Living labs to enhance soil health in Continental, Boreal and Alpine biogeographical regions
This grant supports research living labs in Continental, Boreal, or Alpine Europe to develop, test, and implement participatory solutions for soil health, contributing to the EU’s healthy soils by 2030 mission.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
European Commission has archived this opportunity.
Funder: European Commission
Due Dates: September 4, 2025 (Stage 1 short proposal) | February 18, 2026 (Stage 2 full proposal)
Funding Amounts: ~€12 million per project (3 projects expected); total topic budget €36 million; project duration typically 4 years
Summary: Supports establishment of living labs to develop and implement participatory solutions for soil health in Continental, Boreal, and Alpine regions, advancing the EU’s healthy soils by 2030 mission.
Key Information: Proposals must focus on one biogeographical region (Continental, Boreal, or Alpine), with living labs in at least three different EU Member States or Associated Countries.
Description
This Horizon Europe call funds projects to establish and operate 4–5 living labs in the Continental, Boreal, or Alpine biogeographical regions of Europe. The living labs will serve as collaborative, real-life research environments for developing, co-designing, testing, and implementing locally adapted solutions to address soil health challenges. The initiative is central to the EU’s “A Soil Deal for Europe” mission, aiming to set up 100 living labs and lighthouses by 2030 to accelerate the transition to healthy soils.
Projects are expected to:
- Improve participatory, interdisciplinary R&I for soil health.
- Enhance soil health monitoring and generate standardized, high-quality soil data.
- Make knowledge and tools accessible to land managers and policymakers.
- Monitor and evaluate the technical, social, economic, and environmental viability of solutions.
- Identify exemplary sites (lighthouses) for demonstration and training.
- Propose strategies for long-term sustainability of the living labs, including business models and funding mechanisms.
- Collaborate with EU-wide soil health initiatives and ensure open data sharing under FAIR principles.
