evaluation of proposals will primarily be based on criteria outlined in Annex D of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, which were not provided in this document. However, based on the grant's scope and expected outcomes, key evaluation aspects are expected to include:

Relevance and Contribution to Objectives: How well the proposal aligns with the grant's core objective of implementing 'sufficiency measures' to reduce resource demand in the built environment, optimize space use, and contribute to circularity, climate adaptability, and well-being. The proposal must address all specific requirements outlined in the scope.
Scientific and Technical Excellence: The quality of the proposed approach to map and quantify vacant/under-utilized spaces, the robustness of the methods for testing and validating sufficiency measures, and the soundness of the proposed solutions to overcome non-technical barriers. This includes the novelty and feasibility of the research and innovation activities.
Impact: The potential for the proposed measures to lead to an absolute reduction in demand for floor space and resources (energy, raw materials, land, water), and to strengthen EU's strategic autonomy and contribute to European Green Deal objectives. This also covers the potential to enhance societal well-being, strengthen a sense of belonging, and increase societal resilience, particularly for minorities, vulnerable, and underrepresented groups.
Quality of the Consortium and Implementation: The suitability of the consortium to carry out the project, including the collective expertise and experience. A strong emphasis will be placed on the participatory and transdisciplinary approach, ensuring the integration of diverse actors (public authorities, local actors, civil society, private owners) and disciplines (architecture, design, arts, civil engineering, Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH)). The effective contribution and involvement of SSH expertise are crucial for enhancing societal impact.
Sustainability: The long-term viability and scalability of the proposed solutions, including their contribution to a circular and regenerative European construction ecosystem.

Cross-cutting themes such as the principles of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) (beautiful, sustainable, together), the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital solutions, and the robust inclusion of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) expertise are expected to significantly influence scoring.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory and Legal Compliance Applicants and funded projects must comply with general conditions detailed in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, covering aspects such as: * Admissibility conditions (Annex A, E). * Eligibility conditions (Annex B). * Financial and operational capacity requirements (Annex C). * Legal and financial set-up of the grants (Annex G). Ethical Standards and Inclusivity

The grant emphasizes a participatory and transdisciplinary approach and the inclusion of relevant Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) expertise. This implicitly requires adherence to high ethical standards, particularly concerning research involving human subjects, community engagement, and data collection.
Solutions developed must be user-centred, place-based, and specifically answer the needs of, and be accepted by, people on the ground, including minorities, vulnerable, and underrepresented groups. This underscores a strong commitment to ethical and inclusive practices.

Technical and Data Requirements

The grant encourages the use of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) in combination with Building Information Modelling (BIM) and digital fabrication. Projects utilizing these technologies must comply with relevant data protection, privacy regulations, and ethical guidelines for AI use.

Knowledge Sharing and Dissemination

A unique and mandatory requirement is to dedicate at least 0.2% of the project's total budget to sharing intermediate and final results and findings with the 'Coordination and Support Action New European Bauhaus hub for results and impact' (HORIZON-MISS-2024-NEB-01-03). This ensures broad dissemination and integration of project outcomes within the NEB framework.

Project Implementation Specifics

Projects are required to test and validate proposed sufficiency measures in at least three distinct neighbourhoods (urban, peri-urban, or rural) located in at least three different EU Member States or Associated Countries. This multi-site, multi-country testing is a critical component of the project's scope.
The grant explicitly seeks to address non-technical barriers (e.g., regulatory barriers or acceptance) to implementing sufficiency measures, requiring proposals to validate solutions for overcoming these challenges.

Definitions and Ambiguities Several key terms, such as 'sufficiency', 'circular economy', 'regenerative design', 'nature-based solutions', 'circular bio-fabricated materials', 'built environment', 'neighbourhoods', and 'participatory and transdisciplinary approach', are referenced to a 'Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP25'. Without access to this glossary, their precise definitions as intended by the funder are not available in this document. Applicants should consult the full Work Programme for exact interpretations.

Grant Details