DUT Call 2026

Research

Funding organisation:

Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek - Vlaanderen

What?

This call for proposals has been launched and aims to support transnational research and/or innovation projects that help cities tackle urban challenges and transition towards a climate neutral and resilient future for all. The challenges are grouped into three themes called ‘Transition Pathways: Positive Energy Districts, the 15-minute City and Circular Urban Economies.

It is the fifth call of the European Partnership Driving Urban Transitions (DUT), co-funded by the European Commission under Horizon Europe.

The projects selected will be funded directly by national/regional funding agencies. In Belgium, the FWO will fund the selected proposals. 
Maximum amount: 250.000 EUR per project/consortium
Project duration: 36 months
PLEASE NOTE: the FWO does not provide funding for Cross-cutting Topic #1 ‘Adaptive reuse of existing urban structures and spaces’, nor does it support ‘Innovation Oriented Approach’ (IOA) projects in general. Only the ‘Research Oriented Approach’ (ROA) is eligible for funding.
The FWO integrates two of its ‘national’ funding channels within this multilateral framework. The choice of funding channel depends on the type of project. The scope and the eligibility of institutions and its researchers can be verified in the relevant and respective chosen funding channels regulations, which can be consulted on the FWO website:
FWO Research Projects (FO)
Strategic Basic Research (SBO)

Funding via VLAIO is also possible. Funding can come via development- or research projects. In this case, only companies can submit proposals in which Hasselt University can be a subcontractor or research partner.
New since 2024 is that VLAIO funding is also possible via TETRA. Via VLAIO TETRA, a research group of a Flemish university college and/or Flemish university, actively engaged in practice-oriented research, can also submit a proposal. VLAIO TETRA has a budget of 600.000 EUR to finance 1 or 2 projects of 2 years duration.

Call Topics can be found in the DUT Transition Pathways:

Positive Energy Districts Pathway (PED): entails finding innovative investment models and incentives to foster collaboration among public authorities, real estate entities, financing institutions, utilities, and homeowners, enabling the implementation and realization of Positive Energy Districts.
Cross-cutting topic 1: Adaptive reuse of existing urban structures and spaces​
PED topic 2: PED solutions in private housing across different urban contexts​
PED topic 3: Sustainable PEDs, flexibility in energy systems and integrated technologies​

15-minute City Pathway (15minC): addresses challenges of urban mobility, logistics, public space and proximity-based policies to promote implementation of climate-neutral, resilient neighbourhoods for all. It draws on research and innovation projects to showcase a diverse mosaic of approaches that drive mobility transitions.
Cross-cutting topic 1: Adaptive reuse of existing urban structures and spaces​
15mC topic 2: Aligns ambitions for mobility transitions across sectors
15mC topic 3: Nurture neighbourhood economies - activate innovation in local everyday offers

Circular Urban Economies Pathway (CUE): aims to foster urban places, communities and neighbourhoods that are sustained by circular resource flows and enhance the well-being of their inhabitants and ecosystems. It encourages urban planning and design characterised by regenerative urbanism, favouring the combination of circular principles, urban greening, and equal access to urban spaces and resources.
Cross-cutting topic 1: Adaptive reuse of existing urban structures and spaces​
CUE topic 2: Innovative maintenance of urban green and blue spaces​
CUE topic 3: Rethinking urban production for circular and resilient cities

Who?

Applicants are defined as organisations/institutions/companies (i.e. legal entities) that apply for funding. For funding via VLAIO, applicants can be research organisations and urban government authorities.

Each proposal must be submitted by a consortium consisting of at least three eligible Applicants from at least three different participating countries. In addition, at least two of the eligible Applicants must be from different EU Member States or Associated Countries eligible for EC co-funding in this Call.

The Main Applicant (project coordinator) must be eligible to be funded and request funding by its national/regional participating Funding Agency.

A Principal Investigator (PI) must only participate in a maximum of two proposals, and only once as the PI of a Main Applicant.

Consortia must include at least one urban government authority.

Application?

The rules for application can be found here.

Deadline pre-proposals: 17 November 2026, 13:00 (CET)
Deadline full proposals: 15 April 2027, 13:00 (CET)

Only pre-proposals invited to submit a full proposal will be eligible in the second stage of the selection procedure.

Pre-proposals/full proposals must be prepared in English using the designated mandatory proposal form.

Pre-proposals and full proposals must be submitted on the UEFISCDI electronic submission system, UDiManager15 (www.uefiscdi-direct.ro).

The FWO requires pre-registration on a national/regional level as well by filling in an application form on the FWO e-portal before the deadline for submission of the pre-proposals. When you're logged on to the e-portal, you can find it under "Researcher". 
It is strongly recommended to contact the FWO administration about your pre-registration at the latest one week before submission in order to verify admissibility.

Given the pre-proposal already has to be OK in terms of budget, OBI has an internal deadline to check your proposal.
Internal deadline: 7 November 2026, 09:00

This internal deadline is only applicable if UHasselt is the main applicant. When UHasselt is a co-applicant, you have to respect the internal deadline of the university of the main applicant.

More information?

All information about documents and regulations will be published on the website.

Information concerning the rules for FWO funding are published on the FWO website.

Concerning VLAIO you can find more information on the VLAIO website. For VLAIO TETRA you can find more information here.

Please contact research@uhasselt.be if you want to apply.

Upcoming events:

DUT Info Day and some regional events will be organised:

Vlaio online Info session (Dutch): 8 September 2026 (14:00 – 16:00) In this Dutch online info session DUT will be explained, as also the substantive themes within the DUT call 2026, the FWO modalities for support to knowledge institutions and the VLAIO modalities for support to businesses and local authorities, and colleges.
You can register here. 

DUT Info Day: 9 September 2026 (10:00 – 13:00) This webinar will offer a comprehensive introduction to the DUT Call 2026 and guidance on how to apply for funding. You can join here.

Deadline intern

07.11.2026, 17.11.2026

Contact Hasselt University?

E-mail sarah.szyr@uhasselt.be

Tel. +3211269052