GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

The local and regional dimension is important since local energy and utility networks, adjacent industrial infrastructures and available by-products and services in such districts needs to be considered in a holistic and integrated approach.

Projects are expected to address all following aspects:

• Identify districts that are “ready to go” or at least in an advanced planning stage allowing the integration of an “extra mile” effort in terms of one or more innovation strands.
• Energy efficiency and insulation aspects should be already integrated in the renovation scheme; potentially including local renewable energy production and energy communities.
• Replicable: outcomes generated by the demonstrator projects’ implantation (for example, know-how, innovative solutions, proof of feasibility, new business models, adapted and scaled technology usage, policy recommendations, guidelines, prototypes, demonstrators, databases and datasets, trained researchers, new infrastructures, networks) should be directly usable or transferable for implementation after the project ends.
• Plan actions for overcoming relevant barriers for renovation at district level (e.g. regulatory limits, lack of trust amongst different stakeholders, lack of private investors and awareness of the integrated approach potential);
• Guarantee a majority (+50%) of social housing dwellings including a dominant focus on affordability for the remaining dwellings.

Project design and methodology:

• The development of an ambitious, mission-oriented, quality co-design process, based on citizens’ and stakeholders’ participation and multidisciplinary and multilevel collaboration.
• Deployment of an initial set of solutions as demonstrators within a two-year timeframe, accompanied by a rigorous impact evaluation methodology. Involvement in the testing of the innovation actions within the demonstrators with international experts.
• A detailed roadmap for implementation, with a sustainable financial plan identifying potential and substantial additional investment based on involvement and partnerships with different actors (national, regional, local, public and private sources).
• Projects are expected to participate in European-level networking opportunities in the context of the Affordable Housing Initiative
• Projects are expected to contribute to the New European Bauhaus initiative by interacting with the New European Bauhaus Community, NEBLab and other relevant actions of the initiative through sharing information, best practice, and, where relevant, results.