HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-TRANSFO-03

Our project

The project aims to develop and test a new model of sustainable competitiveness based on social value creation (wellbeing, inclusion, affordability), real performance in use (not design intent) and social economy participation, using the built environment as a test bed. It will bridge social economy and the built environment by enabling co-creation of sustainable spaces -a key principle of the social economy, hence redefining competitiveness. The project will co-design and test the new model of competitiveness with social economy actors—such as housing associations and community organisations—and validate them through living labs across Europe.

We are seeking partners to address that gap requires cross-national policy comparison, citizen and stakeholder engagement at scale and integration of social sciences into built environment research. We look forward to work closely with partners to identify distributional impacts of sustainable competitiveness and mapping “green inequality hotspots across different cities/regions in Europe.

Northumbria University's Strength and Expertise

Ranked in the UK’s top 10 for sustainability in 2025, Northumbria holds leading roles in regional, national, and international projects focusing on environmental, social, and economic impacts. Northumbria demonstrated strong ability to deliver applied, interdisciplinary research with policy and societal impacts. Northumbria hosts established, interdisciplinary strengths across: sustainable built environment and urban transitions; social policy, inequality, and regional development; and business models, governance, and organisational transformation. The university has put great emphasis on interdisciplinary research including urban resilience, sustainability, and social transformation, with diverse experts and researchers working continuously and directly on these priorities.

We are open to join or co-develop a Horizon Europe Cluster 2 consortium focusing on climate change, sustainable cities and communities and urban resilience.