Empowering local urban food systems entrepreneurship and innovation

Overview

Supports innovation and entrepreneurship in local urban food systems by strengthening business development services, access to capital, and multi-actor governance models. Targets startups, SMEs, research institutions, and local authorities working to enhance urban food resilience, sustainability, and social inclusion.

Who Can Apply

Consortia of legal entities (e.g., SMEs, startups, universities, research organizations, local/regional authorities, civil society organizations, and urban planners) from eligible countries. Proposals must apply a multi-actor approach, involving diverse stakeholders in co-creation.

Funding Details

• Maximum grant amount: €11,000,000
• Funding type: Lump sum
• Funding rate: Not specified (standard Horizon Europe rules apply)
• Total budget: Not specified

What Is Funded

• Development and piloting of decentralized local urban food ecosystems (e.g., incubators, accelerators, hubs) to support sustainable and climate-smart solutions.
• Tailored mentorship programs for urban food entrepreneurs and startups.
• Co-creation of place-based, collaborative business models addressing sustainability and climate resilience.
• Scaling and replication of urban food innovations across diverse EU contexts, with measurable impact on sustainability.
• Integration with existing R&I initiatives (e.g., partnerships, missions, platforms) to accelerate market uptake of research outcomes.
• Activities must align with Food 2030 R&I priorities (nutrition, circularity, community empowerment) and contribute to the European Green Deal and EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy.

Technology / Maturity Requirements

• TRL range: Activities must start at any TRL but achieve TRL 6–8 by project end.
• Projects must demonstrate potential for scalability and market uptake.

Key Dates

• Open date: 2027-04-19
• Deadline: 2027-09-22

Application Process (High-Level)

• Single-stage submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal.
• Proposals must adhere to page limits and layout specified in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.

Post-Award Obligations

• Reporting and dissemination requirements as per Horizon Europe lump sum grant agreements.
• Compliance with multi-actor approach and gender dimension (where applicable).
• Integration of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines and consideration of intersectional social categories (e.g., disability, age, socioeconomic status).

Geographic Scope & Language

• Eligible countries: EU Member States, Associated Countries (Norway, Iceland, UK, Switzerland), and select non-EU/non-associated countries with specific funding provisions.
• Application language: English.

Notes

• Proposals must include a detailed budget table for lump sum funding.
• Explicit exclusion of non-multi-actor consortia.
• Alignment with EU Food System Monitoring Dashboard and Clean Industrial Deal is required.
• Gender and social inclusion must be addressed where applicable.