[European Commission](https://commission.europa.eu/index_en)

September 23, 2027

Total budget: €12 million | Indicative grant: ~€6 million per project | Duration: Typically 36–48 months

Funds innovation actions to empower local urban food systems through entrepreneurship, inclusive business models, and scalable solutions across Europe.

Single-stage call; lump sum grants; multi-actor approach required.

--- ## Description This Horizon Europe Innovation Action funds projects that foster transformative and inclusive innovation in local urban food systems, aiming to enhance decentralised competitiveness and generate positive social and environmental impacts for urban communities. Projects should develop and pilot decentralised local capacities—such as food innovation incubators, accelerators, and hubs—to support high-impact, sustainable urban food solutions. Activities should include tailored mentorship programs, participatory co-creation of sustainable business models, and pilot implementations to accelerate urban food system transformation and scalability across the EU. Proposals should connect with existing research and innovation initiatives to derive viable business models and accelerate uptake of research outcomes. Integration of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) and gender considerations is required, as is a multi-actor approach involving local authorities, planners, SMEs, entrepreneurs, researchers, educators, civil society, and citizens. --- ## Due Dates - Full application deadline: **September 23, 2027** (17:00 Brussels time, single-stage call) --- ## Funding Amount - **Total topic budget:** €12,000,000 (2027 call) - **Indicative grant size:** ~€6,000,000 per project - **Number of projects funded:** 2 (indicative) - **Funding model:** Lump sum grant (all eligible costs covered by a fixed amount) - **Project duration:** Typically 36–48 months --- ## Eligibility - **Consortium requirements:** Minimum three independent legal entities from three different EU Member States or Associated Countries. - **Eligible applicants:** Any legal entity, regardless of place of establishment, may participate. Automatic funding eligibility for entities from EU Member States, Associated Countries, and select low/middle-income countries. Others may participate as associated partners (without funding) or receive exceptional funding if essential. - **Multi-actor approach:** Proposals must implement a multi-actor approach, involving local/regional authorities, urban planners, SMEs, start-ups, food entrepreneurs, research and innovation actors, educational institutions, civil society, and citizens. - **SSH and gender:** Effective contribution of Social Sciences and Humanities required; gender dimension and intersectionality must be addressed. - **Other requirements:** Entities from Russia, Belarus, non-government controlled territories of Ukraine, or subject to EU sanctions are not eligible. --- ## Application Process - **Submission:** Electronic submission via the [EU Funding & Tenders Portal](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-COMMUNITIES-02?isExactMatch=true&status=31094501,31094502&order=DESC&pageNumber=2&pageSize=50&sortBy=startDate). - **Application format:** Use the standard forms (Part A and Part B) available in the submission system. Adhere to the page limits (45 pages for lump sum IA topics). - **Detailed budget:** Must submit the detailed lump sum budget Excel workbook as part of the application. - **Evaluation:** Single-stage; proposals evaluated on excellence, impact, and quality/efficiency of implementation (see [evaluation form](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/temp-form/ef/ef_he-ria-ia_en.pdf)). - **Key documents:** - [Work Programme Part](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-9-food-bioeconomy-natural-resources-agriculture-and-environment_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf) - [General Annexes](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-15-general-annexes_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf) - [Lump Sum MGA](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/agr-contr/ls-mga_en.pdf) - [Application Form](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/temp-form/af/af_he-ria-ia_en.pdf) - [Detailed Lump Sum Budget Table](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/temp-form/af/detailed-budget-table_he-ls-euratom_en.xlsm) - **Support:** National Contact Points and the [Online Manual](https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/funding-tenders-opportunities/display/OM/Online+Manual) provide guidance. --- ## Additional Information - **Scope:** Projects must develop and pilot local urban food system innovation ecosystems (incubators, accelerators, hubs) that support entrepreneurship, access to capital, and the scaling of sustainable urban food solutions. - **Expected outcomes:** Accelerated growth of urban food start-ups, empowered entrepreneurs, and interconnected European urban food innovation ecosystems that improve resilience, inclusiveness, and well-being. - **Integration:** Proposals should connect with established R&I initiatives and derive business models from these, ensuring scalability and uptake. - **Mandatory elements:** Multi-actor approach, SSH integration, gender and intersectionality considerations, and robust impact measurement. - **Funding model:** Lump sum—no actual cost reporting; payment is based on completion of agreed work packages. --- ## External Links - [Call Topic & Submission Portal](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-COMMUNITIES-02?isExactMatch=true&status=31094501,31094502&order=DESC&pageNumber=2&pageSize=50&sortBy=startDate) - [Full Call Documentation & Work Programme](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/calls-for-proposals?callIdentifier=HORIZON-CL6-2027-02) - [General Annexes (eligibility, evaluation, legal setup)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-15-general-annexes_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf) - [Horizon Europe Programme Guide](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/programme-guide_horizon_en.pdf) - [Model Grant Agreement (Lump Sum)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/agr-contr/ls-mga_en.pdf) - [Application Form (HE RIA, IA)](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/temp-form/af/af_he-ria-ia_en.pdf) - [Detailed Lump Sum Budget Table](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/temp-form/af/detailed-budget-table_he-ls-euratom_en.xlsm) - [Online Manual](https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/funding-tenders-opportunities/display/OM/Online+Manual) - [National Contact Points](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/support/ncp) --- ## Contact Information | Resource | Link/Details | |---------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | National Contact Points | [Find your NCP](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/support/ncp) | | Research Enquiry Service | [Ask a question](https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/contact-us/research-enquiry-service_en) | | European Commission General Contact | +32 2 299 11 11 ([Contact page](https://commission.europa.eu/about-european-commission/contact_en)) | ---

Empowering local urban food systems entrepreneurship and innovation

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