Deadline: November 17, 2025
Driving Urban Transitions, a European partnership co-funded by the European Commission, has announced a call for proposals aimed at supporting transnational research and innovation projects that help cities tackle urban challenges and transition towards a climate neutral and resilient future for all.
The focus areas include the 15-minute City Transition Pathway, Circular Urban Economies Transition Pathway, and Positive Energy Districts Transition Pathway, which provide a holistic and systemic approach to fostering innovation and enabling sustainable solutions in urban settings.
The call emphasizes the need to address challenges within urban areas, including peri-urban spaces, fostering inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration involving stakeholders such as municipalities, local authorities, companies, NGOs, and inhabitants. It highlights the importance of co-creative approaches and user needs integration from the early project design stage. The aim is to develop practical models and scalable solutions that contribute to climate neutrality, social equity, and economic attractiveness of cities.
The “Driving Urban Transitions” (DUT) Call 2025 is a co-funded European research and innovation funding initiative aimed at supporting transnational projects that contribute to sustainable urban transitions, focusing on three Transition Pathways: the 15-minute City, Circular Urban Economies, and Positive Energy Districts. The total available budget is approximately several million euros, with national and regional funding agencies from participating countries providing funds directly to eligible applicants, complemented by up to 30% co-funding from the European Commission under Horizon Europe.
The specific budgets available from each national/regional Funding Agency vary, ranging from smaller commitments such as €0.3 million (e.g., Belgium’s F.R.S.-FNRS) to larger contributions like €4 million from Austria’s FFG and the Netherlands’ NWO. The funding agencies support different types of research and innovation activities including strategic urban research, applied research, and innovation, with eligibility and funding limits differing by agency and country. Detailed information on maximum funding per project or applicant, types of eligible organisations, and expected number of projects funded is specified for each agency.
Eligible applicants include a broad spectrum of entities such as universities, research institutes, municipalities, companies (including SMEs and large enterprises), NGOs, and consumer or civil society representatives. Most national agencies require that consortia include at least three partners from three different eligible countries, with at least one urban government authority partner. Project durations may be up to 36 months, and typical project budgets range from €1 million to €2 million, though this can vary.
Funding rates for eligible costs differ by country, type of organization, and research type (basic, applied, innovation), often ranging from 25% to 100% coverage, with variations for large enterprises, SMEs, public research organizations, and NGOs. Many agencies fund personnel costs, material costs, overhead, travel, subcontracting, and other direct expenses, with some specifying caps on personnel costs or overhead rates. Applicants must comply with national and transnational eligibility criteria, including submission of proposals in English, adherence to deadlines, and maintaining consistent consortium composition throughout the application stages.
Each Funding Agency has specific application procedures at the national level, often requiring parallel submission on national platforms or additional documents after the transnational submission. The coordinated management of the projects is the responsibility of the Main Applicant, who acts as project coordinator. Projects selected for funding are expected to actively participate in DUT Partnership program activities, including joint events, knowledge hubs, and contribute to dissemination and open science practices.
Projects should support advancing urban mobility transitions through multimodal urban mobility, reimagining parking policies, and addressing mobility policymaking amidst radical contestation. In parallel, strategies to foster circular urban economies focus on resilient green and social infrastructure, sustainable tourism, and public procurement to enhance urban greening and circularity. Energy transitions are targeted through innovative approaches in planning and implementing Positive Energy Districts, including strategies for social and subsidized housing, local economies, energy markets, and urban heating and cooling networks.
The call structure encourages a clear demonstration of the added value of transnational collaboration, balanced consortium composition involving at least three partners from different countries, including urban government authorities, with a project duration capped at 36 months. The proposal evaluation will consider scientific excellence, impact, user engagement, and quality of implementation, while promoting open science practices and data management aligned with FAIR principles.
Successful projects will be integrated into the DUT Partnership knowledge hubs and participate in joint programme activities, including mandatory events and contribution to international urban transition missions. Funding is available through national and regional agencies across various European countries, with adherence to respective eligibility and funding criteria.
This initiative represents a significant opportunity for researchers, practitioners, and urban stakeholders to collaborate on transformative solutions to achieve climate neutrality and resilience in cities, fostering systemic change that benefits both local and broader European contexts.
For more information, visit DUT Partnership.
