GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

Proposed activities, under the present call, will lay the ground for rapid take-up of mission activities following its formal approval. Proposals should therefore, among others:

• identify in close cooperation with regional authorities, stakeholders and communities existing “soil needs” (e.g. status, main problems and priority areas for improvement) in a number of contrasting regions in each Member State and Associated Country so that different land use systems are addressed. Insight on the status of soils and the main challenges to soil health should be a starting point for recommendations on priority actions and activities to be implemented in living labs and lighthouses;
• develop tools to support networking and knowledge exchange of communities working at regional/local level on soil health and create Communities of Practice (CoP) in the respective regions. This should include a mapping of current and emerging Living Labs and Lighthouses targeting various types of land uses (e.g. in agriculture, forestry, urban and natural areas). The mapping of living labs and lighthouses shall ensure that a variety of locations are represented reflecting the diversity of soils, land uses as well as socio-economic and demographic conditions. Results of the mapping should be displayed through an interactive map showing relevant information, for example on context (land use type, funding sources, etc.), activities and partners involved;
• develop “model business plans” for Living Labs and Lighthouses (e.g. specifying ownership, funding, goals and activities) taking into account different regions at NUTS 2 level and different land uses. 

If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used).