Open Call with SSH aspects in Driving Urban Transitions Partnership

Deadline for pre-proposal submission: 17 November 2025 13:00 CET

Deadline for full proposal submission: 23 April 2026 13:00 CEST

The aim of this Call for proposals is to support transnational research and/or innovation projects that help cities tackle urban challenges and transition towards a climate neutral and resilient future for all. Projects should contribute to one or more of the three Transition Pathways: the 15-minute City (15mC), Circular Urban Economies (CUE), and Positive Energy Districts (PED).

15-minute City Transition Pathway (15mC TP) 

Topic 1: Next steps for multimodal urban mobility, building on the travel experience 

This topic focuses on strategies to improve sustainable transport options by integrating different modes and enhancing the perceived quality and experience of door-to-door travel. 

Proposals submitted under this topic should address one or several of the following issues:

(…)Which strategies, policies and approaches support efficient integration of public transport, active and shared mobility, and last-mile solutions? How can infrastructural, legal, and digital barriers be overcome?  

Topic 2: 15mC Topic #2: Reimagining parking – transforming urban parking policies 

Proposals should take an ambitious approach, embedding parking strategies within broader urban mobility plans and addressing connected regulations and tools for implementation, ensuring policies are fair, transparent and effective. This topic invites proposals to assess the impacts of such regulations, identify successful cases that deviate from minimum requirements and explore innovative policy alternatives that better integrate public transport, cycling infrastructure and shared mobility services.

(…)Expected outputs include, but are not limited to: 

• Governance models and tools for dynamic kerbside management to optimise space allocation for diverse needs.
• Innovative policy frameworks for existing parking regulations, lowering car dependency and incorporating sustainable transport options. (…)

Topic 3: Mobility policymaking in context of radical contestation This topic seeks to better understand the underlying motives behind radical contestation of mobility policies, develop pragmatic strategies to address these and counter misinformation, while advancing participatory approaches. Proposals under this topic are encouraged to build capacity among policymakers and develop practical tools to navigate increasingly polarised public discussions. Furthermore, applicants are invited to examine recent instances where misinformation has driven radical contestation of urban mobility policies, analysing the spread and consequences of such narratives as well as appropriate counters. This topic aims to build on governance and institutional innovation and highlight the power of partnerships with key stakeholders (e.g. schools, businesses, community leaders, and influencers) to improve transparency, strengthen public trust and facilitate policy implementation.

Expected outputs include, but are not limited to:

• Comprehensive analysis of spread, impact and counters to misinformation and radical contestation in urban mobility policymaking.
• Practical tools, guidelines and training programmes to equip policymakers with strategies to understand underlying needs and drivers of contestation and support in countering misinformation.
• Methodologies and effective communication strategies to build trust, increase acceptance and tailor messaging to different target audiences.
• Mobility scenarios and storytelling to illustrate real-life impact of mobility policies on urban quality of life.

Circular Urban Economies Transition Pathway (CUE TP): 

Topic 1: Resilient green and social infrastructure Proposals under this topic must seek innovative approaches to integrating green and social infrastructure into urban contexts. Projects should consider how green infrastructure offers opportunity for improved community wellbeing and health by providing inclusive and accessible spaces. The emphasis of this topic is on the benefits of combining the ecological and infrastructural qualities of green spaces, along with the socially cohesive qualities of social infrastructure, to create multifunctional spaces that address social, cultural and environmental challenges, fostering integrated and sustainable communities. 

Expected outputs include, but are not limited to:

• (…)Approaches for the design and management of green areas, and community and cultural spaces, for enhanced social and ecological benefits.
• Producing policy, governance and management recommendations for policymakers on governance models and financing mechanisms, to support transformative resilient and inclusive infrastructure initiatives. (…)

Topic 2: Sustainable tourism – circular benefits and challenges proposals under this topic must address the multifaceted challenges of sustainable tourism in both existing urban areas and new developments. Projects should focus on innovative solutions, instruments, strategies and regulations, incentives (such as tax incentives), at local, municipal and regional level. Project should, furthermore, focus on addressing rising housing and food prices, gentrification, waste management, infrastructure provision, as well as the environmental impacts and other challenges of tourism, and related real estate developments. submitted to this topic are invited to Proposals submitted under this topic should address one or several of the following aspects:

• Gentrification, housing and food prices
• Innovative policies for sustainable tourism
• Equitable distribution of tourism benefits
• Supporting local entrepreneurship in tourism
• Sustainable tourism practices

• Integrating local food and sustainable sourcing

   

Expected outputs include, but are not limited to:

• Evidence-based recommendations for policymakers, local governments and businesses.(…)
• Practical tools and frameworks for integrating circular urban economy principles into tourism.
• Approaches to align tourism goals with the goals that benefit local community.
• Policy recommendations that address tourism-driven gentrification in a neighbourhood.

Topic 3: Public procurement to foster urban greening and circularity

This topic focuses on how public procurement can 1) preserve and enhance biodiversity and mainstream NBS in cities, tackling the adverse effects of climate change and improve ecosystem health, and/or 2) close material loops and advance urban sustainability through circularity. 

Positive Energy Districts Transition Pathway (PED TP): 

Topic 1 - Driving a just transition: PED strategies in social and subsidised housing  proposals under this topic must seek innovative approaches of integrating PED principles in housing strategies, with a focus on in public / social / subsidised / non-profit housing. In particular, proposals should address the following aspects:

Embedding PED principles in urban housing strategies

The role of housing providers and scalability of strategic approaches

Social equity & community engagement: 

Context-sensitive and scalable technologies: 

Expected outputs include, but are not limited to: (…)

• Policy recommendations and innovative financing mechanisms to support PED adoption in housing.

Topic 2- Ensuring positive socio-economic impact: PEDs in local economies and energy markets: proposals under this topic must explore the transformative impact of PEDs on local and regional energy markets and seek innovative approaches to provide evidence for environmental, economic and social benefits the energy market transformation. In particular, proposals should address the following aspects:

Decentralised energy generation and market effects

Socio-economic impact on local communities

Grid resilience and market stability

Demand-response and smart technologies

Regulatory and incentive structures

Expected outputs include, but are not limited to:

• Evidence on how optimised energy efficiency, decentralised renewable energy production and flexibility services within PEDs impact local energy markets, energy pricing, affordability, and energy security, as well as recommendations for optimising these effects.
• Innovative approaches for balancing local and regional energy markets with national and transnational energy frameworks, including regulatory and incentive structures to ensure effective market operation.
• Analysis of the socio-economic effects of PEDs on local communities, including the creation of local jobs, economic opportunities, and behavioural shifts in social interactions within the community.
• Assessment of PEDs as energy trading platforms and energy communities, with clear evidence of their impact on local energy distribution, economic efficiency, climate neutrality and community engagement.

Topic 3: PEDs in urban heating and cooling strategies 

Proposals should address the technological, economic, and regulatory challenges related to heating and cooling within PEDs.

In particular, proposals should address the following aspects:

(…)

• Fair and inclusive access to heating and cooling
• Regulatory and policy considerations: 

Expected outputs include, but are not limited to:

• Guidelines and best practices for ensuring fair and inclusive access to heating and cooling, addressing affordability, renovation support, and cost distribution strategies.

• Policy recommendations and regulatory frameworks to support PED-based heating and cooling,including public-private partnership models and incentive structures.

  *The information provided above constitutes a summary of the topic text, focusing on aspects relevant to the potential contribution of the SSH expert. For comprehensive details, please refer to the full topic text.

• All funded partners in this Call will be funded by their national/regional Funding Agencies, in accordance with their respective national/regional eligibility criteria. Please note that a specific national/regional Agency may not be able to fund all types of organisations and/or TPs and/or research activities. Applicants must pay careful attention to the relevant national/regional funding rules indicated in Annex A
• Consortia may include partners active across several positions within the research and development system - i.e., innovation, applied research, strategic/fundamental research - and across disciplines (natural sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities, engineering, etc.).
• Projects may be funded for a maximum of 36 months.

More information here.