Integrating circularity in LCA-based modelling frameworks for renovation of buildings (Built4People Partnership)
Horizon Europe · Grant topic
Summary
A Polish company can use this call for R&D.
Funds companies and researchers improving building life cycle assessment models and demonstrating circular renovation strategies that reduce material use, energy consumption and emissions.
- Who can apply
- Companies can lead: SME, large company, startup, research org, university.
- Amount
- €6.8M per projectTotal budget €27,000,000
- Deadline
- 15 Sept 2027 02:00 CESTin 326 days
- Status
- Forthcomingopens 5 May 2027
Machine-classified from the call text; check eligibility at the source.
Description
Expected Outcome:
Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:
• Demonstration of measurable reductions in material flows, life cycle energy use and GHG emissions in building renovations that integrate circularity strategies to contribute to achieving net-zero whole life carbon buildings;
• More robust approach to current modelling frameworks to comprehensively reflect the complexity of circularity strategies in life cycle assessments at building scale.
Scope:
European buildings are increasingly adopting circularity strategies in renovations to reduce life cycle environmental impacts and improve resource efficiency in response to the requirements based on current frameworks, such as Level(s) and WLC models used by Member States based and EN 15978 standard. The complexity of these circularity strategies, such as material reuse and recycling, and addressing the changing nature of assessed systems with long life cycles are critical for achieving more reliable assessment results. Further work is needed to advance and achieve more detailed modelling frameworks that integrate circularity assessment with life cycle assessment, supporting the delivery of net-zero whole-life carbon buildings.
Proposals should address all of the following:
• Develop a comprehensive modelling framework that integrates circularity assessment in life cycle, covering cradle to cradle system boundary;
• Apply the developed modelling framework to at least three real-life buildings in different climatic regions in different Member States or Associated Countries, for which renovation project developers have adopted ambitious circularity strategies to achieve zero whole-life carbon buildings. Circularity strategies should include reuse and/or recycle, as well as at least one of the following: reduce, repair, refurbish, remanufacture, and repurpose;
• Assess the embodied emissions (from materials, products, and construction processes) and operational emissions (from energy use for HVAC, DHW, electrical appliances, lighting) of the real-life buildings subjected to renovations during their entire life cycle, referencing life cycle stages in EN 15978.
This topic implements the co-programmed European Partnership on ‘People-centric sustainable built environment’ (Built4People). As such, projects resulting from this topic will be expected to contribute to the objectives of Built4People, transfer knowledge to its network of innovation clusters[1] and report on results in support of the monitoring of the Built4People KPIs.
Technology Readiness Level - Technology readiness level expected from completed projects
Activities are expected to achieve TRL 6-8 by the end of the project – see General Annex B. Activities may start at any TRL.
[1] https://built4people.eu/b4pic_network/
Who can apply, in detail
- Applicant types
- SME, Large company, Startup, Research org, University
- Purpose
- Research and innovation
- R&D relevance
- 3 of 3
- Poland eligible
- Yes
- Country limit
- —
- Region
- Any
- Consortium
- Unclear
- Readiness level (TRL)
- —
- Topics
- Building life cycle assessment
- Circular renovation
- Material reuse and recycling
- Whole-life carbon modelling
Machine-classified from the call text; check eligibility at the source. 23 Oct 2026
Conditions
Typed facts extracted from the source documents by Scindu's grant-data review. Each value keeps its own conditions. Unknown means unstated, not zero or unlimited.
- Consortium requiredBeneficiaries; affiliated entities do not count toward minimum
- Yes
Unless the topic provides otherwise, at least three independent legal-entity beneficiaries from three different countries: one from a Member State and two others each from different Member States or Associated Countries.
- Other condition
- The Work Programme classifies this exact topic as an Innovation Action.
- Other condition
- Projects are expected to contribute to Built4People objectives, transfer knowledge to its innovation-cluster network, and report results for its KPI monitoring.
- Other condition
- General Annex B excludes legal entities established in China from Innovation Actions. The specific Work Programme condition additionally excludes entities established in an eligible country but directly or indirectly controlled by China or by a legal entity established in China only where that topic states the critical-technology restriction.
- Other condition
- Horizon Europe projects must focus exclusively on civil applications.
- Other condition
- If the project uses satellite-based Earth-observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data or services, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS; other data and services may also be used.
- Other condition
- Where a Type 2 detailed budget is required, estimates may include subcontracting, purchases, and other cost categories per beneficiary/affiliated entity and work package. Subcontracting must cover action tasks and meet the MGA eligibility and best-value/no-conflict conditions; purchases follow the beneficiary’s usual purchasing practices and best value for money or lowest price, with no conflict of interest. These are estimated-cost rules, not separate LS reimbursement promises.
- Other condition
- Expected outcomes are measurable reductions in material flows, life-cycle energy use and GHG emissions from circularity-based building renovation, and more robust LCA frameworks that account for circularity at building scale.
- Other condition
- The call overview indicates around 4 project(s) expected to be funded under this topic. This is a planning estimate, not a guaranteed award count or consortium-size rule.
- Other condition
- The specific topic conditions state that eligible costs take the form of a lump sum under the Horizon Europe lump-sum decision. This is not direct reimbursement of each actual payroll or invoice.
- Other condition
- The call Work Programme specifies lump-sum funding but does not identify its subtype. For project-based Type 2 lump sums, the Commission’s guidance calls for realistic estimates by cost category, beneficiary/affiliated entity, and work package, using costs eligible under the programme’s actual-cost rules, in line with normal practices, reasonable and necessary for the activities. Confirm the subtype in the call’s submission system before treating that Type 2 estimate table as call-specific.
- Other condition
- Public universities (higher education establishments) established in China and administered by or under the supervision of China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology are ineligible to participate in any action under all parts of this Work Programme.
- Other condition
- The granting authority may, for up to four years after the action ends, object to a transfer of ownership or exclusive licensing of results under the specific Annex 5 provision.
- Other condition
- Assess embodied emissions from materials, products and construction and operational emissions from HVAC, hot-water, appliances, lighting and energy use over the renovation buildings’ full life cycle, referencing EN 15978 life-cycle stages.
- Other condition
- Develop a comprehensive modelling framework integrating circularity assessment into life-cycle assessment using a cradle-to-cradle system boundary.
- Other condition
- Apply the framework to at least three real-life buildings located in different climatic regions in different Member States or Associated Countries. Their renovation developers must have adopted ambitious circularity strategies toward zero whole-life-carbon buildings; strategies must include reuse and/or recycling plus at least one of reduce, repair, refurbish, remanufacture, or repurpose.
- Other condition
- The Work Programme expects activity to reach TRL 6–8 by project end. This is an expected range, not a guarantee or a separately imposed funding entitlement.
- Other condition
- The Work Programme allows the responsible Director-General to open the call up to one month before or after its planned opening and to delay its deadline by up to two months. These are call-programme flexibilities, not a claim that a change occurred.
- Other condition
- The Work Programme schedules this call to open 2027-05-05 and sets the deadline as 2027-09-15 at 17:00 Brussels local time.
- Technology readiness level at end, maximum
- 8 TRL
Both endpoints are an expected end-of-project target range, not separate eligibility floors or ceilings. The Work Programme says activities may start at any TRL.
- Technology readiness level at end, minimum
- 6 TRL
Both endpoints are an expected end-of-project target range, not separate eligibility floors or ceilings. The Work Programme says activities may start at any TRL.
Amounts and costs
- Indicative budget
- €27,000,000
Topic budget as stated in the portal's budget table. Lump-sum and per-project limits are in the call conditions.
- Eligible cost limitEligible direct costs in MGA categories A–D, with stated exclusions
- 25 percent of eligible direct costs
The HE MGA flat-rate calculation excludes volunteer costs, subcontracting, financial support to third parties, and exempted specific cost categories. For these topics the grant is a lump sum; this is an underlying estimate/eligibility rule, not a separately reimbursed 25% payment. Operating-grant restrictions may also make indirect costs ineligible under the lump-sum guide.
- Funding intensity, maximumNon-profit legal entity beneficiaries only
- 100 percent of eligible costs per beneficiary
General Annex G permits a rate up to 100% for non-profit Innovation Action beneficiaries. The rate is not an award guarantee and for lump sums is applied through the amount-setting methodology.
- Funding intensity, maximumBeneficiary category under this action type
- 70 percent of eligible costs per beneficiary
General Annex G maximum for this Horizon Europe action type; not an award guarantee. For lump-sum grants, the rate is applied through the amount-setting methodology rather than shown separately in the grant agreement.
- Expected contribution per projectCommission estimated EU contribution for this topic
- €6,750,000
The overview identifies this as an amount around which outcomes could be addressed; different proposal amounts are not precluded. This is not a fixed minimum, maximum, or award guarantee.
- Topic allocationTopic-specific indicative allocation in the 2027 Work Programme call table
- €27,000,000
The Work Programme labels the amount indicative; call footnote says the budget is subject to Union budget appropriations. It is a topic allocation, not a per-beneficiary grant amount.
Personnel and services
Other role
Staff cost the grant can fund
These are cost-category estimate inputs only if this call uses a project-based Type 2 lump-sum detailed budget. The Work Programme only identifies lump-sum funding and does not identify the lump-sum subtype. A role row does not advertise a vacancy, fix a headcount, salary, or hiring entitlement; the lump sum is paid for action implementation, not separately as actual payroll. MGA A.2/A.3 requires assignment to the action, employee-like working conditions, and (unless agreed otherwise) the result belonging to the beneficiary; the calculated rate must correspond to actual costs and not be significantly different from similar employee tasks.
Other role
Staff cost the grant can fund
These are cost-category estimate inputs only if this call uses a project-based Type 2 lump-sum detailed budget. The Work Programme only identifies lump-sum funding and does not identify the lump-sum subtype. A role row does not advertise a vacancy, fix a headcount, salary, or hiring entitlement; the lump sum is paid for action implementation, not separately as actual payroll. Under the HE MGA, employee costs may qualify when the person works for the beneficiary under an employment contract/equivalent appointing act and is assigned to the action; eligible remuneration components and calculation follow Article 6.2 A.1.
Other role
Staff cost the grant can fund
These are cost-category estimate inputs only if this call uses a project-based Type 2 lump-sum detailed budget. The Work Programme only identifies lump-sum funding and does not identify the lump-sum subtype. A role row does not advertise a vacancy, fix a headcount, salary, or hiring entitlement; the lump sum is paid for action implementation, not separately as actual payroll. MGA A.4 permits such action work to be declared as personnel costs only where the person is an SME owner or natural-person beneficiary not receiving a salary and the amount is calculated as the applicable unit cost under Annex 2a.
Source documents
Call facts
- Opens
- 5 May 2027
- Deadline model
- Single-stage
- Programme
- Horizon Europe · 2021 - 2027
- Call
- HORIZON-CL5-2027-05 · BATTERIES and ENERGY
- Types of action
- HORIZON Innovation Actions
- Source
- ec.europa.eu
- Checked
- 24 Oct 2026
- Portal updated
- 7 Oct 2026
- Review status
- Partial review
- Reviewed
- 23 Oct 2026
This is a summary of the source page, not the official text. Eligibility, conditions and the submission system are at the source.