Co-creating solutions for soil health in Living Labs

Within the framework of the EU-wide Horizon Europe Open Call “Co-creating solutions for soil health in Living Labs,” innovative prototypes to promote soil health are sought in six Living Labs across the EU. Funding is available for natural persons as well as legal entities (private individuals, companies, public and educational institutions, non-profit organizations) with up to €75,000 per project (100% funding rate) for a duration of 24 months. The objective is the validation of technologies, practices, and tools in real field trials, for example to improve soil structure and biodiversity, reduce salinity and pollutants, or promote circular restoration concepts. Eligible costs primarily include personnel expenses, travel and subcontractor costs, equipment depreciation, and consumables. Applicants must reside in a Horizon Europe participating country, have the capacity to conduct field tests, and not be subject to ongoing insolvency or conflict of interest proceedings. Submission is electronic by 4 February 2026 (14:00 CET) via the online form; complete application documents (project description PDF, guidelines, and form) are mandatory.

Selected project leaders will become members of the iCOSHELLs network and actively participate in co-creation activities. Each Living Lab group will select at least two projects, which will then be supported through joint workshops, expert panels, and coaching sessions. Evaluation criteria include relevance and degree of innovation, quality of the work plan and budget, team expertise, potential for soil health improvement, as well as sustainability and scalability. Interested researchers, farmers, SMEs, administrations, and civil society actors thus receive a unique opportunity to test their solutions under real conditions, exchange knowledge, and contribute to the EU mission “A Soil Deal for Europe.”