Novel combinations of knowledge and research methods to address social issues and advance a fair green transition of neighbourhoods

Expected Outcome:

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• The scientific community, public authorities and neighbourhood^[1] actors have a better understanding of social issues that influence the green transition^[1] in neighbourhoods thanks to novel, transdisciplinary^[1] combinations of knowledge and research methods.
• Robust evidence resulting from novel, transdisciplinary combinations of knowledge and research methods informs decision-making, policymaking, design and planning, and/or public service design for the green transition of neighbourhoods, including their nature-positive^[4] transformation.
• Skills transfer among the scientific community and non-scientific actors involved in planning and implementing the green transition at the neighbourhood level.

Scope:

Social challenges (e.g. access to affordable housing, energy poverty, access to quality green spaces) impact the quality of life, health and well-being of individuals and communities^[1] in neighbourhoods and influence how inhabitants experience and engage with the green transition. Advancing the green transition requires approaches that consider these varied experiences and ensure fairness and inclusion of all. However, the know-how of local communities and other non-scientific actors remains underexplored when it comes to generating and/or validating solutions to advance the green transition.

This topic focuses on innovative approaches for combining knowledge from local communities and non-scientific actors with scientific knowledge and/or formal research methods to address social issues that influence the green transition in neighbourhoods.

Proposals are expected to address all of the following:   

• Develop an innovative, transdisciplinary approach that brings novel insights on social issues that hinder a fair green transition in neighbourhoods, including their nature-positive transformation. The approach is expected to:
  • Define the social issue(s) to be investigated. Where relevant, identify links between the social issue(s), relevant social phenomena and local specificities.
  • Integrate knowledge from local communities and non-scientific actors with scientific knowledge and/or formal research methods that are not usually combined.
  • Be tested or validated in at least three neighbourhoods (in urban, peri-urban and rural areas) located in different Member States and/or Associated Countries.
• Propose guidelines and recommendations for the uptake of the resulting insights and transdisciplinary approaches in decision-making, policymaking, design and planning, and/or public service design for neighbourhoods.

Proposals are expected to follow a participatory^[1] and transdisciplinary^[1] approach through the integration of different actors and disciplines.

This topic requires the effective contribution of social sciences and humanities (SSH)^[1] disciplines and the involvement of SSH experts, institutions as well as the inclusion of relevant SSH expertise, in order to produce meaningful and significant effects enhancing the societal impact of the related research activities.

Proposals are expected to allocate at least 0.8% of their budget for engaging with the Horizon Europe-funded 'New European Bauhaus hub for results and impact' to share their intermediate and final results, findings and learning, as well as to contribute to impact assessment.

[1] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

[2] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

[3] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

[4] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

[5] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

[6] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

[7] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.

[8] See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.