Open Call: Living Labs for Co-Creating Ecosystem Restoration

Deadline: 16-Apr-2026

The European Commission is inviting proposals under Horizon Europe to establish three transnational living labs focused on ecosystem restoration across the EU. The 2026 call has a total budget of €10 million, with up to €5 million per project, supporting real-life experimental sites, stakeholder co-creation, and scalable nature-based solutions. Projects must involve multi-actor partnerships, align with EU environmental legislation, and contribute to the EU Green Deal and global biodiversity commitments.

The European Commission (EC) has launched a funding call to establish living labs that co-create and test innovative ecosystem restoration solutions across multiple EU countries.

The initiative supports the implementation of EU environmental legislation, promotes nature-based solutions, and strengthens biodiversity, climate resilience, and ecosystem connectivity.

This call is part of Horizon Europe and aligns with major EU policy frameworks including the EU Green Deal and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.

Funding Overview

Total 2026 Budget: €10,000,000

Maximum EU Funding per Project: Approximately €5,000,000

Number of Living Labs Expected: 3

Each living lab must include:

• 10 to 20 experimental sites

• Transboundary cooperation across at least 3 EU Member States or Associated Countries

• Real-life testing and demonstration of ecosystem restoration solutions

Up to 30% of EU funding may be allocated as financial support for third parties (e.g., SMEs, land managers, civil society actors).

What Is a Living Lab?

A living lab is a real-world, multi-stakeholder innovation environment where solutions are:

• Co-designed

• Co-developed

• Co-implemented

• Tested under real conditions

Living labs emphasize:

• Stakeholder engagement

• End-user involvement

• Cross-sector collaboration

• Evidence-based experimentation

In this call, living labs must focus on ecosystem restoration and demonstrate scalable, transferable solutions.

Core Objectives of the Call

Projects must:

1. Establish three transnational living labs with 10–20 experimental sites each

2. Develop locally adapted, innovative ecosystem restoration solutions

3. Foster transboundary cooperation across at least three participating countries

4. Apply transdisciplinary methodologies

5. Develop monitoring tools aligned with EU environmental legislation

6. Demonstrate viable business models and financing mechanisms

7. Ensure gender-sensitive and inclusive frameworks

8. Support large-scale transferability and replication

Policy and Legal Alignment Requirements

Projects must contribute to implementation of:

• Habitats Directive

• Birds Directive

• Marine Strategy Framework Directive

• Water Framework Directive

• EU Nature Restoration Regulation

Monitoring systems must measure progress toward:

• Favorable reference areas

• Good conservation status

• Satisfactory environmental indicators

• Non-deterioration of ecosystems

Target Ecosystems

Proposals must focus on one or more of the following ecosystem types:

Transitional Interfaces

• Marine–coastal–terrestrial transitions

• Estuaries and coastal wetlands

Urban-Rural Gradients

• Urban nature restoration

• Peri-urban ecosystems

• Green infrastructure

Mosaic Agricultural Landscapes

• Semi-natural grasslands

• Agroforestry systems

• Biodiversity-friendly farming

Biodiversity Corridors

• Ecological connectivity across fragmented landscapes

• Habitat restoration corridors

Dryland or Arid Ecosystems

• Drought-affected regions

• Desertification-prone areas

• Erosion and wildfire risk zones

Multi-Actor Approach (Mandatory)

Projects must adopt a multi-actor governance model involving:

• Researchers and academic institutions

• Land and water managers

• Industry representatives

• Local and regional authorities

• Civil society organizations

• Investors and financial actors

This ensures real-world implementation and scalable solutions.

Financial Support for Third Parties

Up to 30% of EU funding may be used to support small actors such as:

• Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

• Land managers

• Community groups

• Civil society organizations

This enables broader stakeholder participation and local impact.

Contribution to EU and Global Strategies

Funded projects must align with:

EU-Level Initiatives

• EU Green Deal

• EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030

• EU Nature Restoration Regulation

• European Ocean Pact

• European Water Resilience Strategy

• Sustainable agriculture, fisheries, and aquaculture strategies

Global Commitments

• Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

• Paris Agreement on Climate Change

• UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• Other international biodiversity agreements

Complementarity with EU co-funded partnerships such as Biodiversa+, Water4All, Agroecology, and LIFE projects is encouraged.

Who Is Eligible?

Any legal entity may participate, regardless of geographic location.

This includes:

• EU Member State entities

• Associated Country participants

• Non-associated third countries

• International organizations

Eligibility is subject to:

• Compliance with Horizon Europe Regulation

• Meeting all call-specific conditions

All beneficiaries must:

• Register in the Participant Register

• Obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC)

• Complete legal and financial validation during grant preparation

How to Apply (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Form a Transnational Consortium

Ensure participation from at least three EU Member States or Associated Countries.

Build a balanced multi-actor partnership.

Step 2: Define Living Lab Structure

Design:

• 10–20 experimental sites

• Governance framework

• Stakeholder engagement model

• Co-creation processes

Step 3: Develop Work Plan

Prepare a transdisciplinary strategy covering:

• Co-design

• Co-development

• Co-implementation

• Monitoring systems

• Business model development

• Scaling strategy

Step 4: Design Monitoring and Evaluation Tools

Ensure compliance with:

• EU environmental directives

• Restoration performance indicators

• Non-deterioration requirements

Step 5: Submit Proposal via Horizon Europe Portal

Complete submission under Horizon Europe procedures.

All partners must:

• Register in the Participant Register

• Use PIC numbers

• Provide required documentation

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Failing to include at least three participating countries

2. Weak stakeholder engagement or token participation

3. Insufficient alignment with EU environmental legislation

4. Lack of clear business model or financing mechanisms

5. Poor scaling and transferability strategy

6. Overlooking gender-sensitive and inclusive approaches

7. Missing complementarity with EU partnerships

Strong proposals clearly demonstrate policy relevance, scalability, and measurable environmental impact.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the main purpose of this call?

To establish transnational living labs that co-create and test innovative ecosystem restoration solutions aligned with EU environmental policies.

2. How much funding is available?

The total budget is €10 million for 2026, with up to €5 million per project.

3. How many living labs will be funded?

Three living labs are expected to be established.

4. What is a living lab in this context?

A real-world innovation platform where stakeholders collaboratively design, test, and scale ecosystem restoration solutions.

5. Is transnational cooperation mandatory?

Yes. Projects must involve at least three EU Member States or Associated Countries.

6. Can non-EU organizations participate?

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

7. Can funding be redistributed to smaller actors?

Yes. Up to 30% of EU funding may be allocated as financial support to third parties such as SMEs and civil society actors.

Conclusion

This European Commission call provides a strategic opportunity to develop large-scale, transnational living labs for ecosystem restoration.

With up to €5 million per project and strong alignment with EU environmental legislation and global biodiversity commitments, the initiative aims to deliver scalable, science-based, and socially inclusive restoration solutions.

Organizations capable of building multi-actor partnerships and implementing real-world experimental sites are well positioned to contribute to Europe’s climate resilience, biodiversity recovery, and sustainable development goals.

For more information, visit EC.