YouRban Open Calls are now live!

YouRban – Urban co-creative, sustainable and inclusive ecosystem, for the recycling of reinforced polymers on-the-truck is a pioneering initiative funded by Horizon Europe that fosters vibrant urban ecosystems dedicated to the recycling and upcycling of materials, with a focus on reinforced polymers from local sources. This project brings together citizens, artists, designers, architects, small-scale producers, artisans, and Urban Factories to create a collaborative environment in two European cities, Milan and Barcelona. In particular, thanks to the organization of a 10-day event centred around a mobile plant on board a truck, experts will be available to provide knowledge and training, citizens will be involved to provide needs and expectations, artists and designers will be engaged through artistic residences to provide solutions inspired by art and culture.

To engage artists and designers in an 8-month residency, an Open Call for project proposals is now open – until the 30th of July.

→ In Milan, selected applicants will develop innovative, sustainable solutions to address specific urban challenges previously identified through consultation with local stakeholders. Applicants are expected to respond to one of the following predefined challenges:

1. Eco-friendly Urban Mobility
2. Temporary Activation of Neglected Spaces
3. Revitalization of Public Squares
4. Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation

Projects should propose practical, design-based interventions using recycled fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) materials. Site-specific installations are encouraged, with suggested urban areas mapped for implementation.

→ In Barcelona, artistic and design residency focus on creators who bring forward independent ideas for sustainable, urban-centered innovation. Rather than responding to a predefined challenge, applicants are expected to develop a conceptual or physical solution and identify the problem it addresses throughout the design process.

Applicants are encouraged to approach urban challenges from any scale (domestic to public) and to define the issue their solution will address. This open-ended framework supports experimental thinking and conceptual exploration, with an emphasis on recyclable materials, particularly fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP).

The selected projects may be artistic, functional, or conceptual. They do not need to be tied to specific urban sites.

Grant & Support

• Financial contribution: €17,500 per project
• Duration: 8-month residency (September 2025 – April 2026)
• Support includes:
  • Access to local Fab Labs and Urban Factories
  • Mentoring by YouRban experts
  • Community engagement and participatory processes

Key Dates

• Mandatory in-person participation:
  • Kick-off event in Barcelona (September 2025)
  • Mid-term review (Oct 2025 – Feb 2026)
  • Final 10-day event in Barcelona (April 2026)
• Suggested in-residence period: September 2025 – March 2026
• Application Deadline: 30 July 2025, 17:00 (Brussels Time)

How to apply

Applicants must submit via the official YouRban Kartu platform.

Required documents:
CV (if applying as a natural person)
Project proposal (PDF, max 10MB)
Project presentation (10-slide PDF)

→ More information can be found at https://www.yourban-europe.eu/open-calls/.
People interested in applying to the Open Call – or just curious to learn more about it- are invited to follow us on YouRban webpage, Linkedin or Instagram to stay updated.