Pilot Cities Programme

53 Pilot Cities in 21 countries are testing and implementing innovative solutions to rapidly and drastically reducing their emissions, paving the way for a climate–proof future in European cities.

A clear set of innovative solutions ready to be implemented, scaled and/or replicated will be identified by the end of the pilot. This could include new business models, policy initiatives, governance innovation, funding or financing models, and replication or scaling strategies.

This first cohort of Pilot Cities, selected in February 2023, is supported with €32 million in grants funded by Horizon 2020. Cities receive such support in the amounts of € 0.5 million, € 1 million, or € 1.5 million in order to deploy and scale up R&I and systemic solutions.

NetZeroCities second Call for Pilot Cities selected 26 cities across 16 EU and Horizon Europe Associated countries to join this groundbreaking programme testing innovative approaches to rapid decarbonisation.

With nearly 15 Million Euros in funding, these 26 cities will launch 22 Pilot Activities, testing and implementing systemic and locally designed innovative actions on a wide range of topics. 

NetZeroCities third Call for Pilot Cities selected Mission Cities that were not yet part of the Pilot Cities Programme and wished to test pathways to rapid decarbonisation in European cities.

This third call provides over 14 million Euros in total in grants and hands-on support to cities. After going through a formal Grant Agreement Process (GAP) to satisfy due diligence standards, cities are set to receive funding through three subgrants envelopes in the amounts of €0.5 – 0.6 million, € 1 million, or € 1.5 million. Results of this call were announced in May 2024.