Deadline: 01-Dec-2026
The European Commission is inviting applications for projects focused on transforming neighbourhood public spaces through inclusive, sustainable, and community-driven design.
The initiative promotes innovative spatial planning that integrates environmental resilience, social inclusion, and participatory design methods to improve how public spaces are created and experienced.
Projects must demonstrate how design influences community life, including safety, accessibility, mobility, identity, and social interaction.
Key Focus Areas
The program supports work in the following areas:
- Inclusive and accessible public space design
- Climate and water resilience planning
- Biodiversity enhancement in urban and rural areas
- Social inclusion and community cohesion
- Civic engagement and local democracy
- Safety, security, and gender-sensitive design
- Co-creation and participatory planning
- Cultural and creative collaboration
- Sustainable neighbourhood transformation
- Multisensory and aesthetic quality of public spaces
Program Objectives
The initiative aims to:
- Improve how public spaces are designed using user-centered approaches
- Strengthen community participation in spatial planning
- Enhance environmental and climate resilience in neighbourhoods
- Promote equality, inclusion, and accessibility in public design
- Support stronger civic identity and sense of belonging
- Encourage innovative planning methods across Europe
Design and Innovation Requirements
Projects are expected to develop and test advanced spatial design approaches, including:
- Research-by-design methods
- Security-by-design strategies
- Life-centric design approaches
- Gender-sensitive and age-inclusive planning models
Applicants must analyze how public space design affects:
- Mobility patterns
- Safety and perceived security
- Accessibility for diverse user groups
- Social behavior and community interaction
Co-Creation and Community Involvement
Projects must actively involve:
- Local residents and communities
- Architects, designers, and urban planners
- Cultural and creative sector stakeholders
- Educational institutions and civic organizations
Co-creation is essential to ensure that public space transformations reflect real community needs and lived experiences.
Implementation Requirements
Projects must:
- Be tested in at least three neighbourhoods
- Cover urban, peri-urban, and rural contexts
- Operate across different EU Member States and/or Associated Countries
- Demonstrate scalability and adaptability of methods
- Develop actionable implementation and policy recommendations
Additional outputs should support broader application in:
- Water-resilient urban planning
- Green transition strategies
- Public procurement processes
- Public service design systems
Funding Details
- Total budget: €10,000,000
- Expected funding per project: ~€5,000,000
- Funding framework: Horizon Europe
Who Can Apply?
Eligible applicants include:
- Any legal entity, regardless of country of establishment
- Entities from non-associated third countries
- International organizations
All applicants must comply with Horizon Europe eligibility rules.
Registration Requirement
Applicants must:
- Register in the European Commission Participant Register
- Obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC)
- Complete registration before grant agreement signature
Evaluation Expectations
Projects will be assessed based on:
- Innovation in spatial design and planning
- Strength of participatory and co-creation methods
- Contribution to climate and environmental resilience
- Social inclusion and equality impact
- Scalability and replicability across regions
- Quality of multi-neighbourhood implementation strategy
Why This Call Matters
This initiative strengthens Europe’s approach to sustainable urban and rural transformation by integrating people-centered design with climate action.
It helps:
- Improve quality of life in neighbourhoods
- Strengthen democratic participation in spatial planning
- Address climate change through local action
- Enhance accessibility and safety in public spaces
- Promote inclusive and culturally rich community environments
Conclusion
The European Commission’s funding call under Horizon Europe supports large-scale, innovative projects that redesign neighbourhood public spaces using inclusive, climate-resilient, and participatory methods. With approximately €5 million per project, the initiative encourages cross-border collaboration to create safer, greener, and more socially inclusive communities across Europe.
For more information, visit European Commission.
