About DUT Call 2025
The aim of this call for proposals is to support transnational research and/or innovation projects that help cities tackle urban challenges and transition towards a climate neutral and resilient future for all.
Projects should contribute to one or more of our three thematic areas, the Transition Pathways: 15-minute City, Circular Urban Economies and Positive Energy Districts.
It is the fourth call of the DUT Partnership co-funded by the European Commission (EC) under the Horizon Europe framework programme.
On a global level, DUT Call 2025 is part of the Mission Innovation (MI) call series, i.e., MICall25. As such, call topics are prepared in collaboration with the Urban Transitions Mission (UTM) under MI, and all topics of the call are open for applications that directly and/or indirectly contribute to the work of UTM.
Latest updates
25 February 2026
Inclusion procedure: Proposals invited to Stage 2 can now add partners to their consortia. Find more information here.
15 October 2025
Unfortunately, due to internal reasons at the Hungarian funding agency (NKFIH), Hungarian applicants cannot apply for DUT funding in Call 2025.
They may still participate in proposals as cooperation partners (self-funded) if this is feasible for their organisation but cannot participate as funded main or co-applicants. If your consortium includes Hungarian applicants, please be sure to either switch their partner role to cooperation partner or remove/replace them entirely. If a new partner is needed, please feel free to use the DUT Matchmaking Platform.
Please note that the transnational eligibility criteria must still be fulfilled, including but not limited to the following rules:
Transnational eligibility rule 1: Each proposal must be submitted by a consortium consisting of at least three eligible applicants from at least three different participating countries (see Annex A). In addition, at least two of the eligible applicants must be from different EU Member States (MS) or Associated Countries (AC) to the Horizon Europe eligible for EC co-funding in this call.
=> Please note that Hungary is no longer considered a participating country in this call and therefore no longer counts towards either of these points.
Transnational eligibility rule 2: The main applicant (project coordinator) must be eligible to be funded and request funding by its national/regional participating funding agency
=> If the main applicant of your consortium is Hungarian, please note that you must replace them with an organisation funded by a participating funding agency.
For questions, please contact call@dutpartnership.eu
General Information
The 15-minute City Transition Pathway (15mC TP) addresses challenges of urban mobility, logistics, public space and proximity-based policies to promote implementation of climate neutral, resilient neighbourhoods for all. It draws on research and innovation projects to showcase a diverse mosaic of approaches that drive mobility transitions. The 15mC TP aims to enable analysis, development and testing of ideas, tools and innovations for 15-minute cities within co-creative and transdisciplinary settings.
The Circular Urban Economies Transition Pathway (CUE TP) aims to foster urban places, communities and neighbourhoods that are sustained by circular resource flows and enhance the wellbeing of their inhabitants and ecosystems. It encourages urban planning and design characterised by regenerative urbanism, favouring the combination of circular principles, urban greening, and equal access to urban spaces and resources.
The Positive Energy Districts Transition Pathway (PED TP) aims to develop innovative solutions for planning, large-scale implementation, and replication of PEDs across Europe’s urban and peri-urban areas. By combining energy efficiency, renewable energy production, and energy flexibility at the local level, PEDs offer and contribute to affordable energy systems, affordable quality housing, and competitive, resilient and inclusive local economies for cities through energy communities, contributing to European goals such as the SET Plan and the EU Mission on Climate-neutral and Smart Cities.
Current status of the call process
- 1 Sep 2025 Stage 1 opens for pre-proposal submission
- 17 Nov 2025 Stage 1 closes
- 20 Feb 2026 Stage 2 opens for full proposal submission
- 23 Apr 2026 Stage 2 closes
- Jul 2026 Funding decision announced
- End 2026/beginning 2027 Projects start
- 2027 (tbd) Projects kick-off event