Deploying Circular Systemic Solutions through Living Labs in Cities and Regions (Circular Cities and Regions Initiative topic) - European Commission
Funds living labs to co-create, validate, and scale circular solutions for sustainable urban and regional development, supporting the European Green Deal through collaboration and knowledge transfer.
Funder: European Commission
Due Dates: April 8, 2027 (Stage 1) | September 16, 2027 (Stage 2)
Funding Amounts: €10,000,000 total; typical award ~€5,000,000; 2 grants expected; lump sum funding
Summary: Supports deployment and upscaling of circular systemic solutions in cities and regions through living labs, fostering collaboration and knowledge transfer for sustainable urban and regional development.
Key Information: Requires consortia with at least five living labs, including one in a Horizon Europe widening country.
Description
This grant, under the Horizon Europe program, aims to accelerate the transition to circular systemic solutions at the city or regional level by supporting living labs as innovation ecosystems. These living labs facilitate co-creation of practical solutions by involving diverse stakeholders—citizens, policymakers, academia, industry, start-ups, social economy actors, and financial intermediaries. Projects must adopt a multi-actor approach and integrate socio-ecological perspectives, ensuring effective governance, collaboration, and iterative feedback. The initiative focuses on validating, optimizing, and scaling circular solutions tailored to local or regional contexts, with a strong emphasis on knowledge transfer and actionable recommendations for replication across Europe. The grant supports the European Green Deal and Clean Industrial Deal objectives, contributing to sustainable, competitive, and resilient cities and regions.
