The Driving Urban Transitions (DUT) 2026 Call is now open for applications. The first-stage application deadline is 17 November 2026 at 13:00 CET.
Co-funded by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe framework program, this fifth call of the DUT Partnership forms part of the Mission Innovation (MI) call series. It supports transnational research and/or innovation projects that help cities tackle urban challenges and transition towards a climate-neutral and resilient future for all.
Proposed projects should contribute to one or more of the following thematic areas:
- 15-minute City
- Circular Urban Economies
- Positive Energy Districts
The 2026 Call also includes a cross-cutting topic on the adaptive reuse of existing urban structures and spaces.
Research organizations, companies, and commercial organizations, local and regional government authorities, consumer and civil society representatives, and actors from the culture and creative sectors may participate, subject to national/regional eligibility rules.
The maximum project duration is 36 months. Funding is provided directly by participating national/regional funding agencies, in accordance with their respective rules.
Each consortium must include:
- At least three partners eligible for funding from three different participating countries;
- Among these, at least two applicants from different EU Member States or Associated Countries eligible for EC co-funding;
- At least one urban government authority, such as a municipality or local authority.
For the cross-cutting topic, at least one private sector organization must also participate as a main applicant or co-applicant.
The following countries participate in the 2026 Call: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, and Türkiye. Eligibility for funding depends on the rules of the relevant national/regional funding agency.
Organizations from countries not participating in the call or otherwise ineligible for funding may join as Cooperation Partners, covering their activities with their own or other resources. These partners do not count towards the minimum of three eligible funded partners. Country-specific requirements are detailed in Annex A of the 2026 Call Text.
For application documents and further information, please visit the official call page. Prospective applicants can also use the DUT 2026 Matchmaking Platform to identify potential partners.
For questions regarding the general call process and proposal submission, please contact the DUT Call Secretariat at call@dutpartnership.eu
As UCLG-MEWA, we encourage our members to apply for this call. We are also open to exploring potential project partnerships. For inquiries about potential collaboration with UCLG-MEWA, please contact us at rdp@uclg-mewa.org
