Living labs co-creating innovative solutions for forests and freshwater ecosystems restoration

The main goal of this opportunity is to establish living labs that develop and deploy innovative solutions for restoring forests and freshwater ecosystems. It focuses on addressing challenges related to ecosystem restoration, taking into account drivers such as climate change and invasive species. The initiative promotes participatory and transdisciplinary research, ensuring solutions are tailored to various environmental, socio-economic, and cultural contexts. Collaboration among researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders is central to co-developing, testing, and scaling up restoration activities. The geographic scope requires setting up living labs in at least three different EU Member States and/or Associated Countries.

• Projects must follow the multi-actor approach, involving diverse stakeholders throughout the project.
• At least three living labs must be set up, each located in a different EU Member State and/or Associated Country.
• Living labs should focus on restoring forests and freshwater ecosystems using co-created, innovative solutions.
• Projects must include a detailed, transdisciplinary work plan for co-design, co-development, and co-implementation.
• Proposals must demonstrate social, economic, and environmental co-benefits and align with EU biodiversity and climate goals.
• Applicants should cooperate with relevant entities, such as the EC Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity.

Examples:

• A project creating three living labs in Spain, Germany, and Poland to restore riverbanks and forest habitats, involving local communities and researchers.
• An initiative developing innovative monitoring tools for ecosystem restoration, with living labs in France, Italy, and Finland, co-designed with policymakers and NGOs.
• A collaboration between universities and forestry agencies in three countries to test new climate adaptation strategies for degraded woodlands and wetlands.

• Personnel costs for researchers, practitioners, and coordinators
• Equipment and materials needed for restoration activities
• Travel and accommodation for project meetings and fieldwork
• Workshops, training sessions, and stakeholder engagement events
• Consultancy fees for experts and facilitators
• Costs for data collection, monitoring, and assessment tools
• Communication, dissemination, and publication expenses
• Subcontracting specific tasks or services
• Administrative and management costs related to project delivery
• Costs must fit within the lump sum funding model. Detailed restrictions may apply as defined by the Horizon Europe Programme.

• Budget for this Call: 14.000.000€
• Number of Grants attributed: 2
• Budget per project: 7.000.000€

• Proposals must use the multi-actor approach, involving relevant stakeholders in all stages.
• Applicants must be based in eligible countries (EU Member States or Associated Countries).
• At least three living labs must be established in three different eligible countries.
• Projects must involve partners from different backgrounds, disciplines, and sectors.
• Social Sciences and Humanities expertise must be included to enhance societal impact.
• A detailed, transdisciplinary work plan is required.
• Applicants must demonstrate financial and operational capacity.
• Eligibility may depend on forming networks or partnerships across countries and sectors.