Destination 2 aims to make neighbourhoods[1] more sustainable[1], circular[3] and regenerative[1] but also inclusive[1], accessible, affordable and beautiful[1], turning them into resilient places where nature and biodiversity can thrive, contributing to a better health and well-being for all, as well as clean air, soils, water and energy, in line with the Davos Declaration 2018[7]. It does so by contributing to making the built environment[1] – including cultural heritage buildings – and its composing construction materials and products more sustainable and circular and by rethinking their design, construction, use, maintenance and disassembly. Specific attention is paid to the reuse and to extending the lifespan of existing infrastructure in order to minimize extraction of resources from the natural environment. It also explores the potential of digital tools and technologies to achieve these objectives as well as the potential of the cultural and creative sectors. The solutions developed should be user-centred and placed-based, and consider cultural heritage and vernacular knowledge[1] while reflecting local diversity and cultural identity and meeting people's (long-term) needs.
Destination 2 thus addresses three of the Commission political guidelines 2024-2029, namely:
By looking into the entire life cycles of buildings, from extraction of resources, manufacturing of products, construction, use and end-of-life while keeping reusable products and materials in multiple use cycles as long as possible, Destination 2 contributes to the achievement of the Clean Industrial Deal, the EU Green Deal, the Circular Economy Action Plan, the EU Bioeconomy Strategy and the forthcoming Circular Economy Act thereby supporting Europe’s leading position in the green transition[1] and sustainable prosperity. Moreover, by exploring how the existing built environment can be used more efficiently, it contributes to the Renovation Wave and potentially the European Affordable Housing Plan[11].
Destination 2 explores how the built environment can contribute to restoring its environment by leveraging nature-based-solutions[1], biomimicry and regenerative designs. This includes clean soil, water and air and thus contributes to the Zero Pollution Action Plan[13], the EU Biodiversity Strategy[14], the Nature Restoration Regulation articles[15], as well as the EU Strategy on Green Infrastructure[16] and the Water Resilience Strategy[17]. Such innovative designs and solutions should also improve the climate adaptability and resilience of buildings, neighbourhoods, cities and regions, thus contributing to the European Climate Adaptation Strategy.
In Work Programme 2026-2027, this Destination contributes to the following overarching expected impacts set out in the Horizon Europe strategic plan 2025-2027:
The Destination aims to deliver on these objectives by:
Proposals for topics under this destination should set out a credible pathway to the development of circular and regenerative approaches for the built environment and more specifically to one or several of the following impacts:
When possible and relevant, actions are strongly recommended to collaborate with and build on the results of past and ongoing research projects, including regional, national or European funded projects, to ensure consistency and continuity in research.
Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in both Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) falling under this destination. For additional information please see “Restrictions on the participation of legal entities established in China” found in General Annex B of the General Annexes.
[1] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.
[2] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.
[3] See definition of ‘Circular economy’ in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.
[4] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.
[5] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.
[6] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.
[7] Davos Declaration, ‘Davos Declaration 2018’, 2018, https://davosdeclaration2018.ch/en/.
[8] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.
[9] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.
[10] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.
[11] This document is not yet published at the time of writing. The Commission adoption is currently planned for the first quarter of 2026.
[12] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.
[13] European Commission, Directorate-General for Environment, 'Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.. Pathway to a Healthy Planet for All EU Action Plan: 'Towards Zero Pollution for Air, Water and Soil', COM/2021/400 final, 12 May 2021, accessed 5 August 2025, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52021DC0400&qid=1623311742827.
[14] European Commission, Directorate-General for Environment, ‘Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. Bringing nature back into our lives’, COM/2020/380 final, 20 May 2020, accessed on 5 August 2025, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A52020DC0380.
[15] European Parliament, Council of the European Union, ‘Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2024 on nature restoration and amending Regulation (EU) 2022/869’, 29 July 2024, accessed on 5 August 2025, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32024R1991&qid=1722240349976.
[16] European Commission, ‘Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. Green Infrastructure (GI) — Enhancing Europe’s Natural Capital’, COM/2013/0249 final, 6 May 2013, accessed on 5 August 2025, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A52013DC0249.
[17] European Commission, Directorate-General for Environment, ‘European Water Resilience Strategy’, 3 June 2025, accessed on 5 August 2025, https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/european-water-resilience-strategy_en.
[18] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.
"],"typeOfMGAs":["43027849"],"callIdentifier":["HORIZON-NEB-2026-01"],"callccm2Id":["50218343"],"destinationGroup":[],"DATASOURCE":["SEDIA"],"links":["[{\"callIdentifier\":\"HORIZON-NEB-2026-01\",\"criterionCode\":\"HORIZON-IA\",\"criterionDescription\":\"HORIZON Innovation Actions\",\"url\":\"https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/submission/manage/screen/submission/create-draft/43956?topic\\u003dHORIZON-NEB-2026-01-REGEN-02\",\"startDate\":\"1777939200000\",\"endDate\":\"1796083200000\",\"mgaDescription\":\"HORIZON Lump Sum Grant\",\"mgaCode\":\"HORIZON-AG-LS\"}]"],"callTitle":["Beautiful, inclusive and sustainable neighbourhoods for communities"],"frameworkProgramme":["43108390"],"descriptionByte":["Expected Outcome:
Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:
Scope:
Prolonging the lifespan and improving the performance of existing buildings are among key strategies to decrease new construction rates, which will help reduce the extraction of raw materials, manufacturing of new construction products, generating less waste and thus reducing GHG emissions and contributing to a more sustainable built environment. Recent legal and policy developments such as the recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) reinforce the importance of preserving and upgrading existing buildings as part of Europe’s climate and circular economy[1] objectives. However, maintenance and repair intervention are often reactive, which can lead to inefficiencies and a lack of environmental sustainability. They can also take time, be costly and disruptive for the building’s users and inhabitants as they can cause noise and air pollution, utility interruptions, or temporary unavailability of rooms or services. There is therefore a need to develop solutions allowing the efficient, sustainable, timely, and high-quality maintenance and repair of existing buildings to extend their lifespan.
Proposals are expected to address all of the following:
Proposals are expected to follow a participatory[5] and transdisciplinary approach[1] through the integration of different actors and disciplines.
This topic requires the effective contribution of social sciences and humanities (SSH)[1] disciplines and the involvement of SSH experts, institutions as well as the inclusion of relevant SSH expertise, in order to produce meaningful and significant effects enhancing the societal impact of the related research activities.
Proposals are expected to allocate at least 0.8% of their budget for engaging with the Horizon Europe-funded 'New European Bauhaus hub for results and impact' to share their intermediate and final results, findings and learning, as well as to contribute to impact assessment.
null
Activities are expected to achieve TRL 6-8 by the end of the project – see General Annex B. Activities may start at any TRL.
[1] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.
[2] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.
[3] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.
[4] This topic also considers social care homes, elderly houses, and other form of inclusive housing with residential function complemented with social welfare as forms of social and affordable housing.
[5] See definition of “participatory process” in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.
[6] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.
[7] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.
"],"identifier":["HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-REGEN-02"],"es_ContentType":["text/plain"],"programmePeriod":["2021 - 2027"],"deadlineDate":["2026-12-01T00:00:00.000+0000"],"es_Combine":["1"],"esST_URL":["https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-REGEN-02"],"tags":[],"cenTagsA":["TOPICS-048888","TOPICS-048889","TOPICS-048890","TOPICS-048891","TOPICS-048892","TOPICS-048893","TOPICS-001390","TOPICS-000045","TOPICS-001323","TOPICS-000627","TOPICS-000608"],"esDA_QueueDate":["2026-05-05T00:03:28.426+0200"],"destinationDescription":["Circular and regenerative approaches for the built environment (2026-27)"],"actions":["[{\"types\":[{\"typeOfAction\":\"HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions\",\"typeOfMGA\":[{\"id\":43027849,\"abbreviation\":\"HORIZON-AG-LS\",\"description\":\"HORIZON Lump Sum Grant\"}]}],\"status\":{\"id\":31094502,\"abbreviation\":\"Open\",\"description\":\"Open\"},\"plannedOpeningDate\":\"2026-05-05\",\"submissionProcedure\":{\"id\":31094504,\"abbreviation\":\"single-stage\",\"description\":\"single-stage\"},\"deadlineDates\":[\"2026-12-01\"]}]"],"startDate":["2026-05-05T00:00:00.000+0000"],"deadlineModel":["single-stage"],"status":["31094502"],"supportInfo":["Online Manual is your guide on the procedures from proposal submission to managing your grant.
Horizon Europe Programme Guide contains the detailed guidance to the structure, budget and political priorities of Horizon Europe.
Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – find the answers to most frequently asked questions on submission of proposals, evaluation and grant management.
Research Enquiry Service – ask questions about any aspect of European research in general and the EU Research Framework Programmes in particular.
National Contact Points (NCPs) – get guidance, practical information and assistance on participation in Horizon Europe. There are also NCPs in many non-EU and non-associated countries (‘third-countries’).
Enterprise Europe Network – contact your EEN national contact for advice to businesses with special focus on SMEs. The support includes guidance on the EU research funding.
IT Helpdesk – contact the Funding & Tenders Portal IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc.
European IPR Helpdesk assists you on intellectual property issues.
CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk – the European Standards Organisations advise you how to tackle standardisation in your project proposal.
The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment – consult the general principles and requirements specifying the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers, employers and funders of researchers.
Partner Search help you find a partner organisation for your proposal.
"],"sepTemplate":["To access the Electronic Submission Service, please click on the submission-button next to the type of action and the type of model grant agreement that corresponds to your proposal. You will then be asked to confirm your choice, as it cannot be changed in the submission system. Upon confirmation, you will be linked to the correct entry point.
To access existing draft proposals for this topic, please login to the Funding & Tenders Portal and select the My Proposals page of the My Area section.
"],"sortStatus":["1"],"destination":["48080695"],"topicConditions":["described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025) [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf]].
described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme]
Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE RIA, IA)
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
Guidance
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Call-specific instructions
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 13. New European Bauhaus Facility (NEB)
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual