The call for Pilot cities was opened on September 5, 2022. and invites applications from all cities that commit to the objectives of the EU Cities Mission located in EU member states and associated countries.

NetZeroCities is a project that launches a revolutionary program that tests new approaches to achieving climate neutrality goals in cities in Europe. This Cities Pilot Program is part of the EU Mission for 100 Climate Neutral and Smart Cities ("EU Cities Mission"), which provides €32 million in grants and practical support to cities.

The pilot cities program will help cities as they test locally adapted actions towards climate transition. Selected cities will be awarded grants financed under Horizon 2020, the European Commission's Framework Program for Research and Innovation (R&I) 2014-2020. Cities will receive such support in amounts of EUR 0.5 million, EUR 1 million or EUR 1.5 million to implement and expand research and innovation and systemic solutions.

The NetZeroCities consortium and a dedicated online platform will provide expertise and support services to selected pilot cities and help them take an inclusive, system-wide approach to climate neutrality. The cities' pilot activities will be diverse, consisting of social, cultural, technological, regulatory and financial innovations, as well as new approaches to business and management.

The applicant's proposed activities will be considered, as well as how they interact with different urban systems relevant to that city, including: mobility, energy systems and the built environment, material and resource flows, health and well-being, natural areas, cultural, social, financial institutional systems and accessible public spaces. Further details on eligibility are available in the Invitation Guidelines.

These pilot activities will turn cities into testing grounds for climate neutrality, encouraging other communities to take action. Collective learning will be central to the pilot cities programme, promoting exchange between cities at every step of the process. From there, the solutions will be shared even more widely, as part of a twinning program that will connect each pilot city with two to three other cities across Europe. To scale up these initial actions, the NetZeroCities platform will also provide support in securing financing and funding for further implementation or replication.

More information is available in the Invitation Guidelines and the Guide.

Source: Errin