The European Commission has opened two prizes towards innovation and creativity inspired by the New European Bauhaus (NEB):  the fifth edition of the New European Bauhaus Prizes and the new NEB Boost for Small Municipalities.

NEB Prizes 2025

The NEB Prizes will honour outstanding projects and ideas from individuals, teams, and organisations. This year there will be a special focus on housing:  the NEB “Affordable Housing Prizes”. Four projects will be awarded for completed projects in the EU contributing to the EU’s efforts to improve housing affordability in line with the NEB values and principles.

Additionally the 2025 NEB Prizes will reward existing projects as concepts developed by young talents under four categories:

• Reconnecting with nature;
• Regaining a sense of belonging;
• Prioritising the places and people that need it the most;
• Shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life-cycle thinking.

In total 22 winners and runners-up will be awarded with a monetary prize up to €30,000, as well as a communication package to help them further develop and promote their projects and concepts.

NEB Boost for Small Municipalities

The NEB Boost for Small Municipalities will support smaller local governments in implementing transformative projects with a strong community engagement.

Targeting municipalities in rural areas or those with populations under 20,000 inhabitants, the NEB Boost seeks to acknowledge the critical role smaller communities play in the New European Bauhaus movement and in the ongoing transitions in a broader sense.

Eligible projects must focus on the built environment, including the construction, renovation, and adaptation of buildings and public spaces. These projects should prioritize circularity, carbon neutrality, cultural heritage preservation, affordable housing solutions, and the regeneration of rural or urban areas.

This new initiative, supported by a pilot project of the European Parliament, will award 20 projects aligned with the NEB values and principles that demonstrate a strong community engagement and a sufficient level of maturity. Each awarded project will receive a €30,000 prize, along with a tailored communication package from the Commission to further amplify their achievements.

How and when to apply?

Applications for both the Prizes and the NEB Boost for Small Municipalities are open until 14 February 2025 at 19:00 CET and applications should be submitted through the official New European Bauhaus Prizes platform where more information and guides for the Prizes can be found as well.