The European Union is doubling down on its commitment to a greener future with a substantial EUR 98 million funding boost for the EU Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities. This initiative, part of the Horizon Europe program, aims to support 100 cities across EU member states and associated countries in achieving climate neutrality by 2030. With the application deadline set for February 11, 2025, this call presents a significant opportunity for urban centers to accelerate their transition towards sustainability.
This funding call, totaling Euro 98 million, is strategically divided across four key areas crucial for urban climate transformation. These areas are designed to address various facets of city life, from spatial planning to citizen behavior, ensuring a holistic approach to achieving climate neutrality. Let’s delve deeper into each of these topics:
Rethinking Urban Spaces for Climate Neutrality
This topic, under the call reference HORIZON-MISS-2024-CIT-01-01, with a substantial EUR 45 million budget, encourages cities to fundamentally rethink their urban spaces. It challenges urban planners and stakeholders to envision and implement innovative solutions that minimize carbon footprint while enhancing the quality of life for residents. This could involve projects focused on green infrastructure development, energy-efficient building renovations on a large scale, or the creation of carbon-neutral districts from the ground up. The focus is on integrated approaches that consider land use, building design, and resource management to create truly sustainable urban environments, making every euro 98 stretch further in impact.
Zero-Pollution Cities: Breathing Cleaner Air
With EUR 20 million allocated under call HORIZON-MISS-2024-CIT-01-02, the “Zero-pollution cities” topic addresses the critical issue of urban air and environmental quality. This theme calls for projects that aim to drastically reduce pollution levels in cities, targeting air, water, and soil contamination. Solutions could range from advanced air quality monitoring and purification systems to promoting circular economy practices that minimize waste and pollution. Innovative waste management strategies, green transportation initiatives, and industrial emission reduction programs are all relevant under this call, ensuring that the euro 98 investment contributes to healthier urban living.
Mobility Management Plans and Behavioural Change: Shifting Gears Towards Sustainability
Recognizing that transportation is a major contributor to urban emissions, the “Mobility management plans and behavioural change” topic, backed by EUR 5 million (HORIZON-MISS-2024-CIT-01-03), focuses on encouraging sustainable mobility patterns. This involves developing and implementing comprehensive mobility management plans that prioritize walking, cycling, and public transport over private vehicle use. Crucially, this topic also emphasizes the importance of behavioral change. Projects could explore strategies to incentivize citizens to adopt greener modes of transport, such as awareness campaigns, gamification, or the development of user-friendly sustainable mobility services. This aspect ensures that the euro 98 facilitates a lasting shift in urban transportation habits.
Integrated Peri-Urban Areas in the Transition to Climate Neutrality: Expanding the Green Reach
The final topic, “Integrated peri-urban areas in the transition towards climate neutrality,” supported by EUR 28 million (HORIZON-MISS-2024-CIT-01-04), acknowledges that climate neutrality efforts cannot be limited to city centers alone. Peri-urban areas, the zones surrounding cities, play a crucial role in the overall sustainability of urban regions. This topic encourages projects that foster integrated approaches to climate neutrality across urban and peri-urban areas. This could involve initiatives that connect urban centers with surrounding rural areas through green corridors, promote sustainable agriculture in peri-urban zones, or develop joint strategies for renewable energy deployment and resource management. This integrated approach maximizes the impact of the euro 98 investment, ensuring a broader regional transition to climate neutrality.
| Call reference | Opening | Deadline | Type of action | Budget available (EUR million) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HORIZON-MISS-2024-CIT-01-01 | 17/09/2024 | 11/02/2025 (17:00 Brussels Time) | HORIZON-IA | 45 |
| HORIZON-MISS-2024-CIT-01-02 | 17/09/2024 | 11/02/2025 (17:00 Brussels Time) | HORIZON-RIA | 20 |
| HORIZON-MISS-2024-CIT-01-03 | 17/09/2024 | 11/02/2025 (17:00 Brussels Time) | HORIZON-CSA | 5 |
| HORIZON-MISS-2024-CIT-01-04 | 17/09/2024 | 11/02/2025 (17:00 Brussels Time) | HORIZON-IA | 28 |
| TOTAL | 98 |
Applying for Funding: A Step-by-Step Guide
Securing a portion of this euro 98 million investment requires a well-prepared project proposal. The application process is detailed in the documents available on each individual call page linked above. Key requirements include demonstrating a clear understanding of the call topic, presenting an innovative and impactful project idea, and outlining a robust implementation plan.
Following the submission deadline of February 11, 2025, proposals will undergo a rigorous evaluation process managed by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Independent experts, drawn from the European Commission’s database, will assess each proposal against predefined criteria, ensuring a fair and transparent selection process.
Understanding Project Types: RIA, IA, and CSA
Horizon Europe supports various types of collaborative projects, each with a specific focus and funding rate. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for applicants:
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Research and Innovation Action (RIA): These projects aim to generate new knowledge and explore innovative technologies, products, or services. The EU provides up to 100% funding for RIAs, encouraging ambitious research endeavors.
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Innovation Action (IA): IAs focus on developing and testing practical solutions, including prototyping, piloting, and market replication. Funding for IAs covers up to 70% of project costs, supporting the scaling up of promising innovations.
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Coordination and Support Action (CSA): CSAs aim to enhance collaboration and networking within the European Research Area. Activities include standardization, dissemination, and policy dialogues. CSAs are funded up to 100% by the EU, fostering a collaborative ecosystem for research and innovation.
This euro 98 million funding initiative is channeled through these project types to ensure a diverse range of activities are supported, from fundamental research to practical implementation and collaborative networking, all contributing to the overarching goal of climate-neutral and smart cities.
Background: Horizon Europe and the EU Missions
The Cities Mission is a key component of Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research and innovation program. EU Missions, introduced for the 2021-2027 funding period, are a strategic approach to address major societal challenges through coordinated research and innovation efforts. These missions pool resources across funding programs, policies, and regulations to achieve ambitious, measurable goals.
Managed by European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), the Cities Mission, alongside missions focused on Climate Change Adaptation and Ocean and Water restoration, exemplifies the EU’s commitment to tackling climate change and building a sustainable future. The euro 98 million call is a tangible demonstration of this commitment, providing crucial financial support to cities at the forefront of the climate transition.
By leveraging this euro 98 million funding opportunity, European cities can take significant strides towards achieving climate neutrality by 2030, contributing to a healthier, more sustainable, and resilient urban future for all. Interested cities are encouraged to explore the call details and begin preparing their applications to become part of this transformative European initiative.
