This New European Bauhaus call funds projects on reducing soil sealing through sustainable urban and territorial design. It is an Innovation Action. Moreover, it is run jointly with the EU Soil Mission.
About the Reducing Soil Sealing Call
Soil sealing happens when land is covered by buildings, roads and car parks. It harms water management, biodiversity and urban climate. Therefore, the call looks for design approaches that limit new sealing and restore healthy soils. As a result, it suits urban planning, geodata and 3D-visualisation innovators working with cities. Explore more smart city funding opportunities on the UTA funding page.
Who Can Apply to the Reducing Soil Sealing Call
Applicants form a standard Horizon Europe consortium. It needs at least three independent legal entities from three different EU Member States or Associated Countries. In addition, cities and regions add strong value as demonstration partners.
Focus Areas and Funding
The call expects two projects of about €7.5m each. Furthermore, projects should combine sustainability, inclusion and quality design, in line with New European Bauhaus values. In short, applicants should align their project closely with the expected outcomes and impact described in the call text.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Call: Joint call of the New European Bauhaus Facility and the Soil Deal for Europe Mission (HORIZON-NEB-2027-02)
- Topic ID: HORIZON-NEB-2027-02-NEB-SOIL-01
- Type of action: Innovation Action (IA), funded as a budget-based grant
- Topic budget: €15 million, with around €7.5 million per project
- Expected number of grants: 2
- Submission: single stage, opening 5 May 2027 and closing 15 September 2027 at 17:00 Brussels time
- Target maturity: TRL 6–8 by the end of the project
Expected Outcomes
- Planners adopt regenerative spatial design that applies the New European Bauhaus values of sustainability, beauty and inclusion.
- These solutions reduce soil sealing and land take and improve soil health, food systems, resilience and biodiversity.
- Solutions reach wider adoption in urban, peri-urban and rural areas.
- Cities and regions gain effective funding models and supportive policy frameworks.
What Proposals Must Cover
- Projects develop place-based, nature-based solutions that prevent sealing or unseal soil, such as permeable pavements, green roofs, community gardens and urban agriculture.
- Each solution runs in at least three neighbourhoods, one urban, one peri-urban and one rural, in different Member States or Associated Countries.
- Artists, architects, start-ups, planners, local authorities, NGOs and citizens co-create the solutions. Social sciences, humanities and arts must make a real contribution.
- Monitoring uses soil health, soil sealing and healthy-city indicators.
- Projects test innovative funding models, engage investors and produce policy recommendations and upscaling plans.
- The topic supports the EU Soil Strategy target of zero net land take by 2050. Projects connect with the URSOILL and SPADES projects, the Mission Soil Platform and the NEB hub.
Source: the official topic page on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, checked on 16 October 2026.
Why the Reducing Soil Sealing Call Matters
For cities, the reducing soil sealing opportunity is a chance to test new solutions with trusted partners and shared funding. In addition, it helps public authorities learn from peers in other countries. Successful projects often lead to wider roll-out and new procurement. However, strong proposals need early planning, clear roles and real demonstration sites. That is why UTA brings cities, innovators and researchers together long before deadlines. Moreover, our network helps partners find the missing skills or countries a consortium needs. As a result, members can move from idea to proposal faster and with more confidence.
Deadline and How to Apply
The call opens on 5 May 2027 and closes on 15 September 2027. Apply through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. For this reason, partners should choose demonstration sites early. Read the full details on the official call page. Urban Technology Alliance can also connect you with cities in the UTA network. Contact us to discuss a consortium for this call.