The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) continues to support the New European Bauhaus (NEB) as a flagship European Commission initiative for sustainable, inclusive, and aesthetic innovation.
Through its dynamic Community NEB, the EIT supports projects that integrate art, design, science, and innovation to tackle real-world societal challenges. The recently published NEB Facility roadmap for 2025–2027 underscores this commitment, detailing new funding streams and policy tools supported by Horizon Europe and other EU programmes.Â
A Structured Innovation Journey Rooted in CommunityÂ
Established in January 2021, the EIT Community NEB – uniting EIT Urban Mobility, Climate-KIC, EIT Food, and EIT Manufacturing—has developed a structured journey where citizens, grassroots initiatives, startups or larger innovation projects can engage with and scale up solutions aligned with NEB values.
In 2024, the EIT Community NEB launched six calls for participation that attracted 379 applications from 22 countries. These efforts culminated in events in Barcelona and Brussels, fostering collaboration and showcasing innovative projects.
The EIT aims to steer the entrepreneurial ecosystem towards transformative solutions through dedicated events and supports business ideas via prototyping and testing programmes. Additionally, the EIT wants to increase citizen engagement by inviting communities to collaborate in redesigning their local environments, thereby integrating NEB principles into everyday life. Â
Building Capacity and Embedding ChangeÂ
In 2025, the EIT Community NEB will focus on expanding engagement, refining programme portfolios, and amplifying communication impact. With activities like Ignite NEB and Grow NEB nurturing early-stage ideas, and Catalyse NEB accelerating startups, the initiative continues to drive innovation at local and European levels. Notably, 20 NEB-aligned start-ups will receive targeted financial and acceleration support to strengthen their market presence and impact. In this context, three startups—Nest, Biosphere Solar, and ToGather Homes—were selected by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) to present NEB innovation at the Osaka World Expo on 14 April, showcasing European sustainability leadership on the global stage.Â
The EIT Community is also scaling educational and capacity-building efforts through the planned NEB Academy, which aims to upskill professionals across the construction and design sectors with a focus on sustainable urban transformation. In parallel, the NEB Lighthouses initiative continues to support the long-term sustainability of 26 flagship projects. As implementation of the New European Bauhaus initiative enters a new phase, the EIT is set to play a pivotal role in ensuring that its values are not only promoted but embedded in local policies and everyday spaces across Europe.
