Living labs for co-creating solutions for the restoration of ecosystems — HORIZON.2 | GrantForge
RIAClosedHORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-01-two-stage
Living labs for co-creating solutions for the restoration of ecosystems
Horizon Europe
Per project€14M
2 phases
Stage 1 (pre-proposal) deadline:2026-04-16
Stage 2 (full proposal) deadline:2026-09-23
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Strategic Analysis
This Horizon Europe call seeks to establish three transboundary living labs, each with multiple experimental sites, to co-create, test, and demonstrate innovative, viable, and scalable ecosystem restoration solutions in real-life settings. Proposals must integrate diverse stakeholders, develop robust monitoring and business models, and ensure solutions support EU policy objectives and enhance societal resilience.
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Suggested TRL Range
TRL 2 → 6
Based on programme defaults
Scope Activities (13)
SC1
support the set up of three living labs, with 10 to 20 experimental sites each, as places for testing and demonstrating innovative solutions to restore ecosystems following three main principles: (a) co-creation with a large set of stakeholders, (b) carried out in real-life settings and (c) involving the end-users. Transboundary living labs are encouraged and expected to be in at least three different EU Member States and/or Associated Countries, with some of them including outermost regions, islands or remote areas. Proposals should describe the rationale for cooperation across the living labs and among the stakeholders within the living labs;
SC2
establish a work plan of activities in a transdisciplinary way, ensuring the co-design, co-development, and co-implementation of locally adapted innovative solutions;
SC3
establish tools for each living lab to allow for an accurate assessment of the conditions and to monitor progress towards the objectives. Where relevant, the overall objective should be to reach the favourable reference areas, the good conservation status and the satisfactory levels for indicators at national levels defined in the Habitats Directive, the Birds Directive, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the Water Framework Directive or the Nature Restoration Regulation;
SC4
monitor and carry out an assessment of both the effectiveness of innovative practices for ecosystem restoration and for their non-deterioration;
SC5
demonstrate how of the identified innovative solutions can be viable for end-users, by developing suitable business models and testing private or public support schemes such as payment for ecosystems services or nature credits as proposed in the Nature Credits Roadmap [1] ;
SC6
address challenges with scaling up and transferability of solutions, developing a gender-sensitive and inclusive framework on how ecosystem health could support this work;
SC7
disseminate the newly developed solutions to facilitate their uptake by practitioners;
SC8
demonstrate how ecosystem restoration can support EU general policy objectives, enhancing societal resilience, and reducing natural risks.
SC9
Transitional interfaces : Marine-coastal-terrestrial transitional ecosystems such as salt marshes, dunes, estuaries, coastal lagoons, and deltas, as well as freshwater transitions between watershed, rivers, lakes and groundwater.
SC10
Urban-rural gradient : urban ecosystems -including parks, restored brownfields, urban forests, and green and blue infrastructures-, urban nature with surrounding peri-urban and rural ecosystems.
SC11
Mosaic agricultural landscapes : agricultural ecosystems with high biodiversity value such as semi-natural grasslands, agroforestry systems, hedgerows, and buffer strips.
SC12
Biodiversity corridors : linear habitats that cut across multiple land uses, such as riparian vegetation, roadsides, canal banks, and hedgerows. Ecosystem connectivity across fragmented landscapes.
SC13
Dryland and arid ecosystems : garrigue, maquis, and steppe landscapes facing increasing threats from drought, erosion, desertification, and fire.
Expected Outcomes (3)
EO1
stakeholders are empowered to implement viable ecosystem restoration measures;
EO2
competent authorities in charge of implementing the EU Nature Restoration Regulation are able to propose appropriate restoration measures;
EO3
social, economic and environmental co-benefits and trade-offs of nature restoration activities are demonstrated, including for climate action.