Web Analytics

fundsforNGOs

Grants and Resources for Sustainability

You are here: Home / Grant / RFAs: Deploying Circular Systemic Solutions through Living Labs in Cities and Regions

RFAs: Deploying Circular Systemic Solutions through Living Labs in Cities and Regions

Deadline: 16-Apr-2026

The European Union’s Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI) funds projects that implement and scale circular systemic solutions to make cities and regions sustainable. Projects focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, valorizing local resources, fostering multi-actor collaboration, and supporting knowledge transfer, with up to €5 million per proposal from a total budget of €10 million.

About the Initiative

The CCRI advances the EU’s transition to circular and sustainable cities and regions by promoting place-based innovation, upscaling circular systemic solutions, and fostering environmental, economic, and social benefits. The initiative supports cities and regions in testing, deploying, and scaling circular solutions across sectors and value chains, while integrating socio-ecological perspectives.

Key Focus Areas

Projects funded under CCRI should address:

  1. Circularity and Sustainability: Increase resource efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and limit air pollutants across economic sectors, services, and product value chains.

  2. Upscaling and Replication: Promote widespread deployment, replication, and visibility of circular systemic solutions to multiply economic, social, and environmental benefits.

  3. Multi-Actor Collaboration: Engage public authorities, companies, research institutions, and citizens to co-create solutions addressing climate change, resource depletion, and biodiversity loss.

  4. Living Labs and Governance Models: Use real-life innovation ecosystems to test circular solutions, establish effective governance, enable coordination, and integrate contributions from social sciences and humanities.

  5. Knowledge Transfer: Share best practices, identify enabling frameworks, barriers, and enablers for successful replication across Europe.

Why It Matters

Cities and regions are critical for achieving EU sustainability and circular economy goals. CCRI projects contribute to:

  • Climate mitigation and adaptation

  • Sustainable use of local resources

  • Improved air, water, and biodiversity outcomes

  • Social inclusion, environmental justice, and gender equality

  • Industrial competitiveness and strategic autonomy through circular and bio-based value chains

Who is Eligible?

Eligible participants include any legal entity established in the EU or Horizon Europe Associated Countries, excluding legal entities established in China. Proposals must adopt a multi-actor approach, involving municipalities, SMEs, startups, industries, research bodies, and citizens. Funding conditions: total 2026 budget €10,000,000, maximum EU funding per project approximately €5,000,000.

How to Apply

  1. Check Eligibility: Ensure your organization and proposed activities meet CCRI criteria.

  2. Design Project Around Circular Potential: Choose value chains and sectors based on local circular opportunities.

  3. Integrate Multi-Actor Collaboration: Include governance structures, coordination mechanisms, and contributions from social sciences.

  4. Implement Living Labs: Test, validate, and optimize circular solutions in real-life urban or regional contexts.

  5. Plan for Upscaling and Replication: Provide actionable recommendations, identify barriers and enablers, and ensure knowledge transfer to other European regions.

  6. Submit Proposal: Follow Horizon Europe or CCRI submission guidelines, ensuring compliance with all administrative and eligibility requirements.

  7. Funding and Evaluation: Projects evaluated on innovation, impact, feasibility, governance, and alignment with EU sustainability objectives. Successful projects receive funding up to €5,000,000.

Common Tips for Applicants

  • Clearly define measurable sustainability and circularity outcomes.

  • Emphasize multi-stakeholder engagement and collaboration.

  • Include a long-term plan for replication and knowledge transfer.

  • Highlight economic, social, and environmental benefits.

  • Ensure alignment with EU Green Deal, Circular Economy Action Plan, and bioeconomy strategy.

  • Avoid including legal entities established in China.

FAQs

  1. What types of projects are funded under CCRI? Projects that implement and scale circular systemic solutions in cities or regions, focusing on resource efficiency, emissions reduction, and sustainability.

  2. Who can participate? Legal entities in the EU or Horizon Europe Associated Countries, excluding those established in China, including municipalities, companies, research bodies, and NGOs.

  3. What is the total budget and funding per project? Total 2026 budget is €10,000,000, with maximum EU funding of €5,000,000 per proposal.

  4. Are multi-actor collaborations required? Yes, proposals must involve collaboration between public authorities, companies, academia, civil society, and citizens.

  5. What sectors are eligible? The approach is sector-agnostic; proposals may select value chains with high local circular potential.

  6. Is knowledge transfer mandatory? Yes, projects must provide recommendations and enable replication of successful solutions across Europe.

  7. How does this support EU priorities? Projects advance the EU Green Deal, Circular Economy Action Plan, Clean Industrial Deal, bioeconomy strategy, climate neutrality, industrial competitiveness, environmental justice, and social inclusion.

Conclusion

The CCRI provides cities and regions with a framework to accelerate circular systemic transitions, improve environmental outcomes, and foster sustainable economic and social benefits. By adopting multi-actor collaboration, living labs, and scalable solutions, funded projects will contribute to the EU’s climate, circular economy, and sustainability goals while promoting knowledge transfer and societal transformation.

For more information, visit EC.