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Horizon Europe
1 phase
Strategic Analysis
This call seeks to empower communities through bottom-up social entrepreneurship to co-create neighbourhoods aligned with the New European Bauhaus values of sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusion. A winning proposal must demonstrate practical, replicable pilot projects across at least three countries, rigorously analyze their socio-economic and regulatory context, and prove their potential for measurable impact and investment attraction.
The focus should be on fostering strong community engagement, building capacity among inhabitants and civil society, and establishing robust public-private partnerships to ensure the long-term sustainability and scalability of the social entrepreneurial models.
TRL 4 → 8
Based on programme defaults
Deliver at least 3 bottom-up social entrepreneurship pilots in at least 3 Member States or Associated Countries to explore how bottom-up social entrepreneurship can shape and contribute to the co-creation of neighbourhoods in line with the values of the New European Bauhaus [3] .
Analyse for each pilot the local social, cultural, economic, financial, regulatory, and legal barriers and drivers and how they can shape the market uptake and competitiveness of bottom-up social enterprises and initiatives.
Assess for each pilot the business case and the potential for bottom-up social entrepreneurship to create impact and attract (impact) investment opportunities.
Demonstrate how cooperations between inhabitants and civil society actors can foster the exchange of knowledge and experiences and build their capacity to engage in bottom-up social entrepreneurship. These cooperations should take into consideration place-based specificities and be grounded in strong public-private partnerships including grassroots neighbourhoods associations, public authorities, local businesses, and the social economy, etc.
Demonstrate how bottom-up social entrepreneurship can increase the quality of life and well-being of inhabitants, strengthen social cohesion, and foster a shared sense of belonging in neighbourhoods.
Assess how the above may impact future co-creation and decision-making in the development of neighbourhoods in line with the New European Bauhaus.
New scientific evidence of how bottom-up social entrepreneurship shapes and contributes to the co-creation of neighbourhoods in line with the values of the New European Bauhaus [1] .
Inhabitants (including marginalised and vulnerable groups) and civil society actors share knowledge and experiences and have the capacity to cooperate and engage in bottom-up social entrepreneurship.
Bottom-up social entrepreneurship increases inhabitants’ quality of life and well-being, fosters social cohesion, and creates new economic impulses and employment opportunities in neighbourhoods.
Realising the full potential of cultural heritage, arts, and cultural and creative sectors
Strengthening social and economic resilience and sustainability
Achieving global leadership in climate-neutral, circular and digitized industrial and digital value chains
Innovative supply chains and new incipient business models in the built environment are based on circular economy principles, life cycle thinking, and sustainable practices and are economically attractive. They reclaim, reuse, and re-assemble construction products at local and regional scales, reducing resource consumption, waste and litter generation, environmental footprint, and reliance on resource-intensive, linear practices.
Innovative processes, methods, and techniques for the renovation of buildings and infrastructures leverage design innovation, creativity, cultural heritage, economies of scale, and cost-effective technologies. They are economically attractive and affordable and contribute to the high-quality, sustainable, inclusive, and resilient revitalisation of neighbourhoods in urban, peri-urban and rural environments.
Public authorities, investors, construction developers, inhabitants and community groups, and other relevant neighbourhood and built environment stakeholders overcome perceived barriers and risks (e.g. market demand, consumer preferences, and price sensitivity) associated with renovation projects in line with the New European Bauhaus. Incentives, including financial rewards, regulatory advantages, and positive public perception are in place and contribute to the wider adoption of innovative funding and new business models for the sustainable, inclusive and beautiful revitalisation of neighbourhoods.
Inhabitants and other neighbourhood stakeholders, including marginalised and vulnerable groups, engage in public decision-making, co-create their neighbourhoods in response to local needs and specificities, and benefit from increased well-being and living conditions.
Increased investment in neighbourhood transformation projects in line with the New European Bauhaus. Projects generate and investors receive returns beyond financial capital, including environmental, aesthetic, social, and cultural value.
Circular Economy
highThe Circular Economy is an economic model that aims to keep resources in use for as long as possible, extract the maximum value from them whilst in use, then recover and regenerate products and materials at the end of each service life. It contrasts with the traditional linear 'take-make-dispose' model.
Proposals should integrate circular economy principles into the design, deployment, and operation of "Renewable Energy Valleys." This could involve sustainable sourcing of materials, minimizing waste during construction and operation, promoting repair and reuse, and ensuring effective recycling and recovery of components (e.g., solar panels, batteries) at end-of-life. Demonstrating resource efficiency and waste reduction strategies will be key.
New European Bauhaus
highProposals must explicitly demonstrate how they align with and embody the core values of the New European Bauhaus: sustainability (including circularity), aesthetics, and inclusion. This should be reflected in the design, co-creation processes, and outcomes for neighbourhood development, ensuring solutions are beautiful, sustainable, and accessible to all.
Horizon Europe Programme
highThe EU's key funding programme for research and innovation (2021-2027). It aims to strengthen the EU's scientific and technological bases, boost Europe's innovation capacity, competitiveness, and jobs, and deliver on citizens' priorities.
Proposals must align with the programme's overall objectives, including scientific excellence, impact, and quality and efficiency of implementation. They should clearly demonstrate how they contribute to Horizon Europe's strategic priorities and expected impacts.
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
highEU Renovation Wave
mediumThe EU Renovation Wave strategy, launched in October 2020, aims to improve the energy performance of buildings across the EU. It seeks to at least double renovation rates in the next ten years and make renovations more energy and resource efficient. The strategy focuses on tackling energy poverty, decarbonising heating and cooling, and promoting sustainable materials and digital solutions.
Proposals addressing neighbourhood co-creation should integrate principles of the Renovation Wave, focusing on energy efficiency improvements, sustainable building practices, and the use of renewable energy sources within renovated or newly developed spaces. Demonstrating how social entrepreneurship can drive or facilitate sustainable renovation efforts, reduce energy poverty, and enhance the overall environmental performance of buildings in the neighbourhood will be key.
Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community
lowThe Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) supports nuclear research and training activities. Its primary objectives include improving nuclear safety, security, and radiation protection, as well as contributing to the development of fusion energy and the safe management of radioactive waste. It complements Horizon Europe by focusing specifically on nuclear science and technology.
Given the specific focus of the Euratom programme, proposals would typically need to demonstrate a clear contribution to nuclear safety, security, radiation protection, radioactive waste management, or fusion energy research. For calls outside these specific areas, referencing Euratom would generally not be relevant unless there's an explicit, justified link to nuclear science or technology applications.
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described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
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. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
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 – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025) [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf]].
described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme]
Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE RIA, IA)
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
Guidance
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Call-specific instructions
Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?"
HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 13. New European Bauhaus Facility (NEB)
HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 14. General Annexes
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
Evaluators will prioritize proposals that clearly articulate how the proposed bottom-up social entrepreneurship models directly embody the New European Bauhaus values, particularly inclusion and sustainability, through concrete pilot actions. They will look for robust methodologies for analyzing local barriers and drivers, assessing viable business cases, and demonstrating measurable improvements in quality of life, social cohesion, and economic opportunities for inhabitants, especially vulnerable groups. Strong evidence of multi-stakeholder co-creation and a clear path to attracting impact investment will be crucial for success.
4 key insights you must internalise before writing. Each is grounded in the call text and tells you what evaluators will actually look for. Share these with your consortium before drafting.
The proposal must be built around delivering at least 3 bottom-up social entrepreneurship pilots in at least 3 different Member States or Associated Countries. This is not a suggestion but a mandatory, eliminating requirement. Your consortium must include partners with the proven capacity to implement these pilots on the ground, and the work plan must dedicate significant resources to their execution and analysis.
Source: Scope
This call uses a lump sum funding model, meaning payments are tied to the completion of work packages, not the reporting of costs. Your proposal's structure must be entirely driven by clear, verifiable deliverables and milestones. The credibility of your work plan and the justification for the budget attached to each work package are paramount for evaluation.
Source: Eligibility
Success in this call is not just about social innovation, but about creating financially sustainable models. The scope requires assessing the business case and the potential to attract impact investment. Your proposal must go beyond theoretical analysis and demonstrate a clear pathway to making the pilots viable and attractive to investors after the project ends.
Source: Scope
The call text explicitly states that proposals are expected to address all of the following six points listed in the scope. This is a direct instruction to evaluators. A proposal that fails to convincingly cover every single point—from pilot delivery to assessing impacts on future decision-making—will be considered incomplete and scored down accordingly.
Source: Scope
The AI has drafted potential core elements based on the call analysis. To start building your project proposal structure, select the elements that resonate with your consortium's concept. You can refine and rewrite them fully once your project workspace is created.