Revitalising neighbourhoods around existing railway and motorway corridors

TOPIC ID: HORIZON-NEB-2027-01-REGEN-03

Type of grant: Call for proposals

General information

Programme:

Call: Innovative models for neighbourhoods that integrate beauty, inclusiveness and sustainability (HORIZON-NEB-2027-01)

Type of action: HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions

Type of MGA: HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG]

Status: Forthcoming

Deadline model: single-stage

Planned Opening Date: 05 May 2027

Deadline dates: 01 December 2027 17:00 (Brussels time)

Topic description

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• The use of the innovative solutions reduces the environmental, ecological, economic, social and health negative effects of existing, active railway lines and motorways^[1] on demonstrator sites, contributing to their revitalisation.
• Improved adoption of solutions by the stakeholders such as local authorities, inhabitants, architects, engineers, landscape architects or urban planners.

Active railway lines and motorways are an integral part of the European landscape. However, they can be perceived as sources of disturbances such as pollutants, noise and air pollution, invasive alien plants species vectors, potential hazards, etc. Moreover, railways lines and motorway may negatively impact surrounding neighbourhoods^[1] through which they pass, making them unsightly, neglected, unattractive as well as biodiversity harmful.

Innovative solutions are thus required to reduce the environmental, ecological, economic, social and health negative effects that active railway lines and motorways can have on surrounding neighbourhoods and to revitalise these places and turn them into more liveable, inclusive, safe, attractive and biodiverse ones in line with the sustainability^[3], inclusion^[1] and aesthetic^[5] values of the New European Bauhaus.

Proposals are expected to address all of the following:

• Develop and demonstrate a package of measures to mitigate the negative effects of active railway lines and motorways on nearby neighbourhoods and revitalise those neighbourhoods. Implement this package of measures in three distinct neighbourhoods – one urban, one peri-urban, and one rural – located in different Member States and/or Associated Countries.
• Measure and assess the changes in environmental, ecological, economic, social and health impacts resulting from the package of measures developed and applied in the demonstrator sites.
• Identify barriers hindering the implementation of the proposed measures, including regulatory aspects and propose solutions to overcome them.
• Ensure the scalability and replicability of the measures through guidance and documented best practices for municipalities and relevant stakeholders.

Proposals are expected to follow a participatory^[6] and transdisciplinary approach^[1] through the integration of different actors and disciplines and to co-create^[1] the solution(s), engaging with relevant stakeholders such as public authorities, architects, urban and landscape planners or inhabitants. Proposals are expected, to the extent possible, to contribute to the urban greening goal set in the Nature Restoration Regulation.

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. Synergies should also be explored and, as appropriate, pursued with other relevant initiatives, such as the Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-Rail)^[10].

[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 “Sustainable” 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 of “Beauty” in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

[6] See definition of “participatory process” 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.

[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 https://rail-research.europa.eu/

Start submission

The submission system is planned to be opened on the date stated on the topic header.

Get support

Please read carefully all provisions below before the preparation of your application.

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.