Innovative approaches for the spatial design of neighbourhoods

Horizon Europe · Grant topic

HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-PARTICIPATION-02

A Polish company can use this call for R&D.

Funds development and demonstration of innovative public-space design approaches integrating user perspectives in neighbourhoods across different countries.

Who can apply: Unclear from the source.
Amount: €10,000,000Indicative budget
Deadline: 01 Dec 2026 01:00 CETin 38 days
Status: Openopened 5 May 2026

Open on the portal Register to keep this call

Machine-classified from the call text; check eligibility at the source.

Description

Expected Outcome:

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• Demonstrated approaches aligned with NEB allow architects, designers, spatial planners and neighbourhood[1] decision makers to ensure an efficient and effective integration of user perspectives in the spatial design and/or transformation of public spaces.

• The demonstrated approaches deliver positive climate, environmental, social and cultural impact (such as addressing inequalities and enhancing social cohesion, community[1] resilience, civic engagement and a sense of security, ownership and belonging).

Scope:

The design of neighbourhood public spaces defines their functionality, but also other aspects such as power dynamics and sense of belonging. A fair green transition[1] calls for neighbourhood public spaces to be designed and managed for diverse users. Integrating new methods (such as research-by-design, security-by-design[4], or life-centric design) in the architectural design and spatial planning of public space can help reflect on the values, practices and stakeholder relations that underpin the design of public spaces; rethink how public spaces are understood; overcome the potential conflict between the need to accelerate planning and the time needed for participatory[1], inclusive[1] and deliberative processes; and speed up their green transition while actively including their inhabitants’ diverse perspectives.

Proposals are expected to address all of the following:

• Assess how spatial design determines gendered, age-appropriate and identity-related patterns of use (e.g. in terms of mobility, safety, sense of security and access to public and private spaces) and how inclusive approaches and accessibility can address diverse needs and experiences of users and the community.

• Develop one approach to designing and planning public space that uses innovative methods. These innovative methods are expected to: • Analyse the values, practices and stakeholder relations that underpin the design of public space in neighbourhoods.

• Be adapted to the sociocultural factors of the neighbourhoods and use co-creation[1] to incorporate inhabitants’ diverse perspectives and to exploit the potential of cultural, creative, and educational (academic) sectors.

• Address climate-resilience, water resilience, civil security, and biodiversity of public space and the safety, well-being and security of its users.

• Assess the multisensory perception of public spaces, including their beauty and aesthetics, by users and the community.

• Be adaptable, replicable and scalable to local specificities.

• Demonstrate the approach in at least three neighbourhoods (in urban, peri-urban and rural areas) located in different Member States and/or Associated Countries.

• Develop plans and recommendations for the take up of the demonstrated approach. This includes assessing its potential application to other areas of the green transition of neighbourhoods (e.g. water resilient design planning, public service design, procurement, etc.) as well as identifying skills needs and gaps.

Proposals are expected to follow a participatory[1] and transdisciplinary[1] approach through the integration of different actors and disciplines.

This topic requires the effective contribution of social sciences and humanities (SSH)[1] disciplines and the involvement of SSH experts, institutions as well as the inclusion of relevant SSH expertise, in order to produce meaningful and significant effects enhancing the societal impact of the related research activities.

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.

[1] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

[2] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

[3] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

[4] LARCHER, M., KARLOS, V., SCHUMACHER, R., STREZOVA, D., CAVERZAN, A. et al., ’Security by Design: Protection of public spaces from terrorist attacks‘, Publications Office of the European Union, 2022, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2760/654492

[5] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

[6] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

[7] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

[8] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

[9] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

[10] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

Who can apply, in detail

Purpose: Research and innovation
R&D relevance: 2 of 3
Poland eligible: Yes
Country limit: —
Region: Any
Consortium: Unclear
Readiness level (TRL): —
Topics: Participatory spatial design
Public spaces
Neighbourhood planning
Inclusive urban design

Machine-classified from the call text; check eligibility at the source. 23 Oct 2026

Conditions10

Typed facts extracted from the source documents by Scindu's grant-data review. Each value keeps its own conditions. Unknown means unstated, not zero or unlimited.

Eligible project scope: Demonstrate the approach in at least three neighbourhoods (in urban, peri-urban and rural areas) located in different Member States and/or Associated Countries.
Eligible project scope: Develop one innovative approach to designing and planning public space.
Other condition: The approach must adapt to local sociocultural factors and use co-creation to include inhabitants’ diverse perspectives and the cultural, creative and educational sectors.
Other condition: A participatory and transdisciplinary approach integrating different actors and disciplines is expected.
Other condition: 2026 Horizon Europe New European Bauhaus Facility topic: HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-PARTICIPATION-02 — Innovative approaches for the spatial design of neighbourhoods.
Other condition: Approximate Commission estimate: around EUR 5.00 million per project. The Work Programme expressly says proposals may request different amounts; this is not a minimum, maximum or guaranteed award.
Other condition: Proposals are expected to allocate at least 0.8% of their budget to the New European Bauhaus hub for results and impact.
Other condition: The lump-sum budget guidance says personnel estimates are entered by beneficiary and work package as item counts and average cost per item; one item equals one person-month. Experts assess proposed resources and estimates for reasonableness and fit with proposed activities. Horizon dashboard figures are an orientation tool; personnel estimates above its values require justification in the budget table comments.
The type-2 classification is an inference from each topic allowing requested amounts different from its expected contribution and the Commission guidance distinguishing applicant-defined type 2 from a lump sum fixed in the call. Final grant contributions are the amounts set out in the agreement for completed work packages, not actual-cost reimbursement.
Other condition: The topic requires effective social sciences and humanities contribution and relevant expertise.
Other condition: The Lump Sum MGA distinguishes purchased goods, works, or services needed to carry out the action but not forming part of its action tasks from subcontracted contracts for goods, works, or services that are part of those tasks. The MGA states that subcontracting costs are covered by the lump-sum work-package contribution regardless of actual subcontracting costs incurred.
The Lump Sum MGA is a programme model with call-selected options. This records the MGA definitions and does not assert a topic-specific subcontracting option, contractor requirement, or staffing plan.

Amounts and costs3

Indicative budget: €10,000,000
Topic budget as stated in the portal's budget table. Lump-sum and per-project limits are in the call conditions.

Eligible cost: Eligible costs take the form of a lump sum under the Horizon Europe lump-sum decision.
Topic-specific grant-form term. No actual-cost personnel or salary amount is inferred from the lump sum.
Eligible cost: For the applicant-defined Horizon lump-sum proposal budget, potential direct personnel cost-estimate categories include employees or equivalent staff (resolved by staff category), natural persons under direct contract, seconded persons, SME owners, and natural-person beneficiaries, depending on the action type. The guidance permits including an estimate only where the same cost item/type would be eligible in an actual-cost grant. These are eligible budget categories, not required hires or individual salary entitlements.
Applies to the Horizon Europe lump-sum proposal cost-estimation stage for this HORIZON-AG-LS call. Eligibility still depends on the action type and applicable actual-cost eligibility rules; the topic does not identify occupations, qualifications, staffing quantities, employment terms, or pay.
Topic allocation: €10,000,000
Total indicative topic allocation, not an individual-project maximum or guaranteed allocation.

Personnel and services1

Other role
Budget estimate rule only
Horizon Europe lump-sum budget guidance lists this as a possible direct-personnel cost-estimate category depending on the action type. The category may be estimated only if the same cost item/type would be eligible under Horizon Europe actual-cost rules. This call-specific record does not prove a required or individually eligible hire; headcount, qualifications, duration, workload and pay are unspecified.

Source documents3

Call facts

Opens: 5 May 2026
Deadline model: Single-stage
Programme: Horizon Europe · 2021 - 2027
Call: HORIZON-NEB-2026-01 · Beautiful, inclusive and sustainable neighbourhoods for communities
Types of action: HORIZON Innovation Actions
Keywords: New European Bauhaus
Source: ec.europa.eu
Checked: 23 Oct 2026
Portal updated: 4 May 2026
Review status: Partial review
Reviewed: 22 Oct 2026

This is a summary of the source page, not the official text. Eligibility, conditions and the submission system are at the source.

Summary

Description