Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are actions that protect, sustainably manage, or restore natural or modified ecosystems to address societal challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, and urban resilience—while delivering environmental, social, and economic benefits. The EU strongly promotes NbS through the European Green Deal, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and the EU Adaptation Strategy. Horizon Europe (the EU’s key research and innovation funding programme for 2021–2027) dedicates significant resources to NbS via Cluster 6 (Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment), EU Missions, and related calls.
I provide expert guidance to help consortia navigate complex grant applications, strengthen proposals, and ensure full compliance with Horizon Europe rules.
Key Horizon Europe Opportunities for NbS Projects (as of early 2026)
Several targeted calls focus on scaling evidence-based NbS:
- Mainstreaming and scaling-up evidence-based Nature-based Solutions towards a nature positive and climate-resilient economy (HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-04-two-stage, Cluster 6).
Two-stage call with Stage 1 deadline 16 April 2026. Indicative budget ~€18 million for ~3 projects (each ~€6 million). It supports large-scale pilots using landscape/seascape approaches, impact assessment under different climate scenarios, risk mitigation (vs. grey infrastructure), policy integration (energy, transport, water, built environment), and multi-actor collaboration including social sciences and humanities (SSH). Strong emphasis on co-design, long-term viability, Earth Observation/modelling, and alignment with the European Green Deal and Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. - Other relevant areas include EU Missions (e.g., Restore our Ocean and Waters, Climate Adaptation), urban NbS, insurance/finance mechanisms for NbS, and integration with bio-based solutions or reconstruction efforts.
- Over 100 EU-funded NbS projects already exist across urban, rural, coastal, and marine environments, involving thousands of partners—providing rich lessons and networks to build upon.
Check the Funding & Tenders Portal (ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal) for the latest call texts, work programmes (including 2025–2027 updates), and submission details. Many calls require a consortium of at least 3 independent legal entities from 3 different EU or associated countries (with at least one from an EU Member State).
Expert Guidance on Navigating Grant Applications
Horizon Europe proposals are highly competitive and evaluated on three main criteria: Excellence, Impact, and Implementation. For NbS projects, success often hinges on demonstrating:
- Strong Evidence Base and Innovation
Build on existing Horizon 2020/Horizon Europe NbS portfolios (e.g., impact assessment frameworks, co-creation guidelines). Use credible modelling, Earth Observation, and long-term projections. Avoid reinventing the wheel—explicitly show how your project advances or scales prior results. - Multi-Actor and Transdisciplinary Approach
Involve researchers, policymakers, practitioners, local stakeholders, and SSH experts. Co-creation and co-governance are recurring themes; guidelines from EU-funded projects emphasize systematic stakeholder mapping, inclusive processes, and addressing diverse planning cultures. - Clear Pathways to Impact and Mainstreaming
Address policy integration, upscaling, risk mitigation (e.g., unintended consequences), and economic viability. Quantify benefits (biodiversity, climate resilience, social/economic returns) and compare with traditional solutions. Include dissemination, exploitation, and communication plans. - Sustainability and Systemic Perspective
Align with ecosystem integrity, connectivity, and multiple benefits. Consider landscape-level implementation rather than isolated interventions.
Ensuring Compliance Criteria
Horizon Europe has strict rules on eligibility, ethics, and financial management. Common pitfalls for NbS projects include:
- Consortium and Eligibility — Minimum 3 partners rule; check third-country participation rules (associated countries like Norway, Switzerland, UK, etc., are often treated similarly to EU). Legal entities must have operational and financial capacity.
- Financial Compliance — Eligible costs must be actually incurred, during the project period, necessary, budgeted, identifiable, and recorded per usual accounting practices. No double funding. Budget categories typically include personnel, subcontracting, travel, equipment, and other goods/services (with flat-rate options for indirect costs).
- Ethics, Open Science, and Data Management — NbS projects may involve environmental data, stakeholder engagement, or field interventions—address any ethics issues (e.g., environmental impact) early. Plan for FAIR data, open access, and gender equality dimensions where relevant.
- Do No Significant Harm (DNSH) and alignment with EU Taxonomy/Sustainable Finance where applicable.
- Two-Stage vs. Single-Stage — For two-stage calls like the main NbS scaling topic, Stage 1 focuses on concept and strategic fit; only shortlisted consortia submit full proposals.
I help clients with consortium building, partner search, proposal structuring, budget planning, risk assessment, and pre-submission reviews to maximize scores.
How I Can Support Your NbS Project
- Call Analysis & Strategy — Mapping your idea to the best call/topic and identifying synergies.
- Proposal Development — Excellence/Impact/Implementation sections, work packages, milestones, KPIs.
- Compliance Check — Full review against Horizon Europe rules, ethics, and policy alignment.
- Co-Creation & Stakeholder Plans — Drawing from EU guidelines on NbS governance.
- Impact & Exploitation — Pathways to policy uptake, scaling, and long-term sustainability.
- Training/Workshops — For teams on Horizon Europe writing or NbS-specific topics.
Whether you’re a university, SME, municipality, NGO, or larger consortium preparing for the April 2026 deadline or future calls, I offer tailored support to increase your success rate.
Next Steps: Share a brief overview of your NbS project idea (e.g., focus area, consortium status, target call), and I’ll provide initial targeted advice or a full consultation proposal. Resources like the NetworkNature platform, OPPLA repository, and official EC handbooks on NbS impact assessment are excellent starting points.
Let’s turn your nature-positive idea into a funded Horizon Europe success. Contact me to get started!