Apply now: Transform European Forests with Soil Health Living Labs

The European Commission has launched a €24 million Horizon Europe initiative to establish 4–5 living labs focused on restoring and enhancing soil health in managed forests and natural or semi-natural lands. Projects must span at least three EU Member States or Associated Countries and use interdisciplinary, participatory approaches to co-create scalable soil health solutions. The initiative supports ecosystem resilience, climate mitigation, biodiversity protection, and sustainable land governance through real-world innovation platforms.

Program Overview

This Horizon Europe funding opportunity aims to transform forest and natural land management by deploying living labs as collaborative research and innovation platforms.

The initiative supports:

• Soil restoration and regeneration

• Sustainable forest management

• Climate resilience and carbon sequestration

• Biodiversity conservation

• Soil governance improvement

Total Budget for 2026: €24,000,000
Indicative EU Contribution per project: €12,000,000

Projects must establish 4–5 interconnected living labs addressing shared soil health challenges.

What Are Living Labs?

A living lab is a real-life, multi-actor innovation environment where stakeholders collaboratively design, test, and implement solutions.

In this initiative, living labs are:

• Participatory (involving land managers, researchers, policymakers, communities)

• Interdisciplinary (combining ecology, forestry, soil science, economics, governance)

• Transdisciplinary (integrating scientific and practical knowledge)

• Site-based (operating in real forest or natural land environments)

Their purpose is to co-create economically viable and scalable soil health solutions.

Why Soil Health in Forests and Natural Lands Matters

Forests cover nearly 40% of Europe’s land area, and over 90% are managed forests.

Healthy forest and natural land soils:

• Store carbon and mitigate climate change

• Support biodiversity

• Prevent soil erosion

• Regulate floods

• Sustain productivity

• Enable a sustainable forest bioeconomy

Natural and semi-natural lands, including protected areas and national parks, face degradation risks and require systematic monitoring and restoration.

Maintaining soil functions is critical for ecosystem resilience and long-term sustainability.

Core Objectives of the Initiative

Funded projects must deliver:

1. Establishment of Living Labs

• Create 4–5 living labs

• Operate across at least three Member States or Associated Countries

• Address common soil health challenges

2. Soil Health Monitoring

• Measure baseline soil conditions

• Apply standardized soil indicators

• Improve availability of high-quality, harmonized soil data

3. Co-Creation of Solutions

• Design locally adapted, economically viable soil restoration practices

• Test and validate solutions in real-world conditions

• Engage land managers and users to ensure adoption

4. Policy Integration

• Inform policymakers about local soil health needs

• Support evidence-based soil governance

• Align with European Green Deal and soil strategy objectives

5. Identification of Lighthouses

Projects must:

• Identify high-performing demonstration sites

• Promote scalable and replicable models

• Engage with initiatives such as SOILL for recognition and support

6. Long-Term Sustainability Strategy

Proposals must include:

• Financial sustainability models

• Governance frameworks

• Business models where relevant

• Continuity beyond Horizon Europe funding

Expected Project Structure

Each funded project should:

• Operate multiple living labs

• Address shared soil challenges in either:

  • Managed forests, or

  • Natural and semi-natural lands

• Include cross-border collaboration

• Use standardized soil health indicators

• Demonstrate measurable environmental impact

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible participants include:

• Any legal entity

• Public or private organizations

• Universities and research institutions

• NGOs and environmental organizations

• Forestry agencies

• International organizations

• Entities from non-associated third countries

Conditions:

• Must comply with Horizon Europe regulations

• Must meet topic-specific requirements

• Must register in the Participant Register

• Must obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC)

• Must complete validation before signing the grant agreement

Why This Initiative Matters

This program supports:

• Climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration

• Biodiversity restoration

• Sustainable forest bioeconomy

• Soil data standardization and governance

• Cross-border environmental cooperation

• Practical innovation in land management

It aligns with EU climate neutrality goals and soil restoration strategies.

How to Apply (Step-by-Step Guide)

Step 1: Form a Cross-Border Consortium

• Include partners from at least three Member States or Associated Countries

• Ensure multidisciplinary expertise

• Include land managers and policy actors

Step 2: Design the Living Lab Model

Define:

• Target soil challenges

• Stakeholder engagement methods

• Monitoring framework

• Soil health indicators

Step 3: Develop a Technical Proposal

Include:

• Baseline soil assessment plan

• Co-creation methodology

• Data standardization approach

• Policy engagement strategy

• Lighthouse site selection plan

• Long-term sustainability model

Step 4: Register Participants

• Register all entities in the EU Participant Register

• Obtain PIC numbers

• Complete required validation

Step 5: Submit Proposal via Horizon Europe Portal

• Ensure compliance with topic requirements

• Meet submission deadline

• Follow Horizon Europe formatting and financial rules

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Failing to include three eligible countries

• Weak stakeholder engagement strategy

• No clear soil health indicators

• Lack of long-term sustainability planning

• Insufficient policy integration

• Vague monitoring framework

• Ignoring standardization of soil data

Successful proposals are clear, measurable, interdisciplinary, and scalable.

Key Definitions

Soil Health: The continued capacity of soil to function as a living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans.

Living Lab: A real-world innovation environment where stakeholders co-create and test solutions collaboratively.

Managed Forest: Forest land actively managed for timber, biodiversity, or ecosystem services.

Natural and Semi-Natural Land: Ecosystems such as protected areas, conservation lands, and minimally disturbed landscapes.

Lighthouse Site: A high-performing demonstration site showcasing replicable best practices.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the total budget for this initiative?

€24,000,000 for 2026, with approximately €12,000,000 per project contribution.

2. How many living labs must a project establish?

Each project must establish 4–5 living labs.

3. How many countries must be involved?

At least three EU Member States or Associated Countries.

4. Can non-EU organizations participate?

Yes. Legal entities from non-associated third countries and international organizations may participate, subject to Horizon Europe rules.

5. What type of land does the initiative target?

Managed forests or natural and semi-natural lands.

6. Is long-term sustainability required?

Yes. Projects must present financial and organizational strategies to continue beyond Horizon Europe funding.

7. What is the role of soil monitoring?

Projects must measure baseline conditions and track improvements using standardized soil health indicators.

Conclusion

The European Commission’s Living Labs initiative under Horizon Europe represents a major investment in soil restoration, sustainable forest management, and ecosystem resilience. By combining cross-border collaboration, participatory innovation, and standardized soil monitoring, the program aims to deliver scalable, economically viable solutions for Europe’s forests and natural lands.

Organizations with expertise in forestry, soil science, environmental governance, and land management should build strong multinational consortia and prepare robust, measurable proposals to maximize their chances of securing funding.