Deadline: 15-Sep-2026
The European Commission has launched a Horizon Europe Innovation Action (HORIZON-IA) to strengthen digital data exchange platforms for buildings by integrating whole life carbon assessments and interoperable building information systems. The programme has a total budget of €15,750,000 and supports solutions aligned with the recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) to improve sustainability, carbon tracking, and digital interoperability across the building lifecycle.
Program Overview
This initiative aims to improve the digital transformation of the building sector by supporting interoperable data systems that allow more effective collection, sharing, and use of building information throughout a building’s lifecycle.
The programme focuses on integrating whole life carbon assessments, embodied environmental flow inventories, and multiple building information tools into connected digital platforms. These platforms are expected to strengthen sustainability assessments, improve decision-making, and support building decarbonisation objectives across Europe.
The initiative also contributes to broader European goals related to climate neutrality, energy efficiency, and digitalisation of the built environment.
Focus Areas and Program Objectives
The programme addresses several priorities related to building sustainability and digital information systems.
Key focus areas include:
• Digital data exchange platforms for buildings
• Whole life carbon assessments
• Embodied environmental flow inventories
• Interoperable building information systems
• Building lifecycle data management
• Global Warming Potential assessment
• Energy Performance of Buildings Directive alignment
• Digital Product Passports
• Energy Performance Certificates
• Smart Readiness Indicators
• Building Renovation Passports
• Digital Building Logbooks
• Building standards and certification schemes
• Data interoperability and accessibility
Expected Outcomes
Projects funded under this initiative are expected to contribute to several outcomes.
Expected outcomes include:
• Increased use of digital building information tools
• Improved building assessment accuracy
• Better reliability of environmental flow inventories
• Increased use of Global Warming Potential indicators
• Enhanced interoperability of building systems
• Stronger data accessibility across building lifecycles
• Improved carbon assessment capabilities
• Support for national decarbonisation strategies
Project Requirements
Projects are expected to demonstrate practical digital platforms capable of integrating multiple information sources.
Required capabilities include:
• Support for building information tools
• Support for building assessments
• Support for digital certificates
• Integration of carbon assessment information
• Data interoperability across systems
• Connection with existing databases and tools
Platforms should integrate information from:
• Whole life carbon assessments
• National embodied flow databases
• International embodied flow databases
• Digital Product Passports
• Energy Performance Certificates
• Smart Readiness Indicators
• Building Renovation Passports
• Digital Building Logbooks
Key Concepts Explained
Whole life carbon assessment refers to measuring carbon emissions generated throughout a building’s entire lifecycle, including material production, construction, operation, maintenance, and end-of-life activities.
Embodied environmental flows refer to environmental impacts associated with materials and products used within buildings, including emissions, resource use, and waste generation.
Global Warming Potential (GWP) is a metric used to measure how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere compared with carbon dioxide over a specific period.
Digital Product Passports are digital records that contain information about materials, sustainability characteristics, and lifecycle performance of products.
Digital Building Logbooks are centralized digital systems that store and organize building-related information throughout a building’s lifecycle.
Funding Information
Funding details include:
• Funding programme: Horizon Europe Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA)
• Total funding available: €15,750,000
• Funding type: Innovation Action
Who is Eligible?
Participation is open to a broad range of entities under Horizon Europe rules.
Eligible applicants include:
• Legal entities from eligible countries
• Organizations from non-associated third countries
• International organizations
• Research institutions
• Universities
• Public organizations
• Private organizations
• Affiliated entities
• Associated partners
• Associations and interest groupings
• European Research Infrastructure Consortia (ERICs)
• EU bodies where permitted
• Certain entities without legal personality under applicable conditions
Additional participation conditions include:
• Registration in the Horizon Europe Participant Register
• Obtaining a Participant Identification Code (PIC)
• Completion of validation requirements before grant agreement signature
Participation Conditions for Specific Entities
Additional eligibility provisions include:
Affiliated Entities
• Must maintain legal or capital links with beneficiaries
• Must meet funding and participation requirements
Associated Partners
• May participate without signing grant agreements
• Cannot claim project costs unless permitted
Entities Without Legal Personality
• May participate under exceptional conditions
• Representatives must undertake legal obligations
Joint Research Centre Participation
• May participate as a beneficiary requesting zero funding
• May participate as an associated partner under specific conditions
Why This Opportunity Matters
Buildings contribute significantly to global carbon emissions and environmental impacts. Better digital systems can improve how building information is managed and used, leading to stronger sustainability performance and more effective policy implementation.
Potential impacts include:
• Improved carbon measurement and reporting
• Enhanced building sustainability performance
• Better support for climate neutrality goals
• Increased transparency across building lifecycles
• Stronger integration of digital technologies
• Better decision-making for building owners and policymakers
Tips for Applicants
Applicants can strengthen proposals by focusing on integration and interoperability.
Helpful tips include:
• Demonstrate strong digital interoperability approaches
• Include lifecycle assessment expertise
• Show alignment with EPBD objectives
• Address Global Warming Potential requirements
• Include scalable solutions
• Present measurable environmental outcomes
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Common proposal weaknesses include:
• Limited interoperability planning
• Weak lifecycle assessment methodologies
• Insufficient data integration approaches
• Lack of standards alignment
• Weak sustainability metrics
• Poor implementation strategies
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the purpose of this programme?
The programme supports digital building platforms that integrate whole life carbon assessments and interoperable building information systems.
How much funding is available?
The total funding allocation is €15,750,000.
What is whole life carbon assessment?
It is the measurement of carbon emissions across all stages of a building’s lifecycle.
What systems should proposed platforms integrate?
Platforms should integrate building assessment tools, Digital Product Passports, Energy Performance Certificates, Smart Readiness Indicators, Building Renovation Passports, and Digital Building Logbooks.
Who can apply?
Legal entities, research institutions, international organizations, associated partners, and other eligible entities may participate under Horizon Europe rules.
Is Participant Identification Code registration required?
Yes. Organizations must obtain a Participant Identification Code before grant agreement preparation.
Can the Joint Research Centre participate?
Yes. The Joint Research Centre may participate under specific conditions.
Conclusion
This Horizon Europe initiative aims to improve digital building ecosystems by creating integrated platforms that support whole life carbon assessment and building data interoperability. By combining sustainability objectives with digital innovation, the programme seeks to strengthen building decarbonisation efforts and support a more efficient and climate-neutral built environment.
For more information, visit European Commission.