Living labs driving transformative change via knowledge integration and inclusive governance - European Commission
This grant funds living labs to develop and test innovative governance and socio-economic models for a nature positive economy, supporting transformative change and EU biodiversity and climate goals.
Funder: European Commission
Due Dates: September 22, 2027 (Full application deadline, single-stage)
Funding Amounts: ~€7,000,000 per project; 2 grants expected; lump sum funding
Summary: Funds living labs to develop, test, and scale innovative governance and socio-economic models for transformative change toward a nature positive economy, integrating diverse knowledge and inclusive governance.
Key Information: Proposals must indicate Area A (ecosystem) or Area B (societal challenge) and apply a multi-actor approach.
Description
This grant supports research and innovation actions to establish living labs as real-world environments for developing, testing, and scaling innovative governance and socio-economic models. The goal is to accelerate transformative change toward a nature positive economy and support EU climate and biodiversity objectives. Projects must integrate diverse knowledge systems, actively engage stakeholders in co-creation, and address institutional, legal, and financial barriers to inclusive governance. Proposals should align with key EU and global policies (such as the European Green Deal, EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, Sustainable Development Goals, Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the Paris Agreement).
Applicants are expected to:
- Establish living labs for policy experimentation, stakeholder engagement, and economic model innovation.
- Develop inclusive, intersectional, and adaptive governance strategies.
- Conduct comprehensive policy analyses to identify and resolve conflicts and gaps.
- Analyze barriers to inclusive governance and propose innovative policy instruments (e.g., citizens’ assemblies, participatory budgeting).
- Develop multi-level governance models and integrate nature positive actions across policies.
- Set up living labs by ecosystem (Area A: marine, freshwater, terrestrial) or by societal challenge (Area B: climate change, water, food, health, pollution, spatial planning).
- Co-develop and test enabling pathways for transformative change, ensuring impacts on the ground and scalability.
- Create digital tools for knowledge synthesis and decision-support.
- Offer training and educational materials for policymakers, community leaders, and researchers.
Interdisciplinary and multi-actor approaches are required, with attention to gender, cultural, and regional diversity. Proposals must ensure collaboration with other selected projects, existing EU-funded communities of practice, and the EC Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity.
