Open Call for Connect NEB 2027

Deadline: 30-Sep-2026

The Connect NEB Call from EIT Urban Mobility provides €18,000 per project to support innovative initiatives addressing local urban challenges through the values of the New European Bauhaus (NEB). The call focuses on sustainability, inclusion, participation, climate resilience, circularity, and quality of place, with projects lasting up to 10 months from February to November 2027. What Is the Connect NEB Call? The Connect NEB Call is an EIT Urban Mobility funding opportunity for projects that address local urban challenges through innovative, sustainable, and community-oriented approaches. The call is aligned with the New European Bauhaus, which promotes urban and built-environment solutions that combine: - Sustainability - Inclusion - Quality of place - Community participation - Innovation - Long-term resilience Projects should demonstrate how innovative approaches can improve people’s everyday experience of urban environments while addressing specific local needs. What Are the Main Objectives? The Connect NEB Call seeks projects that can create meaningful changes in urban communities and demonstrate potential for wider application.

Projects should:

- Address clearly identified local urban challenges. - Introduce innovative or novel approaches. - Improve environmental sustainability. - Support climate resilience. - Encourage circularity and efficient resource use. - Promote inclusion, diversity, and gender equality. - Actively involve communities and target groups. - Improve the quality and experience of urban spaces. - Encourage behavioural, organisational, or governance changes. - Produce approaches that can be sustained after the project ends. - Demonstrate potential for transfer to other cities or communities. What Is the New European Bauhaus? The New European Bauhaus (NEB) is an EU initiative that connects sustainability with inclusion and quality of experience in the built environment. In practical terms, NEB-inspired projects seek to create places that are:

- Sustainable: environmentally responsible and climate-conscious.

- Inclusive: accessible and responsive to diverse communities.

- Beautiful or high-quality: improving people’s everyday experience and connection with their surroundings.

The Connect NEB Call applies these principles to local urban challenges through innovation and community participation. What Types of Projects Are Supported? The call is designed for innovative projects responding to specific local needs.

Potential project approaches may include:

- Community-led urban innovation. - Climate-resilient neighbourhood initiatives. - Circular urban solutions. - Inclusive public-space concepts. - Participatory urban planning approaches. - Community governance models. - Behaviour-change initiatives. - Innovative approaches to improving quality of place. - Living-lab activities. - Co-design processes and community workshops. The proposal should establish a clear connection between the proposed activities and the identified urban challenge. Community Participation Is Required Community engagement is a central requirement of the Connect NEB Call. Projects must actively involve communities and relevant target groups rather than designing solutions without their participation.

Participatory approaches can include

- Co-design processes. - Workshops. - Living labs. - Community consultations. - Participatory planning. - Collaborative testing of solutions. Applicants should explain who will participate, how they will participate, and how their input will influence the project’s development and outcomes. What Outcomes Should Projects Deliver? Projects should define clear and measurable objectives and expected results.

Outcomes may include changes in:

- Community behaviour. - Community organisation. - Governance models. - Participation. - Environmental practices. - Use or experience of urban spaces. - Community capacity. - Local approaches to sustainability and resilience. Applicants should also explain how the project’s approach can remain useful after the grant period and potentially be adapted to other locations. How Much Funding Is Available? Each selected project can receive a total grant of €18,000.

The funding structure is:

- EIT funding: €15,300, representing 85%.

- Required co-funding: €2,700, representing 15%.

- Total project value: €18,000.

Applicants should account for the required co-funding when preparing their project budget. Project Duration and Timeline The maximum project duration is 10 months.

The tentative implementation period is:

- Start date: 1 February 2027

- End date: 30 November 2027

- Maximum duration: 10 months

Projects must complete the required activities and deliverables within the approved implementation period. Who Is Eligible? The Connect NEB Call is open to legal entities worldwide.

Applicants must:

- Be legally established entities. - Be registered in the EU Funding & Tenders Opportunities Portal. - Have a valid Participant Identification Code (PIC). - Meet the eligibility requirements of the call. The call uses a monobeneficiary model, meaning each proposal is submitted by a single organisation without additional project partners. Can Organisations Submit Multiple Proposals? There is an important participation restriction. Each organisation can receive funding as Lead Partner for only one proposal across the Connect NEB and Co-create NEB Calls. Applicants should therefore carefully consider which proposal provides the strongest fit with the programme before submitting. What Is the Key Performance Indicator? A major required performance indicator is participation in education and training activities.

Projects must include at least:

- 25 participants in non-labelled education and training activities. Applicants should explain how participants will be recruited, what they will learn, and how the training contributes to the project’s objectives. Mandatory Deliverables Each funded project must submit a final report documenting