Actions should address one or more relevant challenges that represent the wide scope of the NEB initiative, such as:

• Environmental and climate adaptation challenges, environmental and climate risks, prevention and resilience
• Economic and territorial changes linked to the green transition
• Social challenges (poverty, segregation, social exclusion, etc.)
• Challenges linked to the use, preservation and reconversion of existing infrastructure and heritage
• Demographic challenges (ageing, migration, depopulation, changes in property market due to tourism, etc.)

Proposals should include:

• The development of an ambitious, mission-oriented, quality co-design process, based on citizens’ and stakeholders’ participation and multidisciplinary (e.g. arts, architecture, design, heritage, engineering, physical and spatial planning, manufacturing, technology, environmental and social sciences, etc.) and multilevel collaboration (e.g. civil society, public and private actors), also capable of addressing the relevant objectives of the Horizon Europe missions.
• An ambitious and credible executive plan that identifies and analyses the challenges and resources of a given territory (e.g. neighbourhood, district, ecosystem) in terms of sustainability (in line with the European Green Deal), inclusiveness (including accessibility and affordability) and aesthetics (including functionality, comfort, attractiveness, etc.).
• The detailed outlined, through feasibility studies, of highly innovative, cutting-edge solutions, associating meaningful, inclusive social purpose with strong aesthetic values and sustainability, in line with the European Green Deal, to address emblematic environmental and societal challenges at the territorial level.
• Deployment of an initial set of solutions as demonstrators within a two-year timeframe, accompanied by a rigorous impact evaluation methodology, measuring the impact of the adopted methodologies. Involvement and testing of the demonstrators with international experts.
• A detailed roadmap for implementation, with a sustainable financial plan quantifying and identifying substantial additional investment based on involvement and partnerships with different actors (national, regional, local, public and private sources).
• Evidence of developed relationships and partnerships with responsible authorities and/or representatives (on planning, permits, property rights, financing, impact assessments, etc.). etc. (see p.53 of the work programme)